Dave Barnes at the Levitt Vibe Music in Pasadena (Photo – Paolo Calchi Novati)
Singer-songwriter Dave Barnes, along with four other artists, brought a warm touch of country music to a cool evening at Memorial Park in Old Pasadena on June 18. It was the second of 10 free concerts scheduled this summer as part of the Levitt VIBE Pasadena Music Series.
By Paolo Calchi Novati
Whether it was the country music or the ease of Barnes’ opening greeting to the crowd—”Hey everybody. How you doing?”—the evening had a casual, relaxed atmosphere. The audience lounged on the grass, chatted with musicians after their performances, and browsed booths hosted by local restaurants set up along the edge of the park.
Barnes performed a mix of original songs and covers, closing the concert with his hit “God Gave Me You,” which earned a Grammy nomination in 2012. His knack for comedy was on full display throughout the evening as he entertained the audience with stories about stern church ladies and his children listening to his music.
Indie pop-rock singer-songwriter Nicole Sophia opened the concert, followed by a country trio featuring Celeigh Chapman and Adam Tressler on guitar and Kevin Milner on pedal steel guitar. Chapman, who lives in the Pasadena area and lost her home in the Eaton Fire, spoke throughout her set about how meaningful it was to perform for her community.
This year’s series marks the return of Levitt concerts to Pasadena after a nine-year hiatus. The city previously hosted the concerts from 2003 to 2017. In 2025, the nonprofit Pasadena Recreation and Parks Foundation won a city competition, including a public vote, to host the Levitt VIBE Pasadena Music Series. According to Foundation President Treasure Sheppard, the victory secured a grant from the Levitt Foundation, a national philanthropic organization that supports free outdoor concerts and public access to live music.
Under the grant, the Levitt Foundation will provide the Pasadena Recreation and Parks Foundation with $40,000 annually from 2026 through 2028 to support the free summer concert series, while the City of Pasadena will provide the venue and staffing.
“We wanted to make sure that we were part of bringing the community back together,” Sheppard said.
The next concert in the series, featuring mariachi music, will take place next Saturday.
Celeigh Chapman singing with Adam Tressler on guitar and Kevin Milner on pedal steel guitar (Photo – Paolo Calchi Novati)
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