Rick Rushing and the Blues Strangers will kick off the Chattanooga Theater Center summer concerts on the Lawn Series on Thursday, June 3, on the CTC Lawn.

The series will continue in June with a performance on Thursday June 10 by regional bluegrass favorite New Dismembered Tennesseans and on Thursday June 17 by reggae group Natti Love Joys.

With the concerts, the CTC – located next to Coolidge Park in the North Shore neighborhood – continues its initiative to showcase the local arts community with performances on its beautiful lawn and waterfront stages.

The Concerts on the Lawn series kicked off last September with a sold-out performance by Kofi Mawuko and the Ogya World Music Band and drew an enthusiastic audience ready to spend an enjoyable evening in a safe environment. After the June concerts, the series will resume in the fall.

Rick Rushing & the Blues Strangers, led by Chattanooga singer / songwriter / guitarist Rick Rushing, harnesses key elements of blues, jazz, rock and rhythm to create a synergy that elevates audiences to new heights of musical awareness .

The New Dismembered Tennesseans, led for many years by champion fiddler Fletcher Bright, have stayed together for 75 years through numerous staff changes. The latest lineup has breathed new life into the band and a repertoire that both honors its bluegrass tradition and sends the music headlong into the future.

The Natti Love Joys play classic reggae by Bob Marley and others, R&B hits played in reggae style and their own original music. Turtletown, TN, was founded by husband and wife duo Jati and Marla Allen (he performed with Marley), originally from Kingston, Jamaica, the birthplace of reggae.

Admission to the June 3 concert is $ 15 for adults and $ 10 for students. Concessions, beer, wine, mixed drinks and soft drinks will be available, and the Basecamp Bar & Restaurant will have a taco bar set up in the theater lobby.

The concert starts at 7 p.m., with happy hour starting at 6 p.m. Blankets and garden chairs are welcome.

For tickets, call the CTC box office at (423) 267-8534 or go online at TheatreCentre.com.