COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Seven concerts, an assortment of musical performances from artists marked the fourth season of the Levitt AMP Colusa Music Series, which concluded Aug. 6 at Veterans Memorial Park.
The 2026 season brought Boot Juice, La Doña, Young Dubliners, Blair Crimmins and The Hookers, Sinkane, Alea and Marty O’Reilly Trio to downtown Colusa. The free concerts offered sounds ranging from Americana and Celtic rock to cumbia, funk, jazz and Latin pop.
For Colusa County Arts Council Executive Director Milly Lee, the season also marked her first year selecting the performers.
“This was my first year booking the artists for Levitt AMP Colusa, and it was such a fun experience to curate the soundtrack for our summer series,” Lee said. “I loved discovering new artists, meeting the musicians, and thinking about the different sounds and experiences we could bring to our community.”
Lee said the series continued its goal of creating a place where people could gather for live music and the arts.
“Levitt AMP Colusa brings an incredible amount of talent to Colusa, and it is so rewarding to help create the space and time for our community to come together, enjoy live music, and celebrate the arts,” Lee said.
The season also expanded opportunities for opening acts. Touring performers shared the stage with musicians from Colusa County, including young performers.
“We were excited to welcome Ockham’s Razor, who was touring with the Young Dubliners, while also shining a spotlight on some of our own talented local performers,” Lee said. “From our Performing Arts Camp to the Ukulele Club, it was wonderful to give young artists a chance to share their talents on the Levitt stage.”
Beyond the performances, nonprofit and community organizations served dinners during the concerts. Food sales and donations provided those groups with an opportunity to raise money while connecting with concertgoers.
“We love that Levitt is not just a concert series, it is a place where our community groups can connect with neighbors, showcase what they do, and raise money to continue making a difference,” Lee said.
The fourth season, however, differed from previous years. The series featured seven concerts instead of the usual 10.
“Levitt AMP Colusa’s 2026 season felt like a quieter one,” said Levitt AMP Colusa Steering Committee Chair Sadie Ash. “Attendance was smaller, and the series was, in many ways, in a season of transition.”
Ash added that the smaller season underscored the purpose of keeping the concerts free and accessible.
“A healthy community needs places where people can simply come together, without a ticket price, an invitation, or the expectation of belonging to a particular group,” Ash said. “Free live music creates that opportunity.”
She said the concerts also give families an affordable activity, support vendors and businesses, draw people downtown and provide access to arts and cultural programming.
“Not every season has to be the biggest to be meaningful,” Ash said. “Sometimes success means continuing to show up, keeping a community gathering place alive, and recognizing that building community takes time.”
Organizers also faced changes behind the scenes. Lee said the committee had fewer volunteers this year. While veteran volunteers continued helping each week, Ryan Copeland and Jordan Savage joined the committee and assisted with concert setup throughout the summer.
“I’m so grateful for their willingness to step up, along with everyone who continued to volunteer their time,” Lee said. “Levitt truly would not be possible without the people behind the scenes who show up and make it happen.”
Lee also credited local sponsors with helping supplement support from the Levitt Family Foundation and the City of Colusa.
“The funding we receive from our local sponsors is truly invaluable,” Lee said. “Their generosity goes a long way in helping us produce a fun, memorable summer concert series that our entire community can enjoy.”
With the fourth season complete, organizers are beginning to look toward what comes next.
“As we look toward 2027, we have an opportunity to learn from this transitional year, rebuild momentum, and bring renewed energy to a program that has become an important part of Colusa,” Ash said.
More information about Levitt AMP Colusa is available at http://levittampcolusa.info.