Live on the Boulevard series opens with high-energy dance band and a season packed with tribute acts, country stars and the annual Fireworks and Freedom celebration
EL DORADO HILLS — One of El Dorado Hills’ most anticipated summer traditions returns this week as the Live on the Boulevard concert series kicks off another season of free outdoor entertainment at the Town Center Amphitheater.
The weekly Thursday night series opens June 11 with Neon Velvet, a Northern California favorite known for transforming community concerts into high-energy dance parties. With a setlist that spans the biggest hits of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s while incorporating current chart-toppers, the band has built a reputation for keeping audiences on their feet from the opening song until the final encore.
For concertgoers looking to launch their summer in style, Neon Velvet provides a fitting start. The group has become a popular attraction throughout Northern California thanks to its polished musicianship, energetic stage presence and ability to appeal to multiple generations of music fans. Whether playing festivals, community events, clubs or private celebrations, the band’s formula remains the same: familiar songs, nonstop energy and a dance floor packed with people singing along.
Thursday’s concert also marks the beginning of another season of Live on the Boulevard, a summer tradition that brings thousands of residents and visitors to El Dorado Hills Town Center throughout the summer months. Held at the amphitheater located at 4364 Town Center Blvd., the free concert series invites attendees to bring lawn chairs, enjoy an evening outdoors and take advantage of Town Center’s restaurants and gathering spaces before the music begins.
The event has developed its own routine among regular attendees. Gates open at 5 p.m. for chair setup, followed by amphitheater access at 5:30 p.m. Once chairs are in place, many concertgoers spend the next hour or two enjoying dinner at one of the Town Center restaurants before returning to the amphitheater for the evening’s performance.
El Dorado Hills Town Center utilizes an online waitlist system f or early chair setup. Registration opens at noon on concert days, and one registrant may bring up to four people. Those participating in the early-entry process are asked to line up by 5:15 p.m. in numerical order at the corner of Brickyard and Holiday Inn before entering the venue.s
Following Thursday’s opener, the series continues June 25 withAdam Aldama & The Aces, a five-piece powerhouse known for combining throwback hip-hop, R&B, pop, old school favorites and Top 40 hits into a choreographed, crowd-engaging performance.
On July 9,Viva Santanabrings the music of Carlos Santana to the amphitheater. Widely regarded as Northern California’s premier Santana tribute act, the band recreates the legendary guitarist’s signature sound through soaring guitar solos, Latin rhythms and classic songs such as “Black Magic Woman,” “Oye Como Va” and “Smooth.”
The following week,Top Shelf Classicstakes the stage on July 16 with a show centered around Motown, classic soul, R&B and dance favorites. Their polished sound and groove-heavy approach have made them a longtime favorite among Northern California audiences.
On July 23,Super Badbrings its crowd-focused brand of entertainment to El Dorado Hills. Known for filling dance floors throughout California, the band delivers a wide-ranging mix of hits from the 1970s through today while combining high-energy performances with audience interaction.
One of the biggest nights of the summer arrives onJuly 3when Town Center hosts its annualFireworks and Freedomcelebration. Separate from the Live on the Boulevard series, the event returns for its 15th year and has attracted crowds of approximately 31,000 attendees in previous years.
The July 3 celebration will feature live music in two locations throughout Town Center.Hip Servicewill perform in the amphitheater, while a second band is scheduled to perform in Theatre Plaza. Fireworks will launch from three separate locations, including both sides of the lake and the top of the Regal Theatre, creating a multi-point display visible throughout the Town Center area.
The event will run from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. and includes a variety of family-friendly activities. A dedicated kids area will feature bounce houses, face painting, shaved ice, balloon artists and a DJ leading up to the fireworks show. Following the fireworks display, Hip Service will return to the amphitheater stage for a post-fireworks dance set that continues until 11 p.m.
Country music takes center stage onJuly 30during a special double-bill performance featuringCynthia ReneeandCripple Creek, giving fans two complete country concerts in one evening.
A Sacramento-based country artist, Cynthia Renee has gained national attention through her powerful vocals and authentic songwriting. Her singles “Working on a Hangover” and “Good on Me” both reached the Top 100, while her latest release, “The Way God Made Me,” has earned award nominations and continued recognition within the modern country music scene.
Sharing the evening with Renee will be Cripple Creek, a band that has spent more than a decade building a strong reputation across the West Coast. Since 2012, the group has released multiple albums and earned national recognition in songwriting competitions in 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2025. Known for energetic live performances, Cripple Creek has appeared at major events including Sacramento’s Golden Sky Festival and Santa Rosa’s Summer Country Music Festival while sharing stages with artists such as Toby Keith, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson and Dustin Lynch.
The final month of the series begins Aug. 6 withJourney Unauthorized, a tribute act dedicated to recreating the arena-rock sound of Journey’s peak years. Featuring live vocals, soaring harmonies and no backing tracks, the band performs many of Journey’s biggest hits, including “Don’t Stop Believin'” and “Any Way You Want It.”
The 2026 season concludes Aug. 27 withThe Spazmatics, the internationally known tribute act that celebrates the sounds and styles of 1980s new wave music. Complete with skinny ties, horn-rimmed glasses and a catalog of iconic hits, the band closes the season with one final dance-filled evening.
Concert organizers remind attendees that while admission is free, several venue guidelines remain in place. Bags must be clear plastic or smaller than 8-by-6-by-1 inches, and all bags and coolers are subject to search. Due to ABC regulations, outside alcohol, beverages and ice chests are prohibited, with beverages available for purchase inside the event area. Blankets, personal tables, barbecues and roped-off seating areas are also not permitted.
With a season that spans dance music, Motown, classic rock, Santana favorites, country music and 1980s nostalgia, Live on the Boulevard is once again poised to provide a summer-long soundtrack for Thursday nights in El Dorado Hills.
2026 Live on the Boulevard lineup
June 11 — Neon Velvet
June 25 — Adam Aldama & The AcesJuly 3 — Fireworks and Freedom featuring Hip Service (Special event)
July 9 — Viva Santana
July 16 — Top Shelf Classics
July 23 — Super Bad
July 30 — Cynthia Renee and Cripple Creek
Aug. 6 — Journey Unauthorized
Aug. 27 — The Spazmatics
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