Summer Sessions kicks off in Stony Plain with live music
Las Mambas and opening act Liz Lauer launch the free concert series Wednesday, June 17 at Heritage Park.
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Stony Plain's 2026 Summer Sessions concert series begins Wednesday, June 17 at Heritage Park with Las Mambas, an all-female group from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and opening act Liz Lauer.
The free outdoor show features Alberta singer-songwriter Liz Lauer, who describes her sound as acoustic folk rock drawing inspiration from artists like Stevie Nicks and Sheryl Crow. "My voice has been described as a lilting and powerful sound," she said. Her set will focus largely on original music.
Lauer expressed excitement about being part of an event that supports local and emerging artists. "Communities should be hosting things like this," she said. "As a smaller-town artist myself, it shows me that these communities show support for their local and emerging artists."
For Lauer, community music events are crucial for emerging artists. "Having access to these kinds of events is so important because it exposes me to a wider and larger audience that I may not get in the small town that I live in."
Beyond providing a stage, such events offer artists essential emotional support. "Every artist needs a place to call home," Lauer said. "It's a place you can go to be celebrated when you're succeeding and the road is feeling amazing, or a place you can go to be supported when the road feels extra challenging."
Outdoor concerts create a unique atmosphere for both performers and audiences. "The best part is just the environment and the community that those shows provide," Lauer said.
Through her performance, Lauer hopes to inspire audience members. "I hope I can inspire one individual, whether that's an aspiring musician from the younger generation or just somebody in the crowd, to have the courage to share their stories with the world."
Following the summer concert, Lauer plans to continue performing throughout the year and hopes to begin recording an EP this fall. Fans can follow Liz Lauer Music on social media.
Concerts begin with the opening act at 6:30 p.m., followed by the headliner at 7 p.m.