Nashville singer-songwriter Kari Lynch, who is appearing in concert Friday evening at Summer in the City in downtown Dowagiac, has opened for an all-star line-up of country greats from The Band Perry to Trace Adkins, Little Big Town, Dierks Bentley, Alabama and Miranda Lambert — just to name a few.

The 32nd Summer in the City, hosted by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce July 20-23, is moving all live entertainment to an evening format, as it pairs the Friday night concert by country/pop artist Kari Lynch with the Summer on Tap craft brew event at Beckwith Park, hosted this year by Sister Lakes Brewing Company.

Summer in the City kicks off Thursday evening at 7 p.m. as American Idol contender Jared Knox & the Hagar Bombs take the stage at Beckwith Park for a special 90-minute concert, presented by Chemical Bank, Honor Credit Union and Huntington Bank.

The festival heats up again Friday evening, as Grand Rapids native Kari Lynch, takes the stage, from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Summer on Tap opens its gates at 6:30 p.m.

Dowagiac is sure to be impressed by Friday’s entertainment. Lynch’s latest album, Little Games, features 10 original songs, spans more than a single genre, from traditional country to Americana, Indie-Pop and Rock.

The opening track, “West Texas Ground,” resonates with twangy rock and Americana textures, followed by the gritty and painfully honest Bluesy Rock ballad, “Nothin’ That a Shot Won’t Fix.”  Traces of indie/pop/rock and folk emerge elsewhere on tracks “Nowhere Now” and the album’s title track, “Little Games.”

“I find inspiration from all music genres,” Kari said.  “I pull elements from different styles when I write, based on how the song moves me.  Lyrics are important to me.  As a storyteller, I’ve always connected most with Country music.”

Lynch is no stranger to the spotlight.  She is played thousands of shows across the country and abroad, and has earned an impressive resume opening for some of country music’s most recognized artists.

“Seeing my name alongside artists I’ve listened to since I was a kid keeps me working to keep the momentum going.  It’s made me appreciate success that’s built from the ground up,” she said.

Having grown up in Clare, for Lynch, work and music have always gone hand-in-hand.  For the past seven years, she’s toured throughout the country as an independent artist, acted as her own manager, agent and publicist, and worked tirelessly to make music her full-time career.

While in her home state this summer, Lynch is also the opening act for A Thousand Horses on Aug. 5 at Y-Country’s Summer Jam in St. Joseph.

Vickie Phillipson, chamber of commerce program director, said Y-Country will also be on hand this Friday at Summer in the City with a live remote and ticket give away for Summer Jam tickets.  Phillipson said leading up to Summer on Tap and Kari’s performance, Y-Country will be giving away up to 300 free tickets to the event.

She said people can also sign up for a chance to meet members of A Thousand Horses.  The live remote and ticket give away on Friday will be headquartered on Front Street at Beckwith Park from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Dowagiac Summer in the City features sidewalk sales and roaming circus acts to children’s games, Vertical Edge Entertainment’s climbing wall and Dixie Twister, pedal cars, trackless train, dunk tank and rubber ducky race.  Saturday’s highlights include The Amazing Race and the Taste of Dowagiac, featuring eight of this community’s favorite restaurants.

This year’s festival has been underwritten by AK Montgomery, Burling & Gillesby DDS, Chemical Bank, Clark Chapel/Starks Family Funeral Homes, Creative Vinyl Signs, D. MottL Realty Group, Dowsett Chiropractic Health Center, Kim MacGregor’s Office of Edward Jones, Family Fare, Four Winds Casino, Lyons Industries, Olympia Books, Southwestern Michigan College, Wightman & Associates, Who Knew? Consignment and Wolverine Mutual Insurance Co.

For a full schedule of events, call the Chamber at 782-8212 or visit DowagiacChamber.com.