DOWAGIAC — Nashville singer-songwriter Kari Lynch, who is appearing in concert Friday evening, July 20, 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 33rd annual Summer in the City, hosted by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce July 19 to 21, has paired Friday night’s concert by country/pop artist Kari Lynch with the Summer on Tap craft brew event on Beeson Street, hosted for the second year by Sister Lakes Brewing Company.

The expanded three-day summertime gala kicks off at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 19, with the new Children’s Carnival and is topped off that evening with a special two-hour concert at 7 p.m. by former American Idol contender Jared Knox and the Hagar Bombs.  Staged at the James E. Professional Building at Main and Front streets, Thursday’s concert is presented by Chemical Bank, Cass County Council on Aging and Honor Credit Union.

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

Dowagiac is sure to be impressed by Friday’s entertainment, said event organizers.  Lynch’s latest album, “Little Games”, featuring 10 original songs, span 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,” Lynch 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’s played thousands of shows across the country and abroad, and has earned a 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,” Lynch said.

Having grown up in Clare, for Lynch, work and music have always gone hand-in-hand.  For the past eight 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.

Dowagiac Summer in the City features everything from a children’s carnival, zip line and climbing wall, to music and dance, sidewalk sales featuring artisans and community organizations, to children’s games, rubber ducky races, a trackless children’s train and dunk tank.  Saturday’s highlights include hometown favorite Rebel Pride, performing on Commercial Street, and the Taste of Dowagiac, featuring eight of this community’s favorite restaurants.

This year’s festival has been underwritten by Chemical Bank, Clark Chapel/Starks Family Funeral Homes, Creative Vinyl Signs, Deck the Halls, Dowagiac Family Dentistry, Dowsett Chiropractic Health Center, Kim MacGregor’s Office of Edward Jones, Family Fare, Four Winds Casino, Lyons Industries, Olympia Books, Saylor’s Front Street Pizzeria, Southwest Vision Center, Southwestern Michigan College, Wightman and Wolverine Mutual Insurance Co.

For a full schedule of events, call the Chamber at (269) 782-8212 or visit DowagiacChamber.com.