Novi Fountain Walk Features Live Music, Local Art

Novi's is combining music with artwork again this summer at its third annual Summer Sidewalk Series Thursdays from 5-8 p.m. in the center courtyard.

The series features different musicians and artists each week until August 25 and is free to attend. There is also a child-friendly area with activities such as sidewalk art, drawing contests and bubbles to blow.

Novi resident Lisa Waggoner attended the first night of the series June 2 and saw Jill Jack perform.

"She's a great performer and has a pretty big local following," Waggoner said. "It was fun to be outside listening to some great music."

ArtsNovi, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing more arts and culture to Novi, is also part of the series. Artists set up their tables around the brick courtyard, and the music stage is in one corner.

"The artists give the people that are here a little something to look at," said Kelly Kaufman, general manager at Fountain Walk. "If they want to buy something, there’s some really great jewelry and paintings, things like that. We thought it would be a nice added feature for people who are here listening to the music."

Different art is displayed each week, and musicians of different genres are scheduled to play throughout the summer.

"What I made sure of is that I wanted a more mainstream kind of music that people would really get into," Kaufman said. "I think so far everybody that we’ve had has been really great."

The music schedule for the rest of the series is as follows:

• July 7: Apollo—indie rock/alternative
• July 14: Angela Predhomme Duo—pop
• July 21: Don Swindell Quartet—jazz
• July 28: Randy Brock—rock
• August 4: Robin Moore Band—pop/country
• August 11: Gia Warner Duo—rock/pop
• August 18: The Reasons Y—classic rock
• August 25: Leaky Tiki's—Jimmy Buffet covers

If it rains, the Summer Sidewalk Series is moved inside , which is located next to the courtyard.