Sounds of summer in Pasadena

A new series of free outdoor concerts will be launched next Sunday at the new Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts in Old Pasadena’s Memorial Park. The concerts, sponsored by the nonprofit organization Friends of the Levitt Pavilion, will run through Sept. 28. The 34 programs will be grouped in a series of themed nights: Children’s Night on Wednesday; Folk/Rock, Thursday; World Beat, Friday; Anything Goes, Saturday; and Jazz Fusion and Blues, Sunday. Wednesday and Sunday programs will start at 7 p.m. The others will start at 8 p.m.

The concerts will take place under the newly restored Gold Shell, built in 1930 and used originally as a reflecting shell for bands, sing-alongs and other entertainment. It has been refurbished through the first West Coast grant given by the Connecticut-based Mortimer Levitt Foundation, created by philanthropists Mortimer and Mimi Levitt to support cultural and education causes. The $250,000 grant has underwritten new sound and lighting systems, as well as structural repairs to the shell. The foundation has pledged an additional $500,000 over the next five years to help underwrite performances.

The series will start next Sunday with the Pasadena Jazz Institute presenting a “Singin’ & Swingin’ With Cheryl Connelly” program. World music artists will include Marrakech-born gnawa musician Hassan Hakmoun (July 25), East Los Angeles guitarist Luis Villegas (Aug. 1) and the Dublin 4 (Aug. 8), among others. Children’s book author, illustrator and singer-songwriter Barney Saltzberg will perform July 30. The Pasadena Junior Theatre Touring Company will present Broadway and other musical theater selections on Aug. 13. Info: (626) 683-3230 or

www.LevittPavilionPasadena.org.

-- Chris Pasles