The Friends of San Damiano and 98.7 WVMO, The Voice of Monona, will present Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials as the headline act for the 2026 Concerts on the Shore series. The free outdoor concert will take place on Thursday, June 25, at San Damiano Park on the shores of Lake Monona in Monona.
“Lil’ Ed Williams and his Blues Imperials (2024 Blues Hall of Fame inductee) bring their signature brand of raw, raucous Chicago slide-guitar blues to a stunning lakefront setting with a direct view of the Wisconsin State Capitol,” WVMO said in a press release announcing the event. “One of Alligator Records’ most beloved acts, Lil’ Ed has been a cornerstone of the Chicago blues scene for decades and a perennial festival favorite across the Midwest and beyond.”
The June 25 concert is part of a special cultural weekend. The show takes place on the grounds of the Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpting Festival, a week-long event running June 19–27 that brings world-renowned sculptors from across the globe to carve large-scale works on the lakefront in real time. Concertgoers are encouraged to arrive early to explore the sculptures before the music begins…