Def. 06, you had Cameo who killed it, and the always entertaining Morris Day and the Time. Wow. India Arie was entertaining too. Not that excited about this year’s line up though.

This year’s performers are a big disappointment.

I was looking forward to this year’s Live on the Levee…until I saw the lineup. Very disappointing.

They have all been great lineups so far. I’m actually pretty impressed. I do believe this year’s is the best lineup so far. I am really excited about 5 of the shows. OAR is a great band especially live. Same with the Black Crowes. Those are my 2 favorites.

They’re all equally bad.

WHERE’S THE REGGAE MUSIC? This is a fine slate of artists for the rock and roll crowd, but it ignores the St. Louis reggae massive, And what a dull, perfunctory preview by Mr. Johnson.

Horrible line-up and just as bad as the other years. The arch grounds have so much potential for great concerts and yet they decide to get the blandest most generic rock they can. They are trying to get bands that please everyone instead of getting a nice mix. Boyz II Men? Black Crowes? O.A.R.? These are not good bands. They were never good at their peak of popularity and ten years later they are still pushing the same lame trash. This is not quality entertainment and makes me ashamed of St. Louis. We already have a place to see big horrible bands and its called Riverport. Why can’t we get good big and small bands. Why could we not get Radiohead, Wilco, or Tom Petty. Just a few of the good bands that pass through St. Louis. There is an article in the paper today about what to do with the Arch grounds and it seems obvious. We need to make it a permanent concert venue and get good bands to play. The type of bands that get good reviews in music magazines and have buzz around them. Something to get St. Louis the national attention it’s music scene deserves.

It’s embarrassing to me that people are complaining about free, quality entertainment. It’s unbelievable really. I have lived all over the United States and there is nothing that compares to this from the east coast to west coast. I think all of the lineups have been solid w/ a little something for most (including a reggae show last year, which was great), but I guess the complainers will always be louder than the many who are thrilled. If you don’t know the music, why not use it as an opportunity to expand those narrow horizons? I guarantee Rusted Root, Umphree’s McGee, STS9 and others will blow you away as live performers. Pull yourselves together STL, and appreciate the jewel you have…or move elsewhere and then you will appreciate what you had. Again, I’m speaking from experience. Here’s to a rockin’, soulful, jamming summer.

Tough call on which lineup is best. I would probably have to give the nod to this year’s. It’s diverse w/ some really great performers.

‘06 was the least horrible.

At least The Black Crowes are on there.

Aimee - I have been to free outdoro shows with bands on par with those that Henry mentioned in New York, Chicago, Dallas, Austin, Columbia and others. We could, and should, do way better.

Love the Black Crowes and War. Boyz II Men…good solid family oriented show. Depending on the opening acts, there should be some good audience participation this year.

2006 with India Arie was incredible. Cameo and Morris Day, Cheap Trick and Lyle Lovett were no brainers. So that was a pretty solid line up.

2007’s Musiq Soulchild was great because of the openers, STL fav Lamar Harris and the “next big new soul artist” Chrisette Michelle. Coupled up with Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Ani DiFranco, Emmylou Harris (LOVE HER!), Steele Pulse and Bruce Hornsby I think overall last years lineup was actually pretty doggone good. Probably the best so far (relative to what we are comparing), although I think it would have been even hotter if they had traded Musiq in for somebody who does a hot live show. Sort of like this year - Boyz II Men, like Musiq, has a solid repetoire of hits that the audience love to sing along with, but the actual show energy is blah. And we know this going in. A note to whomever makes these choices: Please try somebody like a Raphael Saddiq (Tony, Toni, Tone), Anthony Hamilton or Maxwell for the “R&B/Soul spot”.

They have done okay in my opinion. They can do way better but the audience has got to be more vocal to get who we want here. Okay, rant over. Sorry for the blog inside the blender! LOL!

Last two years were great and I could not believe we have the Black Crowes free - one of the best bands in the last 2 decades.. thanks Live on the Levee!!!

At first I didn’t think that ‘06 could be topped with India.Arie (by St. Louis standards, of course plus FREE). Then ‘07 with Musiq Soulchild, it was on! That was the best. But it’s 2008 and it’s about change. This is a great lineup, starting with Joss Stone on the 4th. It gets hot in the Lou with Anthony Hamilton the next day…followed sometime by W.A.R. Who would ever known that Live on the Levee or VP Fair or whatever it is called could possibly get me down for three years in a row not to mention two days in row. Much improved and big props to Missy Slay and her crew!

I’ve seen O.A.R. in concert and they’re AMAZING!!!! I wouldn’t pass judgment on the rest because I’ve never seen them live (and it’s FREE, people!). I can’t say I’m not excited to see the Black Crowes, Lonestar, and Boyz II Men live too.

Julia, seriously start listening to better music. O.A.R. amazing….WTF. Radiohead and Wilco are amazing. O.A.R. is crappy frat music.

So if music is free it must be good? What a horrible way to think. Settle with sub-par CRAP!!!

the 2007 lineup was hot!! there were some true heavyweight artist that year.

this year, im looking forward to seeing the Black Crowes and War….

the people complaining about the bands, dont seem to realize that the organizers of this event are working on a budget. plus, they must working with bands and their tour dates. they are also trying to reach a broad range of people. personally, im grateful for the bands the organizers bring in….we get to see for FREE. what is there to complain about?

i just wish we could get butt cushions for the steps!

some what of a good line up both years, however the bands that are mentioned are all now club acts or 2000 seat or less acts nationaly, what happened to the days of Elton John, the Beach boys, bob hope at fair St.Louis, I have been to every V.P.fair , Fair St.louis since 1983 and we are on a down hill spiral, Thanks for the free shows but its hard to be happy with burger king when you started out eating at Tonys . Is it just that we dont have the budget in St.louis for the big time or is st.louis reputation catching up to the acts, or does the talent buyer not have the clout of years gone by. eveything seams to be scaled down from the shows to the ( sic ) fireworks show. yes if you where not here for the old FREE BIG TIME shows I can see where this would make u happy….. maybe when mayor slay is no longer mayor and his niece is no longer in charge we can get back to some REAL entertainment… chuck Wallace where are u today, the fair needs u back……