The Lovin' Spoonful
Saturday, July 26, 2025
Osterhout Concert Theater
Doors: 6:30 p.m.
Show: 8 p.m.
The Lovin鈥 Spoonful were America鈥檚 answer to the Beatles! Led by primary songwriter John Sebastian, Steve Boone, Joe Butler and Zal Yanovsky, the band exploded onto the charts, sending their first seven singles to Billboard鈥檚 Top 10 virtually overnight. The Spoonful formed in New York鈥檚 Greenwich Village in 1965 at the Night Owl Caf茅 and signed to Kama Sutra Records. They appeared on every major TV show of the era: The Ed Sullivan Show, Hullabaloo and Shindig! Their first single, 鈥淒o You Believe in Magic,鈥 flew to the top of the charts and was followed by an unprecedented string of hits including 鈥淒aydream,鈥 鈥淵ounger Girl,鈥 鈥淪ummer in the City,鈥 鈥淵ou Didn鈥檛 Have to Be So Nice,鈥 鈥淒arling Be Home Soon,鈥 鈥淛ug Band Music,鈥 鈥淒id You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind,鈥 鈥淟ovin鈥 You,鈥 鈥淒idn鈥檛 Want to Have to Do it,鈥 鈥淩ain on the Roof,鈥 鈥淪ix O鈥檆lock,鈥 鈥淣ashville Cats,鈥 鈥淐oconut Grove,鈥 and 鈥淪he鈥檚 Still a Mystery (to Me).鈥 The band was so influential that music legends like Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson cited them as forces of inspiration, as did so many others. Paul McCartney cited 鈥淒aydream鈥 as his inspiration for 鈥淕ood Day Sunshine鈥 and even John Lennon called the Spoonful 鈥渢unesmiths!鈥
Today the Lovin鈥 Spoonful tours with founding member Steve Boone, Jeff Alan Ross (Badfinger, Peter Asher), Bill Cinque (Neil Diamond), longtime drummer Mike Arturi, and Rob Bonfiglio (The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson Band, Wilson Phillips), who is Carnie Wilson鈥檚 husband and Brian Wilson鈥檚 son-in-law. Together they faithfully celebrate the rich, good-time catalog of hits that made The Lovin鈥 Spoonful one of the world鈥檚 most beloved groups to emerge from the 鈥60s. The Lovin鈥 Spoonful was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
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Summer Concert Policies:
-All persons, regardless of age, must have a ticket to enter the theater/lawn.
-All ticket sales are final.
-Patrons seated indoors are welcome to bring with them one factory-sealed water bottle.
No other food or beverage is allowed inside the theater at any time. Food and beverage
may be enjoyed by all patrons in the lounge or on the lawn.
-黑料不打烊 is a smoke-free campus. Use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, pipes,
cigars and chewing tobacco is strictly prohibited anywhere on campus. Refusal to comply
with this policy may result in ejection from the facility.
-Beer/wine is available for purchase. No outside alcohol is permitted on campus.
-Weapons are prohibited.
-All bags are subject to search. Bags over 12" by 12" will not be permitted inside
the venue or on the lawn.
-The house, lawn and lounge all open at 6:30 p.m.
Lawn Policies:
-Lawn seating is rain or shine. In the event of severe weather, we may be required
to evacuate the lawn for a period of time. Patrons will not be permitted to stand
inside the rear of the theater. If available, lawn ticketholders may upgrade to indoor
seating by paying the appropriate price differential.
-Large coolers, large umbrellas, signs and glass bottles are not permitted on the
lawn. Food and non-alcoholic beverages may be brought in a bag or soft cooler that
is 12" by 12" or smaller.
-Animals are not allowed on the lawn, with the exception of service animals.
-Patrons are welcome to bring blankets and chairs. The lawn is on a slope and low-back
beach chairs are suggested. Bleachers are located in the rear of the lawn.
-The Anderson Center Lawn is not considered ADA compliant, and therefore cannot accommodate
wheelchairs. Please call the Box Office (607-777-ARTS) to discuss alternative options.
Box Office hours are noon to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday.