Thursday nights just got a whole lot livelier with the return of Rock N Rowe, a free weekly concert series in Baton Rouge.

The concert series takes place each Thursday at 10202 Perkins Rowe, rain or shine, from March 6 to April 25. The event is family-friendly, free and open to all. From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the concert takes place on the Town Square lawn inside of the iconic Baton Rouge shopping center, so be sure to bring your comfiest lawn chairs.

A different artist will take the stage each week, from Zydeco bands like Travis Matte & The Kingpins to tribute bands like The Walrus. Chelsea Jones, marketing manager at Perkins Rowe, hand-selected each performer for the series. She went to great effort of featuring a different genre of music each week to ensure a diverse audience, introduce the crowd to new sounds and of course have fun.

“Since our audience loves to dance, we always keep that in mind when choosing the music,” Jones said.

Audience members of all ages can be seen on their feet once the music begins. From young children to older adults, their energy keeps the atmosphere lively. The music even draws in shoppers, who didn’t realize there was a concert, but stay to enjoy the ambience. The event fosters a sense of community and excitement among the concert-goers that is comparable to an LSU football crowd, just a little less rowdy.

Rock N Rowe is a unique experience compared to other Baton Rouge live music events, said Jones. The event is free and outdoors, giving the event a music festival feel. Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit and watch the performance or even dance around the Town Square’s iconic fountain.

The performance on March 13 by The Michael Foster Project certainly proved this to be true. The lively brass band played for several hours, much to the delight of their audience. Attendees described the performance as groovy and fun, making it a special experience.

Rock N Rowe’s impact does not stop at the performances. Jones said that the event positively impacts the businesses around Perkins Rowe each week, especially the restaurants. Many attendees opt to dine-in at one of the many eateries before the show or even grab a meal to enjoy while watching the performance.

Jones’ best advice for first-time attendees is to come prepared with a chair or blanket and arrive early to snag a seat.

“Rain or shine, the show goes on,” Jones said. “If it rains, we’ll simply move across the street to the covered area in front of Cinemark. The music doesn’t stop.”