RAPID CITY, S.D. — Few bands have become as closely connected to Summer Nights in downtown Rapid City as Flannel.

When the popular local band takes the stage on June 18, it won’t just be another performance. It will be another chapter in a relationship that has spanned years, thousands of fans, unforgettable moments and a front-row seat to the evolution of one of the Black Hills’ most beloved summer traditions.

For the members of Flannel, their first Summer Nights performance remains one of the most memorable.

“Our first Summer Nights was an event we won’t forget,” Josh, the guitarist from Flannel said. “It was lightning in a bottle as far as a fully engaged audience.”

Since then, they’ve watched the weekly downtown Rapid City concert series grow into something much larger than a music event.

“As the event grew over the years, the crowd became a family,” Josh said. “We’ve seen line dancing during a grunge song. Basketball tournaments pulling their own onlookers. Lines of people grabbing food and saying hi to a familiar face they met the week before.”

From the stage, Flannel has witnessed the unique sense of community that has become synonymous with Summer Nights.

“The collective singing and camaraderie that happens during these events is quite the sight to see from our vantage point,” Josh said.

For local musicians, earning a Summer Nights performance slot is often viewed as a milestone. Flannel describes the event as the “gold standard” for artists in the region.

“Summer Nights is the gold standard for local musicians to achieve,” Josh said. “It’s a beast of an event that you have to be ultra prepared for. Typically we start building and rehearsing months in advance.”

That preparation pays off when thousands of people fill the streets of downtown Rapid City.

“For musicians, it’s extremely rewarding to have that type of work have such a payoff with that crowd,” he said.

Over the years, Flannel has accumulated no shortage of memorable Summer Nights moments. One year, several of the band members’ children joined them on stage. Another year, Josh’s son Jack performed a song the band had written.

But one performance stands out above the rest.

In 2024, a rain-soaked Summer Nights threatened to dampen the evening. Instead, it created one of the band’s most cherished memories.

“The Summer Nights crowd didn’t waver and stayed in the rain,” Josh recalled. “I can still remember seeing my breath come off the mic and the fog of voices in the audience singing along. I still can’t believe all those people dancing in the rain.”

Part of what makes Summer Nights unique, according to Flannel, is the atmosphere that can only be created by shutting down city streets and transforming them into a community gathering space.

“Street dances have their own vibe,” the band said. “Something about standing in a place where cars should be gives off an electric energy.”

That energy, they say, is different from anything found in traditional venues.

“It’s so different than an auditorium, bar or park,” he said. “The fact that you can produce an event this size so quickly and then have it magically disappear is part of what everyone takes in when you’re in the audience.”

Beyond the weekly entertainment, Flannel believes Summer Nights plays a critical role in growing the music scene throughout Rapid City and the Black Hills.

“Summer Nights is basically a leg up for local artists,” Josh said. “After you get that experience, it’s like getting a raise at your job.”

For Flannel, Summer Nights helped elevate the band’s profile beyond western South Dakota.

“Suddenly we were considered a regional act and were offered more opportunities to travel across state lines with our show,” he said.

As the June 18 performance approaches, the band’s goals remain simple.

“Honestly, we just want everyone to have fun,” they said. “A Flannel Summer Nights show is us on stage and the Flannel Fam right next to us. Whether you’re a casual fan or part of our family, it’s just going to be so much fun to get back after it.”

And if there were one song that perfectly captured the spirit of a Thursday night in downtown Rapid City?

Flannel has an answer ready.

“How about some ‘1, 2, 3, 4’ by Coolio?” Josh said. “Our version with James on saxophone is so fun. We’ve never played it at Summer Nights… yet.”

Fans can find out whether that surprise makes the setlist when Flannel returns to Summer Nights on Thursday, June 18, starting at 6pm, bringing another evening of music, memories and community to the heart of downtown Rapid City.

Attendees are also encouraged to stop by the HomeSlice Tent and sign up for a chance to win Central States Fair Grandstand passes during the event.

Summer Nights takes place every Thursday in downtown Rapid City throughout the summer, bringing live music, local businesses and the community together each week. Organizers also remind residents and visitors that downtown Rapid City is open every day, offering shopping, dining, nightlife and entertainment throughout the week.