Free & Open to All

Join us in the garden for surf rock from Akron Sound pioneers Purple k’niF (featuring Chris Butler from the Waitresses, Bob Basone from the Walking Clampetts and Wesley Bright and the Hi-Lites, and Johnny Teagle and Ted Lawrence of the Walking Clampetts).

About the band

Purple k’niF plays maximum surf and twang, all-instrumental surf / hot-rod / juvenile delinquent rock n roll. Imagine The Ventures with Keith Moon on drums!

Purple k’niF collects and plays only vintage instruments, so there will be nothing on stage made after 1965…including the band members.

Their name comes from a catch phrase used by our 1960’s local horror movie host (Ernie Anderson a/k/a “Ghoulardi”) who successfully polluted the band’s minds at an early age. (The “K” is hard and k’niF is Fink spelled backwards). They play a mix of originals, and cover tunes ranging from obscure Australian beach music to chart-topping British and American guitar-based hits. And the band proudly has no CD’s, merch or web pages—if you want to hear Purple k’niF, you’ll just have to come to a show!

Downtown@Dusk concerts are held in the Akron Art Museum’s Bud and Susie Rogers Garden. In the event of inclement weather, concerts are held on the terrace, or moved to the museum lobby.

Spend a relaxing summer evening with friends and family in our beautiful downtown garden, the perfect venue for outdoor music and a cool drink. Throughout the summer, the museum café will offer delicious food options, including ice cream novelties and ice-cold beverages.

Downtown@Dusk is presented by the Akron Art Museum, with additional support Ron and Ann Allan, Audio-Technica, EarthQuaker Devices and Clear Gold Audio.

Media sponsorship is provided by The Summit FM.