Concert and event organizer Sam Porter is taking his new Tent Venue to new heights this summer -- and is doing so outside of downtown in the wake of Traverse City's newly tightened festival and events policy. The policy, a response to many complaints of too many festivals on the bayfront that were too loud, have prompted some event organizers like Porter to rethink their venues.

The first event will be a Traverse Symphony Orchestra (TSO) event called TSO@theCommons on July 19. Underwritten by Cordia at Grand Traverse Commons and Golden Fowler Home Furnishings, the concert will feature TSO's largest orchestra of the season in a first-of-its-kind outdoor performance under Porter's Tent Venue. 72 musicians will perform in a picnic setting on the Village's Historic Front Lawn, overseen by maestro Kevin Rhodes. The family-friendly program of “high-energy and familiar favorites,” according to TSO Executive Director Krista Cooper, will feature pre-concert musical entertainment and local food and wine.

“This will be unlike anything we've ever done – and we're 62 years old,” says Cooper. “This has been on my personal wish list for quite some time, to have a summer outdoor concert for TSO. But it's never been feasible because of rain (concerns). The tentvenue provides us the weather security and comfort for our patrons to make something like this possible.”

The non-profit organization is currently seeking sponsors to underwrite several potential contemporary elements for the event, including LED screens hung from the stage streaming live video close-ups of the musicians and conductor, a professional light show and a grand finale performance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture complete with fireworks.

“This is the kind of musical experience we want to provide once or twice a year,” says Cooper, who says the TSO will consider hosting future outdoor shows if the first one is a success. “We want to broaden our audience and show our community that classical musical is for all ages, that it's fun and engaging.”

Tickets for the event go on sale April 7 and are $35 for the general admission area (where patrons can bring blankets or low-back chairs) or $95 for VIP tickets, which include access to a covered dining area, cocktail tables, backstage viewing, and more.

On August 8, Porter will take his Tent Venue farther out of town to FlintFields in Williamsburg, where Grammy winning singer-songwriter Lyle Lovett will perform. He'll be backed by a big-band production in a “picnic in the park” atmosphere on the venue's rolling lawn, which will also feature local wine, beer and food vendors.

Tickets for the concert go on sale April 14 for $39 for general admission. VIP tickets will also be available.

Porter says FlintFields – known locally for hosting Horse Shows by the Bay – is ripe with potential to be a key community event space, citing its ample parking, on-site amenities and “beautiful natural setting.” As tightened regulations and fee hikes make city venues like the Open Space increasingly challenging for event organizers to utilize, Porter predicts FlintFields and other community venues will take over the spotlight.

“With these summer events, we're hoping to develop a model of family-friendly and adult programming in classy environments that can be replicated here and in other communities,” Porter says. “The tent structure allows us to pursue a lot of new and diverse events. It's thinking outside the box, figuring out how to be innovative...and we're just getting started."