The Buddy Holly Center Kicks Off Summer Showcase 2026 with Mark Wallney and Darren Welch
The Buddy Holly Center’s annual Summer Showcase Concert Series kicks off its season on Thursday, May 21st with Mark Wallney and Darren Welch!
Mark Wallney is an Acoustic/Folk/Rock artist born in Chicago, raised on the west coast and spent three years in Las Vegas before making Lubbock, Texas his home. He is one of Lubbock’s true guitar masters. “I think I was meant to play music,” he said. “Ever since I was a kid, it’s all I ever wanted to do.”
Mark has been performing professionally for 40 years and has shared the stage with James Brown, Firefall, Jerry Jeff Walker, Christopher Cross, Gatemouth Brown, Eric Johnson, Graham Nash, Billy Bob Thornton, The Maines Brothers, Joe Bonnamasa, and Shake Russell.
Darren Welch has opened for Eric Johnson, Scorpion, Alice Cooper, and too many others to mention. He has played with Mark Wallney for over 20 years.
Concerts are every Thursday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Meadows Courtyard, May 21 – August 13. Guests are welcome to bring outside food. However, outside beverages are not permitted after 5:00pm. Chairs, picnic blankets, and like items will NOT be permitted inside the gates.
Admission is FREE! Seating for this event is available on a first come, first serve basis.
In addition to viewing the concerts, guests are encouraged to walk the Buddy Holly exhibitions and the Fine Arts Gallery during Summer Showcase hours with FREE admission.
The Summer Showcase Concert Series is funded through sponsorships and donations. We appreciate the support of our 2026 sponsors: H-E-B, Grand Central Station Antiques, Leprino Foods Company, TTU School of Music, FOX34 KJTV, KLBK/KAMC/Everything Lubbock, M&M Service Center, School of Rock, South Plains Electric Cooperative, Inc., Fast Signs, Lubbock National Bank, Tarpley Music, Stephen Joseph, Don and Beverly McBeath, and Oceans Massage Spa and School. The concert series is presented in collaboration with Civic Lubbock, Inc. and the City of Lubbock.
Community support helps us keep the Summer Showcase Concert Series free to the public.
If you would like to become a sponsor or make a contribution, please contact Mariah Deleon at [email protected], or call 806-775-3566.
Follow us @buddyhollycenter for artist spotlights, behind the scenes content, and more! Share your own coverage using #summershowcase2026.
For more information, please visit our website at buddyhollycenter.org or call 806-775-3560.
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