LOCKPORT — Hitmakers from the 1960s through today are on the list of headliners for

this year's Molson Canal Concert Series.

Three Dog Night, which scored its first hits in 1969, is the most seasoned of the acts,

while Our Lady Peace, the Canadian band that drew a big crowd to Lockport last year, and

hard-charging country star Gretchen Wilson have the current music scene covered.

Other bands on the nine-show list include Kansas, which burned brightly on the 1970s

progressive rock scene, and Tears For Fears, the British New Wavers who scored consecutive No.

1 singles in 1985.

The concerts will be held on Friday nights in Ulrich City Centre, bounded by Main, Walnut and Locust streets. The acts officially will be announced at a news conference today.

Molson Canal Concert Series (all free)

June 25: Rusted Root

July 2: Our Lady Peace

July 9: Gretchen Wilson

July 16: Three Dog Night

July 23: Blues Traveler

July 30: Rik Emmett

Aug. 6: Kansas

Aug. 13: Tears for Fears

Aug. 20: Big Sugar

Related: Summer concert schedule

Although there are a couple of repeat acts from last year on the list, promoter Kathy

Paradowski said she generally tries to avoid that.

Paradowski, who is marking her 10th year promoting free summer concerts in Niagara County,

said her preference is to present "acts people haven't seen in a long time, acts that weren't

together but have gotten back together."

The series opens June 25 with Rusted Root headlining the first show for the second

consecutive year.

As it did in 2009, Our Lady Peace has the holiday weekend slot, performing on July 2.

Wilson, known for her hit "Redneck Woman," is the headliner for July 9.

Three Dog Night, best remembered for their 1971 smash "Joy to the World," takes the stage

July 16.

Blues Traveler, mid-1990s hitmakers who played a free show in front of Seneca Niagara

Casino last year, is the July 23 headliner.

Rik Emmett, former lead singer of the Canadian hard-rock band Triumph, will perform July

30. His last local gig was New Year's Eve outside the Hard Rock Cafe in Niagara Falls.

Aug. 6 finds Kansas in the spotlight, especially for those who recall their late '70s FM

radio hits "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind."

Tears For Fears, which opined in the 1980s that "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," will

rule Ulrich City Centre Aug. 13.

The final show Aug. 20 features a reunion of the original lineup of Big Sugar, the

high-powered Canadian blues-rockers.

"I think it's the biggest lineup we've had yet," Mayor Michael W. Tucker said.

"We always try to top ourselves," said Paradowski, who will disclose the additional acts on

each bill at the news conference.

She promoted concerts for seven years in North Tonawanda before switching to Lockport in a

dispute with the city. North Tonawanda no longer has a summer concert series.

Tucker said that at one point Peter Frampton was signed for the last show, but he decided

to shorten his tour and the Lockport date fell through. The mayor said Paradowski has been

trying to book Styx for two years but didn't make the connection this time.

Artpark in Lewiston announced its summer lineup earlier this month, heavy on '70s and '80s

acts. Hard Rock Cafe will announce its shows at a May 25 news conference, and Buffalo's

Thursday at the Square schedule is to be revealed May 27.