McGrath Amphitheatre Cedar Rapids
The McGrath Amphitheatre is a naturalized, outdoor amphitheater located on the west bank of the Cedar River within walking distance of downtown. This park was designed to host community…
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Location: McGrath Amphitheatre
Time: 8:00 PM to 8:00 PM
475 1st St SW
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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For over 25 years, O.A.R. have embodied the kind of joyfully communal spirit that’s transcendent for both artist and audience alike. Since forming in Maryland in 1996, the multi-platinum-selling band have merged their musical DNA into a free-flowing sound and exhilarating live show, repeatedly selling out legendary venues like Madison Square Garden thanks to their massively devoted community of fans. In a thrilling new chapter for the ever-evolving collective, O.A.R.’s tenth studio album The Arcade marks their most collaborative effort yet: a boldly unpredictable body of work that fully showcases the extraordinary expanse of their singular musicality.
“From the beginning, this band has been about people with different influences and different styles of playing coming together to tell stories through songs based on my lyrics,” says O.A.R. lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Marc Roberge, whose bandmates include Richard On (lead guitar, backing vocals), Chris Culos (drums), Benj Gershman (bass), Jerry DePizzo (saxophone, guitar, backing vocals), MikelParis (keys, backing vocals, percussion), and Jon Lampley (trumpet, backing vocals). “Over the years our family has grown to the point where we’ve got seven musicians adding their flavor to the performances, and it felt like the perfect time to really lean into that collaborative spirit on the records, try new things, and celebrate the music we love.”
For O.A.R., the work of endlessly uplifting their followers is equal parts charmed responsibility and immense privilege—a dynamic that Roberge considers essential to the band’s remarkable longevity. “We’re still always saying to each other, ‘Can you believe we’re still doing this at this level, and it’s still this much fun?’” he reveals. “Apart from communicating, I think the number-one thing you need to keep a band going is really appreciate and find joy in what you do, and that’s absolutely the case with us. We don’t ever take any of it for granted.”
