Since it opened five years ago, theLedge Amphitheaterhas become an entertainment mecca in central Minnesota, drawing attendees from across the region, country and world. Two new acts were recently announced: comedian Jim Gaffigan and .38 Special.
As summer rolls along,Gaffiganis in town July 19.
The 60-year-old comedian is touring the country, from June 4 onward, including through this autumn and into the holiday season. The Chicago-area native has been doing standup since the early 1990s. He's also been in several movies, television shows, commercials, and a USO Tour.
Gaffigan’s material often addresses fatherhood, laziness, religion, and food . He is considered a "clean" comedian, seldom using profanity during his performances. The several successful comedy specials he has released have all received Grammy nominations, while "The Jim Gaffigan Show" — a sitcom about a couple raising five children in a New York City apartment — began in 2015 and lasted two seasons. Gaffigan has a degree from Georgetown and is married with five children.
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Gaffigan appeared on "Saturday Night Live" in 2024 to portray then-Democratic nominee for vice president and current Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. He credits David Letterman and Bill Murray as influences.
.38 Special heads to the Ledge
In addition,.38 Special,a southern rock band, comes north Aug. 15. Formed in North Florida, they have been playing music for more than a half century.
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They are known for hit songs, such as "Hold On Loosely" and "Caught Up in You," among various other top 40 hits, primarily during the 1980s and 1990s. The band’s highest-charting U.S. hit is the 1989 ballad "Second Chance," which peaked higher on the Billboard Hot 100 than their other songs.
Guitarist/singer Donnie Van Zant — who was part of the band for nearly four decades until 2013 — is the younger brother of Lynyrd Skynyrd co-founder and frontman Ronnie Van Zant.
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Current members of .38 Special include Don Barnes, Bobby Capps, Barry Dunaway, Gary Moffatt and Jerry Riggs. Just last summer, the band announced the release of their first album in 21 years, titled "Milestone."
Located between two quarries several miles to the west of St. Cloud, the Ledge Amphitheater has a capacity of up to 6,000 guests for outdoor entertainment. The must-see destination preserved its granite history by transforming an abandoned quarry into a park. It welcomes several music concerts per year along with comedians, movies, community events, vendor shows, and many other acts and performances.
With the Ledge’s 2026 lineup expecting to be among the best yet, a new season of talent across genres starts soon, when country rock singer Brantley Gilbert comes to Waite Park on May 22.
The Ledge’s box office is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Friday and is located at 1700 Parkway Drive in Waite Park. Tickets are also available through the venue's website,www.theledgeamp.com/.
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times:Jim Gaffigan, .38 Special coming to Ledge Amphitheater in Waite Park
