LENOX -- Expanding on its series of Popular Artists performances at Tanglewood this summer, the Boston Symphony has booked three more performances by diverse artists such as folk icon Joan Baez, joined by the Indigo Girls folk-rock duo, scheduled for Sunday, June 23.
Later in the summer, a tour dubbed "Last Summer on Earth 2013" will stop at the BSO's summer home, featuring Canadian alt-rock band Barenaked Ladies, along with Ben Folds Five, the alternative rock band formed 20 years ago in Chapel Hill, N.C., and Guster, yet another alternative rock group that originated in Boston in 1991, on Tuesday, July 23.
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, a rock band founded as an indie group in Vermont in 2002, will be joined by singer-songwriter and guitarist Josh Ritter on Aug. 19.
The latest lineup, with tickets on sale Monday, March 25, follows the bookings of Melissa Etheridge (returning to Tanglewood for the first time in 24 years) with Eric Hutchinson on June 21; the Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration featuring Warren Haynes with the Boston Pops conducted by Keith Lockhart on June 22; Jackson Browne with Sara Watkins on July 4; the Steve Miller Band (a Tanglewood debut) on July 29; and jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding on Aug. 4.
All Popular Artists events are in the Koussevitzky Music Shed, except for Spalding, who will perform in Ozawa Hall.
The summer bonanza includes four additional Boston Pops dates and a BSO performance of the Leonard Bernstein
The high-water mark for Popular Artists shows at Tanglewood was in 1976, when there were 13. In more recent years, there have been six, on average. According to BSO spokesperson Bernadette Horgan, the goal for this summer was eight; six have been booked so far.
The BSO will perform 22 classical concerts (including a Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra date and the traditional Tanglewood on Parade) during its core eight-week season from July 5 through Aug. 25. In addition, there's a robust lineup of TMCO concerts and performances by ensembles and soloists at Ozawa Hall.
Also slated this summer are two public-radio specials -- the 14th annual "A Prairie Home Companion" live presentation with Garrison Keillor on June 29, and the Tanglewood debut of "Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me!" the humor-laden weekly news quiz show with Peter Sagal and Carl Kasell, which will be recorded live on Aug. 29 for later broadcast.
Tickets for Baez and Indigo Girls range from $23.50 to $69.50. Barenaked Ladies, Ben Folds Five and Guster, in a triple-header concert and making their Tanglewood debut, perform on Tuesday, July 23, at 7 p. m. with tickets priced from $27.50 to $79.50.
The concert featuring the rock quintet Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, with Josh Ritter, all first-timers at Tanglewood, is on Monday, Aug. 19, at 7 p. m., with tickets priced from $23.50 to $52.50.
All tickets for the additional concerts go on sale at on Monday, March 25, at www.tanglewood.org, by calling 888-266-1200. In addition to the usual free parking, Tanglewood offers paid priority parking for all Popular Artist concerts for $25 in the East Lot. Information: www.tanglewood.org.
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