Submitted photo / Chiefbear on the Road Photography Coral Reefer Band vocalists Tina Gullickson, floral pants, and Nadirah Shakoor, long-sleeved dress, will perform with Fins to the Left on Saturday.

River Rock at the Amp will kick off its 2026 season with a beach party.

The Jimmy Buffett tribute act Fins to the Left will open the 11-concert series at the Warren Community Amphitheatre. It will be the Fins first show since its 2024 River Rock appearance.

Lead singer Shawn Lawless, who primarily lives in Florida, said, “Last week I was in Ohio, and we had two two full sessions — a four-hour practice, and then a three-hour the next day. And in between we each worked on our own stuff and reconvened the second day and did it again. For not playing together for two years, I think it’s gonna come out really good.”

Fins — Chris Rossvanes, drums; Craig Peppy, drums and percussion; Robert Calhoun, bass; Chuck Hall, lead guitar; Bill Ebie, 12-string guitar; Doug Smith, piano and acoustic guitar; Jeff Spencer, harmonica, and Lawless — will be joined by a couple of Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band members for Saturday’s concert.

Tina Gullickson and Nadirah Shakoor will add backing vocals, and Roger Greenidge, brother of Coral Reefer Band member Robert Greenidge, will play steel drums.

Gullickson started singing with Buffett in 1995, and Shakoor previously was a member of Arrested Development and toured with Paula Abdul, Al Jarreau and Janet Jackson before joining the Coral Reefer Band. They continue to perform with their Coral Reefer bandmates following Buffett’s death in 2023.

Bringing in some of Buffett’s bandmates has been a tradition for Fins’ River Rock concerts. Lawless said he’s a little less starstruck now.

“They’re such professional people,” he said. “The first time Mike (Utley) and Robert (Greenidge) came, I was definitely nervous, but they make it so easy, and they’re so kind and so talented. After the first time, it was just like being family.”

Lawless owns Lawless Industries Ltd., which specializes in making chassis for parade floats. It’s a career that takes most of his time. He did Tuesday’s interview from a job site in Atlanta, a place he didn’t know he’d have to visit until the day before. Fins to the Left is his passion project, even if it’s one he only gets to do once a year or less.

“Aside from my parents, Jimmy Buffett is probably the most influential person that I’ve had in my life,” he said. “There’s a reason that I live at the beach, that I love to go to the Caribbean, to the islands. I love that kind of music, I like margaritas. I think that I can blame that all on him.”

Some songs, such as “Growing Older But Not Up,” hit closer to home at this point in his life, but Buffett released a greatest hits album called “Songs You Know by Heart,” and in Lawless’ case, that might be the entire catalog. In past interviews, Gullickson has praised his ability to remember the words to even the deepest cuts in Buffett’s discography.

Those who saw the 2024 River Rock show will get those Buffett favorites and at least a couple songs they didn’t play last time. My Drunk’n Uncle will open Saturday’s show, but last time Fins played without an opener and prepped an extra-long set.

“We didn’t make it to the end of the list, so we’re gonna move those songs up to the front of the list this year,” Lawless said.

Between Fins and the Coral Reefers, there will be a dozen people on stage, but there will be a lot more than that over the course of the evening. Audience participation is a big part of a Fins’ show.

“I understand you can’t have a whole crowd up on stage, but having the kids up there is my favorite thing,” Lawless said. “You can just see the joy in their faces when they come up and they play maracas or just dance with us, whatever they’re doing. They love it, and I love having them.”

If you go …

WHAT: River Rock at the Amp — Fins to the Left (Jimmy Buffett tribute) and My Drunk’n Uncle

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Warren Community Amphitheatre, 321 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren

HOW MUCH: Admission is $12 with children ages 12 and younger admitted free. For more information, go to riverrockattheamp.com