Arlington Heights music fest one of many St. Paddy's celebrations
When Derek Hanley started thinking about how to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his Irish pub, he knew that music would have to be a big part of it.
“Music is so important in the Irish culture,” said Hanley, owner of Peggy Kinnane's in Arlington Heights. “And because hitting the 10-year mark is a big deal in our business, I figured we should really do something special.”
The result is the Peggy Kinnane's Three-Day Music Fest, which will feature food, drink and, yes, a full slate of live music. Appropriately enough, the fest gets under way Thursday — St. Patrick's Day — and it continues through Saturday, March 19, under a big tent near the intersection of Campbell Street and Highland Avenue in downtown Arlington Heights.
The musical selections feature some heavy hitters as headliners. The lineup for Friday, March 18, includes Chicago-area legends the Ides of March and popular alternative rock band Sister Hazel. On Saturday, March 19, premiere Beatles tribute band American English plays, as does 1980s favorite .38 Special.
Other bands on the list: Baal Tinne, a Chicago-based group that puts a contemporary spin on traditional Irish music; the Screaming Orphans, an all-female pop group from Ireland; and Elevation, a U2 tribute band that has won devoted fans all over the world.
“We tried to find a good mix of bands that would appeal to just about everyone,” Hanley said. “There's some Irish music in there, of course, and some straight-ahead rock music. I'm really excited with what we've put together.”
Jim Peterik — guitarist, singer and founding member of the Ides of March — said the band can't wait to hit the stage at the festival.
“We still love performing together,” said Peterik, who grew up in Berwyn and lives now in DuPage County. “We get along so well as people, and I think people see that onstage.”
Ides of March emerged from Berwyn in the mid-1960s and hit the jackpot in 1970, when the single “Vehicle” was released. That tune, with its distinctive horns and driving rhythm, rose to No. 2 on the Billboard charts and helped secure the Ides spots on tours with Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin.
The band was on extended hiatus between 1973 and 1990. During that time, Peterik founded the band Survivor and cowrote some of that group's biggest hits, including the iconic '80s anthem “Eye of the Tiger.”
Peterik said the show at the Peggy Kinnane's festival will include hits he's written for other bands.
“We try to bring those songs in so we can hook as many people as we can,” he said. “‘Eye of the Tiger' has gotten some new life recently, and it sounds great with the brass backing that the Ides of March can give it.”
In addition to all the music, the festival will include food catered by Peggy Kinnane's: corned beef sandwiches, hot dogs, Italian sausage and more. Full-service bars will take care of everyone's thirst.
Hanley said it's difficult for a bar/restaurant to make it to the 10-year mark, and he thanked the community for supporting his pub all these years, even during a difficult recession.
“We've held our own, and I give the community my heartfelt thanks for that,” he said. “I'm lucky in that Peggy Kinnane's was able to be a cornerstone of the revitalization of downtown Arlington Heights, and I look at this festival as a way to celebrate what we have here.”
<b>Peggy Kinnane's Three-Day Music Fest</b>
<b>When:</b> 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursday, March 17; 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, March 18; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 19
<b>Where:</b> Near the intersection of Campbell Street and Highland Avenue in downtown Arlington Heights
<b>Tickets:</b> $40 per person on March 17; $45 on March 18; $50 on March 19. Food and drink not included. Tickets available at brownpapertickets.com. Must be at least 21 years old.
<b>Info:</b> peggykinnanes.com or (847) 577-7733
<b>Music schedule</b>
<b>Thursday, March 17</b>
1 to 3 p.m. — Baal Tinne
3:30 to 5:30 p.m. — Screaming Orphans
6 to 8 p.m. — Elevation
8 to 8:45 p.m. — Shannon Rovers
8:45 to 11 p.m. — Scythian
<b>Friday, March 18</b>
5 to 6:30 p.m. — 7th Heaven
7 to 8:45 p.m. — Ides of March
9:30 to 11 p.m. — Sister Hazel
<b>Saturday, March 19</b>
1 to 3 p.m. — Neverly Brothers
3:30 to 6 p.m. — American English
6:45 to 8:45 p.m. — Hi Fidelity
9:30 TO 11 p.m. — .38 Special