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O.A.R., Smash Mouth to perform at Naperville's Last Fling

This year's Last Fling in Naperville will mark the unofficial conclusion of summer with music, family entertainment and celebrity appearances during a four-day festival over Labor Day weekend.

Organizers from the Naperville Jaycees have announced main stage performers for the first three days featuring O.A.R., ARRA, Smash Mouth and Vertical Horizon. Concerts will take place nightly during the festival, Aug. 29 through Sept. 1, at the base of Rotary Hill along the Riverwalk, near the Millennium Carillon, 443 Aurora Ave.

ARRA, a six-member cover band, will be the main act Friday, Aug. 29, taking the stage after a 6 p.m. show by Chicago-based cover band Maggie Speaks. Organizers said listeners will hear a high-energy show with an extensive range of music from the five members of Maggie Speaks, then the ARRA show with bass grooves, harmonies, acoustic guitar and keyboard solos.

The performances are set to take place on what Last Fling Coordinator Chad Pedigo said will be an affordable opening night to kick off the entire festival, which helps the Jaycees raise money to donate back to community charities.

“Friday night, we're really making it about the community,” Pedigo said. “It's going to be one big kick-off party for the weekend.”

On Saturday, the first full day of the Last Fling, O.A.R. will play the headlining concert after opening acts by two bands beginning at 4 p.m. The Maryland-based band, whose name is short for Of A Revolution, is known for the 2005 song “Love and Memories” and the 2008 hit “Shattered.”

Indiana native Josh Holmes and his band lead off Saturday afternoon with guitar-driven rock 'n' roll at 4 p.m. Junkyard Groove — a five-member cover band with what festival organizers called an “explosive and eclectic variety” of rock, funk, blues and country — will perform second.

Two headliners — rock artists Smash Mouth and Vertical Horizon — will perform for Last Fling crowds beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31.

Smash Mouth has spent recent years touring and entertaining troops in Afghanistan, Guam, Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and Japan, but the band is well-known for four hits on its “Astro Lounge” album: “All-Star,” “Walkin' on the Sun,” “Then the Morning Comes” and “I'm a Believer.”

Vertical Horizon is touring in support of the album “Burning the Days” after rising to fame with the 1999 album and title song “Everything You Want” and 2003's “Go” featuring “When You Cry,” “Sunshine” and “Echo.”

Pedigo said performers are under contract for Monday, Sept. 1, and Jaycees will announce who they are soon.

Tickets are available at lastfling.org. Friday's show costs $10, which includes a $5 drink voucher. Saturday's show costs $20, and tickets for Sunday performances are $15 each.

Naperville's Last Fling to add 5K next year

Junkyard Groove is one of two opening acts before an O.A.R. show Saturday, Aug. 30, during the Last Fling in Naperville. Courtesy of Naperville Jaycees
Cover band ARRA will be the featured performer Friday, Aug. 29, on the opening night of the Last Fling in Naperville. Courtesy of Naperville Jaycees
Maggie Speaks, a Chicago-based cover band, will take the stage first during the Last Fling in Naperville when the festival opens Friday, Aug. 29. Courtesy of Naperville Jaycees
Vertical Horizon will be one of two headliners playing Sunday, Aug. 31, at the Last Fling festival in Naperville. Smash Mouth also will perform that day beginning at 6 p.m. Courtesy of Naperville Jaycees

If you go

What: Last Fling concerts

When: 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29; 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30; 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31; time to be announced for Monday, Sept. 1

Where: The base of Rotary Hill, near the Millennium Carillon, 443 Aurora Ave., Naperville

Cost: $10 for Friday show, includes $5 drink voucher; $20 for Saturday show; $15 for Sunday show; price to be announced for Monday show

Info: lastfling.org

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