advertisement

'American Idol' winner Lee DeWyze to perform in Elk Grove

Suburban native and former American Idol Lee DeWyze will perform at Elk Grove Village's tree-lighting ceremony this November, but one frequent critic of village officials says they're turning a family-friendly event into a crowded spectacle.

Tim Burns, a Elk Grove Township District 59 school board member and former library board member, took to the Internet this week to express opposition to plans to pay up to $26,000 for the Nov. 27 concert. The expense includes DeWyze's performance fee, staging, heaters and labor costs.

Officials say the money is left over from what was budgeted for the Mid-Summer Classics Concert Series, the six-concert series featuring artists primarily from the 1970s and 1980s that kicks off July 4.

Burns, who ran unsuccessfully for village board in 2009, said on a community Facebook group, and later in an interview with the Daily Herald, that the concert would change the tone of the event from a local tree lighting attended by families, to a regional event that would invite bigger crowds.

“I think this is a pattern of this administration. They don't really solicit or engage the public prior to making these very lofty decisions,” Burns said. “I feel sometimes our mayor is trying to be The Great Gatsby of the Midwest with all these parties.”

Mayor Craig Johnson said the popularity of the summer concerts is “beyond belief,” and he and other officials thought bringing in DeWyze to sing Christmas songs before the tree lighting would be a good way to kick off the village's 60th anniversary. The annual event is attended primarily by Elk Grove families, though people from beyond the village already attend, he said.

“When Tim Burns speaks, we all need to take it with quite a few grains of salt,” Johnson said. “The most popular thing bar none we have done in this community is bringing people together to enjoy the concert series.”

The summer concerts cost the village $310,000 and the park district $50,000. Johnson said there was money left over in the budget when signage and fencing costs weren't as much as expected.

Johnson said he wanted to avoid the tree lighting from becoming monotonous or predictable. He believes DeWyze is a good fit because he's from the area (Mount Prospect), and his father is a mail carrier in Elk Grove.

DeWyze, the winner of “American Idol” in 2010, isn't the only “Idol” contestant to appear at a suburban tree lighting. Wheeling native Haley Reinhart helped flip the switch on holiday lights in her hometown in 2011, though she didn't sing.

Johnson noted that having a big-name musical performer in Elk Grove is on a trial basis this year.

“Will we do it again? We don't know,” Johnson said.

Haley Reinhart helps switch on Wheeling holiday lights

DeWyze sees the silver lining Singer's new album less pop, more folk-rock

With new album, Lee DeWyze ready to chart his own course

Lee DeWyze plays Aurora's RiverEdge today

Lee DeWyze rocks Lake in the Hills Ribfest

Arlington Hts., Schaumburg and Elk Grove flip the switch

Paying for Elk Grove's fireworks

  Elk Grove Village's tree-lighting ceremony has included fireworks since 2009, but officials are hoping a performance by former American Idol Lee DeWyze will provide a musical bang to the show this year. Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com, November 2009
Tim Burns
Craig Johnson
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.