Music notes: Blues, rock and country draws
<h3 class="briefHead">Blues by the riverside</h3>
Mavis Staples, the Royal Southern Brotherhood and the Otis Taylor Band are just some of the headliners of the 19th Annual Blues on the Fox music festival this weekend at RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora. $20. (630) 896-6666 or riveredgeaurora.com. 7 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, June 19; 3 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, June 20
<h3 class="briefHead">Hits on Randolph</h3>
Taste of Randolph started off as a way to showcase what the West Loop area has to offer, but the festival has grown into a three-day extravaganza, featuring tons of food, activities and tunes. And while it draws national names like Dinosaur Jr. and the Dandy Warhols, it also offers a healthy dose of local talent.
On Friday, soul rockers JJ & Dre heat things up on the East Stage, while DJ ArkiTek and Zebo man the decks over at the DJ Dance Stage. Saturday, soul/jazz/funksters Bassel & the Supernaturals kick off the West Stage schedule, and R&B funk rockers Swamp Heat and singer-songwriter Daniel Wade keep things moving through the afternoon. Guitar rocker Aryk Crowder and soul/pop singer Carla Prather play Saturday's East Stage, while local underground artists and DJs virtually take over the DJ Dance Stage, including Spence:Chicago, David Sabat, Demchuk and NORdjs.
Who needs coffee when you can wake up to the energetic jams of The Claudettes at noon Sunday, followed by prog-rocker Graham Czach? Little Boy Jr. brings its garage rock set to the East Stage, while Nasty Snacks and The Heard provide your Sunday afternoon helping of funk. Highlights from Sunday's DJ Dance Stage lineup include hip-hop electronica artist CZR, funky house and dance music by Altered Tapes, and the artsy vibe of electronic artist Edamame.
The fest runs 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 19; noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 20; and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, June 21, at Taste of Randolph, 900 W. Randolph St., Chicago. $10 suggested donation. tasterandolph.com.
<h3 class="briefHead">Country Shakes</h3>
Chicago's first Windy City Lake Shake comes to Northerly Island this weekend with three days of country music stars, including headliners Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley and Florida Georgia Line as well as rising stars such as Courtney Cole, David Fanning and JT Hodges. 2 to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday, June 19-21, at FirstMerit Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island, 1300 S. Linn White Drive, Chicago. $199.50 (plus fees) for general admission, $299.50 for grandstand reserved seating, $599.50 for VIP Lounge Reserved passes. lakeshakefestival.com.
<h3 class="briefHead">'Everything' in Oswego</h3>
1999 ushered to the main stage one of the bands that has come to exemplify national radio in the 2000s: Vertical Horizon. Even though the band's catalog goes back to the early '90s, it took hits like "Everything You Want" and "You're a God" to bring it to the forefront and to get people exploring the deeper cuts. Vertical Horizon will be bringing those hits and a whole lot more to Oswego's PrairieFest's main stage Friday night. '80s rockers Loverboy will play the main stage Saturday night with opener Nick Lynch. 9 p.m. Friday, June 19, at PrairieFest Park, 91 Plank Drive, Oswego. Free. prairiefest.com.
<h3 class="briefHead">Green music</h3>
Wicker Park goes green when it hosts the 2015 Green Music Fest Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and 21. In addition to taking ecologically sound initiatives to reduce the carbon and waste footprint of the fest, it also has teamed with Subterranean to provide some kicking music. In the mix on the Lagunitas stage are local rockers The Shams Band, Cowboy Jesus and Bailiff. The bike-powered Whole Foods Stage plays home to alt.bluegrass players The Grasstronauts, Steven Leaf and the Ex Pats, rock bands Blisters and Vamos and indie psych-rock from Jude Shuma. Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and 21, on Damen Avenue between North and Schiller. $5 suggested donation; greenmusicfestchicago.com.