Independence Grove Announces Lineup For 2018 Summer Concert Series
The Lake County Forest Preserves' annual Events in the Plaza music series will bring award-winning performers to play under the stars at Independence Grove Forest Preserve in Libertyville. Eight concerts will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, June 12 through Aug. 7, (no concert on July 3). No rain dates.
Performers to be featured range in styles from oldies to the blues, rock and reggae to swing and jazz.
• June 12: Rockin' Fenderskirts. "Rock Around the Clock" to your favorite rock 'n' roll oldies from the likes of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Beatles and others.
• June 19: Rico. Always a favorite, Rico's hypnotic blend of Afro-Cuban rhythms is heavily influenced by the sound and spirit of Santana. The band creates a fiery, soulful sound through bass, congas, percussion, drums, timbales, keyboards and guitar.
• June 26: The Giving Tree Band. Performing imaginative American rock 'n' roll loaded with tales of transcendent love and the adventures of warriors of the light.
• July 10: Gizzae. The Chicago band plays a unique blend of roots reggae. The musicians have played with a vast array of talent, including Ziggy Marley and the Rolling Stones.
• July 17: Adam Ezra Group. The dynamic acoustic roots/rock band from Boston performs original rock with Springsteen-like passion.
• July 24: Mississippi Heat. Led by harmonica master and songwriter Pierre Lacocque, Mississippi Heat is a world-class Chicago blues band. Their motto is "Traditional Blues with a Unique Sound."
• July 31: Black Masala. This high-energy brass band plays an irresistible dance groove packed with funk and soul, with influences ranging from bhangra and bounce to New Orleans funk and Balkan brass.
• Aug. 7: Morry Sochat & The Special 20s. Influenced by the best in blues history, the band brings a fresh sound to the swing and blues scene, mixing classic Chicago blues with swing and rock 'n' roll from the 1950s.
View full band descriptions and 2018 concert lineup at www.lcfpd.org/ig/concerts.
To help offset costs to host these concerts, there is an entrance fee of $6 per car (including drop-offs) after 5 p.m. on event nights. For your safety, and as a courtesy to preserve neighbors, park in the preserve only. Cars will be turned away when parking is full.
Concerts are open to all ages and are held at Independence Grove's outdoor amphitheater, Millennia Plaza. Bring a blanket or lawn chair for seating.
The café offers walk-up service during concerts until 9 p.m. and serves a variety of entrees, snacks and beverages. To make a concert outing even more memorable, guests can call (847) 968-3499 to reserve a pontoon boat for a group of up to eight.
There is no rescheduling if a concert is canceled. For concert reminders, weather updates or to learn if a concert has been canceled, check www.lcfpd.org, follow Twitter.com/IndependenceGro or call (847) 968-3499.
Anyone interested in learning about concert sponsorship opportunities can contact the Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves at (847) 968-3434.
Before the evening concerts begin, guests can spend the afternoon at the preserve swimming, fishing, or boating on the 115-acre lake, or hiking, biking or in-line skating on nearly seven miles of trails. Stop by the visitors center to explore educational exhibits, learn about rental space and visit the café.
With the exception of service animals, dogs, horses and other pets are not permitted at Independence Grove.
Independence Grove Forest Preserve is at 16400 Buckley Road, Libertyville. The entrance is on Buckley Road, just east of Milwaukee Avenue and west of River Road.
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