Country jam band is a Ribfest staple

Heartsfield turned their Sunday performance at Naperville's Ribfest into a CD release party.

"We have a brand new CD called 'Disrupting the Country' that we're officially putting up for sale today because we're at Ribfest," said the five-member band's frontman Perry Jordan. "We're gonna play four songs from the CD. We don't know how it will sound, but we know they'll clap anyway."

For 10 years the band has been a headliner on the second stage or the opening act for the festival's country headliner. Sunday they opened for Trace Adkins on the Miller Lite Main Stage and brought their legion of traveling fans with them.

Described as a country jam band, most of the members call the Chicago area home now after starting out in the 1970s in Georgia. Jordan calls himself a hippie who says there is an aura about the Naperville festival that helps their music.

"Our music sounds better here because of the vibe," he said. "I know that sounds weird, but I truly believe that, and it's rare when you get a chance to lock into that spirituality."

Some of the band members think there's another reason they sound pretty good up there.

"It could have something to do with the $80,000 sound system," one of the guys chimes in from the back of the trailer.

Like the ribs, the band is almost an institution of the festival at this point.

"They know we'll always have a spot for them here and they keep a hole open in their schedule for us," said Ribfest entertainment chairman Matt Kaley. "If Perry doesn't say this is his favorite gig I'd be surprised. If Perry doesn't say this is his favorite gig, I'll kick his butt."

No need for violence. Jordan said scheduling Ribfest is the first order of business every Jan. 1 when they begin to lock in the spring and summer tour dates.

"We play a lot of festivals and Ribfest is great," he said. "There aren't a lot of festivals like this that are tuned into not making money for themselves and giving back like this group does."

Kaley has been booking the group since he became the event's entertainment chairman. He admits it's a selfish booking.

"First off, I've been a fan of theirs since high school," he said. "But they have a loyal following that always come out for them. It's a solid following."

Jordan quips about the band's large gathering of fans at the event each year.

"It's all our ex-wives," he said.

Someone who is not an ex-wife, but their self-described "unofficial road manager," explained the band's allure.

"Listen to that music, man," said Bob Goodalle, an Illinois native who now follows the band around the country. "They're known as the original jam band. They were the Grateful Dead before the Grateful Dead, and they do more shows every year than the Grateful Dead ever did."

Jordan said Heartsfield will continue playing Ribfest as long as they keep asking.

"I always hope we have a place here," he said. "I'll keep my fingers crossed because in this business you never take anything for granted."