News

Downtown Aurora comes alive with Blues on the Fox

Posted June 17, 2009 11:00 pm

By Justin Kmitch

After setting attendance records in 2008, Aurora's two biggest weekend music festivals have outgrown their roots.

The need to better accommodate tens of thousands of blues and rock fans has evolved into new formats for both festivals and the city's four-concert Downtown Alive! program.

As many as 13,000 people are believed to have attended last June's Blues on the Fox, causing several food and alcohol vendors to run out of their wares before the fest was over. So city event planners are promising a "bigger, better" format in 2009 as the concert series evolves into four Friday-Saturday festivals during the summer and moves all shows from Downer Place to the more easily accessible Galena Boulevard.

This year, 27 acts will fill the streets of Aurora with music. Each event will begin at 6 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.

"After 10 years of Friday night shows, it was time to make some changes," Special Events Manager Gina Moga said. "The two weekend festivals last year - Blues on the Fox and Rock on the Fox - gave us a new vision for the 2009 lineup. We will still showcase eight nights of entertainment, but in a new format."

Moga said the new format will be more cost-effective, requiring setup and take down for only four shows, as opposed to six in previous years. She also hopes the new location will be less of a disruption to Downer Place merchants.

Blues on the Fox, which last year featured Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Elvin Bishop, opens the summer series on Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20.

Moga said she's especially excited about three-time Grammy Award winners Los Lobos headlining the annual blues celebration on Saturday.

Rock on the Fox, which features classic rock, will return July 31 and Aug. 1. Moga already has booked Foghat, Billy Squire and Dave Matthews tribute band Trippin Billies for that weekend.

The new alternative rock show, Summer Jam, will debut July 10 and 11 and feature Southern California band Eve 6 and Sister Hazel.

The new Fan Favorites debuts Aug. 14 and 15 and will feature top regional bands including American English and Hi Infidelity.

When the Downtown Alive! Festival Series begins with Blues on the Fox on Friday, one important new rule will be in place. This year, anyone younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian 21 or older.

The anticipated record crowds for each of the shows is the impetus behind the new age restrictions.

"After a great deal of research of other festivals and communication with our police department, we have decided it is in everyone's best interest to enforce this new rule and other rules that have been in place for years," Moga said.

Coolers, skateboards and bicycles also have been banned, but seating is expected to be limited and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

Festival events, contests, special events and rules are listed on the event Web site at downtownaliveaurora.com, including information about the two free KidZone activities on July 11 and Aug. 15 and the Friday Cruise Nights on July 10 and 31 and Aug. 14. Maps and free parking information also are posted on the Web site.

Also new this year is the Ballydoyle After Party, which will begin when Downtown Alive! ends at 10 p.m.

Call (630) 264-INFO (4636) or visit downtownaliveaurora.com for information.

Billy Squier

Blues on the Fox FRIDAY 6:45 p.m. Big James & the Chicago Playboys 8:30 p.m. Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam SATURDAY 2 p.m. Hix Brothers Junior All-Stars 3 p.m. Henry Butler 4:15 p.m. Cedric Burnside & Lightnin' Malcolm 5:30 p.m. Sugar Blue 7 p.m. Watermelon Slim & the Workers 8:30 p.m. Los Lobos Summer Jam JULY 10 6:15 p.m. Spoken Four 8:30 p.m. Sister Hazel JULY 11 2 p.m. Hix Brothers Junior All-Stars 4:30 p.m. 7th Heaven 7 p.m. Painkiller Hotel 8:30 p.m. Eve 6 Rock on the Fox JULY 31 6:15 p.m. Creedence Again (CCR tribute band) 8:30 p.m. Foghat AUG. 1 2 p.m. DBL-SHOT 3:30 p.m. Blue Truth 4:45 p.m. ARRA 6:45 p.m. Trippin Billies (Dave Matthews tribute band) 8:30 p.m. Billy Squier Fan Favorites AUG. 14 6:15 p.m. Hot Rocks (Rolling Stones tribute band) 8 p.m. Hi Infidelity AUG. 15 2:30 p.m. August 4 p.m. The Moods 5:30 p.m. Elevation (U2 tribute band) 8 p.m. American English

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