Summer festivals get suburbanites rockin'
In many suburbs, live rock 'n' roll is as essential a part of summer festivals as carnivals and fireworks displays.
Music fans will have plenty to choose from this weekend and beyond, as suburban festivals trot out A-list rock stars, beloved oldies acts and plenty of up-and-coming homegrown talent for residents to enjoy.
The most glittering lineup belongs to one of the area's biggest festivals, Naperville's Ribfest 2010, which runs through Sunday at Knoch Park, 724 S. West St.
Taking advantage of an expanded footprint this year, organizers have filled two stages with big-name acts, including hard-rocker Sammy Hagar, outlaw country legend Charlie Daniels (who played Thursday) and sugary country-pop singer Julianne Hough. Ribfest tickets are $12 at the gate.
"I think it's the greatest lineup we've ever had," festival spokesman Ray Kinney said.
The organizing committee worked closely with partner Jam Productions to scout and secure talent for Ribfest, Kinney said. In crafting the lineup, organizers tried to find a mix of musical styles that would appeal to everyone.
"You want to have a balance of genres available," he said. "And we did pretty well this year. We offer straight rock, some country, some older sounds."
The Frontier Days Festival in Arlington Heights - another big festival - boasts a lineup of popular classic rockers, from '80s heroes Night Ranger to former Styx frontman Dennis DeYoung. Frontier Days runs through Monday at Recreation Park, 500 E. Miner. The shows are free.
"We're celebrating our 35th anniversary, so we wanted to bring back some of the favorite acts of past years," said Bill Peery, chair of the Frontier Days entertainment committee. "I think Dennis DeYoung will be a huge show; he was a big hit when he played here two years ago."
Other festivals will offer plenty of music, too, including some oldies acts and popular cover/tribute bands. Here is a small sampling of some of the bands that will be playing in the suburbs this weekend and next:
• Naperville Ribfest 2010: Sammy Hagar (8 p.m.) and Julianne Hough (8:30 p.m.) today; John Kay and Steppenwolf (7 p.m.) and LeAnn Rimes (8:30 p.m.) on Saturday; Blue Oyster Cult at 6 p.m. Sunday. Go to ribfest.net.
• Arlington Heights Frontier Days: Night Ranger at 8 p.m. today and Dennis DeYoung at 8 p.m. Saturday. Go to frontierdays.org.
• Hometown Fest in Palatine: Hairbangers Ball, a tribute to "hair metal" bands of the 1980s, at 8 p.m. Saturday. Go to palatinejaycees.org.
• Mundelein Community Days: 8 Miles South, a southern-rock band, at 8 p.m. Saturday. Go to mundelein.org.
• Mount Prospect Lions Club Festival: blues artist Melvin Taylor at 8:45 p.m. Saturday. Go to mplionsfest.com.
• Lake in the Hills Rockin' Ribfest: 1990s alternative rockers the Gin Blossoms play at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 10. Go to lithribfest.com.
• Itasca Fest: American English, popular Beatles tribute band, at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, July 11. Go to itasca.com.