MAC hosts Blues & Barbeque Birthday Bash Sept. 17
The McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd. in Glen Ellyn, celebrates 25 years and the kick-off of its 2011-12 season with a Blues & Barbeque Birthday Bash from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17.
A state-of-the-art facility, housing three performance spaces, an art gallery and classrooms, the MAC has served more than 1.5 million people since its opening in 1986. Last year, the facility welcomed more than 75,000 patrons from the greater Chicago area to more than 230 performances.
Featuring acclaimed local Blues musicians and a unique menu of classic and modern interpretations of regional American fare from award-winning Sweet Baby Ray's, as well as a selection of beverages from Two Brothers Brewing and I Have a Bean coffee, the Birthday Bash is an opportunity to celebrate the MAC's continued success as well as to look forward to the arts facility's future, said MAC Director Stephen Cummins.
“Nearly three decades ago, College of DuPage took on the monumental task of constructing this facility, giving our students resources to study the arts and providing the community a venue where they could take in some of the best music, theater and dance,” Cummins said. “Since its opening, the MAC has welcomed millions through its doors, inspiring and entertaining audiences while enriching the vitality of the community. This event is the culmination of the support the community has given to the MAC. It is the appreciative and engaged community that makes the MAC what it has become over the past 25 years.”
Scheduled entertainment for the Sept. 17 event includes Erwin Helfer and Katherine Davis and The Dave Specter Band featuring Jimmy Johnson and Brother John Kattke on piano and organ.
The evening begins with a mostly acoustic set with Helfer and Davis. Helfer, known as a “Chicago boogie woogie innovator,” has been playing and performing for more than 40 years and has recorded several albums, including “Heavy Timbre,” a compilation of Chicago blues pianists, several LPs for his own record label Red Beans, and two CDs for Austrian Label CMA. He regularly performs at Chicago clubs and events, including the Chicago Blues Festival.
Raised on the music of Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington and Muddy Waters, Katherine Davis studied opera at the Sherwood Conservatory of Music and launched her professional career after Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith in Kuumba Theatre's production of “In the Heart of the Blues,” Following her successful debut, she began singing in jazz and blues clubs, festivals and concerts throughout the U.S., Canada, Japan, Europe, the Caribbean and Venezuela.
Blues guitarist, bandleader and producer Dave Specter has performed regularly at top Chicago blues and jazz clubs in addition to festivals and concert halls throughout the USA since 1985. He has toured internationally and has performed and recorded with such blues and jazz artists as Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Otis Rush and Mighty Joe Young.
Grammy-nominated guitarist Jimmy Johnson has toured internationally, bringing his soulful vocals and guitar skills to audiences around the world. After 20 years of success as a guitarist and bandleader, Johnson formed his own band. The result was a Grammy nomination for his contributions to Living Chicago Blues, Vol. 1. Since that time, the acclaimed guitarist released several albums and continues to play clubs and other venues.
Vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Brother John Kattke has built a strong reputation in Chicago with his repertoire of classic rock, New Orleans, Blues, swing and instrumental jazz. Kattke and his band have drawn large crowds at the Chicago Blues Festival and the guitarist has played alongside Eric Clapton, the Black Crowes, Buddy Guy and Koko Taylor.
Tickets to the MAC's Blues & Barbeque Birthday Bash are $25 each and include two barbeque entrees. Gates open at 5 p.m. and festival goers are encouraged to bring their own chairs and an appetite for good food.
Sponsorship support for this event is provided by Sweet Baby Ray's, Two Brothers Brewing Co. and I Have a Bean coffee. Media support is provided by 90.9fm WDCB Public Radio from College of DuPage.
For more information, call the MAC Ticket Office at (630) 942-4000, or visit: www.atthemac.org.