Live & Uncorked returns June 8 to Blackberry Farm
Some jammin' news for fans of summer tunes, sing-a-longs and sunsets ...
Live & Uncorked, the Fox Valley Park District's popular outdoor concert series, is playing an extra week this year for a total of eight live performances at historic Blackberry Farm in Aurora.
Park district officials extended the summer lineup - which begins Thursday and runs through July 27 - to eight weeks, after last year's seven concerts collectively drew a record crowd of 3,986.
"We got a lot of feedback from guests wanting another week added on because they loved it so much," says Abby Oldenburg, Blackberry Farm's rentals and events manager who oversees Live & Uncorked.
The concert series celebrates its 10th season and plays to the 21-or-older crowd.
Tickets are $8 per person any day before the event or $10 day-of. Die-hard concertgoers can save more by purchasing a season pass for $56, which allows access to all eight performances.
To spare a wait outside the park, guests are encouraged to purchase tickets online, or in advance at Blackberry Farm, Vaughan Athletic Center, Prisco and Eola community centers, or Cole Center.
This year's lineup features a diverse medley of the Chicago area's favorite cover bands, including Libido Funk Circus, which kicks off the series on Thursday with an energetic show dedicated to disco.
The summer series also features:
• Hello Weekend ("a party train of pop") on June 15
• Billy Elton (legendary songs of Billy Joel and Elton John) on June 22
• Yankee Cowboy (country rock) on June 29
• Infinity (classic to current rock) on July 6
• R-Gang (R&B from Motown era to 21st century) on July 13
• Dancing Queen (a salute to ABBA) on July 20
• Semple (1970s rock to modern pop) on July 27
"By far one of my favorite lineups with big-name bands and some of the most popular in the Chicagoland area," says Oldenburg. "And there's also a wide variety of music - we have almost every genre covered."
Gates open at 6:15 p.m. and shows begin at 7 p.m. at Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road.
Guests are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs, picnic baskets, wagons, coolers and their favorite craft beer or bottled wine.
"The preconcert scene reminds me of a tailgate party, but inside the park," Oldenburg said. "The 45 minutes before the concert has that pregame energy when everyone socializes and gets their spots set up.
"People celebrate birthdays and have company parties here. There's definitely competitions on who brings the best spread, and we've seen inflatable couches and strings of lantern lights fastened around tables. It's just a really good Thursday night activity to get out and enjoy the summer."
For more information or to purchase individual tickets or season passes to "Live & Uncorked," visit foxvalleyparkdistrict.org/summerconcerts/.