Naperville Ribfest adds Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Grand Funk Railroad to music lineup

Two more musical acts — Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Grand Funk Railroad — have been added to the entertainment lineup at this summer's Ribfest celebration in Naperville.

Shepherd will perform July 2 and Grand Funk on July 3 during the four-day festival sponsored by Naperville Exchange Club at Knoch Park near downtown.

They join a lineup that already includes Styx, REO Speedwagon, Montgomery Gentry and Phil Vassar.

Shepherd, who has been playing guitar since childhood, has sold millions of albums while compiling four Grammy nominations and two Billboard Music Awards.

He released the first in a string of platinum albums while still in high school and is acknowledged as one of the world's best blues guitarists. He and his band gathered several generations of blues legends at the House of Blues in Chicago and recorded the new “Live in Chicago” album.

Grand Funk Railroad, meanwhile, became a top-selling act in the 1970s and will perform more than 40 shows this year across the country. The band still includes original members Don Brewer and Mel Schacher, who are joined by Max Carl (once a member of 38 Special), Bruce Kulick (who spent 12 years with KISS) and Tim Cashion (who has performed with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band).

Ribfest will run July 1-4 and offers a variety of family activities as well as 16 rib vendors from across the country and music on two stages. All proceeds from the celebration go to support the elimination of child abuse and domestic violence.

For details, visit ribfest.net.