Music notes: Blues on the Fox quite a bargain

Blues in the 'burbs

Some top-shelf talent is on the schedule for the annual Blues on the Fox festival taking place this weekend in Aurora. The festival, the first of three scheduled as part of the Downtown Alive! live music series, will feature such luminaries as Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Shemekia Copeland, Billy Branch and the Nevilles. The festival will be spread out over two days, and admission is an incredibly reasonable $5 per day, making this one of the best live-music bargains around.

6 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 15, and 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 16, at North River Street Park, New York and River streets, Aurora. $5. Go to downtown aliveaurora.com.

Record release

Blane Fonda, an infectious pop band with members from St. Charles, Naperville and Wheeling, will celebrate the release of its new record, “Foolish Croon,” with a show this weekend in the city. The band specializes in a danceable, high-energy brand of rock. Their songs remind me of the very best of all those great John Hughes soundtracks from the 1980s. Attendees at this show will be able to get the new CD along with the band's newest single.

9 p.m. Friday, June 15, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $10. Go to subt.net.

A strong ‘League'

The Ohio-born country-rock band Pure Prairie League makes an appearance in the suburbs. Pure Prairie League enjoyed a successful run in the 1970s and 1980s, scoring hits such as “Amie” and “Falling in and Out of Love.” The band, amid some membership changes, has continued to write and record new music since.

8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 21, at the Montrose Room, located inside the InterContinental Chicago O'Hare hotel, 5300 River Road, Rosemont. Tickets start at $20. Go to montroseroom.com.