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Four-day Glen Ellyn fest features sampling of food, music

The Taste of Glen Ellyn festival, by its title, suggests there’s food to be eaten.

Indeed, 16 food vendors will tempt those who attend the 33rd annual festival in downtown Glen Ellyn that opens Thursday, May 16, and continues through the weekend.

But the village’s first major outdoor festival of the year also is known for its music, and this year, event organizers have put together a lineup aimed at pleasing a variety of musical tastes that features performers of varying ages.

On Saturday afternoon, the rock group Rebelmann — formed in the fall of 2009 by junior high students in Glen Ellyn — will return to the stage where it played its first gig just three years ago. Since that time, the band has performed at the Whisky A Go-Go, a West Hollywood club where the likes of The Doors and Led Zeppelin have played. The group also recorded its first two singles under the guidance of a Los Angeles producer.

The band often covers tunes by KISS, AC/DC, Foghat, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kid Rock, Twisted Sister, The Who and Guns ’N’ Roses. Rebelmann will take the stage at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Rebelmann will be followed by the Chicago School of Rock Show Team at 3:30 p.m., featuring 12 to 14 of the best students of the rock ’n’ roll musical school on Chicago’s North Side. The group has performed at Lollapalooza in Chicago and Summerfest in Milwaukee — just a smidgen of the 60 or so shows they perform every summer, according to Adam Mackintosh, the Chicago regional manager of the School of Rock.

The band features performers from the ages of 14 through 18.

“(People’s) jaws hit the floor when they realize none of the people on stage have a driver’s license,” Mackintosh said.

The School of Rock opened a new location this month at 536b Crescent Blvd. in Glen Ellyn, and already has about 40 students signed up, he said.

The school also will host a “rock tent” in the vendor area of the festival where wannabe performers of any age can sign up on the spot to learn how to play a song in 30 minutes.

And rock isn’t the only type of music the fest will feature.

Hillbilly Rockstarz, Chicago’s self-proclaimed “country super group,” will perform top 40 country hits from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Sunday will feature two blues performances: Ryan Mumby and the Hundred Year Rain from 3 to 4:30 p.m., and the Bad Blood Blues Band featuring John Hill from 5 to 7 p.m.

“We’re trying to bring in some of the kids, a little county and blues, and of course rock ’n’ roll,” said Georgia Koch, the co-executive director of the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the annual festival.

Other events planned include a craft fair from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. The annual Village Fair carnival on Crescent Boulevard near McChesney and Miller started Wednesday and continues through Sunday.

For information and a complete music lineup, visit glenellynchamber.com.

  The band Rebelmann with brothers Clayton Mann and twins Bryce and Johnathon will perform Saturday afternoon at the Taste of Glen Ellyn. Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com, DECEMBER 2011

If you go

What: 33rd annual Taste of Glen Ellyn

When: 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, May 16; 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 17; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 18; noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, May 19

Where: Main Street parking lot next to Giesche Shoe Store, 400 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn

Cost: Free

Info: (630) 469-0907 or glenellynchamber.com

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