Food and drink combine with arts at ECC's MicroFest
Elgin Community College Arts Center will host its first MicroFest Saturday, Oct. 15.
Described as a handcrafted night of music, theater, beer, and bites, the Arts Center's take on art festivals features three headlining performances, dishes crafted by ECC's Culinary Arts and Hospitality Program paired with Two Brothers Brewing Company beer, and a lobby party featuring a band, magician, games, giveaways and more surprises.
Headlining the fest are bluegrass band Whiskey Shivers, actor/musician John Slade's "I Sing Walt Whitman," and actor/dancer/juggler Peter Davison's "Tossed & Found."
"MicroFest was designed to bring unique, invigorating performers together in one event while also making the festival experience easy, comfortable, and fun," said Susanne Kepley, Arts Center manager of marketing. "Our aim was to provide an experience where you can enjoy multiple types of performances without typical festival hassles - it's one affordable night of great art, food and fun without sweaty crowds or travel headaches."
The festival starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Arts Center lobby with music, art, games, mini-performances, and giveaways. ECC's Culinary Arts and Hospitality program will be selling a menu of poutine, gourmet grilled cheese with smoked bacon and cupcakes each paired to a Two Brothers brew. A representative from Two Brothers will be on hand to discuss the beer and pairings.
At 7 p.m. the fun moves into the Arts Center's Blizzard Theatre where the headliners will perform in rotating sets. Slade will start the performances with "I Sing Walt Whitman." The piece - part play, part spiritual revival meeting and part concert - sets poet Walt Whitman's rolling verses to gospel, folk and hip-hop.
"Tossed & Found" starring Davison will take the stage after Slade. A cross between Charlie Chaplin, Fred Astaire and a cirque performer, Davison is a dancer, juggler and comedic actor. In "Tossed & Found," he turns discarded objects into dance partners, epic love stories and more, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Following "Tossed & Found," raucous bluegrass band Whiskey Shivers will perform. A returning Arts Center favorite, Whiskey Shivers describes itself as a "folk-tornado" and Arts Center director Steve Duchrow says that the band "sears bluegrass and punk rock into music that both Bill Monroe and The Ramones would love."
Tickets for MicroFest performances are $26. Food, beer and beverages will be sold separately at the event.
Tickets for all ECC Arts Center performances are available online at tickets.elgin.edu and by phone at (847) 622-0300. The Arts Center is located in Building H on the Elgin Community College campus at 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. The ECC Arts Center can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/eccartscenter and on Twitter @ECCArtsCenter.