John Mellencamp, Stevie Nicks, Common coming to Ravinia this summer

Posted March 15, 2017 12:01 am

By Scott C. Morgan

Stevie Nicks makes her Ravinia Festival debut in Highland Park on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 9 and 10. Associated Press, 2016

Stevie Nicks, Common and John Mellencamp are just a few of the 59 artists making their Ravinia Festival debuts this summer.

The historic Highland Park venue announced its full season of festival newcomers and returning favorites.

Other Ravinia newcomers of note include Sammy Hagar (June 19), Lila Downs (July 1), Andrew Bird (July 23), Alanis Morissette (Aug. 25), the a cappella group Pentatonix (Aug. 28) and Tony Award-winning "Hamilton" Broadway star Leslie Odom Jr. (Aug. 13).

Common appears June 24. Mellencamp performs Aug. 26 and 27, and Nicks performs Sept. 9 and 10.

Previous Ravinia headliners include Willie Nelson (June 16), Aretha Franklin (June 17), Diana Krall (June 28), Sheryl Crow (July 7), Tony Bennett (Aug. 4), Santana (Aug. 11 and 12), Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons (Sept. 8), Smokey Robinson (Sept. 15) and The Moody Blues to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the album "Days of Future Passed" (June 30).

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra returns for its 82nd annual summer residency with former music director James Levine returning to conduct Haydn's biblical oratorio "The Creation" (Aug. 8). The CSO will also play Howard Shore's score to all three of the "Lord of the Rings" films (Aug. 18-20), while famed soloists such as violinist Joshua Bell (July 12) and pianist Lang Lang (July 29) make anticipated returns.

Visiting classical ensembles include the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra from Switzerland (Aug. 22), the National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela with conductor Gustavo Dudamel (Sept. 14) and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra performing Justin Hurwitz's Academy Award-winning score for a screening of "La La Land" (June 18).

Tickets are available to donors beginning Wednesday, March 22, and go on sale to the general public Tuesday, May 9. Call (847) 266-5000 or visit ravinia.org for a full schedule.

Chicago hip-hop star Common makes his Ravinia Festival debut in Highland Park on Saturday, June 24. Associated Press, 2015

Chicago-area native Andrew Bird makes his Ravinia Festival debut in Highland Park on Sunday, July 23. Associated Press, 2013

John Mellencamp makes his Ravinia Festival debut in Highland Park on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 26 and 27. Associated Press, 2015

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