Submissions opening for Homegrown music festival

The Homegrown Arts & Music Festival, the suburbs' yearly celebration of original local musicians, is returning to its origins as an all-day, in-person event this summer.

After the COVID-19 pandemic forced a change to a mostly livestreamed event last September, the 9th annual Homegrown is scheduled to bring 30 artists and bands back to BaseCamp Pub in Lisle Saturday, July 31.

Submissions to play the festival open Monday, April 19.

Aaron Williams, the founder and organizer of the fest, says this year he's "bringing it back home."

"I want to reward those people who have been a part of our family, a part of our fest over the years," he said.

Staying true to its mission of shining a spotlight on up-and-coming musicians, Williams said he also plans to include a few favorites from Homegrowns past. The lineup will feature a mix of acoustic performances and full bands across two stages.

Musicians looking to participate can find more information at homegrownartsandmusicfestival.com. The submission window will be open for two weeks or until he reaches 100 submissions, Williams said.