BERWYN – It’s that time of year again for the definitive summer music festival for fans of blues, rock, pop, zydeco, soul, funk, jazz, country and folk in Berwyn.
FitzGerald’s Nightclub’s 34th annual American Music Festival will be held from July 1 to 4 and will bring more than 50 artists from Chicago and around the country to the club, 6615 W. Roosevelt Road.
Shows will be held rain or shine on the club stage, in the festival tent and at the FitzGerald’s SideBar.
Hours are 4:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. July 1 and 2 and 10:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. July 4 and 5.
The four-day event – the oldest festival of its kind in the Chicago area – is sponsored by FitzGerald’s, 93XRT and Miller Lite.
Advance tickets are being sold each day in addition to a festival four-day pass. An early bird discount of $5 will be offered until 5:30 p.m. July 1 and 2 and 2 p.m. July 3 and 4.
Returning are some of the favorites of the club and fans alike, including the Joe Ely Band with guitarist Dave Grissom, Dale Watson, Jimmy LaFave, Eric Lindell, Paul Thorn, Uncle Lucius, Bill Kirchen & Redd Volkaert Band, Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, Marcia Ball and Eilen Jewell.
Up-and-coming artists JD McPherson, Pokey LaFarge, Lera Lynn, Andrew Combs, Dustbowl Revival, Nora Jane Struthers, Curtis McMurtry and Bailey Dee and more also will play the festival.
There also will be a handful of special performances at the fest. Powerhouse singers Amy Black and Sarah Borges will present a soulful tutorial on the incredible music that came out of Muscle Shoals, Alabama; a celebration of Bob Dylan’s songbook with separate performances by Tributosaurus and The Zimmermen, featuring Cathy Richardson; and appearances by School of Rock on Tour featuring young performers from around the country on two stages to get the festival started.
Tom “Festival” Cimms will return with his mix of classic American and New Orleans dishes, including Cochon de Lait, New Orleans BBQ shrimp, grilled mahi mahi with Creole mustard sauce, Andouille sausage po’ boys, shrimp Creole, jambalaya and bratwurst and hot dogs.
A daily Cajun special and a vegetarian salad option also will be offered.
Capri Ristorante will serve Italian beef and sausage sandwiches.
Tickets are $25 on July 1 and $35 from July 2 through 4 at TicketWeb, www.ticketweb.com, and in person at FitzGerald's. A four-day pass is available for $100 at TicketWeb only.
A lanyard can be picked up at will call during the fest. Children 12 and younger are welcome with parents until 10 p.m. Tickets are $5, but children’s tickets will not be sold in advance.
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Music schedule
JULY 1: Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
n In the Tent
– 5 p.m.: Mississippi Mudpuppies
– 6:30 p.m.: Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound
– 8:15 p.m.: Lindi Ortega
– 10 p.m.: Pokey LaFarge
n In the Club
– 7:30 p.m.: Alanna Royale
– 9:30 and 11:15 p.m.: Eric Lindell
n In the SideBar
– 7:30 p.m.: Mississippi Mudpuppies
– 9 and 10:45 p.m.: Tim Carroll
JULY 2: Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
n In the Tent
– 5 p.m.: Girls, Guns and Glory
– 6:45 p.m.: Nora Jane Struthers & the Party Line
– 8:30 p.m.: JD McPherson
– 10:30 p.m.: Joe Ely Band featuring guitarist David Grissom
n In the Club
– 6 p.m.: Will Kimbrough
– 7:30 p.m.: Andrew Combs
– 9:15 p.m.: Uncle Lucius
– 11:30 p.m.: Sarah Borges
n In the SideBar
– 7:30 p.m.: Leadfoot Band
– 9 p.m.: Bunkertown
– 11 p.m.: Cannonball
JULY 3: Doors open at 10:30 a.m.
n In the Tent
– 11 a.m.: School of Rock on Tour
– 1:30 p.m.: Sarah Portenza
– 3:15 p.m.: The Zimmermen with Cathy Richardson
– 5:15 p.m.: Dustbowl Revival
– 7:45 p.m.: Tributosaurus becomes Bob Dylan
– 10:15 p.m.: Paul Thorn
n In the Club
– 11 a.m.: School of Rock on Tour
– 2:45 p.m.: Michelle Malone
– 4:30 p.m.: 24th Street Wailers
– 6:15 p.m.: Lera Lynn
– 8 p.m.: Waco Brothers
– 9:45 p.m.: Eilen Jewell
– 11:30 p.m.: Glen David Andrews
n In the SideBar
– 4:30 p.m.: Charlie Parr
– 6:30 p.m.: Dead Horses
– 8:15 p.m.: The Belvederes
– 9:45 p.m.: 24th Street Wailers
– 11:30 p.m.: Expo ‘76
JULY 4: Doors open at 10:30 a.m.
n In the Tent:
– 10:15 p.m.: Marcia Ball Band
– 8:15 p.m.: Glen David Andrews
– 6:30 p.m.: Bill Kirchen and Redd Volkaert Band
– 4:30 p.m.: Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience
– 2:45 p.m: W.C. Clark Blues Band
– 1:30 p.m.: Salty Dogs Trad Jazz Band
– 11 a.m. School of Rock on Tour
n In the Club
– 11 a.m.: School of Rock on Tour
– 2:15 p.m.: A Muscle Shoals Music Revue with Amy Black and Sarah Borges
– 4 p.m.: Kevin Gordon Band
– 5:45 p.m.: Jon Dee Graham & the Fighting Cocks
– 7:30 p.m.: Jimmy LaFave
– 9:30 p.m.: Dale Watson
– 11:30 p.m.: Honey Island Swamp Band
n In the SideBar
– 4 p.m.: Luke Underhill
– 5:30 p.m.: Harvey Cameron
– 7:15 p.m.: Robin Bienemann
– 9 p.m.: Bailey Dee & Her Late Night Bait
– 10:45 p.m.: Curtis McMurtry
– Midnight: What Four with Scott Ligon, Casey McDonough, Phil Angotti, Matt Warren
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