Old Towne Pub Wasco becoming popular music place

CAMPTON HILLS – Old Towne Pub & Eatery Wasco is becoming a popular place to hear music, as well as a place to eat.

The restaurant, at 40W290 LaFox Road, Campton Hills, installed a full stage in February. Patrick Utroska, who owns Old Towne Pub Wasco with Jason Cellini, said the new stage has been getting attention.

“We’re getting good crowds,” Utroska said. “In addition, bands have said we have a nice venue here and want to know about playing here.”

Chicago band Henhouse Prowlers, which has gained critical acclaim as a bluegrass band, is among the bands that have performed at the restaurant. Old Towne Pub Wasco will celebrate the new stage with a grand opening starting at 9 p.m. July 10. A Phish tribute band, Phrenzy, also will perform as part of the night, and Geneva-based Penrose Brewing Company will be part of the festivities.

Dr. Steve Holtsford, an ER physician at Delnor Hospital in Geneva, has been helping book bands to play at the restaurant. Holtsford lives in Fox Mill subdivision near Old Towne Pub Wasco.

“We took him on board as kind of our band liaison,” Utroska said.

They also worked with Dan Yotz of Sound Sculptor, a Geneva-based sound engineer company. The restaurant, which has a capacity of 220 people, has been booking local and regional bands that perform within the bluegrass/jam/roots rock genres. However, Utroska said the restaurant is happy for bands of all genres to perform on the stage.

Information about Old Towne Pub Wasco is available by going to the restaurant's website, www.otpwasco.com.