Taste of Chicago 2011 Concert Lineup Highlights Mix of Renowned Artists at Petrillo Music Shell
5/13/2011
In addition to catering to a variety of palettes, the Taste of Chicago in Grant Park treats music lovers’ ears to a daily, diverse lineup of internationally renowned and local artists from June 24 - July 3, 2011, at the Petrillo Music Shell.
This year, four of the City’s annual lakefront music festivals – Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival, the Chicago Country Music Festival, Celtic Fest Chicago and the Chicago Gospel Music Festival – will be incorporated into the Taste of Chicago, rather than be planned as stand-alone events.
On each of these specific days – Viva! Chicago Latin Music Day (June 24), Gospel Music Day (June 26), Celtic Music Day (June 29) and Country Music Day (July 1) – patrons can relax in one of the themed dining pavilions throughout the event and enjoy music, culture, cuisine and cooking demonstrations.
Opening night, Friday, June 24, Los Horoscopos de Durango kicks off the music lineup at 5 p.m. on Viva! Chicago Latin Music Day is sponsored in part by Univision Radio. The band’s origins trace back to 30 years ago in Chicago, and they are now one of the most popular groups both in the U.S. and Mexico for Regional Mexican music. They were nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2004 and 2005 for Album of the Year.
Artists for Saturday, June 25 are to be announced. The tentative show time is 6 p.m., and the concert is presented by Bud Light.
Sunday, June 26 is Gospel Music Day sponsored in part by Inspiration 1390AM. Choirs, groups, and soloists provide a range of treats from the soulful tunes of Reverend Milton Brunson’s Thompson Community Singers and everything in between up until the Grammy, Dove and Stellar Award-winning artist, the incomparable Donald Lawrence & Companytakes the stage.
Monday, June 27 at 6 p.m. is Broadway in Chicago presented by United Airlines. Patrons will be treated to a ""Taste"" of the Best of Broadway headlined by the casts of Beauty and The Beast, Million Dollar Quartet, West Side Story, Mary Poppins, Memphis, The Addams Family and others. ABC7's Janet Davies of 190 North hosts the evening. Program is subject to change.
Tuesday, June 28, The Lemonheads play the Petrillo Music Shell. Evan Dando, best known as singer/songwriter/guitarist of The Lemonheads, will be performing an intimate set featuring songs from his solo album and plenty of classic Lemonheads tunes that put him on the musical map, such as the cover of “Mrs. Robinson,” “Great Big No,” and selections from It’s a Shame About Ray. Dando is touring in support of his most recent covers album Varshons, which features a wide swath of genres, jumping from early British psychedelic to Dutch electronica.
Chicago-based power pop band Material re-Issue, formerly Material Issue, opens for The Lemonheads at 5 p.m. featuring new singer-guitarist, Phil Angotti. Material re-Issue is the 20th anniversary edition of the band’s acclaimed debut, International Pop Overthrow, featuring such favorites as “Valerie Loves Me” and “Diane,” plus eight bonus tracks.
Wednesday, June 29 Natalie MacMaster headlines Celtic Music Day starting at 5 p.m. The Canadian fiddler has performed with such artists as The Chieftains, Paul Simon, Faith Hill, and Luciano Pavarotti and has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, the ABC 2002 New Year’s Eve Special and Good Morning America. As a musician, she ranges from traditional folk to Texas and bluegrass swing, folk rock and new age, modern and old roots.
Liz Carroll, John Doyle and John Williams open for Natalie MacMaster. Liz Carroll and John Doyle were nominated for a Grammy in 2010 for their duet album, Double Play. John Williams was born and raised on the southwest side of Chicago and spent his summers during college performing in Ireland. He formed the groundbreaking Solas in 1995 with several musicians including John Doyle, and the group garnered two Grammy nominations for their 1996 and 1997 releases.
Eight-time Grammy Award-winning artist Natalie Cole performs Thursday, June 30 at 5:30 p.m. The concert is presented by V103. When her seminal Unforgettable…With Love album came out in 1991, the jazz collection set a new standard for reinventing the Great American Songbook. Yet she continues to astonish with her vocal dexterity – ranging from R&B, pop and jazz – and her intimate, knowing way with a lyric and melody. Her canon includes such hits as “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love),” “Inseparable,” “Pink Cadillac” and “Miss You Like Crazy.”
Friday, July 1, living legend Loretta Lynn headlines Country Music Day sponsored in part by US99.5. Last year marked the 50th anniversary of Lynn’s arrival on the music scene with her 1960 debut single, “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl.” As millions who read her 1976 autobiography or saw its Oscar winning 1980 film treatment are aware, Lynn is a Coal Miner’s Daughter who was raised in dire poverty. She went on to record empowering female statements as “You Wanna Give Me Lift” (1970), “I Wanna Be Free” (1971), “We’ve Come a Long Way Baby” (1978), and “One’s on the Way” (1972). She and Conway Twitty had a number of hugely popular duet performances from 1970-1982. The industry showered her with awards and accolades, including two Grammy Awards for Van Lear Rose in 2004, a collaboration with Jack White of The White Stripes.
Court Yard Hounds, featuring Martie Maguire and Emily Robison – the two sisters from Dixie Chicks -- kick off the night at 5 p.m. This side project to Dixie Chicks features personal songs that go back to their roots as a country pop band.
Saturday, July 2, The Jayhawks headline at 5 p.m. in a concert sponsored in part by 93XRT. The Minneapolis-based band emerged during the mid-‘80s as a rootsy Americana band that fused rock, country and folk in the post-punk era. Their timeless and modern sound combined with their initial prolific output sustained them and their loyal following 25 years later. Chicago is one of the lucky cities that The Jayhawks will play as they tour in support of the January 2011 reissue of their first two classic albums for American Recordings, 1992’s Hollywood Town Hall and 1995’s The Green Grass, now featuring several bonus tracks.
Everest opens for The Jayhawks at 3 p.m. While one can draw some clues from the folks they’ve toured with – Neil Young, Wilco, My Morning Jacket – ultimately Everest is simply a great rock ‘n’ roll band in the classic, open-minded mold, something boldly apparent on their sophomore release, On Approach on Vapor Records.
Sunday, July 3 Greyson Chance performs the concert at 3 p.m. presented by Radio Disney AM 1300 Chicago. He garnered national attention after posting his performance of Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” on YouTube and following it with an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”
Triple threat actor, singer and dancer Shane Harper opens for Greyson Chance in support of his recently released self-titled debut album. Harper is a principal dancer in High School Musical 2 and is on the Disney Channel’s sitcom, Good Luck Charlie.
Taste aims to enhance the customer experience this year with more dining pavilions and seating throughout the entire event. New Taste parking lots are available for a special discounted rate. Take the free McDonald’s Family Trolley from the Taste lots to the event. See www.tasteofchicago.us for more details, lot locations and maps.
Take public transportation to the Taste. For CTA, RTA and Metra travel routes, call 836-7000 in all Chicago area codes, 312-836-4949 (TTY) or visit www.transitchicago.com.
Hours at the Taste of Chicago are 11 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. from June 24-July 2 and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on July 3. Admission to Taste of Chicago is free. Food and beverage tickets are sold in strips of 12 for $8 (includes $2 charge for Taste amenities). Purchase food and beverage tickets in advance for only $6 per strip from June 16-23 when you show your Fresh Values Card at Dominick’s. Tickets are $8 per strip from June 24-July 3 while supplies last at Dominick’s.
For more information, visit www.tasteofchicago.us or call 312-742-4387.
Taste of Chicago is presented by the Chicago Park District and by Bud Light, Chicago Tribune, Pepsi, Chicago Transit Authority, United Airlines, V103, Inspiration 1390AM, Dominick's, Eli's Cheesecake Company, E.J. Gallo Winery, Hinckley Springs, Humana, Illinois Lottery, Radio Disney AM 1300 Chicago, Shoreline Sightseeing, 93XRT, CLTV-ChicagoLand's Television, Communications Direct, LaGrou Distribution System, WGN-Television, McDonald’s, Target, Sensodyne, Univision Radio, US99.5, Dyson Air Multiplier Fan, and Healthcraft.
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