Serenades of the Summer
Concert series make their return for another music-filled summer
By Mia Jones
Sweet summertime calls for ample entertainment opportunities and good live music. Luckily, residents of all different communities are welcome to enjoy the variety of live music this summer.
Classics like Hinsdale’s Uniquely Thursdays will continue at Burlington Park with more music and food vendors to make for a perfect evening.
The Downers Grove Park District Summer Concert Series will return to Fishel Park after hosting 20,000 visitors last summer. Read on to discover when and where to get groovy this summer.
Downers Grove
Park District presents “Summer Concert Series”
The Eric Hamilton Team at Guaranteed Rate presents this summertime concert series at Fishel Park’s Veterans Memorial Pavilion in Downers Grove. The concert series will take place every Tuesday evening through August 13, featuring a wide variety to listen to. From country music with Nashville Electric Company to the best of the 70s from The Disco Circus, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
All the concerts are free entry, and the music will play from 7:00-8:30 p.m., with food and alcohol sales beginning at 6:00 p.m. Lots of different food trucks and vendors will be available. Free children’s face painting will occur from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Additionally, every week, a veteran and their family will be recognized to honor their service. For more information on performances and food vendors, visit dgparks.org.
The Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce presents “Uniquely Thursdays”
Hinsdale’s Uniquely Thursdays, a free event presented by The Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce, UChicago Medicine, and Advent Health, returns to Burlington Park this summer with a fresh musical lineup. Running through August 22, live bands and food vendors will fill Burlington Park every Thursday evening from 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Food vendors, such as Sugar Mama’s and Guiliano’s Ristorante, will be available for purchase, along with beer and wine. Bring blankets and chairs to enjoy watching Kelly Daniels on July 25 or Semple Band on August 15! For more information on additional performances or the event, visit hinsdalechamber.com.
Oak Brook
Park District presents “Summer Concert Series”
This concert series will now be held at the brand-new Oaks Amphitheater, located at 1315 Kensington Road. Free concerts will be held every Thursday evening starting at 6:30 p.m., lasting through August 8.
Fantastic live music includes Live Stream on July 11 and Anchors Away on August 1. Make sure to bring your blankets and chairs. For more information on the event and sponsoring, visit obparks.org.
Westmont Special Events presents “Westmont Cruisin’ Nights & Street Fair”
Head over to Cass Avenue and Norfolk Street in Westmont every Thursday evening between 5:00 and 9:00 p.m. for classic cars, live music, food and drink, and kids’ entertainment!
This all-around family-fun event is free for anyone who would like to attend, and it will occur through August 29. For more information, please visit westmontevents.com.
Burr Ridge Village Center presents “Concerts on the Village Green”
These free concerts will be held for the public every Thursday evening from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Burr Ridge Village Center at 701 Village Center Drive.
The concerts will last through August 1. It is encouraged to RSVP on Burr Ridge Village Center’s Facebook page to receive event updates. However, everyone is welcome to walk in and enjoy the music. Bring lawn chairs and blankets.
Rosie & the Rivets and The Chicago Experience are a few of the awesome performers coming this summer. Participants are welcome to come as early as 6:00 p.m. to get a good spot to relax and enjoy the summer fun. Please visit shopburrridge.com or Burr Ridge Village Center on Facebook for more information.
Brookfield Zoo presents “Roaring Nights”
Attend this summer concert series at the East Mall in Brookfield Zoo to contribute to their mission of providing animal care and environmental education. Live music, food, and drink will help to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Concerts will take place from 6:00-9:00 p.m. on Friday, July 12, and Saturday, July 27, featuring Barenaked Ladies and Gin Blossoms.
On concert nights, several of Brookfield’s animal habitats, along with the carousel ride, will remain open until 7:00 p.m. This event is an entry with a ticket only, and tickets range in price from $45-$55. For every individual adult ticket purchased, one child 12 and under is free. VIP ticket packages are also available for those over 21 years old. Visit brookfieldzoo.org to learn more.
Elmhurst City Centre presents “Wednesday Nights Live in Elmhurst”
Bring your family and friends to the North York Stage at Elmhurst City Centre every Wednesday evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m. for free live music. Multiple of Chicagoland’s tribute bands will play under the Umbrella Sky Installation.
Performances include, but are not limited to, Funky Monks on July 24 and Fearless, a Taylor Swift tribute band, on July 31. Performances will occur every Wednesday night through August 7.
The Ravinia Music Festival 2024
The Ravinia Music Festival, America’s oldest music festival, returns for another season of summer entertainment in Highland Park.
The festival runs from June 7 to September 15, and most events will be held at The Pavilion at Ravinia, including the performance from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. This very diverse festival will include performances from Ben Platt, The Roots, Gaelic Storm, Norah Jones, and The Beach Boys with John Stamos.
Tickets for individual performances are now on sale and can still be purchased via Ravinia’s website. You must have an account with Ravinia to purchase available tickets. Visit ravinia.org for more information on a variety of other concerts and events happening this summer.
The Morton Arboretum presents “Arbor Evenings”
Bring blankets and chairs to Frost Hill to enjoy these performances every Wednesday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. through August 21. If one concert is canceled due to inclement weather conditions, it will be moved to the evening of August 28.
Parking is available in Parking Lot 1. Admission into the events begins at 5:15 p.m., and there will be food, drink, and ice cream from different vendors available for purchase if wanted.
Outside food is welcome as well, but no outside alcoholic beverages may be brought into Morton Arboretum. Many Chicago-based bands will perform at The Morton Arboretum this summer, including ARRA on July 17, and The PriSSillas on August 14. For those who are members, children through age 12 are free, and anyone 13 and older is $10 a ticket.
For guests, infants (younger than 2) are free, children (ages 2-12) are $5, and adults (13 and older) are $15 a ticket. Visit mortonarb.org to purchase member or guest tickets and find more information on the individual performances. ■
Let’s Get the Band Back Together
Some of the best tribute bands in the Chicago area will soon be near you this summer
By Mia Jones | Photo courtesy of JPM Photography
Sixteen Candles, a Chicago-born tribute band, has been keeping 80s music alive since 2003. The five band members and their team now travel across the country to perform and bring the 80s to their audience for a memorable concert experience. The members each have their own unique and individual talents to bring forth the music from the decade they love into a new, fresh style.
“We shorten some songs that seem to drag on and medley them into other songs. For us, it’s a fun and creative way to perform and keeps everyone on their toes,” said the Sixteen Candles team.
“For us, the 80s is just fun music. It was so experimental at the time, and people were really writing ‘out-of-the-box’ type of stuff. Growing up listening to that, it just made sense to go 80s.”
– Sixteen Candles
Sixteen Candles continues to come up with new ways to excite its audience at every performance, and they play a different song list every night. “For us, the 80s is just fun music. It was so experimental at the time and people were really writing ‘out of the box’ type of stuff. Growing up listening to that, it just made sense to go 80s.”
With an extensive set list, Sixteen Candles has performed a variety of shows all over the U.S., from Las Vegas to Indianapolis. In the past, they have played at some big venues, including Soldier Field in Chicago. “The home opener halftime show of the Chicago Bears 100th year is our favorite performance we’ve put on. We played in the end zone during halftime,” said the band.
Sixteen Candles will return this summer to Taste of Oak Brook on July 3 at the Village Sports Core Fields. They will also be performing at Warrenville Summer Daze on August 2, and Elmhurst Rock the Block on September 7.
Tribute bands keep hits of the past and present decades alive. They can even repurpose that music into something more distinct, differentiating themselves from other bands. Make sure to check out upcoming performances to avoid missing out on an unforgettable experience and a trip down memory lane.
