By Mark Gregory
Nearly a decade after it stopped featuring live music, West suburban, Pheasant Run Resort is not only bringing concerts back – its gone country. The resort, located in St. Charles, kicked off the return of live concerts with country music superstars Montgomery Gentry on Nov. 1 and Comedian Jeff Foxworthy on Dec. 12. That’s not all; the biggest event yet is scheduled for next month.
Winterfest, a two-day music festival Jan. 16 and 17, will feature top country artists during a two-day non-stop country concert. Headlining the event will be Jason Aldean Friday and LeAnn Rimes Saturday. Aldean, touring in support of his second album, “Relentless” is an up-and-coming megastar in country music. His debut, self-titled album went platinum on singles like “Hicktown” and “Why.” The first single off relentless, “Johnny Cash” debuted with a bang as did the heartfelt second single, “Laughed until we cried.”
At 26, Rimes is already a country music veteran, as she released her first single, “Blue” at age 13. She has sold nearly 40 million albums and has claimed 12 Billboard Music Awards, three awards from the Academy of Country Music, two Grammys (the youngest to ever win a Grammy) and an American Music Award.
Accompanying the festival’s headline acts will be The Lost Trailers, Kellie Pickler, Julianne Hough and Joe Nichols on Friday; Jimmy Wayne, Darryl Worley, Trent Tomlinson and Phil Vassar on Saturday.
The Mega Center, which seats nearly 3,000, is a smaller, personal venue for fans to see some of their favorite artists. “You are up close and personal, no matter where you sit,” said Diane Rosenthal, Pheasant Run Resort’s General Manager, “It is more personal than, say, the United Center or AllState Arena. This is a great place and a lot of fun.” Rosenthal admitted when the booking process started, country music was not what was on her car radio every morning, but she and the resort knew it had the best fit to the property. And, in the process, she has taken to the music and its fans. “The fans were great at Montgomery Gentry,” she said. “Just a lot of good people that came out and had a great time.” Rosenthal believes Pheasant Run caters to the tastes of country fans. “We have a country feel, a down home feel, that we hope people enjoy,” she said. “And there really wasn’t a lot of places out there featuring country this way.” The Illinois venues that do spotlight country music have been successful in the past few years. Last year, the Academy of Country Music Awards recognized the Rialto Square Theater in Joliet as a nominee for Venue the Year and Joe’s Bar on Weed Street in Chicago was nominated for Nightclub of the Year.
While Pheasant Run wants to be just as, or more successful, they also want the music fans to return for the other entertainment offered. The resort holds live theater, comedy, a full-service spa and a well-kept golf course. The hotel offers concert or theater-goers a chance to make it a weekend get-a-way. In fact, those wishing to stay overnight are often rewarded with premier seating options as well. “We have a lot of unique things to offer,” said Rosenthal. “We hope people come and enjoy the concerts, but we also hope they come back. We hope they see that we have a play coming up or the spa or golf course. We are hoping the concerts will attract a new variety of people to Pheasant Run.”
All events and lodging information can be found at the resort’s Web site, www.pheasantrun.com.
Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in the Bugle Newspapers
