September Concerts
August 30, 2009 by CountryMusicChicago.com Staff
Filed under Burbs, Chicago, Chicago Country, Events
As summer wraps up, September continues to add Chicago’s summer country music concert season.
David Nail with the Carter Twins
Friday, September 4, 2009 – 8:30PM
Joe’s Bar*, 940 W. Weed St, Chicago
$8 – ticketmaster.com
Randy Travis
Friday, September 4, 2009 – 8PM
Paramount Theatre – 23 East Galena Blvd, Aurora
$49 – $64 – ticketmaster.com
George Jones
Friday, September 4, 2009 – 8PM
Hemmens Auditorium – 45 Symphony Way, Elgin
$45 – $85 – hemmens.org
The Hoyle Brothers
Friday, September 4, 2009 – 5:30PM
The Empty Bottle* – 1035 N. Western Ave, Chicago
FREE – emptybottle.com
On the Waterfront 2009
Thursday, September 3 – Sunday, September 6
Downtown Rockford
onthewaterfront.com
Jason Aldean with Katie Armiger– Great Lawn Stage
September 4, 2009 – 7 & 9PM
$30 – $50 – onthewaterfront.comJake Owen – Center Stage
Saturday, September 5, 2009 – 10:15PM
$18 (in advance) festival passHeidi Newfield – Center Stage
Sunday, September 6, 2009 – 9:30PM
$18 (in advance) festival pass
Julie Kaylin & Aural Support
Saturday, September 5, 2009 – 1PM
Frankfort Fall Fest – 140 S LaGrange Rd, Frankfort
frankfortfallfestival.info
Bucky Covington
US99 “Live Country” Series
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 – 8PM
Joe’s Bar*, 940 W. Weed Street, Chicago
Tickets available through US99.com
Jack Ingram with Steel Magnolia and Randy Montana
Friday, September 11, 2009 – 8PM
Joe’s Bar*, 940 W. Weed St, Chicago
$12 – ticketmaster.com
Lonestar
Friday, September 11, 2009 – 8PM
Sandwich Fair – Pratt & Somonauk Road, Sandwich
$10 – $20 – sandwichfair.com
Randy Rogers Band
Friday, September 18, 2009 – 10PM
Joe’s Bar*, 940 W. Weed Street, Chicago
$10 – ticketmaster.com
Sugarland
Friday, September 18, 2009 – 7:30PM
Bradley Center – 1001 North 4th Street, Milwaukee, WI
$26 – $56 – ticketmaster.com
Toby Keith with Trace Atkins
Saturday, September 19, 2009 – 8:30PM
First Midwest Bank Amphitheater – 19100 South Ridgeland Ave, Tinley Park
$30 – $70 – livenation.com
Katie Quick
Saturday, September 19, 2009 – 9PM
Yak-zies Wrigleyville*, 3701 N. Clark, Chicago
$5 (door) – katiequick.com
David Allan Coe
Saturday, September 19, 2009 – 8PM
Durty Nellies*, 180 N. Smith St, Palatine
$22 – ticketmaster.com
Lucky Town
Sunday, September 20, 2009 – 6PM
Blue Chip Casino* – 777 Blue Chip Dr, Michigan City, IN
luckytownmusic.com
Jason Boland and the Stragglers with Charlie Robison
Friday, September 25, 2009 – 9PM
Joe’s Bar*, 940 W. Weed St, Chicago
$8 – ticketmaster.com
Upcoming: The Chicago Country Music Festival featuring Miranda Lambert, John Rich and Jamey Johnson; Gary Allan, Darius Rucker, Gretchen Wilson and more.
* denotes this venue requires patrons to be over the age of 21.
CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock
August 29, 2009 by CountryMusicChicago.com Staff
Filed under Country Music
Can’t get tickets to Carrie Underwood’s sold-out performance at Ravinia on Monday? Join the club and watch the CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock on Monday at 7 p.m. on ABC (WLS-7 local).
Filmed during the Country Music Association’s annual CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Tenn., the three hour television special will showcase more than 20 of country music hottest artists including Kenny Chesney, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, Sugarland and Taylor Swift.
The original festival spanned over four days with over a hundred hours of music but Monday night’s special will cover some of the festival’s biggest highlights.
For exclusive backstage footage from the festival, visit cmafest.com.
Chicago Country Music Festival Lineup
August 29, 2009 by Scott Winterroth, Editor
Filed under Chicago, Events, FEATURED
In a recent announcement, the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office of Special Events released the entertainment lineup for the 2009 Chicago Country Music Festival. The free, two-day festival is set to return to Grant Park on Oct. 3 and 4 and will feature of a variety of country music entertainment ranging from the platinum recording artist Miranda Lambert (Oct. 3) to a variety local, Chicago-based talent. Joining Lambert as the festival headliners are Jamey Johnson, the 2009 Academy of Country Music Album of the Year winner, and John Rich, best known for his half of the duo Big & Rich. Rich will close the festival on Sunday.
A noteworthy addition to the festival lineup includes a special traveling songwriter series featuring Lee Ann Womack and some of Nashville’s mega-hit songwriters. The 2009 CMA Songwriter Series featuring Bob DiPiero, Dean Dillon and Scotty Emerick will join the Chicago Country Music Festival lineup on Sat, Oct. 3 on the Americana Stage.
In addition to the music lineup, the festival will feature a dance tent, farmers market, art fair and a Kids Corral. For the full entertainment line-up, visit chicagocountrymusicfestival.us.
Stay-tuned to CountryMusicChicago.com for additional coverage on the 2009 Chicago Country Music Festival.
Country Rocks the Zoo
August 25, 2009 by Scott Winterroth, Editor
Filed under Chicago Country, FEATURED, Live Reviews, News
LIVE REVIEW:
Familiar faces made for one awesome concert in an unconventional space.
We would hate to say that country music stars Josh Gracin’s and Darryl Worley’s music is for the birds but on Sunday, it was. It was also for all of the other types of animals, reptiles and whatever else can be found at a zoo.
In celebration of Brookfield Zoo’s 75th Anniversary, Gracin and Worley performed a special concert on the lawn of the zoo’s East Mall that was so awesome, the snakes managed to clap. During the stage change, concertgoers even received a special introduction to one of the Zoo’s beautiful bald eagles.
As for the show itself, Gracin seems to have his way with fast paced songs. With hits like “Nothin’ to Lose”, “Favorite State of Mind” and even a cover of Garth Brooks’ “Ain’t Going Down Till the Sun Comes Up,” he seams to just rip through them ease. While on stage, the former season-two American Idol contestant remarked that he couldn’t find a way to fit Chicago or Illinois into his hit song “Favorite State of Mind,” but from the look of the crowd, it didn’t seem to matter.
Worley, who is off the release of his newest album, “Sounds Like Life” performed some new cuts off the album and his greatest hits like “Have You Forgotten?” and “Awful Beautiful Life.” His set was highly energetic and it was refreshing to see Worley perform live.
In addition to Gracin and Worley, local artists Cross County Junction and Erica Iozzo were on hand to add to the party.
Between the artists, the beautiful weather and the help of AStar Promotions, in our opinion, Zoo Tunes will definitely go down in the Zoo’s history book as one heck of a show.
Fore more photos of Zoo Tunes, visit the CMC Word on the Street Gallery or upload your photos from the show to our Facebook Fan Page.
Illinois to celebrate Pat Green Day
August 21, 2009 by CountryMusicChicago.com Staff
Filed under Chicago Country, FEATURED, News
CHICAGO – Illinois Governor Pat Quinn will pronounce today as “Pat Green Day” in honor of the country music star, Pat Green.
Joined by Quinn and US99 morning show co-host Lisa Dent, Green, 37, performed at Joe’s Bar on Thursday for the venue’s “Tex Fest.” Green will perform a second show tonight at the North Side venue.
A Texas native, Green’s country music career includes several chart topping hits including “Wave on Wave”, “Feels Just Like It Should” and his most recent hit “Let Me” from the album “What I’m For” which was released earlier this year under the Sony Nashville-BNA Records.
Green will join country music star George Strait who was honor with “George Strait Day” by Governor Quinn in May 2009.
Updated: Listen to the raw audio from the declaration ceremony including a performance of Green’s hit, “Wave on a Wave”: Illinois Government News Network
Download Pat Green’s music in iTunes: 
Lions, Tigers & Josh Gracin?
August 20, 2009 by CountryMusicChicago.com Staff
Filed under Burbs, Concert Alerts, Events
CONCERT ALERT:
While country music artists sometimes sing about animals, this weekend country music’s finest will be singing with the animals. On Sunday, Josh Gracin, Darryl Worley and Cross County Junction are set for a special Zoo Tunes concert at Brookfield Zoo.
Not only can you catch an awesome line-up of country music, you can enjoy all the great exhibits the Zoo has to offer and still get into the concert for free, with a paid admission to the Zoo. Don’t forget, the Zoo has their limited engagement “Dinosaurs Alive” exhibit now through October.
After serving in the U.S. Military, Gracin broke into the country music scene after his season two debut on the television show American Idol. Following his success on Idol, his self-titled, debut album certified Gold and produced hits like “I Want To Live”, “Nothing to Lose” and “Stay With Me (Brass Bed).” In 2006, Gracin released his sophomore album titled “We Weren’t Crazy” and includes a handful of chart topping hits like “Favorite State of Mind” and “I Keep Coming Back”. Gracin has a third album in the works but a release date hasn’t been set.
Worley’s multi-platinum country music career includes many chart topping hits like “Have You Forgotten”, “Awful Beautiful Life” and “If Something Should Happen.” Most recently Worley released his latest album, “Sounds Like Life.”
CONCERT DETAILS:
Josh Gracin, Darryl Worley and Cross County Junction
Zoo Tunes
WHEN: Sunday, August 23, 2009 | 1 p.m, 3 p.m, and 5 p.m.
WHERE:Brookfield Zoo – East Mall – 8400 31st St, Brookfield
TICKETS: Concert is free with regular zoo admission of $12 for adults and $8 for children 3 to 11 and seniors 65 and older. Parking is $8
On the web: astarconcerts.com
Download Josh Gracin music on iTunes:
Download Darryl Worley music on iTunes:
