While Rascal Flatts might not be bringing their 2010 tour on Wrigley Field – as they did in 2009 – the Flatts Boys along with headliners Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley, Toby Keith and Montgomery Gentry are all, at some point, “swinging by” one of Chicagoland’s more traditional country music confines this summer.

For those planning to attend every concert, as recommended, you’ll be happy to here that Live Nation, US99 and the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater are returning the 2010 Country MEGA ticket.  The promotional package guarantees seats at all six country music concerts headed to the South Suburban amphitheater.

Don’t delay, the Mega Tickets general public sale begins today through Live Nation.   Packages range from $150 for lawn seats all the way up to $600 for “100” level seat, per person. While that might seem like a big tank to your recession-run pocket book, if you do the math, it really is a great deal. Plus, existing Mega Ticket holders have first dibs on next year’s tickets.

Lineup Lowdown:

Saturday, May 22, 2010
Country Throwdown Tour featuring:
Montgomery Gentry, Jamey Johnson, Little Big Town, Jack Ingram, Eric Church, Eli Young Band, The Lost Trailers, Heidi Newfield and more.

Saturday, June 26, 2010
Tim McGraw with Lady Antebellum and Love & Theft

Friday, July 16, 2010
Brad Paisley with Darius Rucker

Sunday, August 8th, 2010
Brooks & Dunn (The Last Rodeo Tour) with Gary Allan

Saturday, August 28, 2010
Rascal Flatts with Kellie Pickler & Chris Young

Saturday, September 18
Toby Keith

Live Nation – Concert Tickets On Sale Now!

CHICAGO – Country music mega star Tim McGraw has announced an exclusive performance at a North side concert venue. McGraw, who will be releasing a new album on the same day, will perform at Joe’s Bar, 940 W. Weed St., on October 20.

General admission tickets for the event are $50 (plus fees) and will be available to the general public starting Friday, October 9, at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased through ticketmaster.com or the Joe’s Bar Box Office. Tickets are likely to sell out fast.

Concert proceeds will benefit the Neighbor’s Keeper Foundation. Tickets also includes a copy of McGraw’s new album.

For more information, visit joesbar.com.

Ticketmaster.com

Toby Keith and Trace Atkins will bring their “America’s Toughest Tour” series to town on Saturday, September 19 for the final country concert of the season at the Southwest suburban First Midwest Bank Amphitheater located in Tinley Park, Ill.  Tickets range from $16 – $70 and are available through LiveNation.com. 

Information for the October 9 Taylor Swift Chicago concert has finally been released.  The country music teen sensation will bring her ”Fearless” tour, featuring Kellie Pickler and Gloriana, to the Northwest suburban Allstate Arena for a two night stay on Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10.  Tickets range from $20 – $50 and will go on sale to the general public on Friday, June 26 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster.com. 

Prices listed my not reflect additional fees.

In a recent statement, festival organizers announced the release of 5,000 one-day tickets for the Thursday, July 16th Taylor Swift show. The exclusive tickets will go on-sale to the general public for $65 starting Wednesday, April 29 at 9 a.m. CST through CountryThunder.com.

Joining Swift Thursday night includes Kellie Pickler, Jack Ingram, Mark Chesnutt and The Bellamy Brothers. Country Thunder runs from July 15 – 19, 2009, and Tim McGraw (7/18), Alan Jackson (7/17) and Tracy Lawrence (7/15) will join Swift as this year’s headliners.

Once single-day tickets are sold-out, fans will have access to purchase VIP, Reserved, or four-day festival tickets.

Country Thunder is approximately 60 miles Northwest from Chicago.

 According to Swift’s web site, she is schedule to appear in Chicago on October 9 but location information has not yet been released. 

For more info visit: www.countrythunder.com or www.taylorswift.com

Country music power duo Big & Rich has announced an additional summer tour stop at the Pheasant Run Mega Center on July 26, 2009, during their limited engagement summer tour. Big & Rich, comprised of artists John Rich and Big Kenny, turned heads in Nashville with their hit single, “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” from their debut album, Horse of a Different Color in 2004.

Today, and several hit singles later like “Comin’ to Your City” and “Lost in this Moment”, the duo has become a staple in country music. In early 2009, rumors of the band’s breakup fluttered country music radio when Rich announced the release of his first solo album since the duo’s creation. The album, Son of a Preacher Man, was explained as an opportunity for Rich to sing and produce songs a little outside of the typical Big & Rich brand. The album, due out March 24, will include Rich’s current hit single “Shuttin’ Detroit Down”. Big & Rich fans need not to worry; the duo has assured fans they are here to stay.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to see Big & Rich live. Tickets for the July 26 show will go on sale to the public this Saturday, March 14, 2009, at noon, and are available at the Pheasant Run Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets and Ticketmaster.com. Make it a weekend, the best seats are available with overnight packages.

Stay-tuned to CountryMusicChicago.com for the latest on Big & Rich’s Pheasant Run concert. Subscribe to our e-mail news feed.

DETAILS:

WHO: Big & Rich with Cowboy Troy and Cross County Junction

bigandrich.com

WHEN: Sunday, July 26, 2009 | 7PM

US99 Pre-Party BBQ featuring Two Foot Fred and friends | 2:30PM

WHERE: Pheasant Run Mega Center, St Charles, IL | MAP
4051 East Main Street, St. Charles, IL 60174

TICKETS: Tickets range from $39 – $79 and are available from the Pheasant Run Box Office or Ticketmaster.com

Sale Date: Friday, February 27, 2009

Hank Williams Jr. – April 18, 2009 | 7:30PM
The Venue at Horseshoe Casino, Hammond, IN
$43 – $73 | Ticketmaster.com

Josh Turner – April 22, 2009 | 8PM
Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet
$28 – $47 | Ticketmaster.com

Phil Vassar – June 19, 2009
Joe’s Bar, Chicago
$37 | Ticketmaster.com

Sale Date: Saturday, February 28, 2009

2009 US99.5 COUNTRY MEGATICKET (Four Shows)
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Tinley Park & Wrigley Field, Chicago
George Strait with Blake Shelton and Julianne Hough – May 23, 2009
Rascal Flatts with Darius Rucker (Wrigley) – July 18, 2009
Brad Paisley with Dierks Bentley and Jimmy Wayne – August 7, 2009
Toby Keith with Trace Atkins – September 19, 2009
$140 – $500 | LiveNation.com

Sale Date: Monday, March 2, 2009

Reba McEntire – March 21, 2009 | 7PM
The Sears Centre, Hoffman Estates
$60.00 – $200.00 | Ticketmaster.com

Urban, an Australian native, rose to mega celebrity status with his public engagement and marriage to actress and fellow Australian, Nicole Kidman. But long before that, Urban has made a name for himself in Nashville. His contemporary style music, best known for its high-energy and rock inspiration, appeals to listeners of all ages. Some of his chart-topping hits include, “You’re my Better Half”, “Who Wouldn’t Want to Be Me” and “Tonight I Wanna Cry”.

 The Zac Brown Band entered the mainstream country music scene with their hit single, “Chicken Fried” in 2008. The band’s first major label album, “The Foundation”, hit number three on the Billboard Top Country Albums.

Tickets for the May 15, 2009, concert range from $20 – $60 and will be available to the general public on Saturday, February 14, 2009, at 10 a.m. CST through Ticketmaster outlets and Ticketmaster.com. If you can’t make the Chicago performance, Urban along with special guest, Taylor Swift, will be nearby in Fort Wayne, IN, on June 7 and Moline, IL, on June 28. Visit Ticketmaster.com for more information.

For those of you who can’t wait until May 15 for new music from Keith Urban, you’re in luck. On March 31, 2009, Urban will release his newest album, “Defying Gravity”. The album’s first single, “Sweet Thing” is currently number four on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs.

-S. Winterroth

DETAILS:

WHO: Keith Urban with the Zac Brown Band

keithurban.net | zacbrownband.com | taylorswift.com

WHERE: Allstate Arena, 6920 North Mannheim Road, Rosemont, IL 60018 | map

WHEN:  May 15, 2009 at 7:30pm  (Tickets onsale February 14, 2009 at 10am) | Ticketmaster

MORE: Download Keith Urban music on iTunes:

December 20, 2008

Pat Green
Joe’s Bar | Chicago, IL [21+]
Friday, February 20, 2009 | 8PM | $28.00 (General Admission)
Ticketmaster or at Joe’s (Cash Only)

Country’s Hottest Party!
Gretchen Wilson, John Rich, Cowboy Troy & Jeffrey Stelle
Pheasant Run Mega Center | St Charles, IL
Saturday, February 28, 2009 | 7PM | $55.00 – US $89.00
Ticketmaster or call the Pheasant Run Box Office at 630-584-6342

Subscribe to Country Music Chicago

Little Big Town with Zac Brown Band

Sunday, March 15, 2009: 7pm

Star Plaza Theater, Merrillville, IN

Map | Ticketmaster

Rodney Carrington

Saturday, March 7, 2009: 8pm

Star Plaza Theater, Merrillvelle, IN

Map | Ticketmaster

Rodney Atkins – Rialto Square Theatre – Joliet, IL: Fri, 01/23/09  

Website|Ticketmaster

Chuck Wicks – Joe’s Bar – Chicago, IL: Sat, 02/28/09

Website|Ticketmaster

Luke Bryan – Joe’s Bar - Chicago, IL:a Fri, 02/06/09  

Website|Ticketmaster