Live Music

Main Stage at Belden

Saturday, August 27, 2011

2:30 pm – Knockdown String Band

The Knock Down String Band is a Chicago based Bluegrass group which features Casey Stockdon on Banjo, Jon Williams on Mandolin/Guitar, Andy Pennington on Fiddle/Guitar and Jamie Wagner on Bass.

4 pm – Sewing Machine

Continuing in the great tradition of rock and roll, The Sewing Machine steals from everyone and everything. Their bastardized interpretations of folk sounds ride on a current of experimental rock sensibilities. Songs are sometimes concise and sometimes sprawling, but the chaos is tempered by craft. Nothing is sacred here, but every tool is used to express a feeling or a moment.

5 pm – Kid Million

Kid Million combines the best of indie pop, stadium rock, and power pop for a bombastic sound that recalls a little Jane’s Addiction, early Smashing Pumpkins, glam rock, shoegazer, and the Beatles. The eclectic mix, held together by David Singer’s rasping vocals, a strong sense of psychedelia, and a Latin-tinged horn section, make them truly stand out in the crowd.

6 pm – Tim Menard and the Flying Nowakowski Brothers

Tim Menard and the Flying Nowakowski Brothers have been rocking the Chicagoland area since 2003. Yes, they’re really brothers, and some say they’ve seen them fly. From local bars to nationally known clubs, college campuses to festivals, the Chicago Marathon to Wrigley Field, these guys have energized audiences with their unique sound which has been compared to U2, Steve Earle, and REM.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

1 pm – Trevor McSpadden

Treavor McSpadden brings the country western rhythm and roots of Texas to Illinois.

2:30 pm – Naomi Ashley Band

Intimate, plainspoken, gorgeously sung songs drawing on American folk, blues and country traditions which surge with all the contradictory impulses of real, imperfect life.

4 pm – The Lonesome Organist

The Lonesome Organist One Man Band has been asserting his kuluckishness from 1996 to the present. He is also the inventor of the Mitten Drumstick™ and perpetrator of the Solo simultaneous genre.

5 pm – The Damn Choir

The Damn Choir’s use of guitar, cello, vocals and drums, along with Gordon Robertson’s introspective lyrics, create songs that range from meandering and melancholic to pulsing and vengeful.

6 pm – Bunkertown

Mark has been a part of the Chicago music scene for over a decade and is currently working on his second album. His music is a mutt of folk, rock, blues and ragtime country. Mark’s inspirations may include his grandfather, his new hometown of Hammond, or the restaurant he ate in last week.

New Jazz Roots Stage at Lyndale and Leavitt

A newer addition to the Fest is the New Jazz Roots stage at the end of Lyndale near Leavitt. Curated by  fest neighbors Blake Beckstrom and his son Lane, the stage gives talented youth a way to show off their musical chops. Since beginning the fest in 2009, Lane has found incredible success with his band Kids These Days including gigs at Mayor Rahm Emmanuel’s inauguration and a spot at Lollapalooza 2011.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

11:30 am – 12:30 pm    Lane Tech Jazz Combo

The jazz combo from Lane Tech High School performs under the direction of Joseph Sweet and features James Wenzel on Bass, Nicky Cameron on Piano, Max Albekier on Drums and Anthony Defrancisco on Trombone.

1:00 – 2:00 pm    Mike King

Mike King started out playing drums but took up piano in high school.  By his sophomore year he was selected for the Ravinia Jazz Scholars program where he met Ramsey Lewis and opened for his show at the Black United Fund Torch Passing ceremony. During high school Mike was also a part of the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute program and toured with jazz superstars Antonio Hart and Lisa Henry, as well as sharing a stage with Herbie Hancock. Michael will be a junior at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in the fall.

2:30 – 3:30 pm – The Lane Beckstrom Trio

New Jazz Roots Stage programming director Lane Beckstrom brings his trio back to the fest for a third year. The trio plays all original compositions and features Lane Beckstrom on bass, Chris Misa on piano and Rob Fletcher on drums.

4:00 – 5:00 pm – Justefan (Justin Thomas)

Justin Thomas has been studying music since the age of 4. His natural musical curiosity and skill led him to the vibraphone on which he captured 2nd place on the national television show, Showtime at the Apollo. He has played with jazz artists Lionel Hampton, Cyrus Chestnut, Max Roach, Phil Woods, and Wynton Marsalis, among others.  Justin is a recent graduate of DePaul University with a Bachelor’s in Jazz Studies.

5:30 – 6:30 pm – The Marquis Hill Blacktet

Saturday night’s headliner is Marquis Hill. At age 24 Marquis is already a well-known trumpet player on the Chicago Jazz scene. He has performed with the likes of Bobby Broom, Willie Pickens, Ron Perillo, Victor Garcia, Ernest Dawkins and Brian Lynch. He has toured throughout the U.S. and abroad with several artists and groups including, The Ron Carter Big Band, The Bebop Brass, and New Horizons.  Marquis is currently earning his master’s degree in Jazz Pedagogy at DePaul University.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

11:30 am – 12:30 pm – Whitney Young Jazz Combo #1

The Whitney Young High School Jazz combo performs under the direction of Mr. Anthony Lanzino.

1:00 – 2:00 pm   Ethan Kogan and the Jazz Alliance

By age 18, Ethan Kogan, a Chicago native, had already performed with jazz luminaries Joe Lovano, Cassandra Wilson, Phil Woods, and Sean Jones. Since then he has played regularly in both New York and Chicago at such venues as Fat Cat, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Fitzgerald’s, and the Jazz Showcase. His trio includes two of the most exciting figures from Chicago’s new generation of jazz musicians, Charlie Kirchen and Marquis Hill.

2:30 – 3:30 pm Segal Beckstrom Quintet

New Jazz Roots Stage programming director and bassist Lane Beckstrom joins forces with trumpeter Nico Segal in the Segal Beckstrom Quintet.  The band also features Rob Fletcher on drums, and Chris Misa on piano.  SBQ plays a combination of jazz standards and original compositions.

4:00 – 5:00 pm   Paul Bedal Quintet

Paul Bedal, a native of the Chicago area, has been playing piano since the age of 6. As a high school senior, Paul won Illinois’ All-State jazz pianist and was awarded the Bertha Frost Scholarship at the University of Miami.  At Miami he studied under Doug Bickel and Shelly Berg and played in Miami’s prestigious CJB Jazz Band and Miami Sextet. Paul now performs regularly around the Chicago area and recently toured and recorded in Italy with jazz group El Portal.

5:30 – 6:30 pm – Macie Stewart and Members of Kids These Days

Classically trained composer, pianist, violinist and singer, Macie Stewart just graduated from Whitney Young High School. Macie has played at the Chicago Youth in Music Festival guest conducted by Ricardo Muti, the Palm Court at the Drake Hotel with her string quartet, and is currently touring North America with the increasingly high profile hip hop, soul, jazz band Kids These Days.  Along with members of Kids These Days, Macie brings her jazz-influenced style to this solo outing.