Join for the a great evening of blues tunes and talented musicians in a beautiful setting along the river!
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5th Joliet Blues Festival
Get your tickets now for Joliet’s 5th Blues Festival!
Just $10 in advance ($15 on Saturday).
CLICK the button below to buy online:
Our Joliet Blues Fest made front page new!
CLICK here to read
2023 Blues – Herald News article 8-10-23
Music starts at 3:30pm and we’ll have you home by 10pm.
Lots of food & drinks.
Bring your appetites and lawn chairs, but please, no pets or coolers.
All proceeds are for the benefit of the Park, a 501c3 charity.
Please SHARE THIS with all your music loving friends! See you soon!
2023 BLUES FEST LINEUP
Matt Hendricks and Bill “Cash” Curtis
3:30pm to 4:30pm
Guitarist and blues singer Matt Hendricks and drummer Bill “Cash” Curtis are a Chicago based blues and American roots music duo. Slide guitar player and songwriter Matt Hendrick’s is originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, while his love for the blues is steeped in the South. Matt is versatile and comfortable with a wide range of blue styles and is equally at home in a solo setting or with other musicians. He has a masterful blues fingerpicking and slide guitar style, which complements a deep bluesy voice delivering original and classic songs.
Darren Jay and the Delta Souls
5:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Darren Jay Fallas began his career in the music business at 13, playing guitar and performing in venues and night clubs. His skills, discipline and focus on results were later sharpened during several tours of duty with the US Navy. Making Chicago his home, he is a professional singer, songwriter, producer, recording and touring artist for Darren Jay and The Delta Souls, delivering original blues music with flair and energy. Darren has toured with several Blues Music Award winning artists and former member of Derek and The Dominoes Bobby Whitlock’s band. Aside from music Darren has a successful acting career, appearing in popular, locally produced shows like Chicago Med, PD and Fire.
T-Bird Huck and the MVP’s
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
“I’m gonna give my soul to the music I love before I have to take it to the Lord above.” This is Joliet bluesman T-Bird Huck’s testimonial from his Lifetime of Blues CD released in 2005. T-Bird has been called the original Joliet Jake based on his antics when he began playing the blues in the 70’s, long before Saturday Night Live’s “Blues Brothers” skit. T-Bird is the long-time host of the “Joliet Heritage Pro Blues Jam”’ held every other Sunday featuring blues artists from the greater Midwest area.
Brandon Santini
8:00 pm to 9:00 pm
The Joliet Blues Festival is thrilled to feature Hohner harmonica-sponsored blues ace Brandon Santini and his band as the headlining act! Brandon moved to Memphis, Tennessee from the East coast in his early 20’s. His love for the blues took off after discovering John Popper and Paul Butterfield.
He formed the Delta Highway band and released The Devil Had A Woman in 2008. He released his debut album, Songs of Love, Money and Misery, in 2011. In 2013, Santini released This Time Another Year which was nominated for numerous Blues Music Awards. His 2019 album, The Longshot, was released to positive reviews and peaked at Number 7 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart. He announced his new group, Tennessee Redemption, a band co-fronted with Jeff Jensen in mid-2019. He won a Blues Blast Music Award in 2019 for best Contemporary Blues Album. Don’t Shake The Devil’s Hand was released in 2022 and released The Longshot in March of 2023.
Santini has toured the world performing throughout North America, Europe, India, and in Egypt. Santini has performed numerous times on Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping The Blues Alive At Sea Cruise. Santini’s song, “Got Good Lovin” is featured in episode three of The NBC Peacock Network’s original series, “Poker Face.” Brandon is also the brand ambassador for Three Chord bourbon.
5th Joliet Blues Fest – August 12, 2023
Get your Joliet’s Blues Festival tickets now!
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Coriolanus – Shakespeare & Art in the Park – May 18-21, 2023
What makes someone a hero? Can someone be both a hero and a real human?
ARTIST signup for MAY Shakespeare
FREE space available for YOUTH & ADULT ARTISTS!
Artists in all mediums are welcome to display and sell their work during our “Shakespeare In The Park” 2022. Bicentennial Park is excited to partner with THE ART MOVEMENT, INC – once again!
OUTDOOR PLAY
This year’s performance is “As You Like It” – 80’s style! We kid you not.
PRESENTED BY
Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park & Theatre
ASSISTED BY
The Joliet Drama Guild
The Strange and Unusual Gallery
The Art Movement, Inc.
ARTIST FEE & SHOW ADMISISON
Both are FREE. Schweet!
WHEN ARTISTS SETUP & DISPLAY
THURSDAY, MAY 19
FRIDAY, MAY 20
SATURDAY, MAY 21
5:00 – 6:00 pm ARTISTS SET-UP (One hour before the grounds open to the public, artists setup their displays and then move vehicles to designated parking)
6:00 – 7:00 pm PRE-SHOW (One hour before the play begins, the grounds open to audience for lawn seating, viewing artwork, meeting artists and visiting concessions)
7:00 – 8:00 pm 1st ACT (The play’s 1st act is about 1 hour. Artists are welcome to stay for the whole play. If they need to bounce, artists may leave after intermission)
8:00 – 8:15 pm INTERMISSION (Intermission is about 15 minutes. If you strike after intermission, please be very quiet, as the 2nd act will have begun. See you the next day!)
8:15 – 9:00 pm 2nd ACT (The play’s 2nd act is about 45 minutes. After the play is over, artists may strike their displays. Until the next day, we bid you a most excellent ado!)
SUNDAY, MAY 22
12:00 – 1:00 pm ARTIST SET-UP (One hour before the grounds open to the public, artists setup their displays and then move vehicles to designated parking)
1:00 – 2:00 pm PRE-SHOW (One hour before the play begins, the grounds open to audience for lawn seating, viewing artwork, meeting artists and visiting concessions)
2:00 – 3:00 pm 1ST ACT (The play’s 1st act is about 1 hour. Artists are welcome to stay for the whole play. If they need to bounce, artists may leave after intermission)
3:00 – 3:15 pm INTERMISSION (Intermission is about 15 minutes. If you strike after intermission, please be very quiet, as the 2nd act will have begun. We bid you a righteous ado!)
3:15 – 4:00 pm 2nd ACT (The play’s 2nd act is about 45 minutes. After the play is over, artists may strike their displays. We bid you a most triumphant ado!)
GRODY WEATHER
If weather bites, the show and artists will be moved indoors.
ARTISTS’ DEADLINE = MAY 12, 2022
Save a bodacious FREE spot by emailing your funky fresh info to Eryn.
ARTISTS’ CONTACT
Awesome Eryn: Eryn@ArtMovementJoliet.org
WHAT TO TOTALLY EMAIL ERYN
• name
• phone
• email
• picture of your most excellent self
• picture of your fave artwork
• short, bad-to-the-bone bio
BOMBDIGGITY ARTIST OFFER
Artists that get their info in early will be promoted on Facebook. Cheeuh!
WHAT TO LIKE BRING ON SHOW DATES
• your fantabulous artwork
• tables
• chairs
• whatever needed to display & sell . . . no doy
CHILL LOCATION
Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park
201 W Jefferson St, Joliet 60432
Outdoor pavilion near fountain. Stellar.
OUTDOOR SEATING
Most definitely bring blankets and chairs for lawn seating and vegging out.
CONCESSIONS & CASH BAR
We’ll have totally tubular concessions (grilled brats, popcorn, chips & candy) and a cash bar . . . for sure.