If you like it or love it, country music can be a boot scoot away — and for pocket change or big dollars.
Tim McGraw, a king of country whose numerous hits include “I Like It, I Love It” and “Live Like You Were Dying,” brings his “Shotgun Rider Tour” to Tinley Park’s recently renamed Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre on Saturday.
But big-ticket events aren’t the only way to go country in the ‘burbs.
Chase Bryant, the young Texan who opens McGraw’s concert along with Billy Currington, will hop on his bus and head 25 miles west to Shorewood for a $10 gig at Skooters Roadhouse, where the staff dons cowboy hats and boots – not to mention short shorts for the gals and tight tanks for the musclebound bartenders — and the concert hall has a big ol’ dance floor that opens up to a beer garden with slushy machines.
Or start your Saturday festivities early with the Country Concert Parking Lot Party Series at Odyssey Sweet Spot Sports Bar located within walking distance of the amphitheater.
Elsewhere, you can catch country artists for a minimal cover charge at the Fireball Saloon, the newest addition to 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park, the Rockin’ Horse Saloon & Grill in Oak Forest and CD & ME in Frankfort.
Festivals, concerts in the park and charity events are other inexpensive ways to celebrate country style.
And if you’re finally ready to learn how to line dance or just need to brush up or show off, the legendary Willowbrook Ballroom in Willow Springs launches a new monthly country dance party series on Friday night.
Lessons are every Tuesday at the Willowbrook and Skooters, Wednesday at Fireball, and Monday and Thursday at Rockin’ Horse.
Where to get your country on
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*Odyssey Sweet Spot Sports Bar
Located at 19111 Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park, the bar hosts parties in its parking lot on days of country concerts at the nearby Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, including McGraw on Saturday, Lady Antebellum with Hunter Hayes and Sam Hunt Aug. 22, Toby Keith with Chris Janson and Eli Young Band Sept. 4 and Rascal Flatts with Scotty McCreery and Ashley Monroe Sept. 18, plus Kid Rock rescheduled to Sept. 12; Parties start at 3 p.m. and include a barbecue cookout, mechanical bull, bags tournaments, drink specials and more; 708-429-4837; odysseysweetspot.com.
*Skooters Roadhouse
Bryant will perform with opening act Gage at the large entertainment complex that includes a restaurant at 700 W. Jefferson St. in Shorewood ($10 tickets, doors open at 10 p.m.); Country bands play Fridays and Saturdays; Line dancing starts at 7 p.m. Tuesdays; 815-799-4700; skootersroadhouse.com.
*The Fireball Saloon at 115 Bourbon Street
The saloon at 3359 W. 115th St. in Merrionette Park features country bands on Fridays, free line dance lessons on Wednesdays and a singing competition on Thursdays; 708-388-8881; 115bourbonstreet.com.
*Rockin’ Horse Saloon & Grill
Located at 5200 W. 159th St. in Oak Forest, the venue features country bands, line dance lessons every Monday and Thursday and specialty cocktails called the Revolver, Jaw Jacker and Horseshoe; 708-687-4100; rockinhorsesaloongrill.com.
CD & ME
Gold-certified country singer Keith Anderson, whose hits include “I Still Miss You” and “Pickin’ Wildflowers,” will perform Aug. 14 at the special events facility at 23320 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort ($20, $45 with dinner or $75 VIP package); 815-469-7315; cdandme.com.
*Willowbrook Ballroom
Located at 8900 S. Archer Ave. in Willow Springs, the ballroom hosts opening night of “Kickin’ It at the Brook,” country dance parties with DJ Coyote Jay and the Spurn’d Country Dancers, on Friday, Aug. 7 (no cover), with other nights set for Sept. 11 and Oct. 9; Line dance lessons are Tuesdays ($10); 708-839-1000; willowbrookballroom.com.
*Concerts in the Park
Go country outdoors and free of charge. Check the schedules for any village or city and you’ll likely find several country bands on the roster.
In Lockport, for example, the free nighttime Lock Rocks Concert Series at Dellwood Park on Archer Avenue will feature Summer Son and Suburban Cowboys Aug. 14; 815-838-1183; lockportpark.org.
In Burbank, Jonathan Devin and New Country will perform Wednesday, Aug. 12, at Stevenson Park, 6100 W. 85th St.; 708-599-2070; burbankparkdistrict.org.
*Festivals
Get your kicks inexpensively – or maybe even for free – at a local festival.
Wild Daisy, a female-fronted country band who recently played U.S. Cellular Field and Frankfort’s Concerts on the Green, will perform with Fire Chicken Aug. 15 at the Farm & Barn Fest at Yunker Farm, 10824 W. LaPorte Road in Mokena ($3, free for kids); 708-390-2401; mokenapark.com.
Hillbilly Rockstarz will perform Sept. 11 in Oak Lawn for the first night of Fall on the Green at Raymond and 52nd avenues (oaklawn-il.gov) and Sept. 18 at Fisher Fest at St. John Fisher Church, 10234 S. Washtenaw Ave. in Chicago (stjohnfisher.org); hillbillyrockstarz.net.
*Charity events
Go country and contribute to a cause at the same time.
RockStar Rodeo will perform at 3 p.m. Aug. 30 at American Legion Post 1977, 14414 Ford Drive in New Lenox, at a party culminating in A Road to Help Motorcycle and Car Cruise-In to benefit Illinois Firefighter Peer Support and War Dogs Making It Home, raising awareness about PTSD and suicide prevention for first responders and veterans ($10 donation); 708-420-1127; ilffps.org; wardogsmakingithome.org.
Bernie Glim & Country Roads will perform at the Hometown Hoedown Cancer Fundraiser Sept. 17 at CD & ME, 23320 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort ($25); 815-469-7315; cdandme.com.
Vickie Jurkowski is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.