The Oak Brook Park District has scheduled five Thursday night performances for its 2023 free Summer Concert Series.
Concerts will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Central Park Pavilion, 1500 Forest Gate Road. This likely will be the final year of concerts at that location, as a new pavilion is under construction at Central Park North.
Permanent bathrooms, a storage building and a concession area all are part of the new pavilion. The existing pavilion will most likely be taken down, but may be left up for gatherings, said Mike Contreras, superintendent of recreation for the park district.
He said concert attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and/or blankets to sit on while watching performances.
“If we cancel a show due to weather, we will reschedule for a Thursday in August,” Contreras said. A weather hotline for concerts can be reached by calling (630) 645-9553.
Contreras said no food or drink will be sold at concerts, but attendees are encouraged to bring their own.
Prior to the July 27 final concert of the summer, the park district is hosting A Walk in the Park Wine Tour at which participants will experience a selection of several wines with light food while touring the park.
The event begins at the Family Recreation Center, 1450 Forest Gate Road, and ends at concert pavilion, where each participant will receive a light dinner.
Scheduled time slots are 5 p.m., 5:20 p.m., 5:40 p.m., 6 p.m., 6:20 p.m. and 6:40 p.m. The wine tour is about one mile long and takes 45-60 minutes, Contreras said, adding that participants should arrive 10 minutes before their scheduled time to check in. The fee is $35 for Oak Brook residents and $45 for nonresidents.
“It is very important to arrive on time,” he said. “We may not be able to accommodate late arrivals.”
Registration for the wine tour may be completed at www.obparks.org/special-events/walk-park-wine-tour.
More Top Picks Best Shallow Mount Subwoofers For Trucks
The lineup for the 2023 summer concerts is:
Chicago Skyliners Big Band, June 29
The Chicago Skyliners Big Band was formed in 1988 for the sole purpose of prolonging the musical memory of the Big Band Era, according to a band bio.
A house band at FitzGeralds Night Club in Berwyn since 1991, the Chicago Skyliners Big Band
features original material, along with the music of Count Basie, Buddy Rich, Sammy Nestico, Stan Kenton, and Maynard Ferguson, among others.
The Saturday June Band, July 6
This band has played around the Chicago area for more than 20 years and features co-founder and composer Steve Kessler and Jami Dawn up front on vocals. Concertgoers can expect an eclectic mix of music, ranging from the 60’s and the 70’s right through up to today’s hits. The band also plays some original music and enjoys being interactive with the audience during performances.
Ann Stewart and The Banjo Buddies Dixieland Band, July 13
This is not a “banjo band” as its name might imply, but rather a high-energy Dixieland show band. The group specializes in classic Dixieland jazz and popular standards from the 20’s through the 40’s.
The StingRays, July 20
The StingRays say they love interacting with audiences through trivia, dance contests and even joining people in the audience. Dancing and singing among the audience is part of the evening, while listening to songs from the 60s and 70s. The StingRays have opened shows for the likes of Danny & the Juniors, the Ides of March, the Grass Roots, the Buckinghams, Joey Dee and the Starliters, Mitch Ryder, the Guess Who and Dion.
One Foot in the Groove, July 27
One Foot in the Groove is an eight-piece horn driven rock band that has performed at Chicago Bulls games since 2000, The band features a brass section to cover the songs of classic horn bands like Blood, Sweat and Tears, Chicago, The Ides of March, Tower of Power, Earth, Wind and Fire, The Blues Brothers and more.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.