All-American music to star at FitzGerald’s
By Lilli Kuzma Contributor June 27, 2012 3:50PM
Garland Jeffreys. | Danny Clinch Photo
American Music
Festival
◆ FitzGerald’s Night Club, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn, Ill.
◆ June 29, June 30, July 1, July 3; doors open 4:30 p.m. Friday and Tuesday, 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
◆ Cover charge is $30 per day, no advance single-day tickets sold. Four-day passes cost $100 at Ticketweb (savings of $20). Early bird discount: $5 off daily cover for the first hour after doors open
◆ Children up to age 12 $5, and can stay until 9 p.m.
◆ (708) 788-2118 or see www.fitzgeraldsnightclub.com
Article Extras
Updated: July 30, 2012 6:10AM
Musical acts of all stripes are heading to Berwyn, Ill. for FitzGerald’s 32nd Annual American Music Festival.
The festival has become a much-anticipated tradition. This year’s event takes place June 29-July 3 (the club is closed July 2).
“We have lots of acts that are playing the fest for the first time,” said club owner Bill Fitzgerald. “Like Otis Taylor, his first time ever performing at the club, and Garland Jeffreys, also Elephant Revival, but with regular favorites returning, like Marcia Ball and Robbie Fulks, Brave Combo and the Special Consensus Bluegrass Band.”
For the full lineup and schedule, visit www.fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.
“I’ll be rockin’ the place, you can count on it, ” said Garland Jeffreys, a Brooklyn artist who performs at FitzGerald’s June 29.
Making a big comeback these days, Jeffreys, 68, rose to fame with a self-titled debut album on Atlantic in 1973. The album was followed by the Atlantic single, “Wild in the Streets,” a song influenced by the rape and murder of a young girl in the Bronx.
Jeffreys’ music covers topics like racial consciousness and social justice, delivered via blues, reggae, soul and rock. His newest release is the acclaimed “The King of In Between” (2011). Jeffreys recently performed with Bruce Springsteen in Holland and is on the roster for the upcoming Montreux Jazz Festival.
So what prompts his often provocative songwriting?
“You know, when I look into desperate eyes, it affects me, and I’m not turning away from it,” he said. “Songs about racial consciousness are still a very strong part of me, and I almost see it as a responsibility to write them, but as a positive thing, because I know I can add something to the story.”
Elephant Revival is big on playing outdoors, so the FitzGerald’s fest suits them.
“Playing outside is the greatest thing, so much fun,” said Dango Rose, a Chicago native and member of the Colorado-based indie acoustic quintet, Elephant Revival. The group’s fresh, progressive sound seamlessly incorporates traditional folk elements and singer-songwriter with alt-country, Celtic, rock and gypsy grooves.
Food, like the festival music line-up, will be all-American. “Once again, Tom Sims will be back doing his Cajun-American BBQ,” FitzGerald said. “He’s been smoking pork for three weeks now. We’ll also have great gumbo and jambalaya, Cajun sausage, killer bratwurst, and Capri Ristorante next door will also have Italian favorites.
“Every year we ramp it up, and it’s quite a lot to do in four days,” he added.
