Chicago’s Most Eclectic Independent Music Publication

Latest News

  • Legendary Mask Maker, Zagone Studios, Approaches Fifty-Years Of Innovation Right Here In Chicago
  • Photo Gallery: Billy Corgan and the Machines of God at Baltimore Soundstage (Baltimore, MD)
  • ITLM OTRS Presents: Billy Corgan and the Machines of God Reignite the Flame on ‘Return to Zero’ Tour at Baltimore Soundstage
  • Praise the Lords! Lords of Acid Unleash Hedonistic Fury at Bottom Lounge.
  • Photo Gallery: Janelle Monáe live at Ravinia (Highland Park, IL)
  • Grace Jones Reigns Supreme at Ravinia: A Glamorous Return Full of Pride and Power
  • Home
  • Music News
    • Breaking News
    • Features
    • This Just In
    • Interviews
    • Reviews
    • ITLM OTRS
    • Local Loop
    • Musical Theatre
    • ChiBluesBro’s Jukebox Reviews
  • Media
    • Photos
    • Videos
    • Streaming Live
  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Promotions
  • About
  • Contact
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Youtube

FitzGerald’s American Music Festival 2017: Event Highlights Review

Jul 10, 2017 James Currie Features, Music News, Reviews 0


FitzGerald’s American Music Festival 2017:  Event Highlights Review

By James Currie

If it’s the 4th of July, it’s time to rock again in Berwyn with the annual American Music Festival at FitzGerald’s nightclub on Roosevelt Road. 2017 marks the events 36th year and as in the past, brings world class talent and entertainment to support it.

Club owner, Bill FitzGerald, knows how to throw a party. He knows what true music fans want and how to bring them in. He’s got a keen ear for the “now” and still mans the controls for his annual event. He’s a busy man. It’s his own party but you won’t see him sitting around much. You’d think he’d get to enjoy the performers that he brings to his house a little more, but not so much. He’s bopping back and fourth between stages and rooms, making sure everything is running smooth and even introduces bands before they go on. You can tell this isn’t a job for FitzGerald, this is his passion.

This year brings even more spectacle as the multi-day event started on a Friday and ended high on a Monday with fans still lining up down the street to get in even in the heat and sometimes rain. That’s a hard thing to do for any business, let alone an event that only happens once a year in a Chicago suburb but FitzGerald’s does it each year.

Besides the amazing music The American Music Festival brings, there’s also great food and drinks. Not in a carnival style, but more like a backyard BBQ or block party. They add enough to make it fun for all the senses without being over the top.

There are several areas to see and hear live music throughout each day. The constructed stage outside under the tent is a popular one, the main stage inside the legendary walls of FitzGerald’s Night Club and the Side Room where you can discover new and upcoming talent.

It’s a fairly tight and limited space to be in, but they make it work. They also have an outdoor area on the west side of the building in the dead end street they have blocked off. You can take a break from things out there, eat some of that Cajun food at a picnic table or just get some fresh air and have a conversation. You never know who you’re going to run into out there.

The pacing is done pretty well. Like most multi-staged festivals, one area starts as another closes. There is some overlapping, but that’s to be expected with this many acts.

This years line up didn’t disappoint. There are over 60 acts that played one of three stages filling each room (or tent) with barely enough room to belly up to the bar. On Friday, we saw highlights from The Waco Brothers, Robbie Fulks and Southern Culture on the Skids. The standout performance for this opening night was from SCOTS AKA Southern Culture on the Skids. This three-piece from Chapel Hill, NC has been rockin and rollin’ since 1983. They brought their surf rockabilly punk to the tent and got the fans jumpin. They may have got their commercial fame from the quirky track, “Camel Walk”, but they had so much more to offer. This was a perfect Friday night 4th of July weekend show.

On Saturday, we received even more with artists like Curtis McMurty, Charlie Parr, Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, Shemekia Copeland and Los Straightjackets with Marshall Crenshaw.

Sunday highlights included Sarah Borgese with Eric Ambel, Funkadesi, Tributosaurus (as The Monkees), The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band and Ike Reilly.

On the final day, Monday, the place still packed and ready for more, brought out Cannonball, Red Elvises, The Blisters, Marcia Ball, Dave Alvin & The Guilty Ones and someone new to not only the festival, but fairly new to the music scene, The Commonheart. The Commonheart were a surprise hit out of left field that left the house wanting more.

So what makes FitzGerald’s American Music Festival work? Why is it such a favorite among music fans and the bands who play it? I’d have to say several things. First and foremost being the commitment and level of quality Bill FitzGerald brings each year. Fans have come to love and trust his judgment as to what is good music and who should be there. This is a no bullshit environment for real people. There’s nothing fake about it. It’s genuine, from the heart. This is an event put on by music fans for music fans. You won’t find a Ferris wheel on site, no giant balloon filled fountain in the center of it all, no wrestling matches going on between sets. It’s about the music – the people and the culture of real American Rock n Roll.

For more on FitzGerald’s, future American Music Festivals and nightly entertainment year round, click here

 

facebookShare on Facebook
TwitterTweet
FollowFollow us
PinterestSave

  • tweet
Founding Fathers (and daughter) Of Dark Wave Bring New Incarnation, Poptone, To The Masses in Chicago Poptone @ Metro

James Currie

Related Articles
  • Legendary Mask Maker, Zagone Studios, Approaches Fifty-Years Of Innovation Right Here In Chicago
    Legendary Mask Maker, Zagone Studios,...

    Oct 25, 2021 1

  • Photo Gallery: Billy Corgan and the Machines of God at Baltimore Soundstage (Baltimore, MD)
    Photo Gallery: Billy Corgan and the...

    Jun 11, 2025 0

  • ITLM OTRS Presents: Billy Corgan and the Machines of God Reignite the Flame on ‘Return to Zero’ Tour at Baltimore Soundstage
    ITLM OTRS Presents: Billy Corgan and...

    Jun 11, 2025 0

  • Praise the Lords! Lords of Acid Unleash Hedonistic Fury at Bottom Lounge.
    Praise the Lords! Lords of Acid Unleash...

    Jun 10, 2025 0

  • Photo Gallery: Janelle Monáe live at Ravinia (Highland Park, IL)
    Photo Gallery: Janelle Monáe live at...

    Jun 10, 2025 0

More in this category
  • ITLM OTRS Presents: Billy Corgan and the Machines of God Reignite the Flame on ‘Return to Zero’ Tour at Baltimore Soundstage
    ITLM OTRS Presents: Billy Corgan and...

    Jun 11, 2025 0

  • Praise the Lords! Lords of Acid Unleash Hedonistic Fury at Bottom Lounge.
    Praise the Lords! Lords of Acid Unleash...

    Jun 10, 2025 0

  • Grace Jones Reigns Supreme at Ravinia: A Glamorous Return Full of Pride and Power
    Grace Jones Reigns Supreme at Ravinia:...

    Jun 09, 2025 0

  • Album Review: Something Beautiful by Miley Cyrus 
    Album Review: Something Beautiful by...

    Jun 05, 2025 0


Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Categories

CALENDAR

June 2025
S M T W T F S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  
« May    
Spotify Top 50 Global

Archives

  • June 2025 (12)
  • May 2025 (21)
  • April 2025 (26)
  • March 2025 (25)
  • February 2025 (13)
  • January 2025 (8)
  • December 2024 (13)
  • November 2024 (10)
  • October 2024 (12)
  • September 2024 (20)
  • August 2024 (15)
  • July 2024 (30)
  • June 2024 (17)
  • May 2024 (23)
  • April 2024 (19)
  • March 2024 (14)
  • February 2024 (16)
  • January 2024 (5)
  • December 2023 (7)
  • November 2023 (15)
  • October 2023 (5)
  • September 2023 (22)
  • August 2023 (9)
  • July 2023 (9)
  • June 2023 (12)
  • May 2023 (9)
  • April 2023 (11)
  • March 2023 (15)
  • February 2023 (18)
  • January 2023 (9)
  • December 2022 (4)
  • November 2022 (5)
  • October 2022 (12)
  • September 2022 (28)
  • August 2022 (28)
  • July 2022 (39)
  • June 2022 (21)
  • May 2022 (20)
  • April 2022 (13)
  • March 2022 (33)
  • February 2022 (21)
  • January 2022 (22)
  • December 2021 (11)
  • November 2021 (15)
  • October 2021 (16)
  • September 2021 (36)
  • August 2021 (21)
  • July 2021 (26)
  • June 2021 (27)
  • May 2021 (13)
  • April 2021 (13)
  • March 2021 (12)
  • February 2021 (4)
  • January 2021 (2)
  • December 2020 (7)
  • November 2020 (4)
  • October 2020 (3)
  • September 2020 (10)
  • August 2020 (6)
  • July 2020 (7)
  • June 2020 (3)
  • May 2020 (5)
  • April 2020 (3)
  • March 2020 (10)
  • February 2020 (22)
  • January 2020 (10)
  • December 2019 (8)
  • November 2019 (30)
  • October 2019 (30)
  • September 2019 (27)
  • August 2019 (41)
  • July 2019 (33)
  • June 2019 (27)
  • May 2019 (36)
  • April 2019 (25)
  • March 2019 (41)
  • February 2019 (22)
  • January 2019 (11)
  • December 2018 (17)
  • November 2018 (13)
  • October 2018 (34)
  • September 2018 (43)
  • August 2018 (26)
  • July 2018 (34)
  • June 2018 (23)
  • May 2018 (31)
  • April 2018 (24)
  • March 2018 (49)
  • February 2018 (48)
  • January 2018 (25)
  • December 2017 (10)
  • November 2017 (30)
  • October 2017 (10)
  • September 2017 (26)
  • August 2017 (25)
  • July 2017 (42)
  • June 2017 (37)
  • May 2017 (49)
  • April 2017 (54)
  • March 2017 (44)
  • February 2017 (39)
  • January 2017 (14)
  • December 2016 (22)
  • November 2016 (20)
  • October 2016 (20)
  • September 2016 (35)
  • August 2016 (46)
  • July 2016 (51)
  • June 2016 (23)
  • May 2016 (15)
  • April 2016 (18)
  • March 2016 (22)
  • February 2016 (27)
  • January 2016 (11)
  • December 2015 (8)
  • November 2015 (17)
  • October 2015 (21)
  • September 2015 (30)
  • August 2015 (54)
  • July 2015 (49)
  • June 2015 (44)
  • May 2015 (16)
  • April 2015 (6)
  • March 2015 (9)
  • February 2015 (9)
  • January 2015 (2)
  • December 2014 (2)
  • November 2014 (2)
  • October 2014 (1)
  • September 2014 (2)
  • August 2014 (5)
  • July 2014 (1)
  • June 2014 (4)
  • May 2014 (5)
  • April 2014 (1)
  • March 2014 (1)
  • February 2014 (2)
  • January 2014 (2)
  • December 2013 (1)
  • November 2013 (2)
  • October 2013 (1)
  • September 2013 (1)
  • August 2013 (2)
  • July 2013 (3)
  • June 2013 (2)
  • May 2013 (5)
  • April 2013 (3)
  • March 2013 (1)
  • February 2013 (1)
  • May 2012 (2)
  • January 2012 (3)
  • September 2011 (1)
Tweets by BeInTheLoopChi

Tag Cloud

2024 (30) 2025 (20) Al Jourgensen (4) Berwyn (5) C2E2 (6) Chicago (141) Chicago Theatre (6) City Winery (4) Concert (21) concert photography (29) concert photos (16) concert review (37) Country Music (6) David Lee Roth (4) Douglas Park (4) Festival (9) Grant Park (6) Highland Park (5) Illinois (7) images (9) Interview (4) In The Loop Magazine (47) james currie (8) john 5 (5) live (70) Lollapalooza (7) lords of acid (5) Metro (7) Ministry (7) Music Festival (6) NItzer Ebb (5) Photos (7) Ravinia (14) review (5) Riot Fest (16) Riviera Theatre (6) rob zombie (6) Salt Shed (11) Sold Out (6) tour (28) Tour 2024 (13) Tour 2025 (8) United Center (8) US Tour (5) wax trax records (5)

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
© 2025 In The Loop Magazine / All Rights Reserved.
  • Music News
  • Media
  • Festivals
  • Promotions
  • Venues
  • About
  • Gallery