FitzGerald’s American Music Festival Returns for Its 42nd Year

Feb 04, 2025 admin_bitlc Breaking News, Features, Music News, Reviews 0

BERWYN, IL – FitzGerald’s American Music Festival returns for its 42nd year on the Fourth of July weekend, Thursday, July 3—Sunday, July 6. The festival brings four days of live music to one of the country’s most celebrated music venues, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. First held in 1981 as a one-night gathering, it has grown into a nationally recognized event featuring three stages, a diverse lineup, and a setting that combines the intimacy of a club with the energy of an outdoor festival.

Recognized as one of the longest-running music festivals in the country and named a “Top Summer Music Festival” by JamBase in 2022, FitzGerald’s American Music Festival highlights Americana, country, blues, rockabilly, folk, brass bands, and New Orleans zydeco, while also welcoming emerging talent and new genres. This year’s festival broadens its scope further, presenting its most diverse lineup yet.

It’s an honor to carry on this long-running festival. We’re doing our best to preserve the history and build toward the future. Seeing all these great artists and happy people on our little property in Berwyn is the kinda thing that makes all the hard work worth it.
– Will Duncan, FitzGerald’s club owner and talent buyer

This year’s American Music Festival at Fitzgerald’s features 50 incredible acts, offering a dynamic mix of blues, rock, country, soul, and Americana. This lineup showcases a blend of legendary performers, rising stars, and genre-crossing musicians who bring raw talent and high-energy performances. Among the standout performers:

The Wallflowers (Rock/Heartland Rock), Samantha Fish (Blues/Rock), JD McPherson (Rockabilly/Rhythm & Blues), Lee Fields (Retro-Soul/Funk), The Secret Sisters (Americana/Folk-Country), Shinyribs (Swamp Pop/Gulf Coast Soul), CJ Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band (Zydeco/Blues), The Cactus Blossoms (Retro-Country/Americana), The Sensational Barnes Brothers (Gospel/Soul Revival), The Watson Twins (Indie Folk/Americana).

For the fourth year in a row, Chicago illustrator Ryan Duggan has designed the official FitzGerald’s American Music Festival poster, continuing a tradition of bold, hand-crafted artwork that captures the essence of the festival. Duggan, known for his distinctive screen-printed designs that blend vintage aesthetics with modern irreverence, has once again created a limited-edition print that reflects the festival’s storied history and electric energy. His work has become a sought-after staple for collectors and festival-goers alike, offering a unique visual keepsake that embodies the character of FitzGerald’s and its commitment to live music. This year’s poster will be available for purchase at the festival, giving attendees a chance to own a piece of this iconic Chicago tradition.

In-Person Pre-Sale Party: The First Chance to Secure Festival Passes

Fans can get early access to festival tickets at the In-Person Pre-Sale Party at FitzGerald’s Sidebar on Sunday, March 2, 2025. The event is free to attend, and all guests will receive a complimentary glass of sparkling wine to celebrate the return of one of America’s longest-running music festivals.

At the Pre-Sale Party, attendees will be the first to purchase daily tickets and 4-Day Passes, with no limit, and will receive a commemorative AMF ’24 laminate.

The celebration continues that evening in the main club with performances by festival favorites DEEOHGEE and rising stars Paul McDonald & The Mourning Doves at 8 p.m. Tickets for the show are available now at FitzgeraldsNighclub.com.

A Festival That Puts Fans First

FitzGerald’s American Music Festival offers a uniquely immersive experience. It blends the energy of a multi-stage outdoor festival with the warmth and character of a legendary neighborhood venue. The event takes place inside and outside the club, utilizing adjacent buildings and surrounding streets to create an intimate and electric atmosphere. Unlike large-scale festivals, where fans are far from the action, FitzGerald’s brings audiences and artists closer together, fostering a sense of community and connection that makes every performance feel special.

Guests enjoy real bathrooms, shaded seating, and an up-close concert experience, setting the festival apart from massive outdoor events. Festival-goers can grab a drink between sets, explore the historic space, and enjoy food from Babygold Barbecue, the venue’s in-house restaurant that has become a local favorite known for its award-winning smoked meats and Southern-inspired menu. The festival has an atmosphere that is both high-energy and welcoming. Longtime attendees return year after year because of the unmatched mix of great music, laid-back hospitality, and rich history that makes FitzGerald’s feel less like a festival and more like a community gathering built around live music.

A Nationally Recognized Historic Venue

In 2024, FitzGerald’s was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places, making it the first music venue in Illinois to receive this distinction.

What started as a simple search for information turned into an amazing journey of discovery. It became clear that FitzGerald’s is more than just a music club; it is a living piece of history.
– Jess King, FitzGerald’s club owner and marketing manager

FitzGerald’s has been a gathering place for over a century. It first served as a roadhouse in the early 1900s before becoming a jazz and blues club that hosted legends like Turk Murphy, Bob Scobey, and Lil Armstrong. The FitzGerald family purchased the venue in 1980, establishing it as one of the country’s most respected live music destinations.

About FitzGerald’s Historic Nightclub

FitzGerald’s Nightclub, located at 6615 W. Roosevelt Road in Berwyn, Illinois, has been a cornerstone of live music for over a century. Originally a roadhouse in the early 1900s, it became home to nightclubs like The Hunt Club, which hosted jazz and blues legends such as Turk Murphy, Bob Scobey, and Lil Armstrong. Afterward, it became The Deer Lodge, maintaining its role as a music venue while adding features like pool tables and a fortune teller. In 1980, the FitzGerald family purchased the building and established FitzGerald’s Nightclub, earning national acclaim for its outstanding live music and welcoming atmosphere. Over the years, they expanded the property to include FitzGerald’s Sidebar, a neighborhood cocktail lounge, and private event space.

In 2020, Will Duncan and Jess King purchased FitzGerald’s from the FitzGerald family upon retirement. The transition was seamless, preserving the venue’s legacy while introducing fresh energy and ideas to this historic Berwyn landmark. In 2024, FitzGerald’s was named to the National Register of Historic Places, cementing its status as a cultural and historical icon.

Known for its intimate atmosphere and eclectic music lineup, the club has been hailed as “a musical gem” by The New York Times and has hosted artists across jazz, blues, and roots rock. It has also been featured in iconic films like A League of Their Own and The Color of Money, cementing its cultural significance.

About FitzGerald’s American Music Festival

Founded in 1981, FitzGerald’s American Music Festival is one of the longest-running music festivals in the country. It combines a dynamic mix of Americana, blues, rock, country, jazz, zydeco, and bluegrass. Held annually over Fourth of July weekend at the nationally recognized historic venue FitzGerald’s Nightclub in Berwyn, Illinois, the festival offers an intimate and immersive experience with performances across three stages inside and outside the club.

Over the past four decades, the festival has welcomed some of the most influential artists in American music, including Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, Nick Lowe, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Sonny Landreth, Billy Joe Shaver, Otis Clay, Irma Thomas, Alejandro Escovedo, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Junior Brown, The Blasters, Dave Alvin, James McMurtry, Reckless Kelly, C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band, Joe Ely, Charlie Parr, and Shemekia Copeland. Recognized as a “Top Summer Music Festival” by JamBase in 2022, FitzGerald’s continues to celebrate the rich traditions of American music while introducing new voices and emerging talent.