FitzGerald’s 35th Annual American Music Festival 2016

Jun 28, 2016 James Currie Features, Music News, Reviews 0

Starting in 1981, FitzGerald’s American Music Festival has grown from a three-band barbeque night to one of the most critically acclaimed summer festivals in the Midwest. The festival’s main focus is roots/Americana music — everything from straight-ahead rock to soul, rockabilly, country, blues, jazz and bluegrass. We welcome bands from all over the country and right here at home, with a special place in our hearts for New Orleans and Texas.

Unlike many of the popular music festivals in the city, the American Music Festival is held on the grounds of the club, with two of the three stages in our club and SideBar and one outdoor stage on tented parking lot. This setup makes for a more intimate, comfortable experience, with access to a full bar, air conditioning and real bathrooms! Our festival tents offer seating and waitress service, and the FitzGerald family is always on hand to help with any special needs which might arise.

June 30 (doors open at 4:30 pm):

IN THE TENT: Webb Wilder (9 pm), Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles (7:15 pm), Billy Prine Band (5:30 pm).

IN THE CLUB: Donna the Buffalo (10 pm), Parker Millsap (8:15 pm), Dead Winter Carpenters (6:30 pm).

IN THE SIDEBAR: Cannonball (10 pm), Bunkertown/Lonesome Organist (8:15 pm), Jodi and Dave Walker (6:45 pm).

July 1 (doors open at 4:30 pm):

IN THE TENT: Eric Lindell with Anson Funderburgh (10:30 pm), Nelson Street Revival with Cathy Richardson (8:45 pm), The Lee Boys (7 pm), Mississippi Mudpuppies (5 pm).

IN THE CLUB: Banditos (11:15 pm), Willie Nile (9:15 pm), The Wild Reeds (7:30 pm), The Roosevelts (6 pm).

IN THE SIDEBAR: Dead Freddie (11:30 pm), Tory P-Lopez & the Beta Males (10 pm), Girls of the Golden West (8:30 pm), The Giving Trio (7 pm).

July 2 (doors open at 1 pm):

IN THE TENT: Willie Nile (10:15 pm), The Zimmermen with Robbie Fulks and John Fullbright (8:15 pm), Alanna Royale (6:30 pm), Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience (4:30 pm), R&B Cadets (2:30 pm), Salty Dogs (1:30 pm).

IN THE CLUB: Robbie Fulks (11:15 pm), John Fullbright (9:30 pm), Jon Dee Graham & the Fighting Cocks (7:45 pm), Kevin Gordon Band (6 pm), Dylan LeBlanc (4:30 pm), Brad Cole (3 pm), Choctaw Wildfire (1:30 pm).

IN THE SIDEBAR: Kevin Gordan Band (10:30 pm), Gerald Dowd (9 pm), Curtis McMurtry (7:30 pm), Moonrise Nation (5:30 pm), Christine Melody Remedy (4 pm).

July 3 (doors open at 1 pm):

IN THE TENT: Dos Lobos featuring Cesar Rosas and David Hidalgo of Los Lobos and special guests (9:45 pm), James McMurtry (7:30 pm), Tributosaurus becomes James Brown (5:30 pm), Toronzo Cannon (3:45 pm), Rico (2 pm).

IN THE CLUB: Reckless Kelly (11:30 pm), The Cactus Blossoms (9 pm), Choctaw Wildfire (7 pm), Sam Lewis (5 pm), The Claudettes (3:15 pm), Salty Dogs (1:30 pm).

IN THE SIDEBAR: Expo ’76 (11:30 pm), The Belvederes (9:45 pm), Charlie Parr (8 pm), Matt the Electrician (6:30 pm), Lonesome Still (5 pm).

Advance tickets, $25 (June 30), $30 (July 1), $35 (July 2) and $50 (July 3), are available at ticketweb.com and (in person only) at FitzGerald’s. Children’s tickets — $5 for 12 and under — will not be sold in advance. Just pay at the door for the kids, who are welcome until 10 p.m. PLEASE NOTE: ANYONE UNDER 21 MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT. Early bird discount ($5 off) until 5:30 p.m. on June 30-July 1 and 2 p.m. on July 2-3.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ADVANCE TICKETS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR DAY AS PURCHASED AND ARE NOT REFUNDABLE.

Four-day festival passes ($120) are available in advance ONLINE ONLY at ticketweb.com (or at the door on the first day of the festival). The deadline for purchase of passes online is Wednesday, June 29 at 3 pm. Passes can not be mailed – you can pick yours up at the front door when you show a valid ID.

The TicketWeb link is https://www.ticketweb.com/snl/VenueListings.action?venueId=32814&pl=

A four-day pass may be used by anyone you like, but is good for only one admission per day. The days are marked on the pass and will be punched when you arrive — already-punched passes will not be honored (to combat the old hand-the-pass-over-the-fence trick), so if you have a pass and you’re going to leave and come back, be sure to ask the doorman for a wristband.