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Gary LeVox will appear in Orland Park in June.
By Jeff Vorva
Summer is fast approaching and the southwest suburbs are getting ready to welcome a host of national musical acts.
While the old standbys, such as SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview and Credit 1 Union Amphitheater in Tinley Park will continue to bring in the big names, places like Orland Park and New Lenox are also in the game.
A look at what’s happening this summer:
Orland Park
Centennial Park West received a makeover that village officials are pumped up about and believe it will attract national headliners.
The first headliner to perform at the concert series is Gary LeVox. While his name might not be instantly recognizable, he was the singer for Rascal Flatts and judging by past setlists, he will be playing plenty of that band’s songs. Jessie Haines and Hunter Hayes will be backing him up.
Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo headline on July 13 with Robin Taylor Zander opening up. Benatar’s massive hit “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” might be decades old, it still packs a punch as it is being currently used in a commercial for Applebee’s loaded fajitas.
Finally, the Aug. 17 lineup is all tribute bands.
There are many tribute bands to Queen touring but One Vision, which makes a return appearance to Orland Park, boasts Marc Martel as its lead singer and he did the voice work of the late Freddie Mercury in the film “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Glory Days, a tribute to Bruce Springsteen, and Billy Nation, a Billy Joel tribute band, will also perform.
Tickets are $25 per concert for general admission or $60 for all three. Front of stage tickets are $40. Tickets can be purchased at universe.com.
That might not be the last of the national talent to grace the new stage. The village’s Taste of Orland Park will be moving to Centennial Park West in August and officials are working on bringing in some familiar acts to that event as well.
Bridgeview
SeatGeek Stadium is always good for a festival or two and this year the North Coast Musical Festival returns Aug. 30-Sept. 1.
It’s being called “Summer’s Last Stand” and ARMNHMR is the special guest performer while Brownies & Lemonade and Confessions Takeover and a host of other bands perform.
For tickets, visit northcoastfestival.com.
Brookfield
The Brookfield Zoo announced three concerts this summer as a part of its Roaring Nights theme, but one is already sold out.
The Fray is coming to the Zoo on June 22 while the Barenaked Ladies sold-out show is July 12 and the Gin Blossoms take the stage on July 27.
Ticket information can be found at brookfieldzoo.org/roaringnights.
New Lenox
Remember Chicago Ridge Police Chief Tim Baldermann?
He is the longtime mayor in New Lenox who has been bringing national acts to his town at the village’s commons area for more than a decade.
This year, he bragged “We’re bringing a Beatle to town!”
Former Beatle drummer Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band come to town on Sept. 14 and the band consists of Edgar Winter plus members of Kansas, Toto, the Average White Band, Men at Work and the David Lee Roth Band.
Tickets are $90 but New Lenox residents get first dibs to buy them from 8 a.m. to noon May 11. After that, it will be open to the general public and can be purchased at Village Hall.
Another legend, Smokey Robinson, will play in New Lenox on June 1. Tickets are $60 and will be available to the public after noon on May 11 at Village Hall.
Tinley Park
Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre will have a jam-packed schedule of shows from May through September.
Some of the highlights include New Kids of the Block (June 15), Santana and the Counting Crows (June 29), Train and REO Speedwagon (July 13) plus the Outlaw Music Festival featuring Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp (Sept. 7).
Tickets can be purchased through livenation.com although there are scores of resale websites selling tickets to these shows.