NEWS RELEASE
360 N. Broadway, Aurora, IL 60505
RiverEdgeAurora.com 630.896.6666
Press contact: Jay Kelly, L.C. Williams & Associates
jkelly@lcwa.com, 312.565.4623, 312.315.3935 (cell)
FOR IMMEDIATE REELASE
LADY ANTEBELLUM, JIMMIE VAUGHAN, LOS LONELY BOYS, LEE DEWYZE,
10,000 MANIACS, JENNIFER NETTLES TO PERFORM OUTDOORS
AT AURORA’S NEW RIVEREDGE PARK THIS SUMMER
2014 season announcement also boasts full slate of Downtown Alive! concerts,
family-friendly community festivals and fun special events
From left: Lady Antebellum, Jimmie Vaughan, Los Lonely Boys, Lee DeWyse, 10,000 Maniacs, Jennifer Nettles
Go to http://RiverEdgeAurora.com/press/ for hi-res images.
AURORA, IL, May 1, 2014 – City of Aurora Mayor Thomas Weisner announced today the 2014 line up of
concerts and events at RiverEdge Park, downtown Aurora’s beautiful new outdoor concert venue, ready to
launch its exciting second season this summer.
National acts playing RiverEdge this summer include 18th Annual Blues on the Fox headliners Jimmie
Vaughan, Los Lonely Boys and Taj Mahal (June 27 & 28), Lee DeWyze and 10,000 Maniacs (July 5), Under the
Sun Tour with Sugar Ray, Blues Traveler and Uncle Kracker (July 6), Lady Antebellum (August 7), Jennifer
Nettles of Sugarland (August 29) and one more major concert TBA (August 10; announcement and ticket-on
sale date is June 22).
Aurora’s popular Downtown Alive! outdoor music series returns with Sixteen Candles (June 13) and American
English (August 1). Tickets are only $1 if purchased before June 2. Outdoor screenings of movie cult classics
Sing-A-Long-A Grease (June 20) and The Rocky Horror Picture Show (June 21) also invite plenty of fun audience
participation for only $5. Community festivals and fun special events will attract all ages to Aurora’s downtown
business district including the Wisconsin Beer and Cheese Tour (May 31), Sacred Heart Annual Festival &
Concert (June 8), the ColorVibe 5K Race (June 15), Aurora’s Fourth of July Celebration, the Aurora Puerto
Rican Heritage Festival (July 26 & 27) and the Fox Valley Irish Festival (August 2).
RiverEdge Park is located at 360 N. Broadway, directly across from the Metra station in downtown Aurora.
Tickets go on sale Friday, May 2 at 10 a.m. for all performances except Lady Antelbellum; the Under the Sun
Tour with Sugar Ray, Blues Traveler and Uncle Kracker; and Jennifer Nettles. Tickets go on sale to the general
public for those concerts Tuesday, May 6 at 10 a.m. Purchase tickets at RiverEdgeAurora.com, or call the
RiverEdge box office, (630) 896-6666.
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Take note: RiverEdge ticket prices are deeply discounted if purchased before June 2 (except Lady Antebellum,
before August 1). For residents of Aurora and Chicago’s western suburbs, advance tickets can easily be
purchased at RiverEdge’s satellite box office, the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora,
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday–Saturday. The RiverEdge box office is also open at the park on show days starting
from Noon to show time.
“RiverEdge Park is making downtown Aurora the place to be”
Aurora Mayor Thomas Weisner, joined by Tim Rater, President and CEO of the Aurora Civic Center Authority,
announced the new RiverEdge season at his annual State of the City address. “This year’s RiverEdge Park
lineup of concerts, community events and festivals is dynamic, exciting, and features activities for all ages.
We’ve raised the bar for the park’s sophomore season and look forward to welcoming thousands of people from
across the Chicagoland area who will discover all that RiverEdge Park and downtown Aurora have to offer.”
RiverEdge Park debuted last summer, attracted more than 100,000 people to Aurora in its first season, and
instantly became a nice new addition to the short list of outdoor entertainment venues in and around Chicago.
Tim Rater, President and CEO of the Aurora Civic Center Authority, which programs and manages the park,
added “RiverEdge is a beautiful, new outdoor summer playground for the entire community, and it’s making
downtown Aurora the place to be. Because there’s nothing quite like experiencing a nationally known act like
Lady Antebellum, or meeting your friends and neighbors at a community festival, in such an attractive and
accommodating venue in the heart of the city. Join us for our 2014 season. You’ll see what I mean.”
RiverEdge Park’s striking John C. Dunham performance pavilion includes 30 acres of beautiful grounds, with a
capacity of 8,500. Anyone who has been knows RiverEdge is clean, beautiful, staffed with friendly people, boasts
state-of-the-arts lighting and acoustics and is easy to get to.
Here’s the full line-up:
NATIONAL ACTS!
18th Annual Blues on the Fox with Jimmie Vaughan, Los Lonely Boys and Taj Majal
Friday, June 27 Park opens at 6 p.m. Concert at 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 28 Park opens at 2 p.m. Concerts start at 3 p.m.
Tickets: Before June 2: $10 per day/Starting June 2: $20 per day; Kids 12 & under free w/adult 18 years or older
Blues music legends Jimmie Vaughan, Los Lonely Boys and Taj Majal are among the headliners for Aurora’s
18th Annual Blues on the Fox, one of the most heralded Blues festivals in the Midwest. Add Blues Hall of
Famer Joe Louis Walker, Kansas City Blues Bomber Samantha Fish and Baton Rouge’s Delta belter Tab
Benoit and you get six phenomenal bands over one incredible weekend, complete with tasty festival food, cold
beers and stunning scenery on the banks of the Fox River.
Blues on the Fox starts rockin’ Friday, June 27, with a live set by blues ax man Joe Louis Walker, followed by
one of the greatest guitarists of our time, Jimmie Vaughan. Gates open at 6 p.m. Concerts begins at 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 28, kicks off with afternoon sets showcasing the “fret board badassery” of Kansas City upstart
Samantha Fish, followed by the Grammy-nominated Louisiana bluesman Tab Benoit. Taj Mahal, one of the
most influential blues artists of all time, plays the sunset slot, with “Texican” rock n’ rollers Los Lonely Boys
firing up the RiverEdge stage as the festival finale. Gates open at 2 p.m. Concerts start at 3 p.m. Aurora’s 18th
Annual Blues on the Fox festival is sponsored by Rush-Copley Medical Center. The official radio station for Blues
on the Fox is WXRT 93.1 FM.
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Lee DeWyze & 10,000 Maniacs
Saturday, July 5
Park opens at 6 p.m. Lee DeWyze at 7 p.m. 10,000 Maniacs at 9 p.m.
Tickets: Before June 2: $6/Starting June 2: $12
Lee DeWyze
There’s no doubt that winning American Idol Season 9 rocketed Lee DeWyze’s career. Not only did DeWyze
demonstrate his versatility singing “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “It’s a Beautiful Day” and “That’s Life,” four
years later, people are still talking about his amazing rendition of “Hallelujah.” But that’s nothing
compared to what happened after the Mount Prospect native got to write and record his own music,
peaking with his latest CD, Frames, filled with critically acclaimed, emotionally charged songs.
10,000 Maniacs
10,000 Maniacs helped define the alternative college rock sound of the 80s. With hits like “Candy
Everybody Wants” and “These Are the Days,” 10,000 Maniacs sold millions of records and entertained
millions more touring the world. Over 30 years from when they first took the stage, 10,000 Maniacs is still
packing live shows that leave audiences buzzing.
Under the Sun Tour with Sugar Ray, Blues Traveler and Uncle Kracker
Sunday, July 6
Park opens at 5:30 p.m. Concert starts at 7 p.m. Please check RiverEdgeAurora.com for artists’ start times.
Tickets: Before June 1: $20/Starting June 2: $30
Consider RiverEdge your own private backyard party on a beautiful summer night. The only difference is that
now your backyard is 30 acres, it’s on the Fox River and the hits after hits you’re partying to are being played
live by Sugar Ray, Blues Traveler and Uncle Kracker.
Uncle Kracker
In ’94 Kracker met Kid Rock at a turntables competition in Michigan. They became friends, and Kracker
went on to play tables and featured vocals on Kid Rock’s debut album. That set the foundation for Uncle
Kracker’s own album Double Wide, which hit no. 7 on Billboard’s chart, followed by his cover of “Drift
Away,” which shattered the record for the most weeks at No. 1 on Adult Contemporary.
Blues Traveler
They started as a Jersey garage band, played their first real gig at a frat party and went on to tour with the
Rolling Stones, win a Grammy and record 14 records. Their unique blend of blues and folk rock,
psychedelic rock and good ole southern soul jamming sound is unmistakable, especially front man John
Popper’s vocals and harmonica.
Sugar Ray
After playing funk metal for 10 years, Mark McGrath and his friends from Orange County experimented
with a new sound that propelled them to the top of the charts. It started in 1997 with “Fly,” which hit No. 1
on Billboard’s list, then Sugar Ray kept dominating the charts with “Every Morning,” “Some Day” and
“When It’s Over.”
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RiverEdge announces 2014 season – pg 4 of 9
Lady Antebellum
Thursday, August 7
Park opens at 6 p.m. Concert at 8 p.m.
Tickets go on sale to the general public Tuesday, May 6 at 10 a.m.
Tickets: Before August 1: $45/Starting August 1: $55
Since its 2006 inception, seven-time Grammy award-winning trio Lady Antebellum has risen quickly to
become country music’s most influential contemporary group. The harmony-based trio – Charles Kelley,
Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood – won the Vocal Group of the Year honor from both the Country Music
Association and from the Academy of Country Music three times in a row. Eight of the band’s singles went
gold, with four – “American Honey,” “Need You Now,” “Just A Kiss” and “I Run To You” – surpassing the
platinum mark. “Need You Now” went on to sell over seven million downloads, and claimed five of the trio’s
seven career Grammy wins in 2011, including the all-genre Record and Song of the Year.
MAJOR CONCERT TBA
Sunday, August 10
Park opens at 6:30 p.m. Concert at 8 p.m.
Stay tuned for a major RiverEdge concert announcement and the immediate launch of ticket sales
Sunday, June 22 at 10 a.m.
Jennifer Nettles: That Girl Tour 2014
Friday, August 29
Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Brandy Clark at 7 p.m.; Special guest at 7:50 p.m. (TBA June 5). Jennifer Nettles at 9
p.m.
Tickets: Before June 2: $30/Starting June 2: $40
Jennifer Nettles, lead vocalist for international super duo Sugarland, has become one of the most popular
singer-songwriters in music today. Since Sugarland exploded onto the music scene in ’04 they have earned
worldwide sales of over 22 million (albums and singles), eight No. 1 singles and trophies from the Grammys,
AMAs, ACM Awards, CMT Music Awards and CMA Awards. Nettles has won five ASCAP awards for her
songwriting, and in 2008 received a Grammy Award, ACM Award and CMA Award for penning the
emotionally charged, platinum-selling No. 1 hit “Stay.” At the 2009 ACM Awards, Nettles was honored with
the “Crystal Milestone Award” for being the first woman to be the solo songwriter on an ACM “Song of the
Year” winner since 1972.
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RiverEdge announces 2014 season – pg 5 of 9
Downtown Alive!
It’s one of the best traditions in Aurora or the Western Suburbs. Friday night, go home, put on something
comfortable, come out to RiverEdge Park, grab a libation, hang out with friends, enjoy festival food and listen to
fun music – all at a really good price, in a super cool setting. Here’s the schedule. Tickets are just $1 if purchased
before June 2.
Downtown Alive! Sixteen Candles
Friday, June 13
Park opens at 7 p.m. Concert at 8 p.m.
Tickets: Before June 2: $1/Starting June 2: $3
If you haven’t heard of Sixteen Candles, ask around or go to RiverEdgeAurora.com to see they’re video.
They’re awesome. Sixteen Candles plays the best collection of 80’s music you’ve ever heard, hit-after-hit,
all night long.
Downtown Alive! American English
Friday, August 1
Park opens at 7 p.m. Concert at 8 p.m.
Tickets: Before June 2: $1/Starting June 2: $3
It’s the 50th Anniversary of when four guys from Liverpool changed America. What better way to celebrate
than with one of the most popular Beatles tribute bands on the planet. They look like the Beatles, they
sound like the Beatles, even the Beatles former promoter Sam Leach calls American English “The Beatles
Incarnate!” From that very first song on the Ed Sullivan show through Abbey Road, it’s an evening of hitafter-bloody-Beatles-hit.
Rush-Copley Medical Center is the title sponsor for Aurora’s 2014 Downtown Alive! series. Downtown Alive!
is also sponsored by BMO Harris Bank, Comfort-Suites Aurora, Country Financial, Fox Valley Park District,
Paramount Fence, Sikich, Subway and Waubonsee College.
Movies in the Park at RiverEdge, June 20 & 21
Sing-A-Long-A-Grease
Friday, June 20
Park opens at 6:30 p.m. Pre-show contests and games begin at 7:15 p.m. Movie starts at 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $5, including a Grease Fun Pack to be used during the movie
ATTENTION Pink-Ladies, T-Birds, Travolta fans, Olivia fans and anyone that’s a fan of one of the greatest
musical movies ever made: Sing-A-Long-A-Grease is coming back to RiverEdge Park. We’re starting the evening
early with a host of games and contests for the young, and the young-at-heart. Get out the hoop skirts, saddle
shoes, leather jackets and grease for the hair, because we’ll be giving away prizes for the best outfits. Then it’s
the main event – to join everyone in the crowd as we all belt out the lyrics to “Summer Nights,” “You’re the
One that I Want,” “Hopelessly Devoted,” “Hand Jive” and all the awesome songs from this iconic film.
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The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Saturday, June 21
Park opens at 7:30 p.m. Movie starts at 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $5
Rated R for strong adult language and content
Note: This show uses various props such as shaving cream and powder that does get on audience members.
Hard to believe what started out as a commercial flop in 1975 turned into the most successful Midnight Movie
in cinema history. It’s the story of newly-wed couple Brad and Janet who get a flat tire, walk to a near-by castle
to use the phone and encounter Dr. Frank N. Furter, Rocky, Riff Raff, Magenta and a host of other colorful
characters that blow their minds and change their lives. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a full-on, audience
participation evening of dancing, singing, yelling, and sizzling that will have you begging for more. If you’ve
never experienced Rocky Horror before, here’s your chance. If you’re a seasoned RHPS fan, slip on those heels,
get into costume, bring your props and let’s “Time Warp” the night away.
Community Festivals and Special Events
Wisconsin Beer & Cheese Tour
Saturday, May 31
Park opens at 3 p.m. for VIP package buyers; Tour runs 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
VIP Package $75/General Admission Package $40/Designated Driver Package $20
No one under 21 admitted
Attendance is limited. Do not wait, this will sell out.
To purchase and for package details go to: https://tix.extremetix.com/Online/WisBeer&CheeseRally
Thanks to the rich European heritage of Wisconsin, the state is known for two things: beer and cheese. In fact,
at one point, Wisconsin was the Beer Capital of the Country with four Mega Breweries calling it home. The
Badger state is still the No. 1 producer of cheese in America, rolling out over 1.18 billion kilos annually. Now
those Wisconsin treats, and the folks that make them, are converging on Aurora for one day at the Wisconsin
Beer & Cheese Tour.
It’s the ultimate day: you’ll spend it sipping micro-brews, sampling artisan cheeses and sausages, listening to
cool music and soaking in some rays. Plus, there’s “foodie-centric” demonstrations and activities, as well as
other great Wisconsin food for sale. Here’s just a partial list of the breweries in attendance: Ale Asylum;
Berghoff Brewery; Capital Brewery; Central Waters Brewing Company; Grumpy Troll; Potosi Brewing
Company; Sand Creek Brewing Company and Hinterland Brewing Company.
Sacred Heart Annual Festival & Concert
Sunday, June 8, 9 a.m.-7:45 p.m.
Tickets: Ages 13 and up $10. 12 and under free.
Tickets only available at the gate on the day of the festival
Kick off the summer with mouth-watering food and great music, all in support of Aurora’s Sacred Heart
Parish. There’s dozens of Latin-American food vendors preparing fresh cuisine as well as other vendors
offering an array of items including boots, shirts and more. In the afternoon, music fills the air as the area’s
best traditional Hispanic bands take the stage including: Angelica Maria; Alacranes Musical; Los Horoscopos
de Durango; Montez de Durango and Alex Villareal. Bring the entire family, there’s something for everyone.
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Color Vibe 5K Race
Sunday, June 15, 7:30 a.m.-Noon
Limited spots available. Register at thecolorvibe.com/aurora.php
Each paid participant will receive a Color Vibe T-Shirt, Color Packet and special gift
A portion of the proceeds will benefit Communities in Schools of Aurora
It’s a race of a different color. The Color Vibe 5K is not about crossing the finish line first but how colorful you
get along the way. Suit up in all white and get ready to be colored! As you run through scenic Downtown
Aurora, along the serene Fox River and end up in beautiful RiverEdge Park, you’ll be blasted with vibrant
color powders that make tie-dyeing so yesterday. When you finish the course, stick around for the COLOR
DANCE PARTY! Families welcome. Kids seven and younger are FREE.
Aurora’s July 4th Celebration
Friday, July 4
Park opens at 3 p.m. American Legion Band at 5:30 p.m. Fox Valley Orchestra at 7 p.m.
Aurora City Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Admission: FREE
IMPORTANT: Coolers, food and drinks are welcome, but no alcohol is allowed in the Park. Food and drink
vendors will be open during the concerts.
There’s no better way to celebrate America’s Birthday than with family, friends, music and one colossal
fireworks display. RiverEdge kicks things off with the Aurora American Legion Band, a talented group of
patriotic musicians – veterans and non-veteran alike – who perform marches, contemporary, standards plus a
couple of surprises. Next is the Fox Valley Orchestra, over 55 of the area’s most talented musicians returning to
fill the Aurora air with the music of movies, classical, chart toppers and more. And when the lights go down,
the sky fills with spectacular scenes created by a fireworks display that will give the youngsters chills and
make the not-so-youngsters feel like kids again.
Aurora Puerto Rican Heritage Festival
Saturday and Sunday, July 26 & 27 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Tickets: $5/Children 5 and under FREE
Tickets only available at the gate on the days of the festival
This two-day festival celebrating the rich heritage of Puerto Rico, put on by the Aurora Puerto Rican Cultural
Council, boasts endless food vendors offering wonderful cuisine; domino competitions; traditional folk music;
other Puerto Rican bands; a kids’ play area; novelty vendors; Puerto Rican craftsmanship vendors and nonstop fun. And don’t forget to take in the sights and sounds of the Puerto Rican Day Parade on Sunday, July 27.
The Parade kicks off at Noon from Benton and Broadway Street and makes its way through downtown Aurora
to its festive destination, RiverEdge Park.
Fox Valley Irish Festival featuring The Tossers, Bogside Zukes and Anish
Saturday, August 2
Park opens at 1 p.m. Childrens’ play area open 1-5 p.m. Anish at 5 p.m. Bogside Zukes at 6:30 p.m.
The Tossers at 8:30 p.m.
Tickets, ages 15 and up: Before June 2: $5/Starting June 2: $10
Children 14 and under: $5 in advance and day of/ Kids 2 and under FREE
Children’s tickets include unlimited use of kid’s area exhibits including bounce house and petting zoo
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Chicago’s biggest summer celebration of the Emerald Isle is taking place in Aurora, right along the Fox River,
complete with bag pipers, step dancers, Irish Open Mic sessions, Irish beer and whiskey tastings, contests, and
authentic Irish food, beverages and merchants.
Be sure to bring the whole family – the children’s play area has a bounce house, petting zoo, games and more.
When the sun goes down, the kids are welcome to stay, or drop them off at the sitter’s and head back for the
grown-up portion of the festival.
Kicking it off is Anish, with a lively cutting edge blend of traditional and new wave Celtic. Then The Bogside
Zukes take over with a traditional-folk-pub sound which combines classic Celtic, bluegrass and old-time
music. Then The Tossers, six South Siders with a Celtic Punk edge hit, the stage for a raucous, joyous
celebration of the working class, the motherland and their South-Side roots.
Fox Valley Irish Festival is sponsored by Ballydoyle Irish Pub, Banana Split, Baum Property, Dolan &
Murphy, I.A.T.S.E. Local 2, Kenny Corn, R.J. O’Neil and West Suburban Irish.
Roots Aurora: Family Focus
Sunday, August 31, 1 p.m.-8 p.m.
Tickets: $3/Dress in Cultural Garb: $1
Tickets only available at the gate on the day of the festival
Roots Aurora is a celebration of the many cultures that represent our great city. A truly multicultural festival
of dancing, music, art and (most importantly) food, Roots Aurora offers the unique opportunity to experience
just a sampling of the rich heritage of our Aurora residents from around the globe. The festival is a fantastic
chance to better appreciate the many cultures present right here in Aurora without having to pack a passport
and phrasebook!
More about RiverEdge Park
Chicago and Chicago’s western suburbs have a beautiful, new outdoor concert venue to enjoy after last
summer’s grand opening of the new RiverEdge Park in downtown Aurora – Illinois’ second largest city.
RiverEdge Park is inspired by outdoor entertainment facilities in Chicago’s Millennium Park and Northerly
Island, and Milwaukee’s Summerfest. The park is anchored by the contemporary John C. Dunham
performance pavilion, which boasts state-of-the-art acoustics and lighting. RiverEdge is a general admission
park with a capacity of up to 8,500.
RiverEdge Park is easily accessible via Metra’s Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) line. Paid public parking
is available in the Metra lot, additional private lots surrounding the park and in downtown Aurora just a few
blocks from RiverEdge.
All events at RiverEdge are general admission. There will be no bench seating at RiverEdge in 2014. Guests are
encouraged to bring folding bag chairs (shoulder height) or blankets. Some shows like Lady Antebellum and
Jennifer Nettles will have standing room only in front of the stage with a designated area for chairs or blankets
behind the sound tower. Visit RiverEdgeAurora.com for specifics about each performance.
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RiverEdge announces 2014 season – pg 9 of 9
Food and drink are available for purchase inside RiverEdge Park. No outside food or drink (except sealed
water bottles) are allowed in the park. RiverEdge concessions offer a diversified menu from official food
vendor Two Brothers Roundhouse, along with a bar featuring a selection of domestic and craft beers, wine,
sodas, bottled water and more. A busy row of festival food vendors also set up tents to sell everything from
hot dogs to funnel cakes.
Events take place at RiverEdge Park rain or shine, unless conditions endanger the safety of artists and the
public. Concertgoers are advised to call the RiverEdge Park Weather Line, (630) 723-2480, to check status if
inclement weather is pending.
The 2014 RiverEdge Season is sponsored by The Dunham Fund, City of Aurora and Paramount Arts Center
Endowment (PACE).
RiverEdge Park is managed and programmed by the Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACCA), which also
oversees operations for Aurora’s historic Paramount Theatre. Under the guidance of President and CEO Tim
Rater, ACCA has a proven track record of attracting audiences to downtown Aurora, with first-year
attendance at RiverEdge estimated at 100,000, and annual attendance at the Paramount Theatre having grown
from 55,000 in 2010, to more than 250,000 for the recent 2012-2013 season.
For more information, visit RiverEdgeAurora.com or call the RiverEdge box office, (630)896-6666.
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Go to http://RiverEdgeAurora.com/press/ for hi-res images of Aurora’s new RiverEdge Park.