Joliet’s Rock & Roll Weekend Set to Shine
It’s going to be the most rockin’ weekend of the year when the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66 hosts their 3rd Annual Hall of Fame Weekend Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 15, 16 and 17 in Joliet.
The weekend begins on Friday at the Chicago Street Pub, 75 N. Chicago St. in downtown Joliet, with a live performance from Miles Nielsen, son of Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielson, and continues on Saturday, Sept. 16, with the “Illinois Grooves Vinyl Record Show” featuring thousands of rare and collectible vinyl records and other music memorabilia.
The event is co-hosted by Joliet’s Audio- Phil’s Records and will be held from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, located at I-80 and South Larkin Avenue in Joliet.
Then on Saturday night, it’s the “Hall of Fame VIP Preview Party” at The Forge with a full lineup of Illinois Pop Rock: Shoes, Ralph Covert, Dan Buck of One of The Boyzz, The Phil Angotti, Casey McDonough and Brad Elvis Trio, a special tribute to the late Cliff Johnson from Off Broadway plus Gen Fuze. Tickets are available now at www.TheForgeLive.com.
The weekend’s grand finale happens on Sunday, Sept.17, when Illinois’ strong contribution to the world of music and entertainment will take center stage at the Rialto Square Theatre with the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum’s “3rd Annual Hall of Fame Induction Award Ceremony.”
“The Class of ‘23 reveals the depth and diversity of talent whose roots can be traced to Illinois,” said Ron Romero, the museum’s Executive Director and Chairman of the Board in a press release.
This year’s inductees in the Band or Solo Artist category include Earth, Wind & Fire, The Cryan’ Shames, The Shadows of Knight, Nat King Cole and Miles Davis.
The late John Prine enters in the Songwriting category. Legendary Chicago area disc jockey Bob Sirott will be inducted in the Radio Personality category. The trailblazing WLUP-FM “The Loop” will be inducted in the Radio Station category and Chicago’s Alligator Records will be inducted in the Record Label category.
WGN Radio 720’s Bob Sirott will once again serve as Master of Ceremonies and will be inducted in the Radio Personality category. Bob will receive a special live induction speech from WGN’s John Records Landecker, who entered the Hall of Fame last year.
The event also includes live appearances from the late John Prine’s brother Billy Prine, who will be performing with Illinois’ folk music legend Bonnie Koloc, plus Chicago Bluesman and Alligator Records artist Toronzo Cannon, Tom Higgenson of the Plain White T’s, The Cryan’ Shames, a live tribute to jazz great Ramsey Lewis by his son Kendall Lewis and a live tribute to Miles Davis.
Get your kicks on Route 66 with a performance by Cathy Rich, daughter of the legendary drummer Buddy Rich and Gregg Potter, both of the Buddy Rich Orchestra, as they pay tribute to the late Nat King Cole. Cole and Buddy Rich recorded albums together as members of the Lester Young Buddy Rich Trio.
Former members of WLUP The Loop will also be on stage to accept the station’s induction, plus current Chicago-area radio personalities and journalists will serve as Presenters.
Award-winning singer Lia Caton will open the evening. Lia is a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll with soul. She was named 2022 “Vocalist of the Year” (multi-genre) at the 8th Annual Josie Music Awards held at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and she was dubbed one of Glancer Magazine’s “Most Fascinating Faces of 2021.”
Doors open at 5 p.m., and the event starts at 6 p.m. at the Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St., in downtown Joliet. Ticket prices are $68.50, $58.50 and $48.50. Tickets are on sale now from links on the museum’s website at www.RoadToRock.org, as well as www.RialtoSquare.com and www.ticketmaster.com.