Blues Traveler, Starship to headline FoxFireFest
The harmonica-driven sound of Blues Traveler and the '70s roots of Starship will make Elgin's Festival Park the place to be the first weekend in August for the city's second FoxFireFest.
The two radio-friendly bands are joined by Thomas Ian Nicholas, easily as well known for playing Kevin in the "American Pie" movies as he is for crafting pop songs.
This incarnation of Starship features Mickey Thomas, the vocalist who joined Jefferson Starship after the departure of Grace Slick and hit it big with "Jane," "We Built This City" and "Sara."
FoxFireFest this year will be without the crazy circus-style performers of "Red Moon Theater," but, as city spokeswoman Sue Olafson said, "We've gotten higher quality musical entertainment this year."
The festival's debut last year was more about spectacle. This time, it's about the music.
"We were trying to attract people from all walks of life and demographics," Olafson said, in putting together a list of performers.
The festival will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, with a performance by Elgin O.P.E.R.A., followed by the Elgin Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 p.m.
Like last year, there will be a pyrotechnic show, after which the festival was named, along the river about 9:30 p.m.
Nicholas takes the stage at 4 p.m. Saturday, featuring songs from his debut album, "Without Warning."
Starship comes on at 6 p.m., followed by Blues Traveler at 8 p.m. The evening is capped off with more pyrotechnics at the conclusion of the show, about 10:30.
Elevation, a U2 cover band, will perform at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. And the southern rock-infused sound of Sister Hazel closes the festival with a 5:30 p.m. performance.
That's just the music.
The festival opens at noon both Saturday and Sunday. Food, beer and wine vendors will keep you happy.
And it did last year, the AAUW Fine Arts Fest will run in conjunction with the FoxFireFest.
On Sunday morning the Elgin Cycling Classic will take riders through a one-kilometer course that runs through the Lords Park neighborhood. Races of various competitive levels and age ranges will start at 8 a.m. The final race begins at 4 p.m. More than $12,000 in cash prizes will be given out. Register at www.downtownelgin.org.
There is no entry fee to the festival. And free parking is available in all city-owned parking facilities. Shuttle service is available to off-site parking during peak hours.
Festival Park runs along the Fox River just north of the Grand Victoria Casino at 132 S. Grove Ave.
For a complete schedule check www.cityofelgin.org/events.
Comcast and the Daily Herald are primary sponsors of the festival.