Midway Arpt., IL
Miranda Lambert Comes to Chicago Country Music Fest
The Chicago Country Music Fest, one of the City’s newest fests, is pleased to announce that this year, 2009, one of Country Music’s highest flying young starts, Miranda Lambert, will headline.
Chicago Mayor Daley is a country music fan and rallied for a Chicago Country Music Festival in the city. Chicago is home to a vast number of country singers/songwriters and bands here.
the inaugural Chicago Country Music Festival was held in 1991. It was a two-day event, held on city streets, near Sheffield and Weed Street. Over 40,000 country music fans turned out in 99 degree heat to watch an extensive talent line-up, featuring everything from clog dancers and square dancers to the singing group The Texas Tornadoes, Rodney Crowell and Pam Tillis. Music critics gave it a thumbs up for the variety of country music offered. Because of the big crowds, it was decided to move the event the following year to Grant Park to accommodate the crowds.
For 16 years, the Chicago Country Music Festival took place on the first weekend of Taste of Chicago, the city’s premier culinary event. It was considered a festival within a festival. Country music was featured on two music stages and performers over the years have included Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Wynonna, Yonder Mountain String Band, Randy Travis, Loretta Lynn and the father of bluegrass music, Bill Monroe.
In 2008, the Chicago Country Music Festival moved out from the Taste of Chicago to a new location and a new date. The festival moved to Soldier Field Parkland. Large crowds turned out for Gretchen Wilson, Lady Antebellum and Taylor Swift, among others. The Best Buy Honky Tonk Stage and the Americana Stage rounded out the talent lineup. Also added was a Kids Corral and Dance Tent.
The festival is moving again – to Oct. 3 & 4, 2009 in Grant Park. Headlining this year’s fest is Miranda Lambert.
© 2009, How About Chicago. All rights reserved.
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