ROCHELLE, IL… The Rochelle Chamber of Commerce and 102.3 the Coyote will welcome some of country music’s hottest rising stars to the Summer Country Jam stage on Saturday, August 1 at the Rochelle Municipal Airport, 1201 W. Gurler Road. Five bands from across the country will perform at the annual event. Gates open at 4pm. All tickets are general admission and ticket holders must bring a lawn chair to the open seating arena. Tickets are $20. Kids ten and under are free with a paid adult. Parking is $5. Event is rain or shine.
Music will begin on the concert stage at 4:45pm. Dixon, Illinois’ own Gina Venier will open the festival. Venier was a contestant on American Idol Season 15. Her soulful blues and pop songwriting style make her a true artist on the rise.
Luke Amelang will take the stage at 6pm with his intensely unique voice in modern country music. His writing is based in the traditions of southern folk, blues, and traditional country with ballads of love and loss to swinging numbers about sasquatches and aliens. Luke’s unique style of songwriting comes to life with an amazing line up of musicians including some legendary players on fiddle, tenor banjo, pedal steel and upright bass.
At 7:25pm it’s Dixie Still, the two-time Carolina Music Award-winning, Nashville recording vocal group. Their fresh new sound and tight harmony vocals separate them from other acts. Their sound has been compared to Lady Antebellum and their energy to that of the Band Perry.
Dixie Still will stop by the Switchyard Bar & Grill, 200 N. Washington Street, Rochelle on Friday, July 31 between 7-9pm for a special Summer Country Jam Pre-Party with 102.3 The Coyote. Fans will be able to meet the band and have their last chance to purchase Jam tickets before the price increases at the gate.
Chris Lane will headline the show at 9pm. Chris has opened for Florida Georgia Line, The Band Perry, Eli Young Band, Chris Young and Brantley Gilbert, and Lee Brice. After playing Rochelle he will travel select dates with Florida Georgia Line. Lane, who signed with Big Loud Mountain, is currently recording his first EP. Rolling Stone Country Magazine recently named Chris Lane “One of 10 Country Artists You Need to Know: Summer of 2015”.
Ticket holders can stay at their seats for the Rochelle Comfort Inn & Suites After-Party from 11pm-1am on the airport stage. Love & Thunder, a high energy country band from Northern Illinois will close out the festival. Concert goers must have a $20 Jam ticket to attend the After Party.
“The Rochelle Municipal Airport is a unique and intimate concert venue and a great place for families and friends to gather”, said Peggy Friday, Rochelle Chamber Executive Director/CEO. This Summer Country Jam will showcase some of the best new and rising country music talent with a variety of music styles to please everyone. I encourage everyone to get there early for the best seat and to take advantage of the Happy Hour specials”, she added.
A food court of local vendors will be on hand from Alfano’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant, Country School Restaurant, The Flight Deck Bar & Grill, and Pizza Hut. A variety of Budweiser beverages and Ritas will be on sale throughout the day along with water and non-alcoholic drinks. During Happy Hour the Budweiser Montego Sampling Team in full Latino costume will be there featuring samples and giveaways. The adjacent Chicagoland Skydiving Center will be operational so concert goers can enjoy watching multi-colored parachutes descend from the sky.
Sponsors include the City of Rochelle, 102.3 The Coyote, Budweiser, Rochelle Comfort Inn & Suites, First National Bank, Kishwaukee College, DeKalb Harley Davidson, Bee Designs, Big R of Rochelle, Holcomb State Bank, McDonalds, Next Generation Wireless, Quinns Jewelry, Stillman Bank, and Swedish American Medical Group of Rochelle.
Tickets are available at the Rochelle Chamber or www.rochellechamber.org; the drive-up windows at First National Bank of Rochelle, Holcomb State Bank, Stillman Bank, and First State Bank; Pizza Hut locations in Rochelle, Dixon, and Oregon, Big R of Rochelle, and the Flight Deck Bar & Grill at Chicagoland Skydiving Center. Will call is available for ticket holders who live outside of Rochelle. The ticket price increases to $25 at the gate.