Thousands flock to Buffalo Grove Days every year just to hear our musical acts, and I’m always one of them. Just ask my friends. Our group is so well-trained that no planning is required. We all know to congregate in the same place every year to eat dinner, have a few drinks and listen to the music. It’s a great ritual! So whether it’s music on the Main Stage (located in St. Mary’s field adjacent to the food tent) or in the smaller venue, the Beer Tent, the entertainment value can’t be beat. So, let’s take a look at this year’s line-up it on a daily basis.
Friday
At 6:30 pm, the Beer Garden will host a Piano Bar with Andrew Blenderman. I am a personal fan of Blenderman and his unique sing-a-long style. I know it sounds cliche ́, but I love to sing along to his version of “Sweet Caroline.” Phil Jacobson opens the Main Stage with his fluid vocals and a great guitar. At 8:30 pm, the entertainment continues on the Main Stage with 16 Candles, an 80s band cover band. At 10:30 pm, the entertainment shifts back to the Beer Tent with Soulchasers, a six-piece band the plays R&B and classic rock favorites.
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Saturday
The beer tent hosts the start of musical entertainment on Saturday. We begin the day with Hutch and Hong, a duo that sings covers and their own music with a pop flair. The Barefoot Hawaiian Duo performs 2:30 - 3:15 pm. The Reverie Dance Companies perform on the Main Stage 2:45 - 3:30. Over in the Beer Tent at 4 - 5:15 pm, The Blue Moondogs, an acoustic quartet, will entertain with interesting and unique interpretations of classic rock, country, folk, and bluegrass music. Their eclectic potpourri of music showcases both familiar favorites and deep cuts from a wide variety of artists. Whitey O’Day makes a return appearance in the beer tent at 5:30 pm and plays until 7 pm. Then, the entertainment returns to the Main Stage at 7:30 pm with the Rumble Tones Blues Band that showcases classic, post-World War II Chicago blues and 50s and 60s rock & roll in an electric dance band show. Following up at 9:15 is Haley Reinhart, a top three finisher on season ten of “American Idol.” Born and raised in neighboring Wheeling, Reinhart is a critically-acclaimed writer and musician who performed at the 2012 Lollapalooza in Chicago. At 10:30 pm, the music moves back to the Beer Tent with Pipe Dreams, whose current set list runs the gamut from classic rock songs like Journey’s “Anyway You Want It” to modern pop hits like Duffy’s “Mercy” to country hits like Carrie Underwood’s “Last Name.” Sunday
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On Sunday, the entertainment once again zips back and forth between The Main Stage and the Beer Tent. Jose Cornier will start the day in the Beer Tent at 2:30 pm. Cornier is known as one of the best Latin guitarists in Chicago, performing genuine Latin soul rhythms coupled with Salsa, Bolero, and Latin Jazz rhythmic melodies. Next up is the Acoustic Generation, a gifted duo that plays rock, pop and country. They perform 4:15 - 5:15 pm. Following the duo, Industrial Drive rocks the Beer Tent at 6 pm. Industrial Drive plays an eclectic mix of rock music from Alice in Chains to the Rolling Stones. This is their second year at Buffalo Grove Days. Headlining the Main Stage Sunday night is American English, the premier Beatles tribute band that will perform at 7:30 pm. Over at the Rotary Green, If We Were will begin at 8 pm playing both original and cover tunes. Both American English and Fore Lease will play until the fireworks start at 9:15 pm. At the point, simply turn your chairs around for the best view. Ending the musical entertainment for Sunday night is Mystriss, a Lake County band featuring classic rock. In my opinion, this band really rocks! They will play in the Beer Tent from 9:45 pm until Midnight.
Other forms of entertainment can be found throughout the festival. For instance, the Allegra Mexicana will be at the Craft Area on Sunday at 2:15 pm. Or, watch the Fred Astaire Dance Studio perform in the same area on Saturday at 4:30 pm. A complete list of the entertainment is available at our website, www.bgdays.com.
You can also check back here for details and daily schedules during the fest.
