Taste of Chicago: Here's a Taste of the 2007 Concert Music Lineup

It's that time again, Chi-town, and the Taste of Chicago's concert lineup couldn't be yummier. Beginning Friday, June 29 and going practically non-stop through Sunday, July 8, all of the Windy City and its fun-seeking visitors can enjoy nationally known rock bands ranging from John Mayer and The Black Crowes to soul-stirring R&B acts including Frankie Beverly & Maze and Lyfe Jennings.

The free concerts this year at the Petrillo Music Shell promise millions of Taste of Chicago goers a delicious, musical treat. To whet your appetite, here's a fun look at every major act on the annual "food, folks, and fun" festival's lineup. This roundup of featured country, soul, classical and rock concerts not only provides concert dates and times, it cites fascinating trivia about the headliners - in case you need to impress someone special while there.

Schedule of National "Taste of Chicago" Acts Performing at the Petrillo Music Shell

Friday, June 29 at 5:30 p.m.
MAZE Featuring FRANKIE BEVERLY
• Soul music fans the world over know and love hits by Maze such as "Joy and Pain" and "Southern Girl." But did you know that Maze's song "Silky Soul" is the band's tribute to the late Marvin Gaye? The group's latest news is the release of a 20-track double-CD, titled "Anthology." The discs include their most popular songs by lead vocalist Frankie Beverly, whose smooth soul and R&B crooning has always drawn comparisons to that other legendary band that gained popularity in the seventies: Earth, Wind & Fire.
• Visit the official website for Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly for more information.

Saturday, June 30 at 3:00 p.m.
KENNY ROGERS
• Houston-born music legend Kenny Rogers has been making music for over 50 years. Time and again, Rogers has given not only country music fans, but those who enjoy rock, pop and soul music a thrill with his raspy, powerful voice. A fascinating fact about Kenny Rogers? His music is huge in Africa, of all places -- particularly in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Check out this NPR audio file about the 20-somethings in Africa - often dressed in hip-hop garb - who are obsessed with Rogers' classic songs like "The Gambler."
• Visit the official website for Kenny Rogers for more information about the country music legend.

Sunday, July 1, at 3:30 p.m.
SARA EVANS and CRAIG MORGAN
• Many Americans only became aware of country music star Sara Evans when she participated on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" in 2006 - and quit the show after filing for divorce. But true fans of country music have known the skyrocketing Sara Evans for a while, through hit singles including "No Place That Far" and "Born to Fly." Named by People magazine as one of the world's most beautiful women, Evans was born in Boonville, Missouri, a small Ozark Mountain town west of St. Louis. It's safe to say that before Sara became a Country Music Award-winner, the only thing that most people knew about Evans' birthplace is that it was the home of Missouri's infamous Boonville State Prison.
• For more information, visit the official website for Sara Evans.

Monday, July 2 at 6:00 p.m.
BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
• Been curious about hit plays such as Wicked and The Color Purple, but thought the ticket prices a little rich for your wallet? Well, this year the Taste of Chicago is giving everyone a free sample of these tasty, cultural gems. The Broadway In Chicago concert at the Taste will feature the casts of both smash-hit musicals, each performing in costume some of their show-stopping numbers. In addition, the popular Chicago Children's Choir is scheduled to perform.
• Visit Broadway in Chicago for details about major plays and musicals around town. The site not only features ticket information for Wicked and The Color Purple, but Jersey Boys, Phantom of the Opera, and others.

Tuesday, July 3 at 8:00 p.m.
GRANT PARK ORCHESTRA & MACY'S FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR
• Classical music buffs will appreciate the opportunity to catch the Grant Park Orchestra at the Taste. Principal conductor Carlos Kalmar and chorus director Christopher Bell will lead works ranging from Beethoven to Bernstein. Interestingly, with their new home at Millennium Park's beautiful Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the Orchestra's summer Grant Park Music Festival is the nation's only remaining free, outdoor classical music series. And as if that's not enough, mark your calendar to see GPO at the Pritzker Pavilion on July 18th: They'll be joined by the indie rock band sensation, The Decemberists.
• Visit the official site for Grant Park Orchestra to learn when you can enjoy them in their usual habitat, the Pritzker Pavilion, throughout the summer.

Wednesday, July 4 at 3:00 p.m.
JOHN MAYER and ROBERT RANDOLPH & THE FAMILY BAND
• Who doesn't love acoustic rock and blues prince John Mayer? Surely, one American pop princess named Jessica Simpson does. But music fans have known and appreciated Mayer's heady music for quite a while. His 2006 album, Continuum, earned John Mayer two 2007 Grammy Awards -- for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Waiting on the World to Change." But when he plays the Taste of Chicago, he'll be joined by another talented band: His opening act will be Robert Randolph & The Family Band! An acclaimed mix of soul, funk, rock and hip-hop, Robert Randolph & The Family Band could be described as an exciting cross between Parliament, OutKast and Zydeco music. Along with John Mayer, this concert promises all a rollicking good time sure rock the Petrillo Band Shell.
• For more information, check out the official websites for John Mayer and the fun MySpace site for Robert Randolph & The Family Band.

Thursday, July 5 at 5:30 p.m.
LYFE JENNINGS and MUSIQ SOULCHILD
• Born Chester Jennings in Toledo, Ohio, the multi-platinum selling neo-soul and R&B artist known as Lyfe Jennings acquired his stage name earnestly: He adopted the moniker as a result of serving 10 years in jail for arson. While incarcerated, Lyfe found religion and music, using both to turn himself around and become a multi-instrumentalist. About a month after his 2002 release from jail, he appeared on the "Showtime At the Apollo" television program, receiving a standing ovation for his original, acoustic material -- and won the tough competition five times. Now, with two highly-acclaimed albums to his credit - and a popular, cautionary single titled "S.E.X." -- Lyfe Jennings enjoys a tremendous following, often singing about the high hurdles and important lessons of urban life as he's learned them.
• For more on Lyfe Jennings, check out his MySpace site.

Friday, July 6 at 5:30 p.m.
THE BLACK CROWES
• The remarkable, blues-rock oriented Black Crowes have sold more than 15 million albums throughout their career. A hard rock band originally from Georgia and influenced by legends such as Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones, the Black Crowes' music is full of feeling and angst. Many credit TBC with bringing sexy back to rock 'n roll at a time when alternative bands didn't appear concerned with sexuality as part of their shtick. The Black Crowes' 1990 ballad, "She Talks to Angels," is considered one of most sublime rock songs about drug addiction in years. Vocally, on the hit single "Sometimes Salvation," lead singer Chris Robinson seems to channel the late, great R&B legend Otis Redding. The Black Crowes are sure to turn the Taste of Chicago into a bit of a Chicago BluesFest all over again - but with a hot, avant garde sensibility that rock babes just love.
• For more on the Black Crowes, visit their official website.

Saturday, July 7 at 5:00 p.m.
CHEAP TRICK, SOUL ASYLUM and CRACKER
• What would you get if you mixed the Beatles with punk rock? Some would say Cheap Trick -- the Rockford, Illinois-formed band that struck it big with hits including "Surrender" and "I Want You to Want Me." Heavily influenced by British rock, Cheap Trick experienced only modest success for years - that is, until they released the album The Budakan. Distinctive among music aficionados for their eclectic guitar and bass instruments, Cheap Trick's music can be heard regularly on television. Not only do they perform the theme song for "That '70s Song," their popular tune "Surrender" can be heard at the opening of ABC's hit show, "Sons and Daughters." Interestingly, the City of Rockford made their hometown heroes' album art the official design for this year's vehicle registration stickers. You have to wonder how many die-hard Cheap Trick fans have moved to Rockford, just for the city sticker.
• For more information on Cheap Trick, check their official website.

Sunday, July 8 at 3:00 p.m.
LOS LONELY BOYS
• They're a little bit Santana; they're a little bit Stevie Ray Vaughn. Which means you can't go wrong checking out Los Lonely Boys this year at the Taste of Chicago. Originally from San Angelo, Texas, the band of three Tejano blood brothers -- Henry, Jojo, and Ringo Garza - moved to Nashville and met greater success. They've opened for the likes of Willie Nelson and have made major noise as the "new Los Lobos," with hits including a cover of John Lennon's "Whatever Gets You Through the Night" and "Heaven," which won Los Lonely Boys a 2005 Grammy Award. Their style of guitar licks (a la Santana) combined with blues underpinnings (a la Stevie Ray Vaughn) make Los Lonely Boys' ballads a new wave of Tex-Mex music that's diverse and tasty as fajitas.
• Get more on Los Lonely Boys at their official website.

Beyond the Petrillo Band Shell
The nationally-known acts performing at the Petrillo Band Shell are but a few of the music groups performing at the 2007 Taste of Chicago. Six other venues at the festival, such as the Fox Chicago Bandstand and the International Pavilion, also feature jam-packed music and more. Primarily starring hometown favorites, other stages at the Taste will shine a spotlight on the likes of the Lincoln Park Jazz Combo, the Reginald T. McCants Jazz Band, Muntu Dance Troupe, Shaolin Kung Fu Performers, and Back of the Yard Ballet Folklorico.

To check out the entire 2007 Taste of Chicago concert schedule and learn more about the 70 restaurateurs, various major sponsors, and numerous regional acts booked for the festival this year, visit the City of Chicago's Taste of Chicago website.