Oak Brook Park District summer concert series moving to new venue this year

Oak Brook Park District summer concert series moving to new venue this year

The Oak Brook Park District brings its summer concert series to a new venue in 2024, beginning July 11 and continuing each Thursday evening through Aug. 8.

The concert series began in 1982 and is moving this year to the new Oaks Amphitheater at 1315 Kensington Road, which is located on the former McDonald’s property that was purchased by the park district with funds from a successful 2018 referendum.

“The new area is much more conducive to concerts, said Robert Pechous, the park district’s director of recreation & communications.

Pechous said the new venue has a sloped grass lawn, parking and accessibility have increased, and new indoor restroom facilities are near the amphitheater. A picnic pavilion with new concessions is also at the location.

Laure Kosey, the park district’s executive director said the summer concert series is a beloved tradition that brings the community together.

“We are excited to offer an outstanding line-up of musical acts this year and look forward to seeing friends and families enjoy these wonderful summer evenings in our beautiful Central Park,” she said.

All concerts are free to the public, and performances will begin at 6:30 p.m. The July 11 concert will also include the new Oaks Amphitheater ribbon cutting. In case of inclement weather, concerts will be rescheduled to a later date. The weather hotline is (630) 645-9553.

There are paved areas for ADA seating, and concert-goers are asked to bring their own chairs and blankets to sit on the lawn. Wintrust Community Banks is sponsoring this year’s concert series.

The summer concert series schedule is:

July 11: Live Stream — The members of this band have played 80s and 90s music in the Chicagoland area for many years at many clubs, festivals, and concert series.

July 18: The Neverly Brothers — this band formed 21 years ago and bills itself as a rock ‘n roll tribute from Elvis to The Beatles

July 25: The Four C Notes — Created by John Michael Coppola, The Four C Notes are the Midwest’s only tribute band dedicated to recreating the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

August 3: Anchors Away — Billing itself as “The ultimate yacht rock experience,” Anchors Away draws on sources such as smooth soul, smooth jazz, R&B, and disco, and uses high-quality production, clean vocals, and a focus on light, catchy melodies.

August 8: Mr. Myers — Mr. Myers plays Caribbean Rock, a mixture of reggae, soca/calypso, beach music, and its originals. In the band’s 40-plus-year history, it has played thousands of shows, ranging from clubs to festivals and park districts to corporate and private events.

Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.