CHICAGO - A touch of jazz, blues and the spoken word
will come to Chicago compliments of Peoria when four central
Illinois arts figures are spotlighted in a new Chicago
festival that takes place in September.
Jazz pianist Jimmy Binkley, jazz guitarist Preston Jackson, blues singer Bobbye King and Bradley University poet Kevin Stein will join about 200 performers from throughout the state Sept. 6-9 at the Great Performers of Illinois festival.
The free event, which takes place at various locations in downtown Chicago's Millennium Park, is intended to showcase food, talent and culture from around Illinois. Regional foods such as Illinois corn sausage chowder and Abe Lincoln pound cake are spotlighted along with Indie rock, the blues, poetry, square dancing, yodeling, trick roping and drumming circles.
In addition to entertainment, the festival has an educational and promotional thrust as well: Information about every county of Illinois will be available at regional tourism booths where children can collect stickers of state symbols and guests can enter a raffle to win a free trip in Illinois.
King, Stein, Binkley and Jackson are familiar figures on the Peoria-area arts scene.
King, known for her husky-voiced blues performances, is often seen with her Lady's Choice Band at the Rhythm Kitchen Music Cafe on 305 Water St. She's also performed on Insight Communications Channel 22 and at Juneteenth celebrations in Galesburg.
Stein, a Bradley University English professor, is Illinois Poet Laureate. His books of poetry include "Chance Ransom" and "American Ghost Roses." His scholarly works include "Private Poets, Worldly Acts," a study of poetry and history.
Binkley, a jazz pianist, can be heard regularly at Sky Harbor, 1321 N. Park Road in West Peoria. He also has performed at the Peoria Area Community Events Brown Bag It Entertainment Series at Peoria County Courthouse Plaza and in area nursing homes.
Jackson, co-founder of Peoria's Contemporary Art Center, is a painter and sculptor in addition to being a jazz guitarist. He performs regularly at the Rhythm Kitchen Music Cafe and elsewhere around town.
Bobbye King and the Lady's Choice Band will perform at 12:15 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Wrigley Square Stage. Binkley and Jackson will play at 7 p.m. Sept. 7 at Pritzker Pavilion as part of a lineup that includes Koko Taylor of Chicago at 8:15 p.m. Stein will read from his poetry at
1:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the tent behind Pritzker Pavilion.
"The state of Illinois has an amazing wealth of performing artists," said Shirley R. Madigan, Illinois Council Chairman in a prepared release. "Showcasing these renowned performers over four days in Millennium Park is a golden opportunity for Chicagoans - and the world - to experience firsthand some of the state's greatest assets."
Jazz pianist Jimmy Binkley, jazz guitarist Preston Jackson, blues singer Bobbye King and Bradley University poet Kevin Stein will join about 200 performers from throughout the state Sept. 6-9 at the Great Performers of Illinois festival.
The free event, which takes place at various locations in downtown Chicago's Millennium Park, is intended to showcase food, talent and culture from around Illinois. Regional foods such as Illinois corn sausage chowder and Abe Lincoln pound cake are spotlighted along with Indie rock, the blues, poetry, square dancing, yodeling, trick roping and drumming circles.
In addition to entertainment, the festival has an educational and promotional thrust as well: Information about every county of Illinois will be available at regional tourism booths where children can collect stickers of state symbols and guests can enter a raffle to win a free trip in Illinois.
King, Stein, Binkley and Jackson are familiar figures on the Peoria-area arts scene.
King, known for her husky-voiced blues performances, is often seen with her Lady's Choice Band at the Rhythm Kitchen Music Cafe on 305 Water St. She's also performed on Insight Communications Channel 22 and at Juneteenth celebrations in Galesburg.
Stein, a Bradley University English professor, is Illinois Poet Laureate. His books of poetry include "Chance Ransom" and "American Ghost Roses." His scholarly works include "Private Poets, Worldly Acts," a study of poetry and history.
Binkley, a jazz pianist, can be heard regularly at Sky Harbor, 1321 N. Park Road in West Peoria. He also has performed at the Peoria Area Community Events Brown Bag It Entertainment Series at Peoria County Courthouse Plaza and in area nursing homes.
Jackson, co-founder of Peoria's Contemporary Art Center, is a painter and sculptor in addition to being a jazz guitarist. He performs regularly at the Rhythm Kitchen Music Cafe and elsewhere around town.
Bobbye King and the Lady's Choice Band will perform at 12:15 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Wrigley Square Stage. Binkley and Jackson will play at 7 p.m. Sept. 7 at Pritzker Pavilion as part of a lineup that includes Koko Taylor of Chicago at 8:15 p.m. Stein will read from his poetry at
1:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the tent behind Pritzker Pavilion.
"The state of Illinois has an amazing wealth of performing artists," said Shirley R. Madigan, Illinois Council Chairman in a prepared release. "Showcasing these renowned performers over four days in Millennium Park is a golden opportunity for Chicagoans - and the world - to experience firsthand some of the state's greatest assets."
