The Arts on the Green summer concert series, presented by the Raue Center for the Performing Arts in Crystal Lake, returns with a slate of blues, jazz, folk and rock on the green grass at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.cq
It is the second year of sports events at St. Mary’s in Crystal Lake, said Raue chief Richard Richard.
“We are very lucky and feel very lucky to be invited by St. It is beautiful, seven acres, ”he said. “The response from the community and the response from the experts was excellent. It is a very comfortable place and a very nice park for the city.”
Concert hours are 7pm. July 9, July 16, Aug. 6, Aug. 13, Aug. 20, and Aug. 27 without concert July 23 and 30. People are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs with their drinks.
“This summer, the line is that we are taking risks,” he said. “We have everyone from the local band called Bourbon Country who will be our Artist in Residence at the Raue Center for a whole year and especially.”
Bourbon Country kicks off the July 9 series.
Impressed by their music, Kuranda had his eye on the band for years. They were the last to be shown in Raue before CCIDID-19, he said.
“They showed us Valentine’s show,” he said. “Then COVID happened and sadly, one of the band’s leaders, Warren (Pohl), became seriously ill and sadly died in April 2020. It was heartbreaking.”
The group gathered and proceeded, he said.
“I always felt uplifted when I listened to them … in the work they did,” he said. “But to see Randy (Leggee) and the new members of the band re-emerge with a different voice than the old ones … the music sounds different than it used to be.
Bourbon State will be Raue’s artists living for a year and Kuranda has encouraged them to take risks at the stadium, starting on July 9th.
“We are asking them to review the music as they are probably not usually given the task of playing it,” he said. “They can be independent and have the freedom to try something in front of an audience that they don’t usually try. We really enjoyed Bourbon. I think it will be an amazing journey this year.”
On July 16, singer Tina Naponelli presents her show, “Tapestry Unraveled: The Music of Carole King.” Supported by a five-part band, he will honor the music scene with versions of “I Feel the World Going,” “Chain” and “You Found a Friend” from the King “Tapestry” album.
He often plays Raue dancer, singer and singer Derrick Procell, who plays rock, blues and soul Aug. 6.
August. 13, regional blues singer Hector Anchondo comes downtown, teaming up with Crystal Lake singer and sound engineer Joe Corley tonight on the blues music scene. Anchondo recently won the solo / duo part of the 2020 International Blues Challenge. Anchondo’s album, “Let Loose those Chains,” which was recorded and co-produced by Corley, was nominated for Acoustic Blues Album of the year at the 43rd Blues Music Awards.
“We’re glad to have them; I think they will be even more amazing, “Slave said.
Women return to light Aug. 20 when SoundTracks of a Generation presents “Ladies of the Canyon: A tribute to Linda Ronstadt and Joni Michell,” with singers Heather Wood and Jessica Hornsten singing the songs of these artists breaking artists.
The series ends with Jeff Jacobs, a former member of the Billy Joel Band, “The Piano Man’s Piano Man: A Tribute to the Music of Billy Joel” Aug. 27. Jacobs was also a member of Foreigner from 1992 to 2009 and traveled with him. Lou Gramm, he said.
“He not only has the skills, not only the knowledge, to really do the whole job, but he is one of the few artists whose positive side is pushing in with the audience,” he said. “He has the ability to make the whole game different but it goes with the audience.
“Jeff always keeps the audience together and takes them on a different journey. In 90 minutes, he will cover some of the songs you may not have heard in decades. One cool thing is, he gives the background an account of how some of these songs came to be. It’s a powerful, loving show.”
Kuranda is happy to include international tourist activities, such as Omaha, Nebraska-based Anchondo; we are as good as the players here.
“It inspires the whole community and we consider ourselves fortunate to be part of their journey,” he said.
The Arts on Green vibe is both free and community-based, he said.
“The best part of Art on the Green is that it is a real opportunity for the community to come together in a relaxed, artistic way and enjoy good music,” he said. “There is something strange about this place. Every time you have an outdoor event, if it grows out loud it has very different inner emotions. It’s not like going to an amphitheater or concert venue. And the talent is really valuable.”
Arts at the Green Summer Concert Series
Ikoko: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 210 McHenry Ave., Crystal Lake
Information: 815-356-9212; rauecenter.org
Annie Alleman is a freelance writer for News-Day.
