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Mayor Emanuel and DCASE Announce Taste of Chicago Headline Talent


Petrillo Music Festival Concert Series Lineup Released

CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–April 24, 2013.  Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced the lineup of performers at the Petrillo Music Shell for the 2013 Taste of Chicago. The City of Chicago and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) have announced Robin Thicke, Robert Plant, Jill Scott and Neon Trees will join previously announced opening performers fun. as this year’s headline entertainment, July 10-14.

“We are thrilled to announce the headlining talent for this year’s Taste of Chicago,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “The Taste draws hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors to downtown Chicago and we are excited to offer attendees such a variety of recognized, energized and award-winning quality entertainers while enjoying a taste of Chicago’s culinary scene.”

Mayor Emanuel recently announced the welcoming of food trucks into Taste of Chicago for the first time ever this summer in Grant Park. Each evening’s concert at the Petrillo Music Shell will offer additional food options for concert attendees served by some of the City’s best food trucks.

For the second time, tickets will be sold to the seating area at the pavilion for $25 per ticket while the lawn seating remains free. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale at the Taste website (tasteofchicago.us) beginning May 15. Concert goers may purchase up to 10 tickets per show and there are no additional fees or surcharges added to the $25 ticket.

R&B recording artist Robin Thicke is Thursday night’s headliner. By the tender age of 21, Thicke was already writing and producing songs for talent such as Michael Jackson, Christina Aguilera, Brian McKnight and others. It wouldn’t be long before he was releasing his own music with a critically acclaimed debut album, A Beautiful World, and a nearly double platinum second release that topped four Billboard Charts, The Evolution of Robin Thicke. While putting the finishing touches on his sixth studio album, Thicke has released a single, “Blurred Lines.”

The evening’s concerts begins with R&B artist, rapper, record producer and Grammy® Award winning Estelle who takes the stage at 5:30 p.m.

Rock ‘n Roll legend Robert Plant takes the stage on Friday night with Robert Plant Presents The Sensational Space Shifters, presented by 93XRT. This show features Plant’s “big” voice with a top band behind playing a mixture of songs from his career. Plant surprised Taste audiences in 2010 by joining headline act Los Lobos for their finale. Plant just recently joined his Led Zeppelin band mates as they received last year’s Kennedy Center Honors and he is currently on tour in the southern hemisphere playing to rave reviews.

Opening for Plant at 5:30 p.m. is southern country rock band The Lone Bellow who recently played to a sold out crowd at SPACE.

Saturday evening brings three-time Grammy Award winner Jill Scott to the Petrillo Music Shell. The singer, songwriter, actress and poet expresses passion through her music. Scott has created a distinct style of music that combines jazz, R&B, spoken word and hip-hop.

Maxi Priest, London born and Jamaican influenced, brings his reggae talent to Taste opening for Scott at 5:30 p.m.

Concerts conclude on Sunday night as Bud Light presents Neon Trees. The Provo, Utah based band has achieved great success with its debut album Habits and its #1 single “Animal” was named Top Alternative Song of 2011 by Billboard.

There’s been no sophomore jinx for Neon Trees as their follow up album Picture Show and release “Everybody Talks” have charted even higher, hitting #6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Opening for Neon Trees at 4 p.m. is the Mowgli’s, the self-described eight friends from Los Angeles who are making music with love, and making love with music.

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Event has partnered with Ticketweb to handle all sales of concert tickets as well as the popular Celebrity Chef du Jour sit-down dinners.   Links to purchase will be available on the Taste website, tasteofchicago.us. The celebrity chef lineup will be announced in May.

On Saturday, July 13, Taste of Chicago will once again host an all-free show presented by Radio Disney AM 1300 featuring two new groups of budding superstars. Atlanta based 13 and 11 year old singing sister duo Chloe and Hallie, who cite influences from Billie Holiday to Beyonce, will perform cover songs as well as their own material. Performance begins at 11 a.m. (Taste of Chicago will open at 10 a.m. on Saturday.)

The Radio Disney show will also feature IM5, a band currently working on their debut album and comprised of five very different young men, brought together by show business veterans Simon Fuller, Jamie King and Perez Hilton. There’s Cole from Texas, Dalton from Memphis, Dana from Pittsburgh, Gabriel from Miami and Will from LA but their common denominator is their collective desire to perform and sing from an early age. They are currently nominated for Ultimate Breakout Star at the Radio Disney Music Awards, set to air on April 27.

Taste of Chicago is presented by the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and sponsored in part by Aquafina, Blue Bunny® Ice Cream, Bud Light, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Transit Authority, Communications Direct, CLTV-ChicagoLand’s Television, Dominick’s, Eli’s Cheesecake Company, Gallo Family Vineyards, Humana, Illinois Lottery, LaGrou Distribution System, Pepsi, Radio Disney AM 1300, Shoreline Sightseeing, WGN-Television, WTTW 11’s Check, Please! and 93XRT.

The 33rd Annual Taste of Chicago is July 10-14 in Grant Park. (Taste of Chicago hours are 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Wed. – Fri.; 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sat. and Sun.) For more information on the free admission festival, call 312.744.3316; TTY: 312.744.2964 or visit tasteofchicago.us. To plan your trip to Chicago, visit choosechicago.com. Join the Taste conversation on Facebook at Taste of Chicago and follow us on Twitter, @TasteofChi2013.

Source: cityofchicago.org

 


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