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Starlight Concert Line-up Announced

Evanston’s own Ezra Furman & the Harpoons will open the City of Evanston’s 2011 Starlight Concert Series with a free 7:30 p.m. performance at James Park, 300 Dodge Avenue in Evanston. The Starlight Concert Series features 16 free outdoor concerts at six park locations throughout Evanston.

The urgent and explosive songs of Evanston native Ezra Furman reflect the influence of greats like Bob Dylan and Jonathon Richman. The band has garnered national attention through appearances at high-profile festivals including Lollapalooza and SXSW. “Ezra Furman & the Harpoons make rootsy rock ’n’ roll that’s fiery, fierce and, above all, honest,” says the Chicago Sun-Times. 

Other performers on the Starlight Concert series include Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials, circus punk marching band Mucca Pazza, and the first Chicago-area performance in more than 30 years by ’70s folk icon Melanie Safka, sponsored by First Bank & Trust. 

All performances are free to the public, and will take place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, rain site information will be available after 4:30 p.m. on the show date by calling 847.448.8258 or 847.448.8260. Rain sites are the Levy Senior Center and Fleetwood-Jourdain Center.

Park locations are as follows:

James Park, Dodge Ave. at Mulford St. (S. of Oakton) 
Dawes Park, Sheridan Rd. at Church St. (at the lagoon)
Harbert Park, Dempster St. at McDaniel Ave. (east of North Shore Channel)
Twiggs Park, Dodge Ave. at Simpson St.
Bent Park, Central St. at Cowper Ave.
Brummel Park, Brummel St. at Elmwood Ave.

Thurs. June 16         Ezra Furman & the Harpoons

James Park              Evanston indie rock favorites

Tues. June 21          Maja Rios

Harbert Park            Jazz vocalist with organ trio

Thurs. June 23         Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials

James Park              Chicago blues slide guitar hero

Tues. June 28          JT and the Clouds

Bent Park                  Roots rock with a touch of Memphis soul

Thurs. June 30         Mucca Pazza

James Park              Astounding circus punk marching band

Thurs. July 7             Beatle Brothers

James Park              Celebrate Ringo Starr’s 71st birthday!

Thurs. July 14           Taj Weekes & Adowa

James Park              Socially conscious grooves from Jamaica

Tues. July 19            Sanctified Grumblers

Harbert Park            Jug band fuses old country and early jazz

Thurs. July 21           Ted Sirota’s Rebel Souls

Twiggs Park             Jazz influenced by Afro-pop, funk, and ska

Tues. July 26            Melanie (sponsored by First Bank & Trust)

Dawes Park             Famed singer of Brand New Key, Candles in the Rain

Thurs. July 28           Expo 76

Brummel Park          Impeccable selection of one-hit wonders and dusties

Tues. Aug. 2             Ken Arlen Orchestra

Dawes Park            Chicago’s leading dance band

Tues. Aug. 9             Ami Saraiya & the Outcome

Dawes Park             Worldly staging of folk punk and jazz cabaret

Thurs. Aug. 11          Akasha

Twiggs Park             Reggae grooves and soulful vocal harmonies

Tues. Aug. 16           Canasta

Dawes Park             Majestic orchestral indie rock

Tues. Aug. 23           TBA. Dawes Park