Author name: Jaclyn Duske

Country Thunder Wisconsin Twin Lakes, Wisconsin 2305 Richmond Road Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, 53181 Friday July 20-23, 2023 Jason Aldean, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2023 With the sun shining bright and the fields filling up, fans were anticipating a great second day of Country Thunder Wisconsin. The day had an amazing line-up of artists, which included John Morgan, Halle Kearns, Hailey Whitters, Parmalee, Lainey Wilson, and Jon Pardi. Hailey Whitters drew in a small crowd of fans that were singing along to her songs. Whitters is an Iowa native singer-songwriter who has been making music since 2015. Her debut single to country radio, “Everything She Ain’t,” hit number 17 on the US Country Airplay charts in 2022. She recently took home New Female Artist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards. Bailey Zimmerman, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2023 Parmalee was next up in the lineup, where the crowd was on their feet dancing along. Parmalee has been making music since 2001 and has had 3 number one singles. In 2013, their first number 1 hit was “Carolina,” followed by “Just the Way” in 2021, which featured Blanco Brown, and “Take My Name” in 2022. Parmalee’s lead singer, Matt Thomas, worked the stage with ease and spent quite a bit of time interacting with the fans. The crowd erupted in cheers as Lainey Wilson took the stage. She moved with ease, worked the whole stage, and danced the entire set. She has an amazing stage presence and spends a lot of time signing autographs throughout her set. Her set included songs off her new album such as “Those Boots” and “Grease,” as well as some of her current hits,  “Wait in the Truck” with HARDY and “Heart Like a Truck.” Wilson is a singer-songwriter from Louisiana who has been making music since 2011. She received her first number one hit on the American country charts with “Things a Man Oughta Know.” Since 2021, Wilson has won countless awards including New Female Artist of the Year at the CMT Awards in 2021 and the CMA Awards in 2022. She recently won four awards at the Academy of Country Music Awards, which included Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Musical Event of the Year, and Visual Media of the Year. Parmalee, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2023 It was finally that time of the night for Jon Pardi to take the stage. Pardi sang many of his hits including “Tequila Little Time,” “Dirt on My Boots,” “Heartache Medication,” and “Head Over Boots.” He maneuvered his way around the stage well and spent a lot of time with the fans. Pardi has been making music since 2012 and won two awards in 2012, New Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards and New Male Vocalist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards. Since then, he has been nominated for a few awards for his albums and songs, including “Dirt on My Boots.” All the artists put on an amazing show and kept the crowd engaged, singing and dancing all afternoon and through evening. Hailey Whitters, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2023 While the weather forecast was showing the potential for some dicey weather on day 3, fans still lined up early for the day in preparation for the artists ahead. Frank Ray, Shane Profitt, Lonestar, Carly Pearce, and Jason Aldean made up the lineup for day 3 of Country Thunder Wisconsin. The first artist of the day was up-and-coming musician Frank Ray. Ray set the day off on a strong note keeping the crowd on their feet. He spent time telling stories about his music while also singing some of his songs including his song “Country’d Look Good on You,” which has hit number 17 on the US Country Airplay chart. Lainey Wilson, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2023 Shane Profitt made his way to the stage next and started his set with a bang. He has a great stage presence and makes sure to cover all aspects of the stage and its long catwalk. He spent a lot of time connecting with the audience in the pit. Profitt made sure to interact with the photographers at the show, including myself, which was a nice surprise. He sang many of his songs including his radio single “How It Outta Be,” which has hit number 16 on the US Country Airplay charts. Profitt recently started his career in 2021 where he ran into Chris Janson in a restaurant, which led him to be signed to a songwriting contract for his new album All In. He was then given the opportunity to open for Chris Janson on his Halfway to Crazy tour in 2021-2022 (review to the Halfway to Crazy tour: http://www.thecompmagazine.com/chris-janson-halfway-to-crazy-tour-at-the-rialto/ ) Jon Pardi, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2023 Lonestar was the next artist to kick off the evening. They put on a strong set where they sang many of their hits, including “Amazed,” “I’m Already There,” and “My Front Porch Looking In.” Lonestar has been a group since 1992, consisting of members Drew Womack (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Michael Britt (lead guitar, background vocals), Dean Sams (keyboards, acoustic guitar, background vocals), and Keech Rainwater (drums). The group has had 20 singles on the Hot country charts, where 9 reached number 1. Frank Ray, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2023 Carly Pearce kicked off her set in the rain to a packed crowd of fans. She performed the beginning of her set while under the covered stage where it was not as slippery and made her way down the catwalk as the show went on. She performed many of her hits including “What He Didn’t Do,” “Next Girl,” “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” and “Never Wanted to Be That Girl.” She connected with the audience many times throughout her set and talked with the fans all evening. Pearce started her music career in 2006 as a singer-songwriter from Taylor Mills, Kentucky. She has been nominated for countless awards since 2018 and has won 10. Her most

Josh Turner Garrett Biggs Hillbilly Rockstarz Romeoville Toyota Pavilion at Deer Crossing Park Romeoville, IL, 60446 Saturday, June 17th, 2023 at 8:30pm  Josh Turner at the Romeoville Toyota Pavilion at Deer Crossing Park, 2023  Josh Turner brought country music to the Romeoville Toyota Pavilion on Saturday, June 17th. Fans from all over came to see Josh, who was accompanied by Hillbilly Rockstarz and Garrett Biggs. Country Music at the Romeoville Toyota Pavilion at Deer Crossing Park, 2023 The crowd was cheering loudly when Turner took the stage. He opened his set with his hit “Hometown Girl” and “Firecracker,” which had fans singing and dancing along. He then sang a few more of his songs including “Country State of Mind,” “Would You Go with Me,” and “Time is Love.” He spent some time throughout his set promoting his merchandise because proceeds of the sales went towards various charities. Turner discussed some of the meanings behind his songs, which gave the audience some insight into the background of the songs. Josh Turner at the Romeoville Toyota Pavilion at Deer Crossing Park, 2023 Turner also sang some of his favorite covers that he has recorded, such as “I Pray My Way Out of Trouble” by The Osborne Brothers and “I Saw the Light” by Hank Williams. The audience was engaged the whole night and sang along to every song. Josh Turner and Guitarist at the Romeoville Toyota Pavilion at Deer Crossing Park, 2023 The show was concluded with Turner’s two big hits which are “Why Don’t We Just Dance” and “Your Man.” The audience was singing loud and dancing with their friends and partners, enjoying the music and their time together. Turner came out after he closed the show for an encore which included his song “Long Black Train,” which is celebrating its 20-year anniversary this year. This song was written by Turner and launched his career in country music. The crowd Romeoville was energetic and singing along all night to Turner’s music, thoroughly enjoying their evening under the stars. Josh Turner at the Romeoville Toyota Pavilion at Deer Crossing Park, 2023 For additional information on Josh Turner, Garrett Biggs, and Hillbilly Rockstarz, please check out:   Josh Turner- https://www.joshturner.com/ Garrett Biggs- https://biggsofficial.com/home Hillbilly Rockstarz- https://hillbillyrockstarz.com/ Romeoville Deer Crossing Park- https://www.romeoville.org/facilities/facility/details/Deer-Crossing-Park-7   Additional Images: Josh Turner and Band at the Romeoville Toyota Pavilion at Deer Crossing Park, 2023 Josh Turner at the Romeoville Toyota Pavilion at Deer Crossing Park, 2023 Photographs and writings by Jaclyn Duske 

Cody Johnson  Randy Houser  Tyler Booth Vibrant Arena at the MARK Moline, IL, 61265 Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 7:30 pm Cody Johnson at Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 CoJo Nation trekked out to the Quad Cities to see Cody Johnson’s Cowboy Country music to the Vibrant Arena in Moline, IL on Thursday, June 15th. Cody Johnson packed the stadium of 9,200 seats with country music fans from all over. Johnson was accompanied by Tyler Booth and Randy Houser. Tyler Booth at Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline IL, 2023 Tyler Booth put on an amazing show and sang many of his songs, including “Real Real Country,” “Already Got One,” and “Palomino Princess.” Booth worked the stage very well and had the audience engaged from start to finish. It was then time for Randy Houser to take the stage. The crowd sang along as he sang many of his hits such as “How Country Feels,” “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight,” and “Note to Self.” He moved with ease across the stage and had the audience on their feet, especially when singing his big hit “Like a Cowboy,” where the whole crowd sang along. During his set, he reached out into the audience for a sign made by a fan which said, “Randy Damn Houser.” He connected with the audience through his whole set, which helped get the crowd excited for Johnson to take the stage. Randy Houser at Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 After Houser’s set, it was time for Cody Johnson to perform. Once his silhouette was outlined at the back of the stage, the crowd erupted in cheers. He opened his set with “Let’s Build a Fire” and “Y’all People,” which had the crowd singing along. The crowd continued to sing and dance around when he sang “Dance Her Home” and “Diamond in My Pocket.” He sang two covers that had the crowd singing alone, which was “Red Dirt Road” by Brooks and Dunn and “Long Haired Country Boy” by The Charlie Daniels Band. During Johnson’s performances of “On My Way to You” and “Human,” the crowd lit up the arena with their cell phone lights. Johnson gave a speech about chasing your dreams before he sang his song “Dear Rodeo,” which was written about a past dream he had of being a rodeo cowboy. Cody Johnson at Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 Towards the end of his set, Johnson took the time to recognize all of our veterans, firefighters, police officers, and border control. He proceeded to mention that politicians don’t buy our freedom, but these men and women do. The crowd cheered their appreciation to all the people in service. Johnson then went on to say that if you have a disagreement with someone about something, love them anyway because an American soldier before you gave their life so you can have your opinions. The two things that he said he will always stand by until the day he dies is country music and American patriotism. Johnson’s speech had the audience roaring in support of his words. Cody Johnson at Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 Johnson’s set was concluded with his song “Me and My Kind” and his No. 1 song “Til You Can’t,” which he won CMT Performance of the Year this past April. His cowboy country brought fans of all ages to his show and had them on their feet the entire night. Cody Johnson is bringing back cowboy country to the country music community, which is something that has been missing. I am excited to see where his career will lead him. Tyler Booth at Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 For additional information on Cody Johnson, Randy Houser, and Tyler Booth, please visit:   Cody Johnson- https://www.codyjohnsonmusic.com/home Randy Houser- https://www.randyhouser.com/ Tyler Booth- https://www.tylerboothmusic.com/ Vibrant Arena at the MARK- https://www.vibrantarena.com/ Additional Images: Randy Houser and Mike Khalil at Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 Cody Johnson at Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske

The Judds: The Final Tour Wynonna Judd Martina McBride Little Big Town Vibrant Arena at The MARK Moline IL, 61265 February 10th, 2023 at 7:30 pm Wynonna Judd at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 The energy was electrifying as fans entered the Vibrant Arena, anticipating Martina McBride and Wynonna Judd. The crowd settled into their seats, awaiting McBride’s entrance to the stage. Throughout her 45-minute set, she sang many of her hits, such as “Independence Day,” “My Baby Loves Me,” and “This One’s for the Girls.” Martina McBride at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 After McBride’s set, the crowd waited patiently for Wynonna Judd to take the stage. The lights began to dim as Judd walked out to center stage. She opened the show with “Had a Dream,” which is an Elvis Presley cover. For her third song of her set, she welcomed to the stage Martina McBride and Little Big Town to sing along to her hit “Girls Night Out.” Throughout her set, she sang many hits from her solo career and her career with her mother, Naomi Judd, which includes “River of Time,” “I Saw the Light,” “No One Else on Earth,” and “Guardian Angel.” By her 16th song in her 21-song set, she brought back to the stage Little Big Town to sing along to a few more songs. Wynonna Judd at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 During her set, there were 2 short breaks to play tribute videos to Naomi Judd, showing both personal and professional photos and videos of her life and career. In April of 2022, Naomi passed the day before The Judds induction to the Country Music Hall of Fame. The Judds were set to go on their final tour, which was almost cancelled after Naomi’s passing. After discussing with some of her close friends, she decided to continue with the tour to honor her mother and invited along some of her friends to perform with her. The videos touched the audience and left many of them with tears in their eyes. Martina McBride at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 Wynonna Judd at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 To close out her set, Wynonna sang the song her and her mother would close every show with, which is “Love Can Build a Bridge.” She was accompanied by Martina McBride and Little Big Town, who all stayed off to the sides. They were brought to the stage to support her through a difficult song. When she reached the first chorus of the song, which is where her mother would come in and harmonize with her, a video appeared behind her. It was an overlay of her mother singing with her, and her audio was played along, so Wynonna could sing with her mother. By the second chorus, McBride and Little Big Town joined in and harmonized with her. As the song came to a close, a video of Wynonna and Naomi played, showing how much Naomi loved performing with her daughter. Martina McBride at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 After such a heartfelt performance, Wynonna left the stage and returned later to kick off her encore with “Mama He’s Crazy.” She then went into “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the God Old Days)” and concluded her encore with “Why Not Me,” where she brought back Martina McBride and Little Big Town to help close out her show. This concert was full of heartfelt emotion, and I am so thankful I was able to capture so many amazing moments. Wynonna Judd at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 For more information on Wynonna Judd and Martina McBride, please visit:   Wynonna Judd- https://www.wynonna.com/ The Judds- https://www.thejudds.com/ Martina McBride- http://www.martinamcbride.com/ Vibrant Arena at the MARK- https://www.vibrantarena.com/ Additional Images: Martina McBride at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 Wynonna Judd (via smartphone) at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 Wynonna Judd at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 Photographs and writings by Jaclyn Duske 

Scotty McCreery Catie Offerman Rialto Square Theatre Joliet, IL 60432 January 27th, 2023 at 8 pm Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 Excitement was buzzing in the air as fans lined up outside of the Rialto Square Theatre waiting to enter for Scotty McCreery’s show. The sold-out crowd began to settle as opener Catie Offerman took the stage to kick off the night of music. Offerman won over the crowd with her Texas charm and quick wit as she sang some of her original songs such as “Get a Dog, “Don’t Do It in Texas,” “Taking Chances,” and “Til I see You Again.” She is seen to be a female George Strait, with her vulnerability and her lighthearted nature. Catie Offerman at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 After a brief intermission, the lights dimmed, revealing a silhouette of McCreery and his guitar. He opened his set with his 2018 fan favorite “In Between.” The audience roared with applause as he sang some of his hits including “See You Tonight,” “It Matters to Her,” “You Time,” and “The Trouble with Girls.” Throughout his set he sang many covers, ranging from Brooks and Dunn, George Strait, and John Michael Montgomery. At his fifth song of his set, McCreery shared a heartfelt story about his wife Gabi. He claimed the best day if his life was his first day of kindergarten in 1998, where he first met Gabi. He claimed he never believed in love at first sight until kindergarten. Throughout his set he shared other stories about him and Gabi, including the day that led them to say, “I Do.” McCreery wrote a song titled “This is It,” in which he shared it with her when he proposed and was later played at their wedding. His performance of the song moved the audience to tears, seeing the greater meaning of the song. Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 Catie Offerman at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 He spent some time reminiscing on his youth, where he went to his first concert, which was George Strait, to whom he has been compared to. Ever since seeing George Strait, his dream began to fill his own venue where people would come see him perform, which is exactly what happened that night. He claimed that his favorite song of his just might be the one inspired by Strait, titled “Damn Strait.” His set was a total of 15 songs with an encore, which ended in his big hit “Five More Minutes.” Just as things were starting to wrap up, McCreery asked the audience if they were done, which they replied with a roar. He continued to perform covers such as Randy Travis’ “Forever and Ever, Amen” and Alan Jackson’s “Chattahoochee.” McCreery captivated the audience from start to finish with his stories and heartfelt songs, rather than a concert with a lot of extra flares. This was a great concert to be able to cover and I am thankful for my opportunity to photograph it. Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 For additional information on Scotty McCreery, Catie Offerman, and live music at the Rialto Square Theatre, please visit:   Scotty McCreery- https://www.scottymccreery.com/ Catie Offerman- https://www.catieofferman.com/ Rialto Square Theatre- https://rialtosquare.com/ Additional Images:  Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske 

Cody Johnson Randy Houser Randall King NOW Arena Hoffman Estates, IL 60192 November 11th, 2022 Cody Johnson at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 Cody Johnson brought his Cowboy Country music to the NOW arena in Hoffman Estates, IL on Friday, November 11th. With a sold-out show of over 10,000 fans, the arena was packed from start to finish. Johnson was accompanied by both Randall King and Randy Houser, which helped bring out the true country music sound. Randall King at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 Randall King sang many of his songs including “You in a Honkey Tonk” and “Hey Cowgirl.” He had fans on their feet singing along before it was time for Randy Houser to take the stage. Houser’s performance did not disappoint at all. The crowd sang along as he performed many of his hits such as “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” and “How Country Feels.” This proved his earlier statement in his performance where he said that real country music is still alive and well. Houser moved across the stage with passion and energy, which kept the audience engaged. It was later revealed in Johnson’s set that Houser was suffering with two broken ribs, which had the crowd shocked. Randy Houser at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 Once Cody Johnson took the stage, the crowd erupted in applause. The CoJo Nation had shown up in full force singing along to the opening words of “Honkey Tonk Hardwood Floors” and “Ride With Me.” He had the crowd dancing along with him as he sang “Dance Her Home” and “Me and My Kind.” The crowd was on their feet from the start of his set all the way to the end, singing every song with him. A crowd favorite was “Long Haired Country Boy,” which was originally recorded by The Charlie Daniels Band. The crowd was full of cell phone lights while he performed “Nothin’ on You” and “With You I Am.” Johnson captured the audience’s attention when he sang “Dear Rodeo,” which he wrote about his time in the rodeo. Cody Johnson at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 Cody Johnson at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 Halfway through his set he took the time to honor all veterans, police officers, firefighters, and nurses in the audience, stating that we would not be here without them. He proceeded his discussion with how many people have told him that he should not be honoring police officers after the incidents in 2020, to which he responded that without these men and women, we would not have the ability to have our freedom and our own opinions. He continued by stating that his beliefs are quite different than most of the audience, but without the men and women who fight for our freedom, we wouldn’t be able to have these opinions. This was a very powerful point in the show that made many people stop and really think. Johnson concluded his 90-minute performance by singing his recent release “Human” and his No. 1 song “Til You Can’t,” which recently won CMA Music Video of the Year and Single of the Year. His traditional country sound brought fans of all ages to his show. This show is what country music has been missing for a long time and will be a difficult act to beat. Cody Johnson Band at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 For additional information on Cody Johnson, Randy Houser, Randall King, and events at the NOW Arena, please visit:   Cody Johnson- https://www.codyjohnsonmusic.com/ Randy Houser- https://www.randyhouser.com/ Randall King- https://www.randallkingmusic.com/ NOW Arena- https://www.nowarena.com/ Additional Images: Randy Houser at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 Cody Johnson at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 Randall King at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 Cody Johnson with Band at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske

Raised Up Right Tour Luke Bryan  Riley Green  Mitchell Tenpenny Hollywood Casino Amphitheater Tinley Park, IL, 60477 September 10th, 2022 Luke Bryan at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, Tinley Park, IL, 2022 Luke Bryan’s Raised Up Right tour brought in fans of all ages and sold out the 28k seat Hollywood Casino Amphitheater. Bryan is not only an outstanding performer, but also the owner of his Nashville restaurant Luke’s 32 Bridge, 32 Bridge Entertainment, and a judge on American Idol. Mitchell Tenpenny at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, Tinley Park, IL, 2022 The night kicked off with Mitchell Tenpenny, who just received his 3rd #1 hit with his song “Truth About You.” He sang many of his other hits, such as “Alcohol You Later” and his duet with Chris Young “At the End of a Bar.” Tenpenny closed out his set with a cover of “Ole Red,” “Iris,” and his first #1 song “Drunk Me.” He brought a great energy to the crowd and utilized the stage to connect with his fans. Riley Green at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, Tinley Park, IL, 2022 The next artist to hit the stage was Riley Green. He opened with “Different Round Here,” which was followed with “If It Wasn’t for Trucks.” He performed many of his hits, which included his recent duet with Thomas Rhett “Half of Me.” When it was time to perform “I Wish Grandpas Never Died,” the whole crowd held their phones high and lit up the theater. His first cover song of the night was Toby Keith’s “Should Have Been a Cowboy,” which had the whole crowd engaged and singing along. Green closed the night with his first smash hit “There Was This Girl.” Prior to this show, Green was announced as an opener for Luke Comb’s world tour and his performance was one that his fans will cherish. Luke Bryan’s guitarist, Michael Carter, at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, Tinley Park, IL, 2022 Luke Bryan at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, Tinley Park, IL, 2022 The lights dimmed and the 28k crowd came to life as Luke took the stage opening with “I Don’t Want This Night to End.” He moved around the stage with ease covering all areas. He sang some of his hits off his latest album “Born Here Love Here Die Here,” such as “Knockin’ Boots” and “One Margarita.” He later sung his newest release “Country On.” Bryan followed with “What Makes You Country” before he slowed things down with his song “Most People Are Good.” He followed with his hit duet with Jordan Davis “Buy Dirt” before bringing out a piano and performing “Strip it Down” and “Do I.” Mitchell Tenpenny was then called to the stage to perform a few covers, one of which was “Good Directions,” which was written by Bryan for Billy Currington. After Tenpenny exited the stage, Riley Green came out to perform a few covers as well, which included “Sweet Home Chicago.” Bryan then went into “Drink a Beer” solo, to which the crowd again raised their phones and lit up the theater. He closed out his 27-song set with “That’s My Kind of Night” and “Country Girl,” which left fans wanting more. This concert was packed with energy from the start to finish with a very strong and talented lineup. Mitchell Tenpenny at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, Tinley Park, IL, 2022 For additional information on Luke Bryan, Riley Green, Mitchell Tenpenny, and events at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, please visit:   Luke Bryan- https://www.lukebryan.com/home Riley Green- https://www.rileygreenmusic.com/ Mitchell Tenpenny- https://mitchell10penny.com/ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater- https://www.tinleyparkamphitheater.com/ Additional Images: Luke Bryan at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, Tinley Park, IL, 2022 Mitchell Tenpenny at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, Tinley Park, IL, 2022 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske 

Travis Tritt Nate Venturelli Rialto Square Theatre Joliet, IL 60432 August 21, 2022 Travis Tritt at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2022 After a long pause from summer vacation, I am finally back into photographing concerts! On August 21st, I received the opportunity to photograph Travis Tritt at the Rialto Square Theatre. I have been a fan of Travis Tritt for a while, so it was on honor to get the opportunity to photograph him. With a nearly sold-out show, I knew that it was going to be an amazing show to photograph.  Travis Tritt at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2022 A new up-and-coming artist by the name of Nate Venturelli opened for Travis. This was the first time I heard of him and after his performance, I wish I knew of him sooner! He has an old school country sound, which I personally love. It is hard to find new artists in the country music world that still carry on the old school sound. He sang some original songs, such as “Union Man,” as well as some covers from Riley Green and Merle Haggard. He sang his whole set acoustic, which allowed the audience to hear the full quality of his voice.  Nate Venturelli at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2022 After Venturelli’s set, it was time for Tritt to take the stage. The first thing that came to my mind while photographing Tritt was how great his stage presence was. He moved from one end of the stage to the other, always with a smile on his face. It was obvious to everyone watching that he loved what he was doing. He sang many of his hits, such as “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive,” “T-R-O-U-B-L-E,” and “Help Me Hold On.” He also sang some original songs from his newly released album “Set In Stone,” such as “Smoke in a Bar.” About halfway through his set, his crew wheeled his iconic chair onto the stage. At every show, Travis always has a section where he sits down in his chair and sings acoustic to the crowd. The one thing I loved the most about Tritt’s set was his tribute to the men and women in our military. He started his set sitting down giving a speech about his appreciation of our military and then took a moment to have all military personnel in attendance stand for a round of applause. Tritt closed the night performing all over the stage singing his heart out. I am honored to have been able to photograph Tritt and excited to continue shooting concerts at the Rialto in the future.  Travis Tritt at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2022 For additional information on Travis Tritt, Nate Venturelli, and events at the Rialto Square Theatre, please visit:   Travis Tritt- https://travistritt.com/ Nate Venturelli- https://www.nateventurelli.com/ Rialto Square Theatre- https://rialtosquare.com/ Additional Images: Travis Tritt at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2022 Nate Venturelli at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2022 Travis Tritt’s Boots at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2022 Photographs and writings by Jaclyn Duske 

Buddy Guy Ronnie Baker Brooks Rialto Square Theatre Joliet, IL 60432 February 26th, 2022 at 7:30pm Buddy Guy at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2022 The Rialto Theatre welcomed blues legend Buddy Guy to the stage on Saturday, February 26th. I was very honored to have been able to attend the show and photograph someone as talented as Guy. I personally do not know much about blues but once I saw he was performing at the Rialto, I knew that was a show I wanted to photograph. Concert photography is a field that I am interested in pursuing after graduation, and I would love to photograph as many different genres as I am able to so I can grow my skills. Greg Guy at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2022 Guy shared the stage with Ronnie Baker Brooks, who is a Chicago blues and soul blues guitarist. Brooks sang many of his hits, such as “I Had My Chance,” “Satisfaction,” and “Doing Too Much.” He also sang a cover by Alexander O’Neal titled “Born in Chicago.” Brooks has a great stage presence, constantly moving around the stage and keeping the audience engaged. He performed many guitar solos, as well as coming off the stage into the crowd. Ronnie Baker Brooks at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2022 After Ronnie Baker Brook’s set, it was time for Buddy Guy to take the stage. He came out in one of his signature polka dot shirts and a big smile. During his first song of his set, one of his guitar strings broke on his guitar, and he gave the string to one of the fans in the front row. A crew member came out with a new guitar that was blue with polka dots, fitting with the polka dot theme. He performed many of his hits including “Damn Right, I’ve Got the Blues,” “Feels Like Rain,” and “Mustang Sally.” He performed many guitar solos, some of which included him playing on a table with a drumstick, on his shoulder, and even by rubbing it on his chest. Marty Sammon at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2022 About halfway through the show, Guy came off into the audience with his guitar and continued to play up and down the rows around the theatre. During this time, I got to hold the door open for him when he was moving from one row to the next. Being so close to a blues legend was an absolute honor. Guy then performed a small guitar solo to me and a few ushers that were outside of the theatre doors. It was amazing to see him play up close. At the end of the show Guy brought out a special guest, his son Greg Guy. He performed alongside Buddy for the last few songs of his show. Buddy Guy is a legend in the blues world, and I am so honored to have been given the opportunity to photograph him. This experience allowed me to experiment with concert photography within a different genre of music that provided completely different stage setups, different lighting, and different stage movement. I am hopeful that I will be given the opportunity to photograph other genres of music in the future. Buddy Guy at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2022 For additional information on Buddy Guy, Ronnie Baker Brooks, and live music at the Rialto Theatre, please visit:   Buddy Guy- https://www.buddyguy.net/ Ronnie Baker Brooks- https://ronniebakerbrooks.com/ Rialto Square Theatre- https://rialtosquare.com/ Additional Images: Rick Hall at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2022 Ronnie Baker Brooks at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2022 Ronnie Baker Brook’s guitar at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL 2022 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske