Music Reviews

Big Time Rush | Katelyn Tarver | Stephen Kramer Glickman In Real Life Worldwide Tour | Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre | Tinley Park, IL | August 10th, 2025 at 7:00pm Big Time Rush at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Crowds began to gather at the gates, anxiously waiting for the doors to open for Big Time Rush’s show. The band brought nostalgic fans to the amphitheater to see the group perform many of their hits from the past, while seeing the supporting acts, Stephen Kramer Glickman and Katelyn Tarver. Stephen Kramer Glickman at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Guitarist Soren Crisell at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 The first artist of the night was Stephen Kramer Glickman. He is an actor, singer, and comedian best known for his role as Gustavo Rocque on the Nickelodeon sitcom Big Time Rush, which aired from 2009-2013. After joining community theatre, Glickman found his passion for the dramatic arts. He has played a role in many other films and television shows since the ending of Big Time Rush, as well as recently releasing his first album of cover songs on August 8th. Glickman performed a few covers off his album, including “Driver’s License” by Oliva Rodrigo and “Toxic” by Britney Spears, and later closed his set with “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan. Katelyn Tarver at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Katelyn Taver and Ryland Holland at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Next up in the lineup was Katelyn Tarver, who is an actress, singer, and songwriter. She has released four EP’s since 2011 and is best known for her role as Jo Taylor on Big Time Rush. Tarver is also known for her roles in No Ordinary Family, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and Ballers. Her latest album Quitter was released back in 2024. Tarver released her new single “#1” earlier this summer. Tarver sang some of her songs, including “Hurt Like That” and “Japanese Café,” while maneuvering the stage to cover all areas and engage with fans. She later closed out her set with “#1” and had the crowd on their feed dancing and singing along. Tarver also gave fans the opportunity to win the shirt she was performing in, as she has a new t-shirt with a custom phrase for each city she performs in. Big Time Rush at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 The lights dimmed and fans erupted, waiting for Big Time Rush’s appearance. Big Time Rush is a pop boy band that was formed in 2009. The group is composed of Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Carlos PenaVega, and Logan Henderson. They originally started as a fictional version of themselves on a Nickelodeon series with the same name. The show ran from 2009-2013, and the group was originally signed with Nick Records. The group released three studio albums while creating the show for Nickelodeon and later went on a hiatus in 2014. In 2021, the group resumed and later released their 4th studio album Another Life in 2023. Their sound as a group is described as “pop-inspired dance-rock.” They have kept their fan base over the years with their unique sound, boyish charm, good looks, and their blend of harmonies. Big Time Rush at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Screams erupted as Big Time Rush emerged onto the stage via elevated ramps. They kicked off their set with the song that started it all, “Big Time Rush.” The group maneuvered all aspects of the stage and made sure the whole crowd could see them perform. “Windows Down,” “Picture This,” and “Like Nobody’s Around” are just a few of the songs they sang during the first part of the show. Carlos PenaVega at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Kendall Schmidt at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Big Time Rush then slowed it down and brought out Stephen Kramer Glickman to play the piano for them. Each member of the band then sang a song solo with Glickman on the piano. Schmidt was the first up and he sang “Cover Girl” followed by PenaVega who sang “You’re Not Alone.” Henderson was next to perform with Glickman with “All Over Again” and Maslow sang “We Are,” which was the last song that the band played for their television series. Big Time Rush at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 A brief intermission followed, and fans were treated to a video of the group on the Jumbotron screens while Big Time Rush members did a quick costume change. Big Time Rush reemerged singing “Famous” and “Oh Yeah.” In their second part of the show, the group also sang “Paralyzed” and “City is Ours.” While performing their next song “Halfway There,” the band walked through the crowd, making their way to the B Stage, which was located by the lawn section of the amphitheater. A short acoustic set was performed singing “Untouchable,” “No Idea,” and “Crazy for U.” Tarver then made an appearance to perform “Count on You,” which was originally recorded with Jordan Sparks. James Maslow at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Logan Henderson at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 After the band completed their acoustic set, they began searching the crowd for their “Worldwide Girl” of the night. Each band member will choose a girl from the audience to be on stage with them for their performance of “Worldwide.” The next part of the show included “Elevate,” “Nothing Even Matters,” and “If I Ruled the World,” along with many other of their hits. The show concluded with their song “Confetti Falling,” where canons of confetti were shot out into the audience. Katelyn Tarver at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Big Time Rush reemerged to the stage for their encore, which included “Til I Forget About You” and “Boyfriend.” As the group left the stage for the last time, fans cheered extremely loud and carried the energy from the show with them as they made their way out of the amphitheater. Big Time Rush was definitely a big hit in Tinley

Emily Ann Roberts The Back Road Music Festival | Galva, IL | Saturday August 9th, 2025 at 4:30pm Emily Ann Roberts at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 With the hot sun shining down in Galva, fans entered the Back Road Festival grounds excited for a day of music. Even though a small burst of rain came out of nowhere, fans stayed near and held out, excited to see the first opener of the day, Emily Ann Roberts. Emily Ann Roberts at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 Roberts is a country music singer-songwriter from Knoxville, Tennessee. In 2015, she was a contestant on Season 9 of The Voice, where she took second place. After competing on The Voice, she finished school before focusing on her music career. She was later signed with Starstruck Entertainment and released her first single “Stuck on Me and You” in 2018 which charted in the top 40 on iTunes. In 2019, Roberts released her EP Someday Dream. Her debut album Can’t Hide Country was later released in 2023, and the deluxe album was released in 2024. Roberts was given the honor in 2024 to become the new voice of Trixie for reimagined Country Bear Musical Jamboree attraction at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. She has received the honor of performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage 20 times, where some of the greatest country music artists have performed. Her dedication to her music has translated to over 45 million streams, which has solidified her status as a rising star in country music. Detail Shot of Emily Ann Robert’s Guitar Picks at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 Roberts set had some minor changes due to the weather conditions, including a shortened set from 1 hour and 15 minutes to 45 minutes, as well as performing acoustic. The weather didn’t knock them down, as she emerged onto the stage and kicked off the show with her song “He Set Her Off.” She followed with “Chickens” and then covered Dolly Parton’s song “9 to 5.” “Working on Love” and “Can’t Hide Country” were a few other songs Roberts sang off of her debut album. Emily Ann Roberts at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 She has always been influenced by many female country artists, including Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Martina McBride. Roberts wanted to honor many of these inspiring female country artists by covering their songs. She covered songs from many generations, including some of the more current artists. Moving farther down the stage, Roberts kicked off her medley with “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)” by Loretta Lynn, “Fancy” by Reba McEntire, “Goodbye Earl” by The Chicks, “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood, and “Gunpowder and Lead” by Miranda Lambert were just a few of the songs she performed in her medley. Emily Ann Roberts at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 Roberts then moved into performing one of her newest songs “Easy Does It”, which she wrote about her husband, Chris Sasser. She then shared with the crowd how her father has been one of her biggest supporters and introduced her to a variety of different country artists. She covered one of her father’s favorite songs, which is “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford. Before performing her next song, Roberts shared how this is one of her favorites and most meaningful song she has written. “The Building” was written about the church she grew up in and where Jesus saved her life. She closed out her set with her song “Whole Lotta Little” and had the crowd singing and dancing along with her. Detail shot of Emily Ann Robert’s Guitar at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 As Roberts set came to a close, fans were eager to head over to her merchandise table to meet her. She spent time greeting every fan that came up, signing autographs, and taking pictures with everyone. She stayed out until she met with every fan that was in line, grateful for all of the love and support her fans have always shown her. Torey Harding, Emily Ann Roberts, and Jordan Larsen at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 For more information on Emily Ann Roberts and The Back Road Music Festival, please visit: Emily Ann Roberts- https://www.emilyannroberts.com The Back Road Music Festival- https://www.thebackroadmusicfestival.com Galva Township-  https://www.galvail.gov Additional Images: Emily Ann Roberts at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 Emily Ann Roberts at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 Photography and writing by Jaclyn Duske 

Scotty McCreery Village Green | Elk Grove Village, IL | Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025 at 7:30pm Scotty McCreery in Elk Grove Village, 2025 With the sun shining on a warm July evening, fans began to enter the venue looking for the perfect place to sit for Scotty McCreery’s free outdoor concert in Elk Grove Village. As the sun began to set and audience anticipation rose, McCreery took the stage. Spence Peppard, Scotty McCreery, and Jeffery Harper in Elk Grove Village, 2025 McCreery got his start on American Idol, where he won the tenth season back in 2011. His debut album, later released in October of 2011, was certified gold in the United States. Since then, McCreery has released five more studio albums, with his most recent being Rise & Fall, released in 2024. McCreery made history with his debut album, becoming the first country act to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 with their first studio album, as well as being the youngest man to open at the top of the chart with his debut release. He later wrote a book titled Go Big or Go Home, which was released in 2016. “Five More Minutes” was the first song released without a record label to ever chart on the Country Aircheck Top 50. It later became McCreery’s first number one single on the country charts. Scotty McCreery in Elk Grove Village, 2025 As the band began playing, McCreery emerged from the side of the stage and kicked off the show with his song “Can’t Pass the Bar.” McCreery’s music draws comparisons to 1990’s country music, drawing in fans from a wide range of ages, from young children to senior fans. “Cab in a Solo,” “And Countin’,” “In Between,” and “It Matters to Her” are just a few of the many songs McCreery performed in the beginning of his set. Spence Peppard and Scotty McCreery in Elk Grove Village, 2025 McCreery is always known for sharing stories about his life on stage. He met his wife when they were just five years old, and he knew that they would one day be married. Later in 2022, McCreery and his wife had their first child, a baby boy, and are expecting their second child this fall. Having fancy lighting, smoke, and pyrotechnics is something that McCreery believes is not always necessary on stage. He prefers to be out with his band and focusing on storytelling through his songs. Scotty McCreery in Elk Grove Village, 2025 Later in his set, McCreery sang a new unreleased song “Swim Up Bar,” which was very fitting for a perfect warm summer night. In the middle of his song set, he spent time covering a variety of older country songs from other artists, including “Forever and Ever Amen” by Randy Travis, “Chattahoochee” by Alan Jackson, and “Sold” by John Michael Montgomery. McCreery then followed with his first number one single “Five More Minutes” and “Damn Strait,” which he wrote about George Strait. Nathan Thomas in Elk Grove Village, 2025 As the night came to a close, McCreery sang his newest song “Bottle Rockets,” which was recorded with Hootie and the Blowfish. Fans were singing along and soaking up the memories of the night. With the sundown, the show came to a close; however, fans lingered and enjoyed the electrifying, warm summer night reminiscing about the memories McCreery gave them. Scotty McCreery in Elk Grove Village, 2025 For additional information on concerts at Elk Grove Village and Scotty McCreery, please visit: Elk Grove Village- https://www.elkgrove.org Scotty McCreery- https://www.scottymccreery.com/index.php Concerts in Elk Grove Village-  https://www.elkgrove.org/community/mid-summer-classics-concert-series#ad-image-0 Additional Images: Spence Peppard in Elk Grove Village, 2025 Scotty McCreery and Band in Elk Grove Village, 2025 Scotty McCreery in Elk Grove Village, 2025 Fan Sign for Scotty McCreery in Elk Grove Village, 2025 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske

Country Thunder Wisconsin 2305 Richmond Road | Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, 53181 | July 17th-20th, 2025 Dierks Bentley and Ben Helson at Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2025 Country music has made its way back to Twin Lakes, Wisconsin in 2025, bringing fans in from all over the country. This has become an annual gathering for many fans, while bringing together some of the biggest names in the genre along with up-and-coming artists. This year was extra special, where they recognized the 1 millionth ticket buyer. The winner was brought on stage and presented with a $35,000 prize package, lifetime camping, and front row reserved seats for upcoming Country Thunder festivals. Cole Swindell with a fan at Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2025 Thursday July 17th The festival kicked off with Nolan Sotillo, who is an actor and singer. He is best known for his role in the Fox drama series Red Band Society. Sotillo delivered a strong set, getting the fans excited for the day of music ahead. Owen Riegling, a Canadian singer-songwriter was next to hit the stage. A new artist to the scene with his career beginning in 2019, Riegling brought his traditional country and rock country sound to the stage. He released his debut album Bruce County (From the Beginning), which he shared with the audience. Sara Evans at Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2025 A larger crowd began to gather as Sara Evans took the stage. Evans has released 11 studio albums, with her most recent being Unbroke back in 2024. She received her peak success in the early 2000’s with her songs “I Keep Looking” and “Suds in the Bucket.” Her career later took a pause to handle some personal matters, but she came back to entertain her fans in 2011 with her album Stronger. She sang many of her hits, including “Back Seat of a Greyhound Bus” and “A Little Bit Stronger.” Evans’ fans have stayed loyal to her and sang along to her whole set which charged everyone up for the rest of the night. Gavin Adcock at Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2025 Gavin Adcock emerged onto the stage with an infectious energy kicking a case of beer. Adcock grew up in Georgia playing football, but after an injury, turned to his songwriting. He released his first single and his career took off. Since then, he has gained over 1 billion global streams from his music. Some of the songs he performed were “Never Call Again,” “Four Leaf Clover,” and “Past Actions.” While his career may still be taking off, Adcock had the crowd on their feet singing and dancing along, wanting the night to never end. Cole Swindell at Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2025 As the sun set, Cole Swindell took the stage to close out the first day of Country Thunder. Swindell is a singer-songwriter, who has written singles for Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan, Craig Campbell, and Scotty McCreery. He has released thirteen singles, and eight have reached number one on the Hot Country Songs charts. He started his career touring with Luke Bryan selling fan merchandise and wrote songs while on the road. Swindell kicked off his set with his hit song “Flatliner” which was recorded with Dierks Bentley. He also sang many of his other hit songs such as “Single Saturday Night” and “Forever to Me”. Swindell later closed his set with “She Had Me at Heads Carolina,” which has received Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) 3x Platinum in the United States. Friday July 18th Aaron Goodvin kicked off Day 2 as fans entered the grounds to secure their spots for the day. Goodvin is a singer and songwriter, mostly known for writing songs for Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell, and Jon Pardi. Texas native singer-songwriter Braxton Keith was the next artist to take the stage. He impressed the crowd with his 80’s country aesthetic and sharp vocals. With new music on the way, fans were excited to see what is in store from him. Drew Baldridge at Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2025 Drew Baldridge started out his set singing acoustic with just himself and one other band member, while waiting for the rest to arrive. He informed the crowd that his bus broke down 500 miles from Country Thunder and he arrived 15 minutes before his set. He covered many hit songs, such as “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker, “Brand New Man” by Brooks and Dunn, and “Check Yes or No” by George Straight. Once the remainder of his band arrived, he performed many of his songs, including “Tough People” and “She’s Somebody’s Daughter.” Baldridge was released from his first label following their closing, where he later started his own label, Lyric Ridge, allowing him to release his own music. Larry Fleet at Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2025 Singer-songwriter Larry Fleet was next up in the lineup. He has released three studio albums, with his most recent being Earned It back in 2024. Fleet sang many of his hit songs including “Where I Find God” and “Things I Take for Granted,” as well as the hit song he wrote for Morgan Wallen and Eric Church “Man Made a Bar.” Ashley McBryde at Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2025 Ashley McBryde, who is a familiar face at Country Thunder, took the stage opening with her new song “Rattlesnake Preacher.” McBryde is a singer-songwriter from Arkansas. She has grown her fan base over the years through her unique sound, which is a mix of country, bluegrass, and rock. She has released four studio albums, with her most recent being The Devil I Know back in 2023. “Martha Divine,” “Brenda Put Your Bra On,” and “One Night Standards” were a few songs she performed off her 22 song setlist. During her performance of “Light On in the Kitchen,” McBryde signed the last verse with American Sign Language (ASL), which touched everyone with her focus of inclusion in her shows. Ashley McBryde at Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2025 The lights dimmed as the beat dropped, signaling it was time for Hardy to close out

Brett Eldredge | Dylan Scott | Gabby Barrett | And more Taste of Joliet | Joliet, IL | Saturday June 21, 2025 at 3pm Dylan Scott at the Taste of Joliet, 2025 As the gates opened on a sweltering summer afternoon at Joliet Memorial Field, fans entered ready for a great night of country music. The lineup for the day featured Brett Eldredge, Dylan Scott, Gabby Barrett, Sparks Fly, and Will Carter. Gabby Barrett and Cade Foehner at the Taste of Joliet, 2025 Both Will Carter and Sparks Fly brought in quite a crowd. Will Carter, who is a young musician from Joliet, entertained fans and elevated their excitement for a day of live country music. Next up was Sparks Fly, a Taylor Swift cover band, who had everyone singing and dancing to each song. Carter and Sparks fly brought a level of energy that got the crowd warmed up for the upcoming night of acts. Dylan Scott at the Taste of Joliet, 2025 As the audience made their way back towards the stage, it was time for Gabby Barrett to perform. Barrett started her career out on the sixteenth season of American Idol, where she finished in third place. Her debut single “I Hope” reached number one on the US Country Airplay Charts. Barrett’s debut album Goldmine was later released in 2020 and peaked at number four on the US Country Charts. From the start of her career in 2018, Barrett has won 9 various Country Music Awards and has opened for artists such as Toby Keith, Thomas Rhett, and Jason Aldean. Barrett maneuvered the stage well and made sure to connect with as much of the audience as she could. A few of the songs that were performed were “The Good Ones,” “Glory Days,” and “Pick Me Up.” Barrett also sang many covers from other artists, including “Somebody Like You” by Keith Urban, “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi, and “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey. The crowd was dancing and singing along with Barrett during her whole set. For her final song of the evening, Barrett sang her number one hit “I Hope,” which had the crowd screaming along. Gabby Barrett at the Taste of Joliet, 2025 Next up for the night was Dylan Scott, who started his music career back in 2013. His first number one single came three years later in 2016 with his song titled “My Girl,” which was written about his high school sweetheart and now wife, Blaire Robinson. Scott released his debut self-titled album in the fall of 2016, where it reached number five on the Top Country Albums chart. His most recent single to hit number one on the US Country Airplay chart is “This Town’s Been Too Good to Us,” which was released in 2024. As the band started emerging from the sides of the stage, fans began to cheer, awaiting Scott’s appearance. Scott’s electric energy on stage could be felt through the crowd the moment he stepped onto the stage. He spent time maneuvering all aspects of the stage, having fun with the crowd and his band. “Hooked,” “New Truck,” and “Can’t Have Mine” are just a few of his singles that he performed, as well as his new duet with Dylan Marlow “Boys Back Home.” During his performance of “Boys Back Home,” Scott had his baseball cap taken away by his smoke machine, which he played off with ease. After the song, he made jokes about the smoke machines attacking him and continued to make lighthearted comments about it throughout the show. Dylan Scott with Robbie Gatlin, Logan Robinson, and Joey Didonnas at the Taste of Joliet, 2025 About halfway through Scott’s set, he sat down with the crowd and talked more about himself and his life growing up. He met his wife when he was 15 years old and explained they were high school sweethearts. While he loves performing onstage and entertaining crowds with his music, Scott stated that he wants to be remembered not just for his music, but for the type of person that he is. It is very important to him that the fans get to see the type of person he is when he isn’t performing for a crowd. Later, Scott threw back to some older country classics, such as “I Like It, I Love It” by Tim McGraw, “Fishin’ in the Dark” by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and “Check Yes or No” by George Strait. He closed out his country throwbacks with a cover from his biggest idol, Keith Whitley, by singing “When You Say Nothing at All.” Scott closed out his set with his first number one hit “My Girl” and had the crowd even more excited for the headliner of the night. Brett Eldredge at the Taste of Joliet, 2025 Screams erupted when the lights dimmed and the music started playing, signaling that it was time for Brett Eldredge to take the stage. Eldredge was born and raised in Paris, IL with his older brother Brice. His career started in 2010, where he signed with Atlantic Records and released his debut album Bring You Back in 2013. Three songs from his debut album reached number one, including “Don’t Ya,” “Beat of the Music,” and “Mean to Me.” Eldredge has released 8 studio albums and has become known for his Christmas music. He has been deemed the nickname “Mr. Christmas,” which also happens to be the name of his first Christmas album. This is the first show Eldredge has performed in 2025 and happens to be one of three shows he will be performing. Eldredge opened the show playing his guitar and having fun with the crowd. While Eldredge has a relaxed demeanor, he made sure to interact with the audience and cover all aspects of the stage. “Good Day,” “Songs About You,” “Love Someone,” and “Gorgeous” were just a few of the newer songs that Eldredge performed along with his hit songs “Don’t Ya” and “Lose My Mind.”

Chris Young | Pryor Baird | Dani Rose New Lenox Commons | New Lenox, IL | Saturday, June, 14th, 2025 at 6pm Chris Young and Band at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 Crowds of fans gathered for the first show in the 2025 New Lenox Summer Concert series at the New Lenox Commons. The lineup featured country star Chris Young as well as Pryor Baird and Dani Rose. Chris Young and Guitarist at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 The night kicked off with Dani Rose entertaining the crowd with her infectious energy and her Nashville twang. She has opened for Little Big Town, Old Dominion, Cole Swindell, and many others. “Country Strong,” “Got It from My Mama,” and “Girl Math” are a few of the songs she sang during her set. Pryor Baird was next in the lineup to warm up the crowd with his soulful country-rock style. He started his career on season 14 of The Voice, who was later eliminated in the Live Shows. Baird has made his Grand Ole Opry Debut earlier this year and is known for his singer-songwriter abilities. He had the crowd engaged while performing countless songs, including “The One Left Behind,” “Beauty In The Broken,” and “Mighta Met A Girl.” Chris Young at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 As the clock ticked past 9:00pm, anticipation filled the air for Chris Young’s set. The stage burst to life as Chris Young and his band appeared, sparking an eruption of excitement from the audience. Chris Young rose to fame after his win of season four of the reality singing competition Nashville Star. After his win, Young signed with RCA Records Nashville and released his self-titled debut album that same year. In 2017, Young gained one of the most prestigious achievements in the country music community by becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Chris Young and Band at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 Young opened his show with his song “Double Down” and had the crowd dancing along. He performed many of his hit songs, including “Lonely Eyes,” “Raised on Country,” and “Voices.” While performing some of his hits, Young also performed some new releases off if his newest album Young Love & Saturday Nights, including the title track as well as “Til the Last One Dies.” After his third song of the night, Young’s band and crew surprised him with a happy birthday message on the screen, where the crowd collectively sang Happy Birthday to him. Chris Young at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 Before starting the second verse of his song “Getting You Home,” Young shares a story about how a social media trend has been started using the second verse. This has become a new favorite line for the crowd to sing at his shows, which has brought a new meaning to the song. Young also shared with the crowd that his dream was always to receive a gold record for one of his songs. This became a reality and far exceeded his dream when his hit song “I’m Comin’ Over” became 4x Platinum. Ty Graham, who is a friend and songwriter, joined Chris on stage and sang a cover of “3AM” by Matchbox Twenty. Young later sang his own cover of Brooks and Dunn’s hit song “Neon Moon.” He later closed out his set with his number 1 song “Famous Friends,” which is a duet with Kane Brown. While Brown was not in attendance, Young had a recording and video of Brown playing on the screen so the song could be sung by both artists. Chris Young at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 After the stage cleared out, Young and his band reappeared for their encore, which consisted of a cover of “When You Say Nothing At All” by Keith Whitley as well as Young’s hit song “Awe Naw.” As the music played out, fans showed their appreciation for Chris Young and the start of the New Lenox summer concert series with their thunderous cheers. Chris Young and Guitarist at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 For additional information on these artists and the New Lenox Commons Summer Concert Series, please visit: Summer Concert Series- https://www.newlenox.net/353/Summer-Concert-Series Chris Young- https://www.chrisyoungcountry.com Pryor Baird- https://pryorbaird.com Dani Rose- https://www.danirose.com Village of New Lenox- https://www.newlenox.net Additional Images: Chris Young at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 Chris Young at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 Detail shot of Chris Young’s Guitar at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 Chris Young at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske

Clint Black | Emily Ann Roberts Clint Black’s 35th Anniversary of Killin’ Time Tour | Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts | Bloomington, IL | Saturday February 15th, 2025 at 7:30pm Clint Black at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 While the temperatures may have been frigid, fans from near and far traveled to Bloomington, IL to enjoy a show put on by country superstar Clint Black. As the crowd settled down, Emily Ann Roberts got ready to start the night off with some country music. Just before the show was about to start, a member of the venue came out to introduce Emily Ann Roberts to the crowd. With just her guitar in hand, Roberts took the stage ready to play an acoustic set. Emily Ann Roberts at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 Emily Ann Roberts is a singer-songwriter who got her debut on season 9 of The Voice on Team Blake. Many of the songs she performed on the show charted on the Billboard magazine charts. While Roberts placed second on The Voice, this was only the start for her. After the show, she went back to finish her schooling before pursuing music. She released her first single “Stuck on Me and You” in 2018 and later signed to Starstruck Records in 2019. Her first studio album Can’t Hide Country was released in September of 2023 with a deluxe version releasing in April of 2024. Roberts got the opportunity to tour with her former coach Blake Shelton in 2024 and is set to open for Clint Black, Cody Johnson, and Megan Moroney on some of their tour dates in 2025. Emily Ann Roberts at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 Emily opened her set with her hit “He Set Her Off,” which is featured on her first album Can’t Hide Country. She sang many other songs off her album such as “Chickens,” “Working on Love,” and “The Building.” Roberts released a new single in January of this year called “Easy Does It,” which was also included in the setlist. Stories were shared before each song about her growth as an artist and how she came about writing her songs. Covers of Dolly Pardon’s “9 to 5” and Sixteen Tons’ “Tennessee Ernie Ford” were performed and had the audience singing along. Roberts closed her set with her song “Whole Lotta Little” and announced she would be meeting fans by her merch table all night long. She left the crowd buzzing with energy for Clint Black’s awaited performance. Clint Black at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 Fans settled in as the lights dimmed and the music started playing, awaiting the arrival of Clint Black. As the band took the stage, Clint black emerged from the wings and kicked off his show with “The Shoe’s You’re Wearing.” Black performed “Summers Coming,” “When My Ship Comes In,” and “State of Mind” before playing his entire album Killin’ Time in order of the track list. He shared stories about his background, both personal and professional, as well the process of how his songs were written. The crowd was laughing along as Black joked about being old and picking on the Midwest accents. He later shared that his title track “Killin’ Time” almost didn’t make the original cut for the album. Clint Black at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 Clint Black is a singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor. He released his debut album Killin’ Time in 1989, which produced four straight number one singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks charts. Black has had more than 30 singles on the US Billboard country charts, where 22 of which have reached number one. In 2003, he founded his own record label, Equity Music Group, which later closed in 2008 due to financial difficulties. Black has released 14 albums, with his most recent being “Out of Sane” in 2020. He has been nominated at the Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, TNN Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, and Country Music Association Awards. Black has won 14 awards across these various award shows. Black earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1996, becoming the fourth country music star to earn a star. He was also inducted into the Grand Ole Opry and has been a member since 1991.  Emily Ann Roberts at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 After performing the Killin Time album, Black played “Better and Worse,” along with a Waylon Jennings cover “Are You Sure Waylon Done It This Way.” He informed the crowd that his CDs were available for purchase at his merch booth. Black joked that the fans should buy two CDs since they wear down quick and that is how you get double platinum. Cheers erupted as the opening notes of “Nothin’ but the Taillights” played and everyone in attendance sang along for the last song of the set. As Black left the stage, fans waited for the encore to begin. Everyone was on their feet as Black took the stage again to perform his last song of the night. The crowd sang along and danced to “We Tell Ourselves” before the night came to a close. As the song wrapped up, Black and his band came forward and bowed to the crowd ending the night on a high note. Clint Black’s Guitar at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 For additional information on these artists and the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, please visit: Clint Black- https://www.clintblack.com Emily Ann Roberts- https://www.emilyannroberts.com Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts- https://www.artsblooming.org Additional Images: Emily Ann Roberts at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 Jason Mowery at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 Emily Ann Roberts at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske 

Scotty McCreery | Spencer Crandall Rialto Square Theatre | Joliet, IL | Thursday, January 23rd, 2025 at 7:30pm Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 McCreery’s first show of the year was off to an exhilarating start as anxious fans poured into the Rialto, eager for the night ahead. Spencer Crandall kicked off the night, energizing the crowd in anticipation for McCreery’s performance. Cheers erupted as Spencer Crandall took the stage. Crandall is a new artist described as one of Country’s most progressive talents. Growing up in Denver, Crandall has a tight knit family where he learned dedication and how to follow his passions. In college, Crandall played football before injuries strayed him away from the field. He later picked up a guitar and was hooked. Now, the singer-songwriter lives in Nashville living out his dreams and getting to perform amongst some of country’s favorite artists. He has released three albums and made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2022. Crandall has become a successful rising country artist. Spencer Crandall at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 Amongst his set, Crandall shared his upbringing and life story between his songs and created a relationship with the crowd. “The Right One,” “My Person,” and “Girls Like You.” Were just a few of his songs in his set. Crandall had an infectious energy on stage and had the audience laughing along with him and his jokes. He spent part of his set covering some of his favorite songs, such as “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker, “Chicken Fried” by Zac Brown Band, and “Somebody Like You” by Keith Urban. Fans were sad to see Crandall’s set close, but he left a lasting impression on the crowd.  He built the excitement and anticipation in the crowd in preparation for McCreery to take the stage. Spencer Crandall at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 The dramatic opening of McCreery’s show began when the theatre lights dimmed, and the spotlights came on, showcasing McCreery’s band members. As the audience cheered, McCreery entered the stage and opened with his song “Can’t Pass the Bar.” His setlist included many of his hit songs: “In Between,” “You Time,” and “Five More Minutes.” Fans cheered as they heard the opening notes of McCreery’s song “Cab in A Solo,” which is his most recent single that has peaked at number two on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart. McCreery brought a laid-back presence to the stage, which highlighted how comfortable and connectable of an artist he is. He spent time telling stories to the audience about his life growing up with his wife, who he has known since they were both five years old. Scotty McCreery Band at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 McCreery was born in North Carolina and got his start on American Idol, winning season 10 back in 2011. His debut album was released in 2011 and was certified platinum in the United States. He has been nominated for 14 awards throughout his career and has won six, his most recent at the 2019 BMI Country Awards in 2019 with his song “This Is It.” One of his greatest dreams became a reality in 2024. McCreery received one of the biggest achievements in country music, which was being inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on April 20th by his childhood hero, Josh Turner. Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 Scotty McCreery and Band at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 Reminiscing on the day his son was born; he shared stories of the song he wrote in the hospital room while he was awaiting to meet his new baby boy. McCreery had the audience falling in love with his story, followed by the performance of “Love Like This,” which was the song that was created that day. “I Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and “The Chair” by George Strait were two of the covers that McCreery chose to sing, having the fans feeling nostalgic and singing along. McCreery debuted new song “Slow Dance” from his most recent album release titled Rise and Fall, which had couples standing and slow dancing the entire song. Spencer Crandall at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 With his amazing light display and visual effects, McCreery had the crowd electrified and as they sang along with him all night long. McCreery is known as a performer that makes his audience feel at ease and excited for the upbeat music to come. He closed out his set by performing one of his hit songs “See You Tonight,” leaving the crowd anticipating an encore with a fan favorite song in mind. Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 The lights came back up as McCreery and his band came back to the stage and played the anticipated song “Damn Strait,” which peaked at number one on the Billboard Country Airplay Charts, holding the position for three weeks. Based upon one of his heroes, George Strait, McCreery knew in his heart he wanted to record this song. As McCreery closed out the night, fans slowly left the theatre with a sense of euphoria and exhilaration that is brought upon in McCreery’s shows. Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 For additional information on these artists and events coming to the Rialto, please visit: Scotty McCreery- https://www.scottymccreery.com Spencer Crandall- http://spencercrandallmusic.com Rialto Square Theatre- https://rialtosquare.com Additional Images: Spencer Crandall at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 Spencer Crandall at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske 

Dasha | Adrien Nunez Dashville, USA Tour | Joe’s Live | Rosemont, IL | Thursday, November 7th, 2024 at 7pm Dasha at Joe’s live Rosemont, 2024 Country music fans enjoyed a Thursday night out at Joe’s Live Rosemont with good company, line dancing, and live country music. Dasha headlined the night with newcomer Adrien Nunez kicking off the night. Dasha at Joe’s Live Rosemont, 2024 Fans gathered as the lights dimmed and Adrien Nunez took the stage. Nunez was a member of the Michigan men’s basketball team. Since graduating in 2022, he has gained a lot of attention on his social media for his music. Nunez sang a few of the songs he has written in the past few months, including “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which he wrote for Shaboozey. This is his first song that has reached number one on country radio. After his set, Nunez went to meet and interact with fans at his merchandise table.   Adrien Nunez at Joe’s Live Rosemont, 2024 In between the artist’s performances, the staff at Joe’s Live had a line dance session with the fans out on the dance floor. Dances were taught for songs including “Country Girl (Shake it For Me)” by Luke Bryan and “Austin” by Dasha. The lights dimmed as the band took the stage and Dasha emerged from the shadows. Dasha is a country and pop artist whose career started in 2020. Her first album Dirty Blonde was released in 2023 and her most recent album What Happens Now? released earlier this year. In November of that same year, she released her song “Austin”, which rapidly rose to fame and brought her debut on the Billboard Charts. Since then, her career has evolved rapidly. Dasha performed her hit song “Austin” on the 2024 CMT Awards which took place in Austin, Texas. She was later nominated and won her first award at the People’s Choice Country Awards for The Female Song of 2024. Dasha at Joe’s Live Rosemont, 2024 Dasha opened her show by performing “What Happens Now?” with the crowd dancing and singing along with her. She greeted fans from all areas of the stage and was acknowledging as many as she could throughout her set. She sang many songs from her new album such as “Bye Bye Bye,” “Ain’t No Friend of Mine,” and “Way Too Drunk.” About five songs into her lineup, Dasha debuted a new unreleased song “Give Me A Second” that had the crowd dancing along with excitement. Halfway through her performance, Dasha shared a story with the crowd from when she was younger and saw Taylor Swift live. Swift performed part of her set with just herself and her guitar, and Dasha said that was something she always wanted to incorporate into her own shows. She performed a few songs acoustic, and later her band joined back in to continue on with the rest of the performance. Dasha at Joe’s Live Rosemont, 2024 As the show came to a close, Dasha had a few more songs to keep the crowd dancing and singing along, including her hit song “Austin.” She had the whole crowd dancing along with her to the line dance that was created for the song, which was first debuted as a social media video. Since then, fans from all over the world have created their own videos dancing to the song “Austin.” Adrien Nunez at Joe’s Live Rosemont, 2024 As the lights came up after Dasha left the stage, the energy from the dissipating crowd could be felt in the air. Dasha has the genuine ability to create catchy songs that everyone can relate to, while also having a high energy, bubbly personality on stage. For those in attendance, this night was a testament to what is to come with Dasha and her rising music career. Dasha at Joe’s Live Rosemont, 2024 For additional information on these artist and Joe’s Live, please visit: Dasha- https://www.itsdashabitch.com Adrien Nunez- https://www.tiktok.com/@adrien_nunez Joe’s Live- https://www.joesliverosemont.com Rosemont, IL- https://rosemont.com Additional Images: Dasha at Joe’s Live Rosemont, 2024 Dasha at Joe’s Live Rosemont, 2024 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske