MONTICELLO — From blues to alternative rock, Celtic to folk and Americana, the Allerton Park Concert Series presented by Cim-Tek Filtration will feature a wide variety of musical genres in 2025.
Beginning with LOVE FOR ALLerton on June 6, the concert series will continue with Reds, Whites & the Blues on July 11, Irish Fest Aug. 1 and conclude with Summer’s End on Sept. 5.
Local favorites such as Billy Galt & the Blues Deacons and Urbana-based Sass will take the stage, mixed with the nationally known blues group Shawn Holt & the Teardrops and Chicago-based Celtic band Character Fleadh.
And while music is the mainstay at the Friday night outdoor concerts, a festival-type atmosphere is also created with food trucks, bars and vendor fairs at the first and last concerts.
All of which gives concert organizer and Allerton Senior Program Coordinator Olivia Bunting energy on concert nights.
“My favorite part of the concerts is the atmosphere. It’s such a great time because I feel like I’m hanging out with so many cool people who love music like I do. It’s a great way to kick off a weekend, spend time with family and friends, and have a relaxing evening with good food and good music,” Bunting said.
Music kicks off at 6 p.m. on the Gatehouse Lawn of the Monticello-area park. Food trucks will be on hand and the Greenhouse Café will remain open until 7 p.m. on concert nights. Those attending can also bring their own food and drink, but no outside alcohol is permitted. An outdoor bar will also be available.
There is a fee of $5/person or $10/family per concert, payable upon arrival. Attendees should bring lawn chairs or blankets.
Music lovers and musicians alike are looking forward to music under the stars.
“We look forward to playing on the beautiful grounds of Allerton,” said Ethan Sellers, the bandleader of the “proudly Chicago-based” Celtic-style band Character Fleadh. “We’ve never been, so hope to pop in early to have a look around before the concert.”
Concerts for 2025 will include:
— June 6: LOVE FOR ALLerton with Sass and Kittens Incorporated.
— July 11: Reds, Whites & the Blues with Billy Galt & the Blues Deacons and Shawn Holt & the Teardrops
— August 1: Irish Fest with Skibbereen and Character Fleadh
— September 5: Summer’s End with Carrie Sue & the Wood Burners and Barko Waltz
Allerton began its concert series in 2013 and is presented by Cim-Tek Filtration with additional support from other generous sponsors: The Joe Zalabak Real Estate Team at Keller Williams, First State Bank & Trust, Kirby Medical Center, Black Prairie Ag, Herbold Family Trust, Illinois Public Media, Smile Politely and Kelly’s Accounting.
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LOVE FOR ALLerton (June 6) kicks off the series with a celebration of Pride Month and music from Sass, a Central Illinois singer/songwriter who combines a unique blend of rock, blues, country, soil and R&B. Opening night will continue with the music of Kittens, Inc., which has been described as “breezy pop sounds that smell like s’mores on the beach.”
Reds, Whites & the Blues (July 11) will feature the return of Billy Galt & the Blues Deacons, a longtime blues favorites in downstate Illinois since 1990; and Shawn Holt & the Teardrops, an American blues band led by the son of Magic Slim. The band won a Blues Music Award in 2014 for its song Daddy Told Me.
Irish Fest (Aug. 1) will begin with Skibberren, a Springfield-based band formed in 2010 that specializes in Celtic music with a nod toward other popular styles. The evening will continue with Character Fleadh, which has provided Celtic music in the Chicago area since 2008. They describe their crowd-pleasing sets as “exuberant, sophisticated, and full of… character.”
Summer’s End (Sept. 5) wraps up the 2025 concert series with the folk, bluegrass and Americana sound of Carrie Sue & the Wood Burners and the classy and classic rock of Barko Waltz, who was born in Argentina, raised in Detroit and now lives in Barcelona, Spain.
