MONTICELLO — Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello has announced its lineup for the its Concert Series, presented by The Ayers Family, which will include the Grammy award-winning Okee Dokee Brothers on Saturday, Oct. 8.
That final presentation will also include a chance to camp outdoors at Allerton.
“We thought adding this concert to the Annual Family Campout would be a great way for our community’s kiddos to experience great music, and also learn about nature and Allerton’s natural beauty,” Allerton Park and Retreat Center Program Coordinator Olivia Warren said.
After a Thursday/Sunday format undertaken in 2021 as a COVID-safety precaution, the Concert Series returns to its Friday evening roots this season for four of the five concerts on the Gate House Lawn.
A donation of $5 per person or $10 per family is suggested, which will be collected at the gate. Food will be available at all concerts, and guests should bring lawn chairs or blankets.
The Concert Series starts with a LOVE FOR ALLerton theme on Friday, June 3, when Last Minute takes the outdoor stage at 6 p.m. to perform pop, rock and blues classics, followed by Green Diamond Express at 7:30 p.m.
Billy Galt & The Blues Deacons return to Allerton to kick off the Reds, Whites and the Blues concert on July 1. Also performing will be Mississippi Heat.
The popular Irish Fest returns on Aug. 12, with music provided by Broken Brogue and Téada.
Stone & Snow and Chicago Farmer & The Fieldnotes will be featured at the Summer’s End presentation on Sept. 9.
Rounding out the series will be the Campfire Jamboree with the Okee Dokee Brothers at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8, the only Saturday evening concert.
The Okee Dokee Brothers — Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing — combine their passion of the outdoors with musical talent to present Americana folk and bluegrass music. They record and perform family music to inspire children and their parents to go outside, explore and get creative.
That concert is also the same weekend as the Allerton Family Campout, which will feature a Live Animal Wildlife Show; the opportunity to help biologists catch, identify and release various wildlife; stories around a campfire, and a stargazing night hike led by the University of Illinois Astronomy Department.
Registration is needed for the campout.
“I am really excited to see the summer concerts back! The return to something that is familiar and so full of good community vibes is really important to us at Allerton,” Allerton Director Derek Peterson said.
“I am also really excited to see what Olivia Warren, our new program coordinator, has in store. It’s fun to see the bands she has found, and I look forward to hearing them during warm evenings on the Gatehouse Lawn.”
Major sponsors for this year’s concert series are The Ayers Family, Kirby Medical Center, Herbold Family Trust, Monahan Partners, AgCreate Solutions, AHW Inc. and WILL-FM.
Food vendors will also be on hand for each concert.
Concert, food schedule
(All Friday concerts begin at 6 p.m. The Okee Dokee Brothers start at 7:30 p.m.)
— Friday, June 3: LOVE FOR ALLerton Last Minute and Green Diamond Express. Food provided by Piato’s and Jimmy John’s.
— Friday, July 1: Reds, Whites & The Blues, Billy Galt & The Blues Deacons and Mississippi Heat. Food provided by Mamma D’s Smokehouse and Jimmy John’s.
— Friday, Aug. 12: Irish Fest, Broken Brogue and Téada. Food provided by Mamma D’s Smokehouse and Jimmy John’s.
— Friday, Sept. 9: Summer’s End Concert, Stone & Snow and Chicago Farmer & The Fieldnotes. Food by Smith Burger Co. and Jimmy John’s.
— Saturday, Oct. 8: Campfire Jamboree, The Okee Dokee Brothers, with the chance to camp overnight at Allerton. Food by Piato’s.
