About the Bands

 All times are subject to change

Thursday Night

Picture of EpicEpic - 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Opening RidgeFest ’11 is Epic. The band was formed in 2004 in the south suburbs of Chicgoland. The goal was to try to play some of the greatest songs from the greatest bands of the 1980’s, along with a few current hits. Epic puts their all into giving a great show each night they play.

Picture of Second HelpingSecond Helping 8:00 to 10:30 p.m.
Second Helping has been consistently recognized as the premiere Skynyrd tribute bands working today. According to McCallister, it’s not unusual for member of Lynyrd Skynyrd to sit in with Second Helping.

“…You guys capture the feel of those tunes just fine – your rhythm section is right there… Lead singe’s pretty darn good…you’ve got down the FEEL of what I do…give me a call when you come to town”
Ed King – Lynyrd Skynyrd – Lead Guitarist

“…sharp, tight, you got Skynyrd down man!” (after sitting in on stage with the band)
Artimus Pyle – Lynyrd Skynyrd – Drummer

Friday Night

Picture of Lukas Nelson & Promise of the RealLukas Nelson & Promise of the Real 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
For 22-year-old singer-songwriter-guitarist Lukas Nelson, his first music memory is being onstage with superstars Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and his father Willie Nelson singing along and stomping his feet to a crowd of thousands. “I kind of knew at that early age that I wanted to play music. It was the only thing that really made me happy,” says Nelson who fronts the Southern-folk-rock group Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real.

Lukas inherited his father’s musicality, his penchant for penning his own music, and his love of the road. But more important – and possibly more surprising to some – he also inherited his father’s humility and genuineness.

“Our name, Promise of the Real, comes from trying to do it the real way. That’s what my goal in life is – to stay human, stay real, stay humble, and stay grounded for the rest of my life. I’ve learned a lot from my dad. He got me my first guitar when I was 12 and taught me chords but I also learned by his example of how he lives his life and how he keeps his humility. The live show,” says Lukas “is always an experience. It’s an energy transfer between people. Nothing makes me happier than when we’re up there jamming and everybody is singing along and dancing. It’s never the same twice.”

Picture of InfinityInfinity  8:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Formed in 1985, Infinity grew from being not only Journey Tribute band, but one of the top drawing cover bands in the Midwest. Two-plus decades rocking the hundreds of local music festivals lighting up the Chicago suburbs each summer have put Infinity in front of hundreds of thousands of fans. Consequently, the band has built an incredible following, making them the Top most successful cover bands in the nation's third-largest metropolis. Infinity continues to break attendance records at Clubs and Festivals across Chicago and the Midwest. But more importantly, Infinity maintains the intangible ability to include the audience and make them feel as if they are part of the show. A quote from the lead singer Bob "this is not our show, it's yours". Infinity enjoys thousand of fans young an young at heart, who sing along and become the chorus to their music. This is the difference between performers and genuine entertainers. Perhaps this is the reason for the perpetual following and return to area Festivals and Clubs across the Midwest year after year after year.

 

Saturday

Green Thirteen 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Green Thirteen is your favorite iPod playlist brought to life. Classic Hits...party favorites...brand new radio releases...it's all there.
With award winning male and female lead vocalists, Green Thirteen is versatile enough to keep everybody connected and feeling like the party will never end. Seamless song transitions and a huge & constantly growing song list, keeps a Green Thirteen show moving at an incredibly fast pace that will leave the crowd shouting for more!

Dreams 8:00 to 9:30 p.m.
Dreams is a high-energy rock band that first started performing in 1986. With a solid mix of musicianship and showmanship.

Through their affiliation with Grammy-nominated producer/engineer Gary Loizzo, Dreams honed their craft to become one of the Chicago area's most popular live acts of the late 80's thru mid-90's. They've played hundreds of shows to thousands of people throughout the US and continue to do so in 2011 with all 5 original members.

2011 marks a banner year for Dreams with the release of their original music on iTunes and Amazon, resulting in worldwide song sales and radio airplay.

Ted Nugent 10:00 to 11:30 p.m.
Ted Nugent has been known for cranking his Gibson Byrdland and performing like a madman since his days with the Amboy Dukes. In the thirty years since departing the ‘Dukes, he has established himself as a successful solo artist and has also been a part of a few supergroups, most notably Damn Yankees.

Picture of Ted NugentThroughout his lengthy career, guitar Wildman Ted Nugent has reveled in the controversy and criticism that always seems to follow in this path. While there’s no denying his exceptional talent on the six-string, his knack for penning arena rock anthems, or his standing as one of rock’s top live acts, it’s his non-musical endeavors that have caused the most condemnation from his detractors (his pro-right wing beliefs, pro-gun advocacy, appreciation of hunting animals, etc.). But by the same token Nugent is a family man and one of the few hard rockers who has admirably stuck by his lifelong anti-drugs and –drink stance throughout his career.

An avid hunter as well as a guitar legend, the Nuge’s restless spirit has driven him into many other ventures, including stints as a radio show host and a regular contributor for numerous publications.

In recent years Ted has become known as an author as well, penning a cook book, Kill It and Grill It, and the New York Times-bestsellers God, Guns & Rock ‘N’ Roll and Ted, White, And Blue: The Nugent Manifesto. He also hosts his own hunting, fishing, trapping and shooting lifestyle show on Outdoor Channel – Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild.

The 2011 Ted Nugent I Still Believe Tour is slated to include the return of former band mate Derek St. Holmes.

“The fun factor was just too much for us to ignore!” said Nugent.

This summer, fans can expect to hear St. Holmes on some of the classics he helped make famous, including Hey Baby, Just What the Doctor Ordered and Storm Troopin’ as he rejoins Nugent, along with Mick Brown and Greg Smith on their North American tour starting in June.

Sunday

Rendition 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Rendition is one of Chicago's most entertaining cover bands. Rendition plays hundreds of shows each year, from clubs and colleges, to festivals and private events. Mixed with high entergy stage show and an extensive song list. Rendition appeals to a wide range of audiences. From Alternative to Dance, Country to Rock, or Classic to Rap, Rendition does it all. If you have not seen them yet, you are in for an amazing event.

Picture of StockwoodStockwood 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Stockwood is not your typical Beatles Tribute. They are just now reaching the ages – 14 to 17 – that The Beatles were when they made their first appearances in Hamburg Germany but Stockwood already has over seven years of performance experience, including:

·         Won First Place at Chicago’s Fest for Beatles’ Fans Battle of the Beatle Bands in 2006 and 2007.

·         Voted Best Under 21 Band in 2007 and 2008 b NiteLife.org’s Best of the Burbs.

 Stockwood shows touch on The Beatles’ performances in Hamburg, and The Cavern Club in Liverpool and then into the Early Years. However, Stockwood does not stop there and may also include later hits as well as songs from The Beatles’ “Solo Years.”

Ryan “The King” Pelton 8:00 to 10:30 p.m. (he will break for fireworks at dusk)
A career spawned by a dare from his mother only a few years ago, Ryan Pelton has become the hottest Elvis Tribute Artist in the world. His performance covers all the eras of Elvis Presley’s amazing career. From the raw edge fifties, the light-hearted movie years, the electrifying Sixty-Eight Comeback Special and of course the powerful Las Vegas years. Ryan has been exciting audiences all over the United States and four continents performing with the Las Vegas Production Show “Legends in Concert”, starring in movies and appearing in commercials as ELVIS. Ryan has captured the hearts of every age group with his amazingly good looks, charisma and humble stage presence! He lights up each venue with the magic & essence of the King of rock & roll, taking the audience down a “virtual reality” memory lane filled with visual and vocal fascination!