Suburban Bank & Trust and Superior Air-Ground Ambulance have teamed up as Silver Sponsors of the Entertainment Center and Food Court between Second Street and the Schiller Walkway, including the municipal parking lot on the west side of Addison just north of the Schiller Walkway.

Hours are:  7:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 12; 4:00 to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, June 13; 1:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 14; and 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 15.

Thursday night has a cover charge of $5.00 per adult cover for the benefit of the District 205 Foundation for Education Excellence, compared to $1.00 cover charge for the other days.

The Suburban Bank & Trust/Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Entertainment Center is Elmfest’s only outdoor venue where patrons may purchase an alcoholic beverage (non-alcoholic beverages also are available).
 
Ten bands will take to the Suburban Bank & Trust/Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Entertainment Center stage to perform during Elmfest 2008, with the schedule as follows:

Thursday, June 12

7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Whata ‘Bout Bob?

Returning for the District 205 Foundation benefit, Whata ‘Bout Bob? is the latest genesis of the Schocan Band, which originated in 1990 at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston with Wayne Cook (bass and vocals), Tommy Hoey (drums and vocals) and Bob Stinnett (guitar).

Bob’s current five-man line-up by Kevin Hicks (lead guitar), Steve Bunjes (keyboards, percussion, vocals) and Alex Mastro (lead guitar and vocals), who joined in 2002, 2000 and 1996, respectively, along with Cook and Hoey, whose brother Michael (guitar and vocals) played with the band in 2000.

The Foundation benefit is sponsored by Bronze Sponsor Community Bank of Elmhurst and the band’s performance is underwritten by Bronze Sponsor Fitz’s Pub. 

Friday, June 13

6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Band on the Run

Back at Elmfest after a couple year hiatus, Band on the Run is an award-winning Paul McCartney tribute band from the post-Beatles Wings era.  The band was named 2007 Best Tribute Band in Suburban Nightlife Magazine’s “Best of Burbs” competition, and  and won Best Tribute Band in the National Beatlefest Competition in 2004 and 2005.

The eight-member band is led by Elmhurst’s own Ron Starr (lead vocalist, bass, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards) as the incomparable Paul McCartney, with Erin Fishler (keyboards, lead and harmony vocalsr) as Linda McCartney.

Completing the band are Jim Workman (lead guitar, harmony vocals, lead vocals) as Jimmy McCullough, John Ashlyl (rhythm guitar, bass) as Wings Founder Denny Laine, Russ Weber (drums, percussion, harmony vocals) and the horn section of Chuck Sloka (saxophone), Jim Teister (trombone) and Ed Rusk (trumpet).

Besides headlining festivals and theatres nationwide, the band has performed with such  historic artists as 3 Dog Night, The Association and Savoy Brown, and tour opened for Dennis DeYoung (formerly of Styx) in 2006 and 2007.

The band can be seen this summer at Vernon Hills Springfest, Oshkosh Waterfest, Bloomingdale Famil Fest, Hoffman Estates Fourth of July Fest, Rollwing Meadows Fest, Lake County Fair and Decatur Celebration.

8:30 to 10:00 p.m.
The Hideouts/20th Anniversary Reunion

Making their Elmfest debut, local power-popsters The Hideouts, which disbanded in 1994, will make their command 20th Anniversary Reunion performance.

Formed in the summer of 1988, the original four-member band featured Elmhurst natives Brian Bukowski (lead guitar, vocals), Gerry O’Keefe (vocals, guitar), Omar Trevino (drums, vocals) and Frank Gradishar (bass guitar vocals).  Scott Proce (drums) joined the band later.

Starting out, the teens (15 to 17) played for students dances at Sandburg Middle School and York Community High School before graduating to university stages, large outdoor festivals and legendary music venue such as Fitzgerald’s, China Club and Lounge Ax.

The band’s independent releases included Soukup’s Gone (1991), Now Dig This (1992) and Window Walkin’ Downtown (1993), and their songs could be heard on Q101, WXRT and college radio stations across the country.

O’Keefe, Gradishar and Proce also perform together as The Brill Babies, while O’Keefe and Bukowski team up as the Desi Brothers acoustic duo.

Making their Elmfest debut, Pirates Over 40 is a Jimmy Buffett-style tribute band that has performed the tropical rock sounds of Paul Simon, The Neville Brothers, Harry Belafonte, The Doobie Brothers and Buffett since 1999.

The seven-member band includes Ron (lead vocal, acoustic guitar), Bruce (lead vcal, lead guitar), Bobby (vocal, lead guitar, guitar synth), Jim (bass guitar, vocal), Don (drums, vocal) and Mitch and Joe (congas, timales, bongos and trumpet).

Their summer schedule includes the Lake County Fair, Winnebago County Fair and Crystal Lake’s Lakeside Fest.

2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Second Time Around

Making their Elmfest debut, Second Time Around, founded by John Fridono (slide guitar, harmonica), is a classic rock band featuring 10 talented musicians with countless years of experience.

Band members include Jim Allen (lead vocals), John Tow (lead guitar), Al Hamilton (lead guitar), Dan Rzeszutko (bass guitar), Tom Barry (drums, percussion), Jeff Fite (drums, percussion), Joel Dalsky (keyboard), Angie Fridono (lead vocals) and Toni Callahan (lead vocals).

Some of their favorite covers are Hush” by Deep Pruple, Funk No. 49” by the James Gang and “I’ve Seen All Good People” by Yes.  The band also performs blues-based hits such as “Sweet Home Chicago,” “Move It On Over” and “Still Got The Blues.”

4:00 to 5:30 p.m.
Thunder Road

Making their Elmfest debut, Thunder Road is a Bruce Springsteen tribute band that developed out of a classic 1970s/1980s rock cover band after “The Boss” stopped touring with the E Street Band.

The seven-member band includes Tom Burns (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica), Linda Burns (lead and backing vocals, percussion), Bob Szvedo (lead guitar), Terry Melbourn (bass guitar), Dave Purdy (saxophone, lead and backing vocals, percussion), Tom Wagner (piano, organ) and Mike Gallus (drums).

6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Hot Rocks

Returning to Elmfest for a sixth straight year, Hot Rocks has been playing tribute to The Rolling Stones since 1994.  The six-member tribute band presents a total celebration of the Stones experience with a spectacular light show (complete with strobes and fog) to its already animated performances.

Band members include player Ed Bloom (lead vocals and harmonica) as Mick Jagger, Chris Minardi (guitar and vocals) as Keith Richards, Bobby Koll (guitar) as Brian/Ronnie Wood, Carmie Zac (bass and background vocals) as Bill Wyman, Gary Cremieux (drums) as Charlie and Paul Mally (keyboard and background vocals) as Ian Stuart.  Minardi migrated to Hot Rocks from the defunct “Sticky Fingerz” in 1996.

An early blues and rock enthusiast, “Crazy Eddie” is the consummate frontman and a founding member of Hot Rocks (along with Mally).  Bloom fires up audiences with his flare for showmanship, uncanny “Mickisms,” costume changes and boundless energy.  He also is known as one of the best harp players in Chicagoland.

8:00 to10:00 p.m.
Heartache Tonight

Making their Elmfest debut, Heartache Tonight is an Eagles tribute band that showcases all the Eagle's greatest hits, including Hotel California, Take It Easy, One Of These Nights and Life In The Fast Lane, as well as solo hits by Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh.

The leader of the six-member band is Tom Carey (vocals, guitar), who was a regular Elmfest performer several years back with his Jimmy Buffett tribute band.

Other band members are Dean (vocals, drums) as the Don Henley voice, John Forrest (vocals, bass guitar), Scott Bahry (vocals, keyboard) as the Joe Walsh voice, Mark Locascio (vocals, guitar) and Jim Altenbach (guitar).

The band’s summer schedule includes Arlington Heights Frontier Days and Itasca Fest.

The band’s performance is underwritten by Bronze Sponsor Comcast.

Sunday, June 15

12 noon to 1:30 p.m.
the Associates

Returning to Elmfest for the fifth year in a row, the Associates are the premiere Motown and variety band in the Midwest.

Featuring some of the finest vocalists and musicians in the Chicago area, the Associates always deliver a high-energy performance.  Their crowd-pleasing repertoire includes 1,400 regularly performed tunes, including Motown, classic rock, blues, R&B, jazz, country and more, out of a musical library of more than 15,000 well-loved selections.

The Associates have played more than 4,000 engagements since 1986, including prominent festivals such as Taste of Chicago and Naperville’s Ribfest.

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Elmhurst Noon Lions Club

The Elmhurst Noon Lions Club will pick the winners in Second Annual Reverse Raffle to benefit Lions Club International’s Sight First II Program.

2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
BritBeat

Returning to Elmfest for the second year in a row, BritBeat will bring the “British Invasion” to life through the mop tops, English cut suits, vintage instruments and harmonizing vocals of the “Fab Four” from Liverpool, England.

BritBeat has been featured on TV stations such as FOX, CBS, NBC and ABC, and in newspapers such as the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Daily Herald.

In 2005, BritBeat performed with Pete Best, the original Beatles drummer, to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Beatles’ August 20, 1965, concert at Chicago’s Comiskey Park.