Rockford, Illinois - Stars and Guitars has acquired Rockin’ Ribfest to bring you Stars and Guitars Ribfest. The event will be held at Davis Memorial Festival Park, June 26th – 29th. This event is sure to be a great way to kick off your summer!
This year, Stars and Guitars Ribfest will feature four National Award Winning Rib Vendors. Chicago BBQ Company, Howling Coyote BBQ, Sgt.Oinks BBQ, and Sutphen Texas Thunder. Their menus will include several styles of ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, grilled chicken sandwiches and many other items.
Stars and Guitars Ribfest will come alive with non-stop music on the Bud Lite Stage! Here’s a glimpse of this year’s lineup:
Tracy Lawrence
As a country singer-songwriter, Tracy Lawrence has charted more than thirty singles on the Billboard country charts, eight of which reached Number One. He has released a total of thirteen albums, with four platinum certifications and one gold certification. In 2007 at the CMA Awards, Tracy was awarded Musical Event of the Year honors for his song “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” a version he recorded with Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney as guest vocalists.
The Sensations
The Sensations have a love of “Rock” music that is both intense and diverse delivering a performance that is loaded with passion and energy. They have become one of the premier bands in the Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin area beginning with their much-acclaimed Saturday night performance on the Oasis Stage at the 2007 On The Waterfront Festival presented by Associated Bank. Their popularity continues to grow. The Sensations is a blending of 3 of Rockford’s favorites as well as RAMI Award winning and RAMI Hall of Fame Bands, “Bare Bones, Robin Banks and The Snaggs”. The line up features Lead Vocalist - Holland Zander, Guitarist – Rick Pemberton, Bassist – Dana Buck, Drummer – Kurt Wiesend and Keyboardist – John Brandon. The Sensations bring the energy and everything you loved about “Bare Bones, Robin Banks and The Snaggs and turn it into a new and exciting experience that audiences are raving about. The Sensations’ performance and sound is outstanding and it is fun! It’s hard to take your eyes off of Holland as she fronts the band! The band delivers passionate, unique and solid performances of songs from 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and today.
The Play Doctors
Dance- Rock- Party cover band fronted by 5 nurses and 1 doctor with outrageous costumes & stage antics performing energetic renditions of the best dance and party tunes. The band features two original members of the band The Fabulous Janes. Painfully good music, spanning all genres and many decades of rock, from the current grooves of Kelly Clarkson & The Pussycat Dolls, to the classic party anthems of Joan Jett and Twisted Sister and the spicy dance hits of ABBA & Prince. The Play Doctors is great entertainment for audiences of all ages.* Caution: May Cause Rowdiness. Dancing May Intensify Effect!
Cowboy Mouth
Cowboy Mouth is pure New Orleans rock n’ roll. Performing over 150 shows a year, releasing nearly a dozen records, and featured on TV shows and radio stations everywhere, Cowboy Mouth has been seen and heard by millions of fans worldwide. Cowboy Mouth shows are legendary, and have been witnessed by more than 8 million fans to date. Always on the road, they’ve toured several times with their friends in Hootie and the Blowfish, Bare Naked Ladies, Sister Hazel and Better Then Ezra. Crowd participation is a must at a Cowboy Mouth show. The band’s performances are super high-energy and extraordinarily intense, usually leaving audiences as drenched and spent as the band.
Devon Allman’s Honeytribe
Devon Allman’s Honeytribe has shared the stage with everyone from The Disco Biscuits, Gov’t Mule, Tesla, Little Feat, Cheap Trick, and of course the Allman Brothers Band. Devon Allman, the son of Greg Allman, of the Allman Brothers Band on vocals, this band is an ensemble cast all the way. Honeytribe is A-list musicians from across America. If you like music with feel and soul by artists like Santana, BB King, The Grateful Dead, The Black Crowes and The Stones; you will have a love affair with Honeytribe. The Synergy of this band on stage is something to behold. Shifting from killer old blues songs to their own material, this is a band that will command attention. Honeytribe rides an array of influences and musical styles. This band has something for all live, feel-based music lovers.
Dickey Betts and Great Southern
Dickey Betts, a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, has one of the most distinctive voices in music today. In 2000 Betts formed the Dickey Betts Band and hit the road on his own. In 2002 Dickey changed the name of the group to Dickey Betts & Great Southern. Dickey Betts’ guitar sound is immediately recognizable, with soaring leads providing musical wings, and his road-season vocals reflecting grit and hard-earned respect. Dickey was featured alongside Tim McGraw in a salute to Southern Rock at the 2005 Grammy Awards.
James Otto
James Otto began his career in 2002, with his first album charting three singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. His second album, Sunset Man was released in April 2008 produced by John Rich, of Big & Rich and Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts. The lead-off single “Just Got Started Lovin’ You,” became a Number One hit on the country charts. Otto has toured with country superstars like Big & Rich and Shania Twain. Otto is also a member of MuzikMafia, a group of country-music singer-songwriters known for their “country music without prejudice.”
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On the Waterfront, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) event production corporation that produces Illinois’ largest music festival, On the Waterfront presented by Associated Bank. Awarded the prestigious 2002 Gold Grand Pinnacle Award by the International Festivals and Events Association for excellence in event promotion, the Festival is held annually over Labor Day weekend and attracts over 300,000 people to the streets of the downtown River District in Rockford, Illinois. Each year, On the Waterfront helps over100 local not-for-profit organizations raise funds through the festival. Since 1986, On the Waterfront, Inc. has helped area organizations raise over $9.1 million. In addition to the festival, On the Waterfront, Inc. also produces Groove Walk, (May 17th, 2008) an annual spring music walk throughout downtown Rockford, Stars & Guitars Ribfest (June 26th – 29th , 2008) and OTW Director’s Challenge golf outing (July 21st, 2008).
Rockford, Illinois - Stars and Guitars has acquired Rockin’ Ribfest to bring you Stars and Guitars Ribfest. The event will be held at Davis Memorial Festival Park, June 26th – 29th. This event is sure to be a great way to kick off your summer!