The only themed programming among Taste of Chicago’s music offerings, the Country Music Festival returns with good news and bad. The bad news is that many of the top-billed acts are contemporary country radio staples–Sunday’s headliners in particular will likely deliver hours of overcooked, rock-driven ballads and stompers. But the fest’s organizers have shown some interest in mixing things up: Saturday’s lineup emphasizes various strains of bluegrass music, while Sunday’s daytime programming is exclusively devoted to Illinois talent–though most of the acts seem likely to finish out their careers without leaving the state. The headliners perform at the Petrillo Music Shell, located at the northeast corner of Columbus and Jackson; all other performances take place at the Taste Stage, on the southwest corner of the same intersection. All shows are free.
12:00 Tangleweed
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4:30 Shawn Camp
4:30 Glen Campbell
1:30 Billy Childers Band
2:00 Phil Vassar
