Publications & Sites 
Music, ribs headline weekend fest
Grammy-award winning band Los Lonely Boys will perform at the Little Bear Ribfest Friday night in Vernon Hills.
Updated: September 24, 2012 6:56AM
VERNON HILLS
Grammy award winning band Los Lonely Boys and local singing sensation Jamie Lono are expected to draw big crowds to the first night of the Little Bear Ribfest on Friday in Vernon Hills.
Featuring blues music and ribs, two-day festival will be held Friday and Saturday in Century Park.
“It’s a weekend of nationally known blues artists as well as some of the finest ribs from the Chicago area held on the shoreline of beautiful Little Bear Lake in Century Park,” said Jeff Fougerousse, executive director of the Vernon Hills Park District, which is organizing the second annual event.
Lono will kick off the musical entertainment Friday night with a performance at 7 p.m. Lono, a 2007 Vernon Hills High School graduate, appeared earlier this year on the popular NBC television show “The Voice.” Lono and his band also performed at Milwaukee’s Summerfest and at Vernon Hills Summer Celebration.
“Having a local celebrity like Jamie Lono is a great way to kick off our festival,” said Fougerousse. “He’s going to be introducing his new album on Friday evening.”
Los Lonely Boys will immediately follow Lono’s performance at 9 p.m. The internationally known Texas rock and blues band won a Grammy award in 2005 and the group’s 2004 single “Heaven” was a number one hit on the Billboard adult contemporary chart in 2004.
“People have been inquiring about the Friday evening entertainment with Los Lonely Boys and Jamie Lono so we’re expecting a good crowd,” Fougerousse said.
Three blues artists will perform during Saturday night. At 5 p.m., the Red, White & Blues Band, a Chicago-based blues band will perform. Tallan Noble Latz, a young blues artist from Wisconsin, will perform at 7 p.m. Canadian blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Matt Andersen will be the headline performer Saturday evening starting at 9 p.m.
Fougerousse said Andersen has played with the likes of Bo Diddley, Little Feat and America, and has won a number of music awards.
“He’s got a powerful voice and a great band,” he said.
Former Chicago Bears star Otis Wilson will be signing autographs and be available for photographs from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday.
In addition to entertainment, Ribfest will feature food from six area rib vendors during the two days. Vendors will include Sweet Baby Rays, Uncle Bub’s, Smokin’ Ts, the Full Slab, Real Urban Barbecue and Brothers Ribs.
The Mundelein-Vernon Hills Rotary Club also will be doing a corn roast. Bo-Bo’s restaurant will be selling ice cream and desserts.
The Vernon Hills Lion Club will be selling beer and wine, and Knights of Columbus will be selling soda and bottled water. Best Buy is sponsoring the event and will provide volunteer help.
Ribfest runs from 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday, and from 3 to 11 p.m. on Saturday. Admission to the festival grounds costs $5. There will be shuttles from Westfield Hawthorn Mall for overflow parking.
For more information, visit www.littlebearribfest.com or call the park district office at (847) 996-6800.~> ~.
