Southside SummerFest Brings Community Together At Marist High School

CHICAGO— In what Marist High School hopes will become an annual summer tradition, the inaugural SouthSide SummerFest will rock RedHawk Stadium Saturday, July 23. The fest runs from 4 to 10 p.m.; gates open at 3:45 p.m.

The 21-and-over fest features four bands, food from event sponsor Lou Malnati’s Pizza and cocktails on the football field at Marist High School, address. A fourth band has been added to the lineup – Back Country Boys from Maria, FL – will perform country and rock covers from the 70’s to today’s top hits, in addition to their latest original material.

Southside SummerFest is modeled after the defunct Old St. Pat’s Block Party, that entertained Chicagoans for 35 years. The music fest is anticipated to attract 2,000 music-lovers from the Chicago area and surrounding suburbs. From country to disco to pop music to classic rock, the music festival will feature music fit for every taste.

Fr. Tom Hurley, vice president for advancement and ministry for Marist and the high school chaplain, was associated for many years with the Old St. Patrick Block Party. The school is hoping to replicate that success.

“We are hoping that this will be a unique and first-time community gathering to bring people together,” Fr. Hurley said. “Adult beverages, great food and bands are not a real complicated formula. We want to bring it to the South Side of Chicago, so Marist can show a little hospitality to the community.”

Chicago staple Lou Malnati’s will be sponsoring the event, along with many other local and global businesses. In addition to Chicago staple Lou Malnati’s will be sponsoring the event along with many other local and global businesses. Open to ages 21 and above, this event is unlike any other in the area, as Marist will open its campus to the entire community.

In additional to raising money for scholarships and facility improvements at Marist, the fest will be collecting donations for Chicago Police Officer Danny Golden, who was shot in the back trying to break up a fight while off-duty and is now paralyzed.

“This young man’s life is going to be altered,” Fr. Hurley said. “If it ends up he’s paralyzed, alterations will have to be made to his home, vehicle. We’re going to do our best to make a nice donation from this event to Officer Golden.”

Featured Bands Southside SummerFest, presented by Marist features bands that will cover music from Motown to disco to pop music to classic rock. Here’s the lineup:

● From Maria, FL, the Back Country Boys, will perform country and rock covers from the 70’s to today’s top hits, in addition to their latest original material.

● Soul 2 The Bone specializes in music from the 1960's to 2015 covering five genres of music, including Motown, R & B, Light Rock, Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Disco, and Pop music.

● Local favorite, The Ron Burgundy’s, performs a variety of softcore rock from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

● Tributosaurus is the Jurassic beast of multiple musical faces, and every month, the beast morphs into a different rock group. The finest musicians from Chicagoland join the core group to sit in, to sing, and play songs they’ve wanted to cover all their lives. Tributosaurus’s goal is to exactly recreate the sounds of original recordings as closely as possible. At Southside Summerfest, Tributosaurus will morph into U2 and The Rolling Stones.

“We’re just here to have a good time and to bring some joy, especially now with Ukraine and Highland Park,” Fr. Hurley said. “We got to keep living our lives and bring people together to celebrate life. Our vaccine needs to be love, hope and faith.”

Tickets for Southside SummerFest are now on sale. Advance tickets are available for a reduced rate at $25 and includes one drink ticket; advance ticket sales end Friday, July 22 at 11:55 p.m. Tickets also can be purchased for $30 at the door and includes one drink ticket. There will be an Early Bird Special for all attendees who arrive between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.; they will receive an extra drink ticket at admission.

Event Sponsors: Lou Malnati’s | Bud Light | Wintrust | Franklin's Public House | Walsh | Reyes Coca Cola Bottling | 93XRT Chicago | Audacy | 670 The Score | Lagunitas Brewing Co. | Lakeshore Beverage | Birdies Sports Bar and Grill | R4 | The Beverly Review | Aldridge | Colleen Pochyly | Friends of ‘86

Sponsorship opportunities at a variety of levels are available, and volunteers (ages 21+) are needed. For more information, visit Southside SummerFest.