Here are some events happening from May 17 to 23 in the Chicago suburbs and Northwest Indiana.
Funky Stone
The Family Stone performs at 8 p.m. May 17 at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan. Tickets are $25-$55. At 203 N. Genesee St. 847-263-6300; geneseetheatre.com.
Sly and the Family Stone was a staple of the funk scene, known for songs like “Everyday People,” “Dance to the Music,” “I Want to Take You Higher” and “Hot Fun in the Summertime.”
The band is carried on by original member and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Jerry Martini along with Phunne Stone, daughter of Sly and the band’s late trumpeter Cynthia Robinson.
History comes alive
“A Walk Through Time — Living History Timeline” is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 18 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 19 at the Will County Heritage Village Open-Air Museum in Lockport. Tickets are free. At 249 W. 2nd St. 815-838-5080; willhistory.org/events.
Reenactors and historians will represent time periods from the Roman Empire through World War II while they are encamped all weekend with uniforms and equipment on display.
The 19th-century buildings on site that were saved from demolition from around Will County will be open to the public. Catholic Mass will be offered at the Heritage Village at 5:30 p.m. May 18 by Father Thomas Koys of St. James at Sag Bridge Catholic Church.
Bands unite for a good cause
The inaugural Patriots Festival is from 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. May 18 at The Piazza in Aurora. Tickets are $67.50-$125. At 85 Executive Drive. 630-978-2088; patriotsfest.com.
The event aims to raise money for veterans’ charities. Several heroic and decorated veterans will speak and be honored. There will be vendors, craft beer, barbecue, gourmet grilled cheese, sweet corn and pizza.
And there will be music all day featuring 3 Doors Down, Ultimate Jam with Ted Nugent, Big and Rich, Cowboy Troy, Creed Fisher, Demun Jones, Matt Oakley, Brandon Hartt, Austin Edwards, Nate Venturelli and The Outfit.
The event is hosted by MTV veejay Matt Pinfield of “120 Minutes” fame. Free parking and free admission for kids under 12.
Trumpet time
The DuPage Symphony Orchestra performs “Modern and Melodious” at 7:30 p.m. May 18 at the Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College in Naperville. Tickets are $15-$45. At 171 E. Chicago Ave. 630-778-1003; dupagesymphony.org.
Acclaimed trumpet player and DuPage County native Mary Elizabeth Bowden joins the DSO to perform “Trumpet Concerto of 1963” by Welsh composer Grace Williams. Leonard Bernstein’s “Symphonic Dances” from “West Side Story” will also be performed at the season finale.
‘Idol’atry
Billy Idol takes the stage at 7 p.m. May 19 at the Hard Rock Live stage at the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary. Tickets are $109.50-$305. At 5400 W. 29th Ave. 219-228-2383; casino.hardrock.com/northern-indiana.
Billy Idol is a staple of the modern music scene, having started out as the front man for punk band Generation X in the late 1970s, before enjoying a robust solo career.
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.