Local talent to shine alongside headliners at Joliet's Hopstring Fest Aug. 23

John Narcissi, left and Chase Walsh

By Ted Slowik

I'm starting to get really excited about this year's third annual Hopstring Fest on Saturday, Aug. 23 at Silver Cross Field in downtown Joliet! In addition to the headlining national touring acts, Hopstring is a great showcase of local original music talent.

This year, a couple fellow students of my guitar teacher, Kev Wright of The Righteous Hillbillies,  will be performing at Hopstring. Mokena's John Narcissi and Frankfort's Chase Walsh are both talented young performers who have been receiving expert guidance from Kev. You'll be hearing more about John and Chase and other local Hopstring performers soon!

Tickets for the 12-hour celebration of live music, food and craft beer are $20 and available through hopstringfest.com and at Chicago Street Pub, 75 N. Chicago St., Joliet. Hopstring Fest is presented by Chicago Street Pub owner Mike Trizna.

Hopstring Fest 2014 is headlined by rock band Cracker and features mainstage performers The Righteous Hillbillies, The Steepwater Band,  Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts, John Condron & the Old Gang Orchestra, Ed Anderson, Chicago Farmer, The Regressors, Alex Hoffer, Leadfoot and The Prairie Ghosts. The mainstage lineup is presented by Flipside Works. 

I'll be performing first, at 11:35 a.m., on the 2014 Red Betty IPA Side Stage. The lineup is managed by Chris Flood and features Dan Dougherty and the Tone Bone, Rebecca Rego and the Trainmen, Allison Flood, Chris Flood, the Matt Biskie Trio, Tom & Becky, Ernie Hendrickson, J Ross Green and Scott McNeil. 

This year there's a second side stage, the Deschutes Brewery Side Stage. The lineup is managed by Kristin Barry and features Charlie Champene and ERic Totherow, Brian Barry, John Narcissi, Chase Walsh, Ryan Olsson, Molly McKenna Batozech, Tim Streit, CottonHeaded Ninny Muggins, John Till and Pete Jive.

So save the date Aug. 23, tell your friends and buy your tickets now!