MOUNT MORRIS – The Mount Morris Jamboree welcomes back the great band, Illinois Rail, who will be performing their brand of traditional, new, original and gospel Bluegrass music for a two hour show in the band shell Friday, Aug. 11, starting at 7 p.m.
Anyone who's seen their concerts here in the past will fondly recall the exceptional quality of this band. The group consists of Dave and Peg Shippert, Cliff Angeln, Doug Knecht and Gary Dickson. Illinois Rail is a high energy bluegrass/gospel band that hales from central Illinois. Several of the members have more than 30 years of bluegrass band experience.
The group came together in 2008 and shares a love of traditional bluegrass music, as well as the bluegrass music of today. Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, The Cox Family, and Ronda Vincent inspire just some of the music played by the group. The band offers award winning banjo picking, spirited mandolin and dobro, rock solid flat picking and bass with exceptional vocals.
Illinois Rail has played a variety of festivals and private functions over the years and has done a recording session for WTVP, Channel 47 out of Peoria, Illinois for their use in public broadcasting. The group has released three CD’s which include various instrumentals, cover songs and several original tunes. The members of Illinois Rail have a great friendship and love to play and have fun with the music. This group has a unique and engaging rapport with their audiences and really knows how to provide an evening of wonderful entertainment.
The Mount Morris Moose Lodge will be providing concessions for the show and will be serving grilled hamburgers, walking tacos, chips, soda, water and fresh baked brownies, starting at 6 p.m. All proceeds go directly to benefit Moose charities. Please come to town early and have a look at all the good locally grown produce and other foods and crafts available at the Mount Morris Community Farmers Market held in the bank parking lot at the corner of Wesley Ave. and Rt. 64 from 4-7 p.m, every Friday through October.
The Encore! Art Gallery will be open in Old Sandstone, just adjacent to the shell, that evening from 6:30-9:30 as well, this week featuring the Watt Global Media 100 year Anniversary Art Show. The Campus will be extra festive that evening as it's the opening night of our new Strawsculpting National Competition, which will have many new sculptures on display all around the Campus until Aug. 31. Our rain location for the concert and concessions is the Mount Morris Moose Lodge, at 101 Moose Dr. just off of E. Hitt St. at the same times.
