Guide To The Music At The 2025 Taste of Elmwood Park
The Taste of Elmwood Park is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and the summer festival has a full lineup of music for each day. It’s rather loaded with classic rock tribute bands, but there are a few jazz/swing, country, and pop music acts scheduled to perform.
Here’s your guide to all the music scheduled for this year’s Taste of Elmwood Park.
Thursday - 8/7
6 p.m: Ocean’s Rat Pack
Ocean’s Rat Pack is a premier tribute to the Rat Pack and has performed in venues throughout the country. Tony Ocean is Dean Martin, Elliot Wimbush is Sammy Davis Jr., and Bill Serritella is Frank Sinatra, and they’ll dazzle any fan of the swingin’ standards of Sinatra, Martin, and Davis.
8:30 p.m.: The Shagadelics
These four dudes in polyester and platform shoes describe themselves as “the only disco band that rocks.” The band plays a combination of ‘70s era disco, funk, and yacht rock along with ‘80s pop and rock songs.
Friday - 8/8
5:45 p.m. - The Drawers
You may not know about this local 10-piece band, but you may have seen former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich singing his rendition of Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock” with them at last year’s Taste of Elmwood Park. The band performs classic rock from The Beatles to Elton John to The Grateful Dead. Perhaps, Blago will appear with them again.
7:30 p.m. - HiFi Superstar
HiFi Superstar is known for their classic rock medleys, which can turn any summer festival into a party atmosphere. You’ll hear hits from bands like AC/DC, Boston, Van Halen, Journey, and more.
9:30 p.m. - The Lounge Puppets
For over 15 years, this tribute to ‘80s hair bands and arena rock has electrified crowds. They have mastered covers of Aerosmith, Def Leppard, and Led Zeppelin. The band has also been known to perform a song or two by Ozzy Osbourne, and maybe they’ll pay tribute to the godfather of metal music, who died on July 22.
Saturday - 8/9
1 p.m. - Triangle Park
Triangle Park was formed in 2019 by three longtime friends from Elmwood Park. It’s fronted by Steve Sprovieri, and they perform classic rock hits of the ‘60s and ‘70s with some smokin’ middle-aged dad band energy.
2:45 p.m. - The Wayouts
“With no computers and no gimmicks,” The Wayouts describe themselves as “just four guys, drums, guitars and the coolest songs ever written.” All the members perform in white-collared shirts and black ties, and their passion for the ‘60s era that formed the foundation of rock n’ roll music comes through on stage.
4:45 p.m. - The Gingers: Redheads That Rock
All of the members are redheaded women. The band plays a selection of rock songs from the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, and later. The Gingers also perform as a Foo Fighters tribute band called Foo La La. So, expect a cover of “Everlong” or “My Hero.”
6:45 p.m. - Anthem’s Grand Illusion
Yes, this band plays the biggest hit songs from Styx—and then some deep cuts. But they also perform other music from the era, too (Foreigner, Reo Speedwagon, Rush, etc). And Anthem has spent the last 10 years developing into one of the most talented rock tribute bands in the Midwest.
9 p.m. - Wedding Banned
Hailing from Gas City, Indiana, this wedding band is filled with fun characters like Garri Manilow on lead vocals, Bruce Winche’ll, the American Thighs on bass guitar, Ted Spumonte, the Gooch on drums, and Dickie Rippers on lead guitar. They say someone will be “getting married” before the ‘80s party starts.
Sunday - 8/10
12 p.m. - Sam Fazio Quintet
The Sam Fazio Quintet performs jazz standards, which on the last day of the festival makes for a nice easygoing change of pace.
2 p.m. - Ginger Road
When considering how the lineup is dominated by classic rock tribute bands, Ginger Road stands out as the only country music act scheduled to perform. They sing contemporary country (Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Chris Stapleton) along with more classic outlaw country (Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson).
4 p.m. - One of the Boyzz
One of the Boyzz may be the only band with a member who produced music that is in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Vocalist Dan Buck led the Boyzz from Illinoizz in the late 1970s, and they opened for Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, and REO Speedwagon. Their 1978 song “Too Wild To Tame” is in the museum’s collection. Today, Buck leads a six-piece “rock n’ soul band.” Their shows honor music legends while mixing in some originals, too.
6 p.m. - iPop
The band formed in the early 2000s, and they frequently perform at weddings, bars, clubs, private parties, and summer festival in the Midwest. iPop plays chart-topping hits from the 1960s to today.
8 p.m. - Mike & Joe
If you like more contemporary rock, this is the cover band for you. They mix in a few classic rock songs, however, most of what they play tends to come from groups like Blink-182, Goo Goo Dolls, Jimmy Eat World, Mumford and Sons, Pearl Jam, and other artists known for hits that were released between the ‘90s and 2010s.