Concert banner showing the tuner neck of a guitar with a sun above and a moon below. The color scheme is purple and lilac. Text: SHOE FEST MUSIC - CAMPING CELEBRATING 15 YEARS SEPTEMBER 4-5-6 2026 CAMP SHAWWAW NA SEE MANTENO IL
This year's music festival schedule is starting to take shape.
We just got our tickets for ShoeFest which is held over the Labor Day weekend. #ShoeFest #OldShoe #FESTIVAL
#ShoeFest 2025 Day #3
Our final set of the weekend was #MrBlotto, who were my second new (to me) find of the festival.
Check out their original tune Moviestar, although Pigs>Working For the Man was very fine as well.
#LiveMusic
#ShoeFest 2025 Day #3
Here is my audio recording of headliners #SamGrismanProject featuring #PeterRowan. It was a truly special moment for me. The highlight, of course, was the set-ending Midnight Moonlight with the 1st quarter moon low in the southern sky. Made me verklempt.
#LiveMusic #Bluegrass
#ShoeFest 2025 Day #3
#RucksackRevolutuion is the acoustic duo of Sarah Voss of #DeadHorses and Adam Greuel of #HorseshoesAndHandGrenades.
For the exquisite set closing Harvest Moon, they were joined by Jarrod Walters of the Billy Strings Band on mando and Allie Kral on fiddle.
#LiveMusic #NeilYoung
#ShoeFest 2025 Day #3
Edward David Anderson started off the third and final day of Shoe Fest with an acoustic set. He is one of our top songwriters in the tradition of John Prine and John Hartford. Check out Good to Be with Allie Kral on violin.
#LiveMusic #EdwardDavidAnderson #AllieKral
#ShoeFest 2025 Day #2
Headliners Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country closed out the second day with a rip roaring set that featured a encore that the audience demanded.
I have always been partial to the Weathervane>Blue Skies>Weathervane set piece. Give it a listen.
#LiveMusic #DanielDonato
#ShoeFest 2025 Day #2
Here is the link to my audio recording of Chicago Farmer & the Fieldnotes.
Check out Farm & Factories featuring #JaikWillis on guitar, #AllieKral on fiddle, #CodyJensen on mandolin, and a #WoodyGuthrie coda as the cherry on top.
#LiveMusic #ChicagoFarmer
#ShoeFest 2025 Day #2
Here is the link to my audio recording of Chester Brown's set, which, according to the band, included covers of Britney Spears and Taylor Swift. It turns out that they were joking.
Check out Up Man > Astral Projection.
#LiveMusic #ChesterBrown
#ShoeFest 2025 Day #1
Here is the link to my audio recording of Old Shoe's secret album cover set.
This year's album was the Flaming Lips' Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.
Check out the eponymous tracks, although She Don't Use Jelly and War Pigs were most excellent.
#LiveMusic #OldShoe #FlamingLips
#ShoeFest 2025 Day #1
Here is my audio recording of LaMP--Russ (La)wton, Scott (M)etzger and Ray (P)aczkowski--a trio who blend jazz, funk and even calypso into swirling tapestry of sound.
Check out Cosmo for an interstellar odyssey.
#LiveMusic #jazz #funk #TAB
#ShoeFest 2025 Day #1
Here is my audio recording of #TheFretLiners, who started off the music festival with a bang.
They were one of my favorite new (to me) bands of ShoeFest. I would definitely go see them again.
Check out Sit & Whittle for a good ol' toe tappin' time.
#LiveMusic #Bluegrass
Bubble machine next to the soundboard projecting bubbles toward the stage at night.
On our way home after a most excellent weekend at #ShoeFest. The weather was great, the crowds were--mostly--nice, and the food was yummy.
My 2 favorite new bands: #TheFretliners and #MrBlotto.
All but two of the bands I taped are on the Live Music Archive. Watch for links over the next few days
Five piece, from left: keyboard player, bass player, guitar player, guitar player, drummer, and guitar player.
2025-08-31 - Manteno
#LiveMusic #ShoeFest
#MrBlotto
I: Over and Back
Microphones against a dark blue night sky. The first quarter moon is at the lower right.
Midnight Moonlight at #ShoeFest. #PeterRowan
Six piece, ftom left: banjo player, mandolin player, upright bass player, Peter Rowan on guitar, fiddle player, and guitar player.
2025-08-31 - Manteno
#LiveMusic #ShoeFest
#SamGrismanProject with #PeterRowan
I: Panama Red
From left: fiddle player and guitar player
2025-08-31 - Manteno
#LiveMusic #ShoeFest
#RucksackRevolution with #AllieKral
I: Buckets of Rain
#BobDylan
Duet, both playing guitar and singing.
2025-08-31 - Manteno
#LiveMusic #ShoeFest
Sarah Vos (Dead Horses) and Adam Greuel (Horseshoes & Hand Grenades) are
#RucksackRevolution
I: Trying to Find a Better Way
Two Shoe Fest folk collaborating on some music at the side of the Bent River Stage.
A flag dancer behind the soundboard at the Bent Waters stage.
Folks around the campfire near the creek.
Merlin enjoying a cold one.
Scenes from around #ShoeFest.
View of the Bent River Stage ftom the right of the soundboard. Many folks are enjoying the music.
Good To Be at #ShoeFest with my wife listening to Edward David Anderson and Allie Kral.
Duet, from left: Allie Kral on violin and Edward David Anderson on guitar
2025-08-31 - Manteno
#LiveMusic #ShoeFest
#EdwardDavidAnderson with #AllieKral
I: Atlanta to Havana (Illinois that is)
Five piece, from left: guitar player, guitar player, drummer, dancer, and bass player.
2025-08-30 - Manteno
#LiveMusic #ShoeFest
Another teen band from The Future of Rock Showcase - #LuckyGirl
Four piece, from left: guitar player, acoustic guitar player, drummer, and bass player. The Shoe Fest logo is in the background.
2025-08-30 - Manteno
#LiveMusic #ShoeFest
The older kids have a chance to take the stage during
The Future of Rock Showcase and Teen Jam.
This is #GreaterThings out of Chicago.
Artisan tents including Shoe Fest concert poster artist Jon Griffin.
Tents along Shoe Shoppe Alley
Kid vendor area along the main stage
The all important beer tent where beers are not $15
We’re back at Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See in Manteno IL for the last day of #ShoeFest. Here are some of the fine vendors along Shoe Shop Alley including the kid vendors alongside the main stage.
Four piece, from left: bass player, drummer, guitar player, and keyboard player. The lighting is orange, yellow and white.
2025-08-30 - Manteno
#LiveMusic #ShoeFest
#DanielDonato Cosmic Country
I: Faded Lovin’
Four piece, from left: bass player, drummer, guitar player, and keyboard player.
2025-08-30 - Manteno
#LiveMusic #ShoeFest
#DanielDonato Cosmic Country
I: Why Have You Been Gone So Long
Six piece, from left: guitar player, drummer, guitar player, fiddle player, bass player, and mandolin player.
2025-08-30 - Manteno
#LiveMusic #ShoeFest
#ChicagoFarmer & The Field Notes with #AllieKral
I: Farms & Factories
Guitarist Jaik Willis
2025-08-30 - Manteno
#LiveMusic #ShoeFest
#ChicagoFarmer & The Field Notes #JaikWillis
I: Peshtigo
Five piece, from left: keyboard player, guitar player, bass player, guitar player. The drummer is behind the bass player.
2025-08-30 - Manteno
#LiveMusic #ShoeFest
#ChesterBrown
I: Long Train Runnin’
#DoobieBrothers
