Brookfield’s summer Music on Grand concert series kicked off to a start this past weekend.
From June through September, on the last Saturday of every month, the southern half of the 3700 block of Grand Boulevard in downtown Brookfield is closed to traffic. From 12:30 to 10:30 p.m., a series of bands take the stage set up on the boulevard’s south end, from local artists to nationally known touring cover bands.
Berwyn resident Eric Fredericks said he did not plan on attending a concert when he went to downtown Brookfield on Saturday, June 27. He hadn’t heard of Music on Grand when he arrived at Gosia’s Coffee Shop that afternoon. Instead, Fredericks was meeting with his daughter’s boyfriend, who told Fredericks he planned on proposing.
“He showed me the ring,” Fredericks said. “Then I later learned that there was going to be music.”
He said he went home to tell his wife, Norah, the good news before bringing her back with him to enjoy the show.
During Music on Grand, nearby restaurants can use the now-open road to set up tables and chairs for outdoor dining, while some attendees bring their own lawn chairs.
“It’s nice to have a festival in the backyard,” said Jennifer O’Desky, the owner of Pub 78 on Grand Boulevard. She said the event is great for business, since Pub 78 is already a live music venue, featuring open mic nights and a musical bingo called “Singo.”
Along with the extra foot traffic, Music on Grand gives local restaurants more seating opportunities. Stathi Giafis, co-founder of the Little Owl Social Pub on Grand, said the closed-off street essentially gives his business a patio for the day.
“There’s so much stuff in the summer. It’s awesome that the village brings it for us down here in Brookfield,” Giafis said.
Music on Grand is a product of Brookfield’s parks and recreation and public works departments, said Matt Odom, parks and recreation director Matt Odom. After coordinating with musicians, the stage company, the sound company and the public works department, Odom said he appreciated finally getting to see the event for the first time.
“There’s a lot of moving parts, so it’s nice to actually get here the day-of and just sort of be able to be here and absorb it and enjoy it,” Odom said.
For the past few months, Odom — who joined Brookfield in February — has been recruiting bands to perform throughout the afternoon, including the Chicago-based Knott Us Band, which took the stage at 2:30 p.m.
A self-described “young band with an old soul,” the Knott Us Band is made up of musicians ages 10 to 18. In addition to an original song, which the band hopes to release soon, they played hits ranging from Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” to The Knack’s “My Sharona.”
The band is the product of the Knotty Luxe Arts Foundation, a Markham-based nonprofit offering free programs for Chicago-area youth interested in the performing arts. Pamela Mack, the nonprofit’s founder, said the band has a full slate of performances planned for the summer.
“We always love performing for our community,” said band leader Jaden Allen, a recent high school graduate who plans on going to college for music performance.
Marcia Diubek, who has lived in Brookfield for about 40 years, said the event was “wonderful.” She also watched Friday night’s concert in Kiwanis Park and said she planned on attending more live music events across Brookfield and Riverside.
“My husband and I love the free music all summer,” Diubek said.
Music on Grand returns on July 25, Aug. 29, and Sept. 26. Unlike last year, when the event was limited to August and September due to construction on Grand Boulevard, residents will get to enjoy the series all summer.
Visitors can expect an array of local openers, along with a Tom Petty tribute band, a 90s pop/rock group and a Yacht Rock ensemble headlining throughout the summer. In the meantime, you can stop by Kiwanis Park each week for the village’s Friday night concert series, which is running every Friday at 7 p.m. through Aug. 28.