Hawkeye Herman and Fruteland Jackson

Fall Blues in the Schools Program Funded by Community Foundation Grant

It’s the beginning of September; the kids are back in school and it’s almost time for our Fall Blues in the Schools (BITS) Programs!  Hawkeye Herman and Fruteland Jackson are lined up for our first fall programs and we could not be more excited about it.  We are also thankful to have been awarded a $1,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, which will help pay for our fall BITS program!

Hawkeye and Fruteland are repeating last year’s Fall program for us.  They will be performing and educating on Wednesday, September 28^th. Hawkeye will be at Byron’s Mary Morgan Elementary School in the morning and in Freeport in the afternoon.  Fruteland will spend the day at two Rockford Elemenatray schools.  The schools and times have yet to be determined when we went to press with this. 

Our Fall artists are both keepers of the acoustic blues flame.  Both men epitomize the origins of the blues with their field songs and music from the roots of the Delta and Piedmont blues.  Hawkeye and Fruteland have recorded several fine CDs each, which will be available for sale at our evening concert.

Both artists will be performing at 7:30 PM at the Mendelssohn Club/Performing Arts Center in Rockford at 415 N Church St, Rockford, IL 61103-6810.  Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.  Students through high school will be admitted free of charge.  Tickets are available in advance through Charlotte’s Web for the Performing Arts.  Tickets for the show can be purchased at the Rockford Area Arts Council, 713 E. State, 963-6765; The Postal Shoppe in the Edgebrook Center, 397-7301; and The Tin Whistle, N. Main & Auburn, 963-0270; or by mail by sending a check and a S.A.S.E. to 10928 N. Main, Rockton, IL 61072. For Charlotte’s Web info call 964-2238.  DVDs and CDs of the show will be available (with the artist’s consent) through snapshotmusic.com.  $5 from each DVD/CD sale goes to support of BITS programs!!!

Supported by a grant from the Community Arts and Humanities Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois.