REO Speedwagon Confirmed for 2011 Concert Series

The wheels are turnin' for the 2011 Triple Play Concert Series in New Lenox: REO Speedwagon was announced Thursday as one of three headlining bands for the annual summer concerts.

The '70s-'80s classic rock band announced on its website that it would be performing Sept. 3 at the New Lenox Village Commons, and Mayor Tim Baldermann confirmed it Thursday.

Two other bands' names have been floated around town, but Baldermann said he couldn't confirm those for certain until the Feb. 14 Village Board meeting. The other possible bands are Cheap Trick and Jefferson Starship, though neither has set a New Lenox tour date on their websites.

The Sept. 3 concert will be the last of three shows; the others will be June 4 and Aug. 6, both Saturdays. Tickets will go on sale Monday, March 14, for New Lenox residents at $50 for the entire series. After April 30, tickets will be available to everyone for $60. For reference, an upcoming REO Speedwagon concert in Merrillville, Ind., is $49 alone.

"It's a great deal," Baldermann said.

The classic rock groups are consistent with past Triple Play concerts, with Blue Oyster Cult, Kansas and Survivor having performed at the Commons in the past. At a town hall meeting last month, resident Diane Batson asked whether any country acts would be headlining. Because of costs to get big-name country acts, however, Baldermann said it's best to go with the aging rockers.

"Country music made a change to pop country," he said at the town hall meeting. "To get the kind of country music people want to hear today costs two to three times as much as rock bands."

Instead, Baldermann said one night's opening bands—likely the June 4 show—would be dedicated to country acts. There are typically a couple opening acts before the headliner, and local bands are often given preference.

Baldermann said the opening bands haven't been decided yet, but that the village has interest from 30 diverse groups and is sorting through the options.