MUSIC • FOOD • FIREWORKS • 4pm on July 4!
FREE CONCERT & FREE PARKING!
Competition Lineup: 80HD, Bad Idea, The Browns, Cooper Run, Ghostbusterz, The Isabel O. Trio, Out of Pocket, and The Recall!
Showcase Bands: Ax and the Hatchetment and The Rand Band
Featured Solo Performer: The Child of Eve
July 4, 2018 Grand Finale Judges:
Kourosh Dini, Conor Foley, Lynette Foss, David Grier, Vlad Halai, Vladimir Kulenovic, and Michael Tseitlin
July 4, 2018 Grand Finale Emcees:
Come for the music, enjoy Louie B. Fresh Mobile Kitchen & Catering & Frost Gelato, get some artwork done by Laine Too (temporary tattoos), and stay for the fireworks!
Celebrating its 13th year, the Bitter Jester Music Festival hits its 2018 summer stride with the annual Grand Finale Concert. Ten incredible bands will be featured with eight of them in competition. This concert is a showcase of some of the BEST up-and-coming musical talent from across Northern Illinois and Wisconsin!
Preliminary concerts took place the first four Fridays of June at Port Clinton Square in beautiful Downtown Highland Park. Professional judges selected one winning band each Friday and the Bitter Jester Foundation for the Arts selected four additional Wild Card Bands to advance to the Semi-Finals on the July 4. Approximately $25,000 in combined cash and prizes will be given away to musicians and lucky audience members! Awesome raffle prizes will be given away too, with proceeds benefiting the Bitter Jester Foundation, a not-for-profit charity.
Select bands will also appear in a series of "Best Of" concerts at the Miller Lite Beer Garden at Navy Pier on 07/13/18 & 09/03/18 and the Taste of Highland Park on 08/24/18.
