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Grand Central Stage
The Grand Central Stage under the Reisch Pavillion is your home to the hottest free summer concert series in Central Illinois. Home to amazing entertainment throughout the day, our nightly Spotlight Artist are providing *free* showstopping entertainment for the entire family.
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Nightly Spotlight Artists
| Performer | Concert Date |
| Everclear | Thursday, August 7, 2025 |
| Diamante | Friday, August 8, 2025 |
| Pecos & The Rooftops | Saturday, August 9, 2025 |
| Kashus Culpepper | Sunday, August 10, 2025 |
| Shake Rattle 'N Roll - A Tribute to Classic Doo Wop & Pioneers of Soul | Monday, August 11, 2025 |
| Steven Wilson Jr. | Tuesday, August 12, 2025 |
| Hunter Flynn | Wednesday, August 13, 2025 |
| Head East | Thursday, August 14, 2025 |
| The Frontmen | Friday. August 15, 2025 |
| Simply Spice (Spice Girls Tribute) | Saturday, August 16, 2025 |
| Twista | Sunday, August 17, 2025 |
Everclear, one of the leading alternative rock bands to emerge from the ‘90s, celebrated their 30th Anniversary in recent years, and founder, vocalist and guitarist Art Alexakis has made it clear that he has no plans to slow down. Since forming in 1992, Everclear has enjoyed a lengthy career by any measure, spanning 11 studio releases, including four that have been certified Gold or Platinum, selling over 6 million records, and achieving 12 Top 40 Hit Singles on Mainstream Rock, Alternative, and Adult Top 40 radio, including “Santa Monica,” “Father of Mine,” “I Will Buy You A New Life,” “Wonderful” and “Everything To Everyone,” as well as numerous videos, thousands of shows, and various other accolades, including a 1998 Grammy nomination.
Diamante knows what it means to truly shine. With a show-stopping voice, runway-ready fashion swagger, and an empowering message, the Boston-raised and Los Angeles-based Mexican-Italian-American siren brings a new fire to rock and alternative music.
Diamante spent her teenage years cutting her teeth at local gigs on the Sunset Strip, and over the recent years, has toured extensively with bands like Shinedown, Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, The Pretty Reckless, and more to become the powerhouse performer she is today.
Sonically, Diamante has cultivated her signature “sparkle rock" sound
Pecos & The Rooftops have been perfecting a signature heavy blend of lowdown country and classic rock since their inception in a big five-bedroom house in Lubbock, Texas. Formed in 2019 by a tight-knit squad of college friends, the band outfits their soulful Americana with muscular guitar grit, yet remains tuneful and melodic. They’ve carved out a singular niche for themselves in the rich songwriting tradition of their home state, as evidenced by their debut Warner Records single “5AM.” Anchored by the heart-baring songwriting and booming voice of former Marine Pecos Hurley, the band is rounded out by top-tier players and songwriters Brandon Jones (rhythm guitar), Jessie Santos (lead guitar), Kalen Davis (bass), Garrett Peltier (drums) and Hunter Cassell (guitars & keys).
Pecos & The Rooftops have earned a devoted fan base who’ve come out to support them both online and on the road, with the band garnering over 350 million global streams and more than 101 million video views. They’re currently on a nationwide headline tour with more dates to be announced soon. “5AM” is a telling preview of what’s to come, as Pecos & The Rooftops ready their major label debut LP—a bigger, bolder collection of songs set for release later this year. “At the end of the day, I just want to help people with our music, honestly,” Hurley says.
Alabama-born country crooner Kashus Culpepper encompasses the sound of the South. A student and reverent purveyor of Southern music – country, soul, blues, folk, and rock – Culpepper’s husky, sandpaper growl bellows like a freight train over self-penned stories that are as raw and real as they are haunting. Finding his voice in church as young as five years old, it wasn’t until 2020’s global pandemic that Culpepper went from listener to performer, picking up a guitar and learning cover songs to play at barrack bonfires in Rota, Spain during his deployment with the Navy. Covers soon became originals, and once he landed home on U.S. shores, Kash played dive bars up and down the Mississippi Gulf Coast, making a name for himself with the fresh-yet-reminiscent sound that oozes from his very being. Crashing into prominence now, Culpepper has already sold-out headline club shows throughout the South despite never formally releasing a single song, also opening shows nationwide for sound pioneers like Charles Wesley Godwin, Charley Crockett, and NEEDTOBREATHE. With Nashville taking notice, Culpepper found a musical home at Big Loud Records, and just dropped his first three career singles “After Me?,” “Who Hurt You,” and “Out Of My Mind.” MusicRow hails Culpepper as “thoroughly gripping,” and with the promise of more music on the way in 2024, The Tennessean predicts how one of their 10 Nashville artists you need to know for 2024's “forthcoming material could offer…significant acclaim.”
Hailing from the hollers of southern Indiana, Stephen Wilson Jr. has taken a winding path to his musical career, making stops as a Golden Gloves boxing finalist, scientist, and indie rock band member before finding his voice as a solo artist. His genre-defying debut double album, søn of dad, released one year ago, cemented him as a force in country and Americana music. The 22-song collection, dedicated to his late father, received widespread critical acclaim, earning accolades from Billboard, Rolling Stone, Whiskey Riff, Wide Open Country, and many more. It was named the Best Album of 2023 by Holler and All Country News, and hailed by Rolling Stone as “the most existential release of the year.”
Stephen’s poignant songwriting and gritty vocals are paired with a live-show energy that has captivated audiences across the country.
Shake, Rattle ‘N Roll! An all-star tribute to the music of classic Doo Wop and Early Pioneers of soul. From the “Tweedlee Dee” girl Laverne Baker, to “the iceman” Jerry Butler , Sam Cooke, Brook Benton, The Drifters, The Toys, Four Seasons, Elvis Presley, Bill Haley & The Comets, Gene Chandler and soul man Joe Tex. Of course, no salute to doo wop would be complete without the romantic and classic songs of groups like The Platters, The Flamingos & The Five Satins.
A fast-paced, energetic and crowd pleasing presentation that includes the audience with every strum and melody sung. Whether singing and dancing from their seats to a dance created especially for the show, or called onstage to participate in a production number, the audience is fully engaged and given an opportunity to personally relive the cherished moments of their lives. Shake, Rattle N ’ Roll, more than a show, it’s a celebration of our lives.
Hunter Flynn is a Kentucky-born singer-songwriter and visual artist whose work resonates with emotional honesty and a deep connection to his Appalachian roots. Raised in Pulaski County, Flynn’s path to music and art was anything but typical—In early 2022, after surviving a life-altering car accident, the self-taught musician decided to quit his day job and focus on art saying, he would "make art for a living or starve"
Drawing inspiration from the landscapes and stories of Appalachia, Flynn combines elements of folk, country, soul, and gospel into a genre-defying sound he calls Appalachian Soul Music. His lyrics, reflective and raw, tell stories of pain, redemption, resilience, and identity—underscored by his powerful vocals and stripped down arrangements.
Flynn has performed at prominent venues and festivals throughout the United States and Europe, including the prestigious Master Musicians Festival in Somerset, Kentucky, where he was honored as the Featured Visual Artist in 2023. His growing influence in the Kentucky art/music community was further recognized in 2025 when he was named the Artist in Residence at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame—a rare honor that reflects his cultural impact and artistic integrity.
Hunter has shared stages with notable acts such as Zach Top, Wyatt Flores, Jamie Johnson, Josh Meloy, Jackson Dean, and many others, yet remains committed to uplifting emerging voices and fostering a sense of community within the Appalachian arts scene. He often collaborates with other local musicians, writers, and visual artists, further cementing his role not just as a performer, but as a cultural connector and advocate.
For Hunter Flynn, music and art aren’t just forms of expression—they're tools for survival, connection, and transformation. His work continues to inspire audiences across generations, offering a voice to those who often go unheard.
The legendary classic rock band Head East has long set the standard for authentic, full-vocal, goodtime rock harmonies that few bands can equal. Their high-energy shows are filled with superb vocals, flashy guitar work and memorable keyboard melodies that continue to rock audiences of all ages. Their signature song, "NEVER BEEN ANY REASON" with notable chorus "Save my life I'm going down for the last time" has long been considered by many radio stations across the country as "The Rock & Roll National Anthem." This year Head East will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary by performing most cuts off of their iconic record "Flat As A Pancake". The band has brought classic arena rock to countless audiences all across North America. According to founding member and keyboardist Roger Boyd, Head East will continue to bring their brand of dance and shout, good-time rock and roll to audiences of all ages for many years to come. "As long as I can lift my synthesizer over my head and the audience goes wild, we'll keep rockin' on!"
THE FRONTMEN – comprised of three former lead singers, Larry Stewart (Restless Heart), Richie McDonald (Lonestar) and Tim Rushlow (Little Texas) – is country music's hottest new supergroup. The men have already mastered the stage, succeeded on radio and nightly take sold-out audiences on a rollercoaster of 90’s nostalgic smash hits then transcend their past hit parade with fresh new and original songs that are unmistakably THE FRONTMEN today!
The group recently put their massive catalog of hits to work, including "The Bluest Eyes in Texas," "Amazed” and "God Blessed Texas," on tour with Alabama and kick-started the Harley-Davidson crowd in Deadwood, South Dakota, at the 81st Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
The Spice Girls have sold 100 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling female group of all time, one of the best-selling pop groups of all time, and the biggest British pop success since The Beatles.
Simply Spice is the ultimate tribute to the Spice Girls. A tribute act dedicated to bringing back the nostalgia, energy, and spirit of the quintet through high-energy performances of their biggest hits. With live vocals, dazzling costumes, and engaging stage presence, they’ll take you on a journey back in time to experience the girl power phenomenon that swept the world.
Pop and synth based with a fusion of R&B, Funk and disco, Spice Girls music is perfect for all ages and events.
This show is the meaning of nostalgia. Get ready to bust out the glitter, throw up a peace sign and yell “Girl Power!”
Twista, known for his lightning-fast rap delivery and impressive lyricism, is a highly acclaimed American rapper hailing from Chicago, Illinois. Born Carl Terrell Mitchell on November 27, 1973, Twista rose to fame in the early 1990s and has since solidified his place in the music industry as a hip-hop icon.
One of Twista's most significant accomplishments is holding the title of the "fastest rapper in the world," recognized by the Guinness World Records. His rapid-fire flow and intricate rhyme schemes have captivated audiences and earned him a dedicated fan base.
Throughout his career, Twista has released several successful albums, "Kamikaze” came out at the beginning of 2004 and promptly hit the Billboard 200, riding the impetus of his number one hit single "Slow Jamz” & “Overnight Celebrity”. In 2005, he returned with the album The Day After and the hit single "Girl Tonite" featuring Trey Songz.
After forming his own independent label, GMG Entertainment, in 2008, he released the album Category F5 in 2009 which added another Gold hit single “Wetter”. The following year brought The Perfect Storm album, which featured another hit single “Make a Movie” featuring Chris Brown.
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