This summer the public is invited to celebrate the region’s rich musical heritage at the Hickory Ridge Roots Music Festival.

The festival will feature some of the Midwest’s finest folk musicians including: Robin and Linda Williams and their Fine Group playing a robust blend of bluegrass, folk, old-time and acoustic country music. The Williams are frequent performers on the popular Public Radio program “A Prairie Home Companion” hosted by Garrison Keillor, and have also performed at the “Grand Old Opry” and “Austin City Limits“.

The Don Stiernberg Trio, will perform bluegrass and jazz music on vocals, mandolin, guitar and various other stringed instruments. Stiernberg has been featured on National Public Radio’s “Fresh Air” program, and participates in music festivals throughout the United States and Canada.

Folklorist and song-writer Bucky Halker will also perform. Halker is internationally known for his world-class renditions of Wood Guthrie classics, as well as his own great originals that draw heavily on country, rockabilly, folk, blues, bluegrass, and rock and roll.

And Festival host, Chris Vallillo will also perform a variety of roots-based songs on six string and bottleneck slide guitars, harmonica and pocket instruments. Vallillo is well known for his nationally distributed, award-winning public radio performance series, Rural Route 3, and his work with the Illinois Arts Council and Illinois Humanities Council.

The Hickory Ridge Roots Music Festival will be held on the museum’s outdoor stage. Admission is $5.00. The public is encouraged to bring picnic lunches and blankets or lawn chairs for seating. The concert will be moved indoors to the museum auditorium in the event of inclement weather.

For more information, please call 309-547-3721.