Just Announced Loretta Lynn and some decent local bands set for Taste Of Chicago

Loretta Lynn, The Lemonheads, and The Jayhawks, among others, will headline this year’s Taste Of Chicago festival. Gold Motel, White Mystery, and California Wives will play the local stages.

The Taste’s kind of lackluster lineup—excepting the local bands and Lynn, of course—comes on the heels of the cancellation of several big Chicago festivals, including Gospel Music Fest and the Country Music Festival. These were incorporated—sort of—into this year’s Taste Of Chicago, with each former festival getting its own theme day.

Lynn will headline Country Music Night July 1, sponsored by US 99.5. Court Yard Hounds, featuring two-thirds of The Dixie Chicks, will open. Mar Caribe, Generationals, Jessica Lea Mayfield, and Whitey Morgan And The 78’s all have slots on that day’s local schedule, listed below, as well.

As for as national acts, Evan Dando And The Lemonheads will play the Petrillo Music Shell June 28, with openers Material Reissue, featuring original members of the Chicago power-pop band Material Issue. Grammy Award-winning adult contemporary artist Natalie Cole performs June 30, hot off the 1991 release of her Unforgettable… With Love. This year, WXRT has gone with The Jayhawks to headline its day, July 2; and Radio Disney has Ellen DeGeneres favorite Greyson Chance headlining its day, July 3.

Chicago veterans Los Horoscopos De Durango headline Viva! Chicago Latin Music Day June 24. June 26 is Gospel Music Day and features the soulful tunes of Donald Lawrence. June 27 is Broadway In Chicago Day, featuring a “taste” of the Best Of Broadway, including songs by the casts of Beauty And The Beast and West Side Story, among others. Canadian fiddler Natalie MacMaster headlines Celtic Music Day June 29.

Friday, June 24: Viva/Latin Music Day
12 - 1 p.m. - Guitarra Azul
1:20 - 2:20 p.m. - Jose Valdes & The Mambo Allstars
2:40 - 3:40 p.m. - Angel d’Cuba
4 - 5 p.m. - Freddy Kenton, Jr. & La Dynastia
5:20 - 6:20 p.m. - 2012
6:40 - 8 p.m. - Orquesta Bambu

Saturday, June 25: Rock/Pop Day
12 - 1 p.m. - St8 of Grace
1:20 - 2:20 p.m. - Yeah Dude
2:40 - 3:40 p.m. - Archie Powell & The Exports
4 - 5 p.m. - Jon Drake & The Shakes
5:20 - 6:20 p.m. -  Empires
6:40 - 8 p.m. - California Wives

Sunday, June 26: Gospel Music Day
12 - 1 p.m. - Mahalia Jackson Centennial Salute featuring Queenie Lennox
1:20 - 2:20 p.m. - The Brown Sisters
2:40 - 3:40 p.m. - Dr. Abertina Walker Tribute
4 - 5 p.m. - The Nichols Sisters
5:20 - 6:20 p.m. - Chicago’s Next featuring various artists
6:40 - 8 p.m. - Chicago American Gospel Quartet Chapter

Monday, June 27: World Music Day
12-1pm - Black Bear Combo
1:20 - 2:20 p.m. - Megitza Quartet
2:40 - 3:40 p.m. - Lamajamal
4 - 5 p.m. - Mar Caribe
5:20 - 6:20 p.m. - Mas Trueno
6:40 - 8 p.m. - Funkadesi

Tuesday, June 28: Singer/Songwriter Day
12 - 1 p.m. - Nina Ferraro
1:20 - 2:20 p.m. - Briar Rabbit
2:40 - 3:40 p.m. - Karlye Lapetina
4 - 5 p.m. - Jessica Robbins
5:20 - 6:20 p.m. - Chris Gelbuda
6:40 - 8 p.m. - Jessica Lea Mayfield

Wednesday, June 29: Celtic Music Day
12 - 1 p.m. - Celtic Dancing
1:20 - 2:20 p.m. - Glen Ayre
2:40 - 3:40 p.m. - Celtic Dancing
4 - 5 p.m. - Kevin Flynn & The Avondale Ramblers
5:20 - 6:20 p.m. - Baal Tinne
6:40 - 8 p.m. - Bua

Thursday, June 30: Variety Day
12 - 1 p.m. - Steelin’ Jazz
1:20 - 2:20 p.m. - Black Slang
2:40 - 3:40 p.m. - Shining Star
4 - 5 p.m. - White Mystery
5:20 - 6:20 p.m. - KTP Band
6:40 - 8 p.m. - Generationals

Friday, July 1: Country & Americana Music Day
12 - 1 p.m. - Country Doctors
1:20 - 2:20 p.m. - Whitey Morgan and the 78’s
2:40 - 3:40 p.m. - Musikanto
4 - 5 p.m. -  Heartsfield
5:20 - 6:20 p.m. - Anna Fermin’s Trigger Gospel
6:40 - 8 p.m. - The Giving Tree Band

Saturday, July 2: Variety Day
12 - 1 p.m. - Chicago Yestet
1:20 - 2:20 p.m. - JT & The Clouds
2:40 - 3:40 p.m. - Tommy McCracken
4 - 5 p.m. - The Congregation
5:20 - 6:20 p.m. - Marrakesh Express
6:40 - 8 p.m. - Gold Motel

Sunday, July 3: Alligator Records 40th Anniversary Party
12 - 2:20 p.m. - Li’l Ed & The Blues Imperials with guest vocalists Lurrie Bell and Eddie Shaw
2:40 - 5 p.m. - Smokin’ Joe Kubek And Bnois King with guest vocalists Eddie Shaw and Maurice John Vaughn