[av_heading heading=’#Scamp15 Celebration at Three Sisters Park’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
Written by: Matthew McGuire
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Moe. and Umphrey’s McGee are hosting the 15th Annual Summer Camp Music Festival in Chillicothe, Illinois this May 22-24. Memorial Day weekend in Illinois has become a tradition of going to Three Sisters Park, and finding out which new acts are going to breakthrough live on stage.

This year we take a look at the headliners and some of the rising acts set to take the stage at Summer Camp Music Festival 2015.

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Umphrey’s McGee will be rolling into the festival with some of their biggest and best material set to unload over 3 days. Moe. has just sold out three nights in Chicago, and they will also have a strong buzz moving into the festival.

Looking back at how this festival has grown, I reference a story from my first Summer Camp experience.

My first Summer Camp Music Festival was in 2003. Several of my friends were working as volunteers, some looking to make a name in music, and others, like myself just wanting to check out some live music. I can remember the day like it was yesterday. At the time, I was working in a kitchen for a golf course in Makanda, Illinois. We normally closed at 6 p.m. on Sundays, but I had informed the head chef that I was looking to leave early. Around 2 p.m., he informs me that I am free to head out. I make the 4.5 hour drive to Chillicothe and pull into Three Sisters Park.

In 2003, there was plenty of room to park, and I was pulling in at 6:30 on Sunday. The sun was starting to set over the beautiful landscape near the Illinois River. The parking attendants directed me to drive through a large field to day parking, and park in a field behind the main stage. I get out of my car and start to walk to the Main Stage/Moonshine Stage just as Keller Williams was walking on stage. It was one of the moments that you never forget because the timing was unforgettably in sync.

Keller Williams performed a special loopless set in 2003. This would be my first time recording an audio performance. I recorded it on an old school tape player. Listen in to ‘Bob Rules’ by Keller Williams.

In 2015, the lineup has expanded since the early years of the Summer Camp Music Festival. Legendary classic rockers, the Steve Miller Band will be gracing the stage at Three Sisters Park, as well as Widespread Panic’s return.

Violent Femmes make their Summer Camp debut this year.

Each year the festival provides the opportunity for acts to break through the indie ranks and gain exposure on a national level.

Wikipedia states, “at one time Peoria closely reflected the diversity of the United States population in terms of race, income, age, rural and business interests, educational background and other key criteria.” For this reason, not only was Peoria often the first stop on show tours, in the 1960s and ‘70s it became one of the nation’s strongest test markets for consumer products.

Peoria is just a 20 minute drive from Three Sisters Park, and continues to hold a solid reflection of the country.

Big Gigantic continues to pave new roads in the live EDM scene. They recently sold the Aargon Ballroom in Chicago, and will be on the lookout to steal the show at Summer Camp.

The Battle of Bands rising acts will also be working on showcasing their sound to the Summer Camp crowd.

Break Science is one the emerging acts that seem to find a way to reinvent themselves every year. TAUK and The Werks are also two bands with plenty of passion for live music. There is over 100 acts to scan and find out which style of music appeals to you the most.

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