Author: Fox Valley Magazine

The 13th annual St. Charles Jazz Weekend starts Thursday, September 12, and will feature over 45 different jazz performances at 21 St. Charles venues through Sunday. Notable performances during the event include Grammy-winning saxophonist Frank Catalano who will be playing at the Filling Station Pub & Grill on Thursday from 5:30pm – 8:30pm, and the House Pub on Friday, Sept. 13 and Saturday, Sept. 14 at 9:30pm. Also on Saturday, attendees can experience the renowned Glenn Miller Orchestra at the Arcada Theatre from 2pm – 4 pm, and on Sunday, the Diego Rodriguez Big Band will be performing live on…

The 12th annual Fiestas Patrias Festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday, September 7 and 8 at RiverEdge Park in downtown Aurora.The event, which raised over $200,000 in scholarship funds for Hispanic, college-bound Aurora residents in 2023, is returning in grand fashion, attracting Latin Grammy Award-winning bands El Banda Límon and Aurora’s own Alacranes Musical as headliners. Saturday, gates open at 3:30pm and the opening musica; acts include TikTok sensation Janeth Valenzuela at 5pm and Regional Mexican icon José Manuel Figueroa at 7pm. El Banda Límon takes the stage at 9pm. Gates open at 3 p.m. on Sunday, and…

What a night for the members of the Aurora East High School Marching Band! On Saturday evening, the Fleetwood Mac tribute band TUSK performed at Aurora’s RiverEdge venue, and added a nice local touch. (Photos and video by Kevin Ketchum) To perform the iconic Fleetwood Mac song Tusk, which features a section involving a marching band playing backup, the tribute band invited the Aurora East High School Marching Band to perform the piece live, on-stage during the concert. As ever, our intrepid Kevin Ketchum was on location to capture what must have been a very special moment for the high…

An adult male was hospitalized Saturday evening after an apparent shooting on Elgin’s east side. According to Elgin police, at 8:17pm, officers responded to the 400 block of Preston Avenue for a reported shooting, where they located an adult male subject with non-life threatening injuries who was subsequently transported to an area hospital. Detectives from the Major Investigations Division are actively investigating the incident. Anyone with information that may assist is asked to call 847-289-2600 or to text a tip, send a message to 847411 and include “ELGINPD” in the beginning of the text, along with the message and/or tip…

At the opening of Rockford’s new Hard Rock Rockford Casino yesterday, Governor JB Pritzker made an appearance and said some words. We’ll spare you the words. But we did want to share him smashing a guitar as part of the final ceremonies. You’re welcome. (Video courtesy of Kevin Ketchum)

Fox Valley gamblers have a new venue to explore just up I-90 in Rockford. After much anticipation, Hard Rock Casino Rockford, an extension of the Hard Rock International brand, will open is permanent location this afternoon at 3pm. Located at 7801 East State Street, the casino features over 175,000 square feet of gaming and entertainment space, including nearly 1,300 slot machines, 50 live table games including poker, a sportsbook, a variety of food and beverage options, a Rock Shop, a Hard Rock Live entertainment venue, and an impressive collection of authentic music memorabilia. While the Hard Rock Casino Rockford operated…

A 22-year-old Aurora man has agreed to 18 years in prison stemming from a drug-related incident in July 2022. Kendall County State’s Attorney Eric Weis announced that Alan Diaz-Diaz was sentenced to 18 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections by the Honorable Jody Gleason on the charge of Armed Violence, a Class X Felony, in a negotiated plea agreement. According to Weis, Diaz-Diaz had delivered over 200 grams of psilocybin mushrooms to an undercover police officer working with the Kendall County Police Assistance Team in July of 2022. After the drug delivery, police officers performed a traffic stop on…

Patrons will be able to savor the flavor of Geneva during its autumn harvest celebration, Festival of the Vine, taking place from Friday to Sunday, September 6-8. Initially a celebration of anything grown on a vine, the festival now revolves around food and wine. The main event will be held on S. Fourth and James streets. The fine restaurants of Geneva chamber members will be showcased along with a variety of wine for purchase. There will also be beer and seltzer offerings. For over 40 years, restaurants have set up under one huge tent offering three of their favorite signature…

The Elgin Police Department announced today that an independent internal investigation has cleared the officer involved in the non-fatal shooting of a suicidal subject in January 2024. The investigation, conducted by an outside law firm retained by the city, concluded that the officer’s actions were justified and in compliance with department policies. The incident occurred on January 13, 2024, when the officer responded to a call about a 29-year-old male who was reportedly suicidal. Upon arrival at 1:28am, the officer was directed into the residence by a caller and discovered the subject with severe wounds to his neck and torso.…

Fleetwood Mac tribute band “Tusk” will perform this Saturday, August 31, at 8pm at RiverEdge in Aurora (gates open at 6pm). No fancy tricks, no gimmicks, just five amazing musicians recreating the music of one of the most heralded bands in rock history. No other Fleetwood Mac Tribute band can come close to duplicating note-for-note the complex sounds and vocal mastery of Stevie, Lindsey, Christine and Mick. “The Chain,” “Go Your Own Way,” “Landslide,” “Don’t Stop,” “Second Hand News,” and the set list goes on. Authentic-sounding and always respectful of the masters who created this music, “Tusk” leaves no stone…