Hitmakers and hall of famers: 15 concerts to see in summer of 2023 in Peoria

Dean Muellerleile, Journal Star
Updated ·8 min read
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The 2023 Peoria summer concert lineup runs the gamut from A (the Avett Brothers) to V (Frankie Valli).

Collectively, it boasts a host of hits, millions of records sold, and a handful of Rock & Roll Hall of Famers.

Here is a list of some of the higher-profile (and bigger-ticket) musical acts that will perform in Peoria in June, July and August.

1. Classic Albums Live: 'Dark Side of the Moon'

The Classic Albums Live concert series was founded in 2003 and features various musicians performing a classic rock album in its entirety. Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Pink Floyd recorded "Dark Side of the Moon" in 1973 and the blockbuster release spent more than 900 weeks — 17 years — on the Billboard 200 chart. Notable singles include "Money" and "Us and Them."

15 fun things to do in Peoria in June: Summer festivals, big concerts and more

2. Happy Together Tour

  • Date: Aug. 20

  • Time: 7 p.m.

  • Location: Peoria Civic Center Theater

  • Cost: $48.50 and up

  • Tickets: Ticketmaster or Toyota Box Office

  • Performers: The Turtles, Little Anthony, Gary Puckett, the Vogues, the Classics IV and the Cowsills.

The long-running summer package is scheduled to feature a half dozen acts boasting dozens of hits, from the Turtles' "Happy Together" to Little Anthony's "Tears on My Pillow," Puckett's "Young Girl," the Vogues' "Five O'Clock World," the Classics IV's "Spooky" and the Cowsills' "Hair." Little Anthony and the Imperials are members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

3. Monica

The Grammy Award-winning singer Monica has sold more than 20 million records worldwide since releasing her debut album, "Miss Thang," as a teenager. That album yielded the hit singles “Don’t Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)” and “Before You Walk Out of My Life,” making her the youngest female ever to have two consecutive No. 1 hits on Billboard's R&B chart.

4. Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo

Since her 1979 debut album, "In the Heat of the Night," Benatar has released 17 Billboard Hot 100 singles, including "Heartbreaker" and "Hit Me With Your Best Shot." She has won four Grammy Awards and has sold some 30 million albums. In 2022, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Giraldo is her longtime guitarist, collaborator and husband.

5. Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

The Four Seasons were among the top-selling recording artists of the early and mid-1960s, known for Valli’s soaring falsetto. Beginning with “Sherry” in 1962, they notched over 25 hits in the next five years, including “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Dawn (Go Away).” As a solo act, Valli recorded the No. 1 singles “My Eyes Adored You” and “Grease,” the latter from the beloved eponymous film. The Four Seasons' story was dramatized in the Broadway musical and film "Jersey Boys." The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

6. Mudvayne

  • Date: Aug. 9

  • Time: 5:30 p.m.

  • Location: Peoria Civic Center Arena

  • Cost: $39.50 and up

  • Tickets: Ticketmaster or Toyota Box Office

  • Supporting acts: Coal Chamber, GWAR, Nonpoint and Butcher Babies.

Mudvayne bassist Ryan Martinie strikes a pose in silhouette during the band's concert on Aug. 29, 2000, at the Madison Theater. The band returns to Peoria for an Aug. 9 performance at the Civic Center.
Mudvayne bassist Ryan Martinie strikes a pose in silhouette during the band's concert on Aug. 29, 2000, at the Madison Theater. The band returns to Peoria for an Aug. 9 performance at the Civic Center.

The Peoria-formed heavy metal band includes a hometown show in its first headlining tour in over a decade. Known for its sonic experimentation, face and body paint, masks and uniforms, Mudvayne was formed in 1996 and found success with the single "Dig" from its 2000 debut album, "L.D. 50." After recording four more studio albums, the band went on hiatus in 2010 and reunited in 2021.

7. Joe at River City Soul Fest

  • Date: Aug. 5

  • Time: 6 p.m.

  • Location: Peoria riverfront

  • Cost: $20 and up

  • Tickets: etix.com

Joe will perform Aug. 5 at the River City Soul Fest on the Peoria riverfront.
Joe will perform Aug. 5 at the River City Soul Fest on the Peoria riverfront.

R&B artist Joe is known for the 2001 hit "Stutter," which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and “I Wanna Know,” which peaked at No. 4 in 2000. Overall, the singer, songwriter and producer has notched 15 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and been nominated for seven Grammy Awards. The 24th River City Soul Fest, sponsored by the Peoria Park District, will also feature local food and merchandise vendors. On Aug. 6, Gospel Fest from 4 to 7 p.m. will be headlined by the Chicago Mass Choir and Victory Travelers.

8. Tom Keifer Band, Winger & John Corabi

Keifer found fame as the frontman of the hard rock band Cinderella, which had eight Billboard Hot 100 hits in the late '80s and early '90s, including the power ballad "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)." In the last decade, he has released two solo albums. The heavy metal band Winger had five Billboard Top-40 singles beginning in the late 1980s, among them "Miles Away." Rock journeyman John Corabi was the frontman for Mötley Crüe from 1992-1996 during original frontman Vince Neil's hiatus from the band.

9. The Way Down Wanderers

  • Date: July 22

  • Time: 7 p.m.

  • Location: CEFCU Center Stage at the Landing, Peoria riverfront

  • Cost: $13 and up

  • Tickets: etix.com

  • Special guest: Alison Hanna Band

The Peoria-formed bluegrass artists Way Down Wanderers were named one of "10 New Country and Americana Artists You Need to Know" in 2019 by Rolling Stone magazine.

10. The Moody Blues: John Lodge

As a member of the Moody Blues, Lodge entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. He wrote the 1973 hit "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)." For the Peoria show, Lodge will perform that and other hits, as well as the complete 1967 album "Days of Future Passed," including the radio staples "Tuesday Afternoon" and "Nights in White Satin."

11. Falling in Reverse

Falling in Reverse has found both streaming and radio success since the release of its first album, "The Drug in Me Is You," in 2011. Eight of its songs have appeared on the Billboard Hot Hard Rock Songs chart, with four reaching No. 1, including "Zombified" and "Popular Monster."

12. Chris Janson and Eddie Montgomery

  • Date: July 4

  • Time: 5 p.m.

  • Location: Dozer Park

  • Cost: $39 and up

  • Tickets: Call the Peoria Chiefs box office at (309) 680-4006 or visit ticketreturn.com.

Headliner Chris Janson has landed five songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including "Good Vibes" and "Done," both of which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay list. Montgomery recorded five No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with his late partner, Troy Gentry. Attendees can watch the Red, White and Boom! fireworks display from the ballpark after the concert.

More: Questions and answers with country star Chris Janson

13. The Doobie Brothers

Since their debut in 1971, the Doobie Brothers have enjoyed a half century run as rock radio staples, with 27 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Both "Black Water" and "What a Fool Believes" peaked at No. 1. The band has won four Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. The current lineup includes founding members Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons and longtime bandmates Michael McDonald and John McFee.

14. The Avett Brothers

The North Carolina folk/Americana band has been nominated for three Grammy Awards and enjoyed crossover success with 10 songs on the Billboard 200 chart. The Avett Brothers' 2016 release "True Sadness" peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart. Gov't Mule is a Southern rock jam band that has become a staple of music festivals, including Summer Camp in Chillicothe.

15. Ashley McBryde and Chase Wright

  • Date: June 9

  • Time: 8 p.m.

  • Location: Peoria riverfront

  • Cost: $15 and up (kids 12 and under free)

  • Tickets: etix.com or at the Noble Center, 1125 W. Lake Ave., Peoria

Ashley McBryde will perform June 9 on the Peoria riverfront.
Ashley McBryde will perform June 9 on the Peoria riverfront.

As a part of the Peoria Park District's Park-A-Palooza event from June 8-10 on the Peoria riverfront, McBryde and opener Wright will perform at Festival Park on the Peoria riverfront. Grammy Award-winning country singer-songwriter McBryde has had two songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, "Never Wanted to Be That Girl" and "One Night Standards." She has also received Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music awards. Wright is an Indiana-born singer/songwriter.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: 2023 Peoria, Illinois, summer concert lineup has hitmakers, hall of famers