Live music in DeKalb, IL

Cortland Summerfest 2026 offers a lively weekend celebration with fireworks displays, live musical performances, vendor booths, and a variety of activities, with even more to discover throughout the event.

Roberts Family Farm will welcome Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, a Grammy Award winner and 2024 Grammy nominee, for an appearance at the farm.

A percussion-focused club at The Music Connection, LLC in Sycamore, Illinois offers guided practice and coaching on rudimental percussion, drum set, mallet percussion, and more. Participants are asked to bring sticks and earplugs, while music and instruments are provided. The participation fee is $20 per student and is paid upon arrival by cash, check, Zelle, Venmo, or PayPal, with fees covering music, instruments, and staff. Friends and families are welcome to attend. For questions, call 815-970-8106 or 815-217-5648, or email info@themusicconnection.com. Sponsored by The Music Connection, LLC.

Dennis Stroughmatt and the Honky-Tonk Circus present a musical journey from Tennessee to Texas, highlighting the roots of American country music. The performance centers on old-time country alongside honky-tonk, western swing, and Cajun swing, with songs tied to trailblazers such as Bob Wills, Hank Williams, Ray Price, Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, Dottsy, and Tony Booth. A strong spotlight falls on the sound of the steel guitar. Internationally recognized for his French Creole fiddle work, Stroughmatt grew up in southeast Illinois in a home surrounded by his father Jack’s extensive record collection. He played in western swing and honky-tonk bands across southern Illinois and southern Indiana in the 1980s, later becoming the sole fiddle student of western swing legend Wade Ray in the mid-1990s. His path was further shaped by mentorship from Nashville A-Team fiddler Buddy Spicher, members of Ray Price’s Cherokee Cowboys, and country singer Tony Booth. The band features Greg Bigler on bass, Virgil Franklin on lead guitar, Raegan Stroughmatt on drums, and Areille Stroughmatt on fiddle, with vocals shared by the entire ensemble. Beverages can be purchased before and during the show from Whiskey Acres Distilling Company in DeKalb. The concert is free, welcomes all ages, and does not require registration. It is presented in partnership with the Friends of the Library and 94.9 WDKB as part of an after-hours concert series, and it is included within the America 250 initiative, a yearlong celebration of the nation. For more information, contact Chelsea at chelsear@dkpl.org or 815-756-9568 ext. 1700.

Matt Ripsch, from Riplock, returns to Fatty's Pub in Dekalb with a high-energy acoustic show that spans genres and highlights crowd favorites. The music ranges from Zach Bryan to Tom Petty to Pearl Jam, with more in the mix, and he will be taking requests. Expect a lively performance that keeps the hits coming.

Part of a free, outdoor kids concert series at the Hopkins Park Bandshell presented on select Tuesdays in summer, this performance features Miss Jamie guiding a playful, interactive musical adventure about life on the farm with her animal puppet pals. Expect singing, dancing, and lots of laughter as children imagine pitching in with barn chores, planting and harvesting, and even acting like pollinators. Designed with ages 3 to 7 in mind, and still engaging for younger or older children as well as adults.

Beauty Fun with Dionna brings a curated selection of clean beauty products to the Dekalb Farmers Market, offering head to toe essentials during a special afternoon with extra time to browse. Explore a lively mix of local vendors featuring fresh produce, flowers, baked treats, honey, olive oil, coffee, handmade crafts, and more. Shop to live lunchtime music courtesy of the Egyptian Theatre, and pick up a meal from local food trucks along the way. The market accepts cash, credit, and Link. Link Match is available, allowing Link card holders to purchase up to $50 in produce for $25, with tokens and match available at the Information Booth for use at eligible vendors. At the Beauty Fun with Dionna booth, payments are accepted via cash, Venmo, Cash App, debit, and credit cards.