Bitter Jester Music Festival 2023

- Night One -

Performer + Judges Lineups & Bios Below!

Do you enjoy great free concerts with free parking? Please consider supporting our volunteer-run non-profit music fest with a donation in place of a ticket. 🤟🏼🤟🏼

Judy’s Pizza and Ravinia Brewing Co. will be on hand in 2023 serving delicious food and beverages for all, plus beer & wine to our of-age patrons!

Additionally, Val’s halla Records (est. 1972!) will be on-site selling turntables and vinyl… INCLUDING our very own Live at Bitter Jester Music Festival, vol. 01, recorded right in Downtown Highland Park at Billy Corgan’s Madame ZuZu’s Tea House during our 2022 Grand Finale. You can purchase your own copy here and pick it up at any of this summer’s concerts!

June 2, 2023 Performers:

Musical Acts in Competition:

• Cōrduroy
• David's House
• Fightin' Bob
• GreenTTea and The Tempos
• KayZone
• Misplaced Religion

(Click the video to the right for a 60-second audio mashup featuring these performers!)

Featured Showcase Performers:

• Geology Club
• Palace Kat
• Rotting King

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Opening Artist:

• Girl Club

CHECK OUT THE BANDS BIOS!
On your phone? Click HERE to read band bios, otherwise look below…

Cо̄rduroy

Cо̄rduroy is a Textural Rock-Fusion band from Aurora with guest drummer Max Beardsley from Wisconsin. They have have undergone a remarkable transformation since their inception and are ready to present a new sound that will captivate listeners of all kinds. Their latest album is an eclectic mix of genres, making for a unique listening experience. With their unwavering passion and commitment to music, Cо̄rduroy is excited to make their mark on the music industry and is joined at Bitter Jester by guest drummer Max Beardsley.

David's House

David's House is a captivating young rock band with a powerful, highly engaging sound that infuses funk and soul with stunning vocals and superb musicianship. The band puts on an electric show, full of intensity and positive energy that leaves every audience wanting more. Their original songs often remind listeners of Steely Dan and Lake Street Dive.

Fightin’ Bob

Fightin’ Bob is a five-piece “Frog Rock” (funk/progressive rock) band from Milwaukee whose sound combines influences in prog rock, hard rock, funk, and jazz/fusion, among others. The band has one album and one single released with a second album written and about to be recorded. Their energetic stage presence, flashy antics, and pure determination to groove will get you dancing!

Geology Club

Geology Club is a group of teens with a focus on making music. The group consists of Alex Bonell, lead singer, Evan Hansen, lead guitarist, Miah Miner, bassist, and Ian Dutter, drummer. The band was created in February, 2020, and has since released an EP called "Sugar High," which has an Indie Rock feel. They hope you enjoy the music!

Girl Club

Girl Club is a five-piece student band from Highland Park High School. They consist of Juniors Robert Oboza, Yonatan Garfinkel, Nolan Schott, Tane Walker, and Freshman Lucia Seiden. Individually, the members participate in HPHS choir, jazz band, theater, and percussion, respectively. Together, they collaborate to cover their favorite songs and create their own with influences from jazz, rock, and emo. Girl Club is the sole HP hometown band at Bitter Jester this summer!

GreenTTea and The Tempos

GreenTTea and The Tempos are a seven piece RnB/Soul band that plays mostly originals from their recently-recorded album. They also like to sprinkle in covers from their greatest influences such as Erykah Badu and Steve Lacy, however. The band recorded their first album at ButcherBoy Studios and are on the verge of signing to a record label called Color Red in the near future!

KayZone

KayZone is a DIY Psychedelic Rock Band from Chicago. Born from the post pandemic wasteland of 2021, the group consists of Sam Ragland (Guitar and Vocals), Gloria Mrazek (Bass and Vocals), and Doug Walden (Drums and Percussion). KayZone started in their own back yards offering an eclectic blend of garage, punk, metal, psychedelic and jazz freak-out music and are looking forward to even more public performances!

Misplaced Religion

Misplaced Religion was formed in the town of Pacific. Bringing a new age sound with a classic rock feel, there are few doing it quite like Misplaced Religion. To put them into a genre, they would be best described as "Alternative-rock" ... but come to the show and find out how you define the band.

Palace Kat

Palace Kat consists of a trumpet player, saxophonist, keyboardist, bassist, and drummer. The band enjoys performing mostly a wide range of music related to jazz. The performers are all alumni of Jefferson High School, and, with their combined love for music, have stuck together and formed a passionate, talented band aimed at expressing that passion.

Rotting King

Rotting King is a Metal band from Chicago. The group has performed at Cubby Bear, Cactus Club, various music festivals, and in countless basements. Their music takes inspiration from genres such as Nu-Metal, Thrash Metal, Slam Metal, and Hardcore. They've been performing since 2021 and are always striving to improve their craft.

June 2, 2023 Judges:

The Scoring Judges for this week are (click names to read bios):

Drew Dahan, Lynette Foss, Dan Hooper, John Owens, Narimon Safavi, & Matt Solomon

The non-scoring Verbal Feedback Judges for this week are:

Michael Tseitlin & Glenn Williams

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The Bitter Jester Music Festival is proud to have First Bank of Highland Park as it’s Prize Money Title Sponsor for our Grand Finale Concert on June 25th!

Did you know we’re a 501(c)(3) non-profit? Your donations are HUGELY appreciated and directly go toward sustaining & improving this music fest!

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Judy’s Pizza!

Val’s halla Records!

Ravinia Brewing Co!

The crowd enjoys the tunes at the Bitter Jester Music Festival in downtown Highland Park, IL.

The Bitter Jester Music Festival is made possible, in part, by the generous financial and logistical support of the City of Highland Park and financial support from the Highland Park Community Foundation, the IL Arts Council Agency, Judy’s Pizza, Reactive PEC, Elmore Pedals, and contributions from people just like you!