Tribute Jam set to honor Bruce Springsteen

Mile of Music, presented by Tundraland, is going bigger with its tribute jam at Mile 5, with Music-Makers who support Mile of Music getting a chance to experience more than two hours of The Boss, Bruce Springsteen.

The salute to an iconic songwriter that has become a staple of The Mile will again feature the Mile of Music Jam Band, led by Greg Waters from Cool Waters Band, along with nearly a dozen other Fox Valley musicians filling out the instrumentation. They’ll be joined by a number of performers from Mile 5, including touring artists, who will each take lead on a song as the jam progresses. In true Springsteen fashion, Waters is planning a more epic jam with full horn section and accenting players.

The jam takes place at 9:30 on Thursday night (August 3) and is the only non-original music set performed within The Mile. With all the artists at Mile of Music being indie and emerging artists, they are not typically familiar with each other’s songs, so the festival chooses an iconic contributor to songwriting for the jam honoree. Last year was a split jam between Prince and David Bowie, with the Rolling Stones featured the year before and Tom Petty at the original jam during Mile 2.

“What can you say about Bruce Springsteen? We’re all excited to have the opportunity to jam some true “Boss” classics, “ said Jam Band Leader, Greg Waters. “I can’t wait to hear how this extremely talented house band, combined with the guest Mile of Music artists, sound when it all comes together.”

What’s also special about this year’s jam is its length, as it will run past midnight. It’s only open to 2017 Music-Makers, and they’ll have the opportunity to enjoy as much of the jam as they choose to take in, while also making their way down a busy College Avenue that night for inside and outside music. Music-Makers are free to come and go during the jam, using their badge for entry.

Joining Waters in the band are drummers Mike Underwood and Patrick Wydeven, bassist Erik Sikich, Alex Drossart on keys, Waters and Bill Grasley among the guitarists, and a brass section headed by Kurt Shipe, who’ll be joined by local-fave Ross Catterton and other step-in guests.

The jam takes place in the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel Grand Ballroom, sponsored by Fox Communities Credit Union.

Music-Makers Badges are on sale NOW and available online here or at the Mile of Music Headquarters at the Fox Cities PAC during Mile Week, July 31-August 6. For more information, click here.