The annual festival returns Saturday, June 6, featuring a full lineup of live music, a special drum clinic, food vendors, and activities along the RB&W Park riverfront. Organizers said this year’s event continues to expand beyond traditional jazz, offering something for nearly every music fan.
Festivalgoers can expect a wide variety of performances throughout the day, including jazz, Latin music, blues, rock, R&B, and party-style entertainment inspired by the broad musical career of Louis Bellson.
Duffee will lead this year’s free drum clinic at 11:30 a.m. inside the McCormick Event Center. The clinic will focus on the early history of jazz drumming from the 1910s through the 1930s, the era that heavily influenced Bellson as a young musician growing up in Rock Falls.
The presentation will include live demonstrations using vintage drum kits and equipment similar to what Bellson would have heard and played early in his career. Duffee also plans to showcase techniques Bellson personally taught him while taking lessons from the legendary drummer during high school visits back to Rock Falls.
The clinic will feature audience interaction, historical discussion, and opportunities for attendees to ask questions about drumming styles, techniques, and Bellson’s influence on music history.
Attendees at the clinic will also have opportunities to win Bellson memorabilia, including CDs, drumsticks, and a Louis Bellson signature from Duffee’s personal collection. Organizers said the giveaway is intended to help attendees take home a piece of Bellson history while celebrating the festival’s fifth anniversary.
Following the drum clinic, the festival will move outdoors to RB&W Park, where four bands will perform throughout the afternoon and evening.
The lineup includes:
- Josh Duffee and the Blackhawk Broadcasters at 1 p.m.
- Crooked Cactus at 3 p.m.
- John Rush and the Dog and Out Band at 5 p.m.
- Rare Element at 7 p.m.
Rare Element was originally scheduled to perform during last year’s festival before weather forced organizers to cancel portions of the event. Organizers are hopeful for clear skies this year after rain impacted the past two festivals.
In addition to the music, attendees will be able to view Louis Bellson’s drum set, which was gifted to the City of Rock Falls and will be displayed near the stage throughout the festival. Event programs, commemorative items, and festival merchandise will also be available.
Jones said Bellson Music Fest requires year-round planning and coordination as organizers continue working to grow the event’s reach beyond the Sauk Valley into larger markets such as Chicago, Peoria, and the Quad Cities.
Duffee emphasized the importance of community sponsors in keeping the event free to the public, noting that many festivals of similar size charge admission fees. Local support has allowed Bellson Music Fest to continue honoring one of Rock Falls’ most accomplished musicians while remaining accessible to families and visitors.
The festival also highlights Midwest talent, with all performing acts traveling from across the region to celebrate Bellson’s musical legacy in his hometown.
Organizers encouraged attendees to bring lawn chairs, enjoy the riverfront atmosphere, dance near the stage, and spend the day experiencing a variety of live music styles in one setting. Food vendors will begin serving around noon.
If severe weather develops, organizers said performances would move to Centennial Auditorium in Sterling, with updates posted through social media and festival channels.
More information about Bellson Music Fest is available on the Visit Rock Falls Facebook page and at VisitRockFalls.com.
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