Blues on the Fox Festival, RiverEdge Park – Aurora, June 20, 2026

Trombone Shorty, Eric Gales, Ally Venable, Tommy Castro

Review: La’Keba Garcia Gelardi

Photos: Dianne Bruce Dunklau

Trombone Shorty

What a beautiful evening for a show at RiverEdge Park in Aurora! The recently renovated venue provided the perfect setting, with ideal weather for an outdoor concert along the Fox River.

Aurora has a deep connection to the blues. The historic Leland Hotel in downtown Aurora hosted RCA Victor recording sessions between 1937 and 1938 in the Sky Club on the hotel's top floor. Legendary musicians including Sonny Boy Williamson I, Tampa Red, Big Joe Williams, Robert Nighthawk, Big Bill Broonzy, and many others recorded there, helping to cement Aurora's place in blues history.

Scott "Hambone" Hammer of WDCB was the host for the evening and was also celebrating his birthday that day.

TOMMY CASTRO

Tommy Castro

Tommy Castro and the Painkillers kicked off the evening with a high-energy set featuring upbeat rhythms reminiscent of rockabilly and early rock and roll, a mix of original material, and several blues classics.

Their performances of "Make It Back to Memphis" and "Nasty Habits" had fans dancing in front of the stage from the opening notes. The band also delivered a thrilling rendition of John Lee Hooker's "It Serve You Right to Suffer," transforming the blues classic into an extended jam that showcased the musicianship of the entire band: Randy McDonald on bass, Dave Fleschner on keys, drummer Stewart Burr and special guests on trumpet and sax.

Tommy Castro and the Painkillers concluded their energetic set with an encore performance of Jimmy Hall and Wet Willie’s ‘70s hit "Keep on Smilin'," sending the crowd into intermission on a high note.

ALLY VENABLE

Next, 27-year-old Texas guitar sensation Ally Venable took to the stage wearing an embellished head wrap, a black lace top, and eye-catching gold-foiled pants. She opened her set with the R&B classic "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," made famous by The Temptations, immediately capturing the audience's attention. She was backed by a versatile band consisting of keys, bass, drums and three horn players.

Venable followed with the powerful women's empowerment anthem "Unbreakable," showcasing both her commanding vocal presence and fiery guitar work. She then launched into "Steamroller Blues," written by James Taylor, putting her own blues-rock spin on the classic tune.

Her performance of "Fire," written and made famous by Jimi Hendrix, further demonstrated her impressive guitar prowess and ability to connect with the crowd.

Continuing the momentum, Venable performed "Texas Louisiana," a song she originally recorded with Chicago blues legend Buddy Guy. Her bass player sang Buddy’s part on this catchy tune. The performance highlighted her outstanding horn section and added another dimension to her already dynamic set.

She closed with heartfelt, instrumental tribute  she penned for Stevie Ray Vaughan, one of her greatest musical influences. The performance served as a fitting homage to the late guitarist. By the end of her set, Ally Venable had more than justified her reputation as one of the brightest rising stars in contemporary blues and blues-rock.

ERIC GALES

Two-time Grammy-nominated guitarist Eric Gales took to the stage with a melodic, ground-shaking introduction. He began by asking the crowd if they really knew the blues, prompting a thunderous response from the audience. He then launched into "You Don't Know the Blues," a funk-infused groove that seamlessly transitioned into "Miss You" by The Rolling Stones. The crowd erupted with enthusiasm.

Gales then spotlighted his extraordinary rhythm guitarist, Trevor McKay, who delivered a mesmerizing solo before the two joined together in dazzling tandem guitar work. Gales paid McKay a tremendous compliment, stating that, in his opinion, McKay is one of the greatest guitarists in the world.

He followed with the danceable "Put That Back" before slowing the pace with a captivating rendition of "Cause We've Ended as Lovers," popularized by Jeff Beck. Gales then picked the tempo back up with "Pretty Baby," another crowd-pleaser that had fans dancing throughout the venue.

Next came a powerful performance of "Voodoo Child," during which Gales surprised the audience by transitioning into passages inspired by the music of Ludwig van Beethoven. The combination of blues, rock, and classical influences showcased the remarkable breadth of his musicianship. To close his set, Gales delivered a blistering medley of "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin and "Back in Black" by AC/DC before returning to "Voodoo Child" for a thrilling finale.

TROMBONE SHORTY

The final artist of the evening was Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. New Orleans native and multi-instrumentalist Trombone Shorty (Troy Andrews) opened with a thunderous performance backed by a nine-piece band, quickly transforming the venue into one giant dance party.

The set was filled with stellar musicianship and outstanding vocals while highlighting Trombone Shorty's band leadership, energetic stage presence, dancing, and mastery of multiple instruments. The band's cover of "It Ain't No Use," made popular by The Meters in 1974, was a high-energy performance delivered in true big-band fashion.

The song "I Just Want My Heart Back" packed the area in front of the stage with dancing fans and featured an exceptional saxophone solo, with Trombone Shorty enthusiastically hyping up his bandmate throughout the performance.

Later in the show, Eric Gales made a surprise appearance to heartfelt applause from the audience as he joined the band on stage. Trombone Shorty then introduced a Latin-influenced number that showcased his impressive dance skills, followed by a spirited display of traditional New Orleans second-line dancing.

Toward the end of the evening, the band launched into the nostalgic "When the Saints Go Marching In," which seamlessly transitioned into Solomon Burke’s "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love," made famous by the 1980 film The Blues Brothers.

Blues on the Fox once again delivered an unforgettable evening of music, celebrating the rich heritage of blues, rock, funk, soul, and New Orleans traditions. From the opening notes of Tommy Castro and the Painkillers to the electrifying finale by Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, the festival showcased both established masters and rising stars while honoring the enduring legacy of American roots music.

To see more photos of Blues on the Fox Festival 2026, visit our Chicago Blues Guide photo album collection on FB by clicking HERE

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