Al Sears Music Fest

09/20/2026

09/16/2026

You are not going to want to miss this one! See ya there!

What are you actually going to hear at a Chicken Wire Empire show?

Banjo. Mandolin. Fiddle. Guitar. Upright bass.
Traditional bluegrass roots. Modern energy. Plenty of picking.

Chicken Wire Empire kicks off the Al Sears Music Fest tonight at WIU’s Goldfarb Center for the Performing Arts.

7:30 pm | Tickets $10
Doors at 7:00 pm | Concessions at 6:00 pm

09/15/2026

One festival. A whole lot of sounds.

Bluegrass.
Big band.
R&B.
Blues.
Latin jazz.

September 16–19 | Macomb, Illinois

09/15/2026

Who’s your Latin music friend? 🎷

Tag the person who’s always up for great music, infectious rhythms, and a night out!

Bring them to the final night of the Al Sears Music Fest with the Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project.

Saturday, September 19 | 7:00–9:00 pm
Western Illinois Museum | Free

09/09/2026

08/22/2026

The LINE UP!
Wednesday, September 16th at the Goldfarb Center for Performing Arts
7:30 pm: Chicken Wire Empire

Thursday, September 17th at The Wine Sellers
5:30 to 7:30 pm: WIU Jazz Combo

Friday, September 18th at Western Illinois Museum
5:00 to 9:00 pm: WIU Jazz Studio Orchestra & State of Mind
with dance instruction by Rose Dance Co.

Saturday, September 19th | Western Illinois Museum
12:00 to 6:30 pm: Spotlight on Local Talent
including Nico Barberan, the Zoë Rose Trio, and a jam session with WITMA

7:00 to 9:00 pm: Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project

Visit https://alsearsmusicfest.com/ for more information.

08/20/2026

You've heard the music. Now discover the place.

This year's Al Sears Music Fest takes you to some of Macomb's favorite gathering places–and maybe a few you've never visited before.

First stop: The Goldfarb Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $10 and available through westernpresents.com.

Come for the music. Stay awhile. Explore Macomb.