Presenting Sponsor:

The 9th Annual BBQ-n-Blues is on September 8, 2023, and we’ll be celebrating with Bands, BBQ & a Rib Cook-Off Contest. Held on First Street between Marquette & Gooding in historic downtown La Salle, bands will begin at 4:00 pm with the Rib Cook-Off turn in at 6:00 pm and the winner announced at 8:00 pm. Enjoy some of area’s best blues bands and don’t forget to grab some legendary BBQ!  Free admission and free parking on all City streets and lots. 

Band Lineup:

5:00pm - Lizzi Neal Band (link)

Lizzi Neal Band takes decades of combined experience and love of all genres to create a paralyzing Contemporary Blues/Soul sound. Influenced at an early age by Blues, Soul and Jazz, power house Lizzi Neal displays mad ranging vocals and the ability to Co-write songs with Dave Neal that range from a witty, upbeat jazzy number, to a sultry heart wrenching soul song. Dave Neal on guitar plays melodic rhythm mixed with smokin leads.　The Rhythm section consisting of Chuck Loth on Bass and Danny Garcia on Drums makes it all come together. Regionally touring in the last several years, winning consecutive Blues awards and state recognition for their hard work, has them on the brink of success. Their first full length release won album of the year in Northern Illinois. Currently working on their next album due to be released in 2023, Lizzi Neal Band looks forward too many years of continued success and making new fans and friends.

Tumatoe is a self-taught guitarist who learned to play by watching Chicago’s blues legends. His guitar playing has been described as “B.B. King played through Jimi Hendrix (with a touch of Andy Gill).”

Tumatoe’s songs are noted for their humor, something he explains as, "There are two elements of the blues. There's the general intensity of the music…and an element of humor, some twist in the lyrics. It's like a comedian turning something sad into something funny."

9:00pm - Toronzo Cannon (link)

Chicago bluesman Toronzo Cannon defies all expectations. The blistering guitarist, soulful vocalist, singular songwriter and city bus driver fuses his muscular, rock-inspired blues guitar playing with his original, keenly detailed slice-of-life songs, blazing his own blues trail. With the 2016 release of his Alligator Records debut, The Chicago Way, Cannon burst onto the international stage as one the most electrifying bluesmen to emerge from Chicago in decades. His live performances unfailingly earn him heaps of critical praise and hordes of wildly enthusiastic fans. Cannon has played major cities all over the U.S., Canada, and Europe. He recently performed for the first time in Japan, delighting and surprising audiences with one unforgettable gig after another. Now, with the release of The Preacher, The Politician Or The Pimp, Cannon builds upon the foundation he's laid, creating and defining his vision of contemporary blues.

6:30 and 8:30 - Steve Cerqua & Crossroads

Food Vendors:

• Lil' Bellas Pizza
• La Salle VFW
• The Dog House
• 9th Street Pub
• Haze Smokehouse
• The Taylored Plate
• Tropical Sno
• The Perfectly Flawed Foundation - popcorn and sober rides homes

Drink Vendors: Domestic beer and seltzers, Signature Cocktails from Star Union Spirits, Wine from August Hill Winery. 

This two-day event would not be possible without the generous sponsorships from the following local businesses:

Gold Sponsors - $1,200:

Silver Sponsors - $600:

Bronze Sponsors - $300: 

Aplington, Kaufman, McClintock, Steel & Barry, LTD

Bernabei, Balestri & Fiocchi Law Offices

Hurst Funeral Homes

Illinois Valley Labor Management

Illinois Valley Construction Building Trades Council

JB Contracting

John Pohar & Sons

Koolmaster Co. 

La Salle Body & Fender

Machinery Maintenance

Sasso Jewelry & Gifts

Sherman's Inc.

State Farm Insurance - Cody Burroughs

Uptown Grill

Wayland Financial

Wilson Landscaping Co.

La Salle Mayor Jeff Grove

La Salle Mayor Jeff Grove