When we last spoke with Molly Tuttle, she was on a different journey. It was January 2020, and she had just released her first full-length album, When You’re Ready, as a solo artist. A lot has changed since then! 

Every Labor Day weekend since 2011, the beautiful grounds of Camp Shaw-waw-nas-see near Manteno, IL have played host to Shoe Fest. I find myself camped this year with two of my favorite fire spinners and band members from Broken Robots. Yes, everybody can get close at Shoe Fest and you never know whom you might meet. This is an eclectic music festival with something for everyone, and some things unexpected.

Shoe Fest is thrilled to announce the lineup for its 13th annual celebration, taking place over Labor Day weekend (August 30 – September 1, 2024) at the picturesque Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See in Manteno, IL. This year’s festival will feature multiple-time Grammy winner Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, as well as newcomers Ghost-Note and Neighbor. The event will also see the return of long-time favorites Cornmeal, featuring Allie Kral for the first time in 12 years, and the Kyle Hollingsworth Band from The String Cheese Incident.

The only hikes I’ve been going on lately are price hikes. Seasonal work has me dealing with feast or famine and unfortunately, the feast is just enough to cover the famine. Then the celestial bodies align and the American dream comes into focus. Believing in your dreams like the constellations in the night sky will lead you back home again on Labor Day weekend to Camp Shaw in Manteno, IL to Shoe Fest.

Shoe Fest newcomers Krasno / Moore Project and Sierra Hull join returning artists Kitchen Dwellers, Oliver Wood Trio who was at the fest in 2014 with the Wood Brothers, Allie Kral, host band Old Shoe, Henhouse Prowlers, Chicago Farmer & the Fieldnotes, Dead Horses, Mr. Blotto, Strange Arrangement, Armchair Boogie and more.

Whatever you do, don’t go to Shoe Fest. Camp Shaw Waw Nas See is basically forgettable. The string-based bands all play at their own slots with no overlapping music. You’ll hate it.

On the eastern edge of the grand prairie lies Camp-Shaw-Waw-Nas-See, near the Kankakee River State Park, 60 miles south of Chicago. It is the host site for Shoe Fest, a location almost as storied in beauty as Nelson Ledges Quarry Park in Ohio.  Labor Day weekend 2022 meant the 10-year anniversary of Shoe Fest at Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See. It is a family-friendly festival in the finest of natural surroundings and its success depends on the work of all the players, including Rock Creek.

Shoe Fest welcomes back festival favorites Leftover Salmon, Keller Wiilliams, Allie Kral, host band Old Shoe, Chicago Farmer & the Fieldnotes, and Mr. Blotto along with Shoe Fest newcomers, Todd Sheaffer of Railroad Earth, Steady Flow, Them Coulee Boys, The Hillbenders, The Burney Sisters, Joseph Huber and more.

Shoe Fest has announced its triumphant return on September 3-5, 2021, after taking 2020 off due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with a hard-hitting lineup that all will enjoy.

SHOE FEST has announced their hopeful return on September 3-5, 2021 after taking 2020 off due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Festival organizers are releasing limited amounts of GA tickets, as well as RV Spots and Cabin Reservations. Tickets are on sale now at www.shoe-fest.com.