Britt Daniel of Spoon, Pokey LaFarge and members of The Roots, Dave Matthews Band and Cage the Elephant have signed on for a special performance honoring Chuck Berry at this year's LouFest in the rock father's hometown of St. Louis.
Dubbed "Hail! Hail! Chuck Berry!", the all-star tribute will take place Sept. 9 at 8 p.m. on the festival's Bud Light Stage. Other participating acts include Valerie June, Cory Henry, JonnyP and Eric Krasno of Soulive, with a backing band of St. Louis musicians led by Kevin Bowers.
The performance will be "the first of what will ultimately become an everlasting piece of the festival for years to come," said festival producers Mike Van Hee and Rich Toma, of Listen Live Entertainment. It is being executive produced by Red Light Management's Jonathan Azu, a native of the area. "Nothing has made me happier than to work with so many great musicians he inspired to make this performance happen," said Azu. "It will truly be something special."
"Hail! Hail! Chuck Berry!" has the blessing of Berry's family, which is using the occasion to announce the formation of the Chuck Berry Foundation, which will focus causes in the arts and music education. "With the help of LouFest, the Chuck Berry Foundation will honor the legacy of Chuck Berry by nurturing the next generation of music innovators and leaders in the St. Louis community," said Gary Pierson, a Berry family representative.
Berry died on March 18 at the age of 90.
LouFest 2017 returns to Forest Park Sept. 9-10 with headliners Weezer and Snoop Dogg, along with Cage the Elephant, Run the Jewels, Spoon, Huey Lewis & the News and Robert Randolph. Location-wise, the festival is making a tempory move from its usual spot, on the Central Fields, to a new event space adjacent to the historic Muny Amphitheater.
Here's the full lineup for the Berry tribute, and the official poster (which will be available at the festival, with proceeds going to the new foundation):
Captain Kirk Douglas (The Roots)
Rashawn Ross (Dave Matthews Band)
Britt Daniel (Spoon)
Matt Shultz and Nick Bockrath (Cage the Elephant)
Eric Krasno (Soulive, Lettuce)
Pokey Lafarge
Valerie June
Cory Henry
Jonny P
