Dave Matthews Caravan Rolls Into Southeast Side
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Music along Chicago's lakefront is nothing new--Lollapalooza has called Grant Park home for years--but this weekend it's the Southeast Side that's playing host to a concert fest.
The Dave Matthews Band Caravan rolled into the old U.S. Steel Plant South Works near 83rd Street and Green Bay Avenue on Friday.
The fest features 38 bands playing on three stages over three days. The performances kicked off at 1:30 p.m. Friday.
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THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND CARAVAN SCHEDULE
Acts include O.A.R, the Flaming Lips, Liz Phair and Ben Folds.
Fans started lining up outside the parking lot at 6:30 a.m.
Among the first was Tiffany, who drove with friends through the night from Cincinnati.
She says she's seen the Dave Matthews Band at Wrigley Field and numerous other times.
The band has been touring every summer for 20 years--almost as long as many of their fans who waited at 87th and Avenue O have been alive.
The 600-acre Lakeside venue is part of a four stop tour of reclaimed industrial sites picked by the band.
The CTA has planned to run shuttle buses from the 87th Street stop on the Red Line to the site.
About 100,000 people are expected to attend the event.
Some neighbors were not thrilled with some of the arrangements.
Cathleen Cummings lives across the street from the fest at 79th and Brandon--an area marked with no parking signs that went up Wednesday night.
She says Ald. Sandy Jackson left automated messages Thursday night saying parking passes were available but when neighbors showed up Friday morning, the office was closed.
When a tow truck driver showed up Friday morning, Cummings says they told him what happened and a police commander told them to take down the signs.
MORE ON PUBLIC TRANSIT TO THE CONCERT
News release from the CTA:
The Chicago Transit Authority is a convenient way for fans heading to the Dave Matthews Band Caravan on Friday, July 9 through Sunday, July 10 at the USX redevelopment site at 83rd and Green Bay Avenue.
Shuttle buses will operate from the 87th/Red Line station to the entrance of the concert venue all three days. The buses will be marked with special destinations signs labeled "Going Your Way" when headed to the venue and "To 87th Red Line" during return trips.
On all concert days, shuttles will operate every 15-20 minutes from 1 p.m. until approx. 1 hour after concert end, or as crowds warrant. Regular CTA bus fares are required.
In addition, customers can take the #87 87th Street bus and exit at 87th/Burley and then walk a short distance to the concert venue. The #87 will operate during its regular schedule hours throughout the weekend.
CTA also will operate longer trains on the Red Line to accommodate customers heading to the concert. On all concert days longer trains will operate on the Red Line until 1 a.m. from the 95th street station.
