ACM’S “FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR” WINDY CITY SMOKEOUT RETURNS AUGUST 4-7, 2022 WITH STAR-STUDDED FESTIVAL WEEKEND

 ACM’S “FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR” WINDY CITY SMOKEOUT RETURNS AUGUST 4-7, 2022  WITH STAR-STUDDED FESTIVAL WEEKEND

Headliners Include Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson & Family, Turnpike Troubadours, Sam Hunt and Miranda Lambert Windy City Smokeout, first time winner of the Academy of Country Music Awards “Festival of the Year,” and the nation’s premier outdoor country music and BBQ festival, will return to Chicago August 4-7, 2022 outside the iconic United Center at 1901 W. Madison Street. Hosted by popular barbecue joint, Bub City and Joe’s Bar, Windy City Smokeout will feature live performances from country music’s biggest names and up-and-coming talent, plus the best BBQ and craft beer from around the country.

THE BANDS
ACM award-winning promoter and Windy City Smokeout co-founder, Ed Warm, handpicked the weekend’s lineup including stage, screen and GRAMMY award-winning star Tim McGraw, the most decorated female country singer of all-time Miranda Lambert, ACM award-winning Sam Hunt and 12-time GRAMMY award-winning Willie Nelson & Family who will co-head opening night with the highly anticipated reunion of the Turnpike Troubadours.

“Windy City Smokeout truly represents the best in country music, BBQ and beer and being named the Academy of Country Music’s ‘Festival of the Year’ is an incredible honor that we don’t take for granted,” says Warm. “

The full list of country music acts by day include:

Thursday, August 4
4 p.m. – Morgan Wade
5:15 p.m. – Zach Bryan
7:00 p.m. – Turnpike Troubadours
9:00 p.m. – Willie Nelson & Family
Friday, August 5
3:20 p.m. – Shelby Darrall
4:20 p.m. – Tiera Kennedy
5:30 p.m. – Niko Moon
6:45 p.m. – Russell Dickerson
8:30 p.m. – Tim McGraw
Saturday, August 6
4:20 p.m.- Lily Rose
5:35 p.m. – Mackenzie Porter
6:45 p.m. – Jordan Davis
8:30 p.m. – Sam Hunt
Sunday, August 7
3:00 p.m. – Mike & The Moonpipes
4:30 p.m. – Flatland Calvary
6:15 p.m. – Kip Moore
8:00 p.m. – Miranda Lambert

THE BBQ + BEER
This year’s BBQ line-up features 25 of the world’s best pitmasters including 10 new teams offering a mix of new school and old school ‘cue dishes throughout the festival weekend. The full 2022 BBQ line-up includes (* indicates they are new to the 2022 festival):
•     17th Street BBQ
•     Against the Grain
•     Black's BBQ (Austin, TX) **
•     Bub City
•     Green Street Smoked Meats
•     Hogapalooza
•     Hoodoo Brown BBQ
•     Hurtado Barbecue (Arlington, TX) **
•     Leroy & Lewis BBQ
•     Little Miss BBQ
•     Lillie's Q
•     Loro (Austin, TX) **
•     Meat Mitch (Leawood, KS) **
•     Operation BBQ
•     Pappys Smokehouse
•     Pearl's Southern Comfort
•     Sam Jones BBQ
•     Slab Barbecue
•     Smoke Queen Barbecue (Long Beach, CA) **
•     Smoque
•     Soul & Smoke (Evanston, IL) **
•     Station One Smokehouse (Plainfield, IL) **
•     Sugarfire Smokehouse
•     Truth BBQ
•     Ubons BBQ
•     Wrights Barbecue (Fayetteville, AR) **

“While it’s known as one of our country’s most sought after live music festivals, Windy City Smokeout has always been and always will be a hospitality-led event that shines above the rest” says RJ Melman, president of Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants. “The level of culinary talent that we are able to bring together every year makes it a celebration of BBQ and artisans from beloved restaurants and craft beer establishments all across America, just as much as it is a celebration of country music.”

Windy City Smokeout will also have food from non-barbeque collaborators, including Happy Camper, Duck Inn, Summer House, Small Cheval, Café Ba-Ba-Reeba and Federales. Thirty beer and cider vendors will pull taps ranging from big beer to craft breweries, including Goose Island, Founders, Haymarket, Moody Tongue, Surly and Virtue. A full list of beer vendors can be found at https://www.windycitysmokeout.com..

THE BONUS EVENTS
Guests can round out the experience with a selection of curated events including the Biggest Happy Hour of the Summer and epic BBQ Brunch on Sunday. The ticketed events do not include admission to the festival; a single day or four-day pass is required for entry.

The Biggest Happy Hours of the Summer Sponsored by Mamitas
Thursday, August 4: 2 – 5 p.m.
Friday, August 5: 2 – 5 p.m.
Kick off festival weekend with The Biggest Happy Hours of the Summer! Each event will feature discounted domestic and craft beers with live music from up-and-coming artists. Access to each happy hour is included with a Thursday, Friday, or 4-day pass. Drinks are a la carte.

BBQ Brunch
Sponsored by Illinois Pork Producers
Sunday, August 7: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Price:$50, Tickets can be purchased HERE
The epic bottomless BBQ brunch on Sunday, August 7th includes a variety of dishes from the Windy City Smokeout Pitmaster Buffet with a special Bacon Bar sponsored by Illinois Pork Producers. Guests can sip on mimosas or build your own Bloodies with all of the fixins at the Tito’s Bloody Mary Bar. Tickets are $50 in addition to a Sunday single day or 4-day pass.

TICKETS + GENERAL INFORMATION
Festival passes are now on sale at www.windycitysmokeout.com.
The hours for Windy City Smokeout are Thursday, August 4: 4PM-10pm; Friday, August 5: 2pm-11pm; Saturday, August 6: noon-11pm; Sunday, August 7: noon-10pm. Be sure to follow all the action on Instagram at @WindyCitySmokeout and Twitter at @WCSmokeout.

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