It's been a difficult year with all of the DOGE cuts affecting the Arts and Humanities in a big way. This resulted in a rash of cancelled shows, events, and festivals that simply went away.  Here's what I still have coming up to the best of my knowledge. I'll post cancellations here so check before traveling!
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Saturday, January 17th, Hickory Ridge Concerts
7:00 PM, Guests Wattle and Daub
Ellisville Opera House
120 Main St
Ellisville, IL
Admission 10.00, kids free.
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This month I host the Greyslake, IL duo, Wattle and Daub who perform original songs chronicling people and places they love, and their repertoire includes folk favorites from John Prine, Pete Seeger, Utah Phillips.
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Saturday, January 24th, 2:00 pm  Date correction!  Please keep an eye on the weather for thism gigt.  I'll post on Chris Vallillo music on facebook if we need to re-schedule!
Songs of the Illinois Freedom Road
Vermillion County Museum
116 N. Gilbert Street in Danville, Illinois 
217) 442-2922 |  vermilioncounty@att.net
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I'll perform my show on the Underground Railroad in Illinois in conjunction with the traveling exhibit Journey to Freedom from the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Association.  Free to the public.


Friday and Saturday, February 5th and 6th
Underground Railroad Conference
Jacksonville, IL
I will be presenting excerpt from Songs of the Illinois Freedom Road, TBA


February 13th, 7:00-8:30 pm.
Forgottonia  
Grinnell College
1108 Park St.
Grinnell, IA  50112
Bucksbaum Center for the Arts, room 104
- Sebring-Lewis Hall
641-269-3178
Free and open to the public

I'll be taking the full theatrical version of Forgottonia to Grinnell College.  What a perfect place to take the show! Their "Center For Prairie Studies" program is exactly the place where I had hoped to bring this show!   

CANCELLED
Sunday, February 15th, 2:00 PM
Abraham Lincoln In Song
The Delphi Opera House
109 S Washington St, Delphi, IN 46923

CANCELLED
Monday, February 16th, TBA
Delphi Opera House
Abraham Lincoln In Song, school program


February 21st, 7:00 pm
Hickory Ridge Concerts  Artist TBA
Ellisville Opera House
120 Main St Ellisville, IL
Admission 10.00, kids free.
With guest Dave Rudolph

CANCELLED WILL RESCHEDULE LATER THIS WINTER
Saturday, February 28th, TBA
Winter Music Camp
Brubeck Center For the Arts
​Wabash Community College
2200 College Drive
Mt. Carmel, IL 62863
618-262-8641


Thursday, March 12th, 1:00 pm 
Harper College
1200 W Algonquin Rd, Palatine, IL 60067
847 925 6000
I'll perform Songs of the Illinois Freedom Road
as part of a day long celebration of Black History. 
Free to the public.

Saturday, March the 14th, 7:00 PM 2nd Saturday this month!).
Hickory Ridge Concerts 
With guest Chris Farrell
Ellisville Opera House
120 Main St Ellisville, IL
Admission 10.00, kids free.

Saturday, March 21st, 7:00 pm
Forgottonia, An Intimate Portrait of Rural America
Meet the Artists 6:00 PM
Concert 7:00 PM
Eagle Theater Performing Arts Center
319 N Plum St, Pontiac, IL 61764
+1 815 844 1187
I'll be performing the full theatrical version of Forgottonia at the Eagle performing Arts Center. I am particularly excited to be bringing this show up to Pontiac!  I performed te UGRR show in this space last year and it was great!


Monday, March 30th, 3:00-4:30 pm
Bottleneck slide Workshop
6:30 pm, New Show: The Power of Song in Democracy
Daniel Boone Public Library
100 W Broadway, Columbia, MO 65203
573 443 3161
Both events are free, but please sign up with the library for the slide workshop.
In the evening, I'll perform my new show The Power of Song in Democracy to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the country!

Tuesday, March 31st, ​5:30-8:30
KOPN Presents A Night Honoring Columbia Songwriter Lee Ruth
Cafe Berlin, 
220 N 10th St,
Columbia, MO 

Lee Ruth is one of the mainstays of the MO folk scene. We met at the MO Folklife Festival where we share the stage together and enjoyed many late night jam sessions!  This should be a ball!

Saturday, April the 11th, 6:00 PM
Songs of the Illinois Freedom Road
Annie Merner Chapel
28 E College Ave
Jacksonville, IL 62650
+1 217 883 1004
I'll perform my UGRR show in association with the traveling exhibit Journey To Freedom from the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area.
Free to the public.
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Thursday, April 16th, 7:00 pm
Songs Of The Illinois Freedom Road
Greenville Public Library
414 West Main Street
Greenville, IL 62246
618-664-3115 
I'll bring my new show on the UGRR to Greenville in celebration of our country's 250th Anniversary. this show is sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Road Scholar's Speaker's Bureau and is free to the public.


Saturday April 18th, 7:00 pm
Hickory Ridge Concerts
From Nashville, TN Low Gap
Ellisville Opera House
120 Main St. 
Ellisville, IL
Admission 10.00, kids free.


Thursday, April 30th-Friday, May 1st  
Dayton Alive!
Forgottonia
I'll be bringing a solo version of my show Forgottonia to Dayton Alive in Dayton Ohio.  The idea s to expose an urban audience to a rural program...Brilliant!
I'll do a shortened school version on Thursday and a full performance for the public on Friday.

Saturday, May the 2nd, 2:30 pm
Lockport Branch of the White Oak Public Library
121 E 8th St
Lockport, IL  60441
https://whiteoak.librarycalendar.com/event/abraham-lincoln-song-chris-vallillo-66691
I'll perform my show Abraham Lincoln In Song


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Monday,  May 11th TENTATIVE 6:00 pm Galesburg Public Library
Songs of the Illinois Freedom Road

I'll perform the show Songs of the Illinois Freedom Road in association with the traveling exhibit Journey to Freedom all about the Underground  railroad in Illinois.  Free!

Saturday, May 16th, 7:00 PM
Hickory Ridge Concert Series
This month, I'll be headlining and I'll be joined by world class bassist Matt Hughs.

Ellisville Opera House
120 Main St Ellisville, IL
Admission 10.00, kids free.

May 22nd, 6:00 PM
McHenry County Historical Society & Museum
6422 Main St.,
Union, IL 60180

I'll perform my new show, The Power Of Song in Democracy to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of our country.


Saturday, June 6th, 2:00
The Quincy Historical Museum
Held at the old Gardner Museum
322 Maine St, Quincy, IL 62301-3929

I'll perform my show Songs of the Illinois Freedom Road in association with the traveling exhibit Journey To Freedom from the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area.Free to the public.

Sunday June 7th, TBA
John A. Logan Museum
613 Edith S
Murphysboro, IL 62966 

TENT: Monday, June 8th, TBA
​Columbia Public Library
106 N. Metter Ave.
Columbia, IL 62236
I'll perform my new show, The Power Of Song in Democracy to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of our country.

Thursday, June 11th
private event, Oquawka, IL

Friday, June 12th, Ottawa, IL TBA
I'll perform my show Songs of the Illinois Freedom Road for the Ottawa Historical Society.  Details coming.​

Saturday, June 13th, 1:00 pm
Abraham Lincoln In Song
Landmark Church
6727 W. 174th Street
Tinley Park, IL 60477

I'll perform Abraham Lincoln in Song  to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the country for the Tinley Historical Society and te Tinley Park District.  Free to the public.


June 14th, 2:00 pm
West Bloomfield Public Library
​4600 Walnut Lake Rd
West Bloomfield Township, MI 48323
248-682-2120
I'll perform a mixed concert of folk and roots music.

Wednesday, June 17th, TBA
Effingham Public Library
200 N Third St, Effingham, IL 
I'll perform my new show the Power Of Song In Democracy in celebration of the 250th!

Thursday, June 18th, 6:30 pm
The Power of Song In Democracy
Marshall Public Library
612 Archer Ave
Marshall, IL 62441
217 826 2535

I'll perform my newest show celebrating the nation's 250th Anniversary, The Power of Song In Democracy.  This show explores how music was a potent force in
the forging of our nation both as a political tool and as a tool for social change.


Saturday, June 20th, 7:00 pm
Hickory Ridge Concerts 
Guests Lyle Strickland
Ellisville Opera House 
120 Main St
Ellisville, ILAdmission 10.00, kids free.

Lyle is a wonderful songwriter whose work is focused on the rural Midwest.  I've trying to book him here for three years!

Sunday, June the 21st, 3:00 pm
Skokie Pubic Library 
5215 Oakton Street
Skokie, IL 60077
847-673-7774
I'll perform my show Songs of the IL Freedom Road about the Underground Railroad in Illinois.

Friday, June 26th TBA
Collinsville, IL Rt 66 Celebration
Collinsville, IL

Sunday June 28th, 3:30 PM
Peoria Historical Society
John C. Flanagan House Museum
942 NE Glen Oak Avenue, Peoria, IL 61603.
I'll bring the Power if Song In Democracy to this lovely vintage museum in Peoria courtesy of Illinois Humanities.

Tuesday, June 30th, 4:30 pm
Tolano Public Library
111 E. Main St.
Tolono, IL 61880
217-485-5558

I'll perform The Power Of Song In Democracy in celebration of then 250th!


Thursday July 2nd,  2:00 pm
Stephen Foster and the Rise of Popular Music
Barrington History Museum
212 W. Main St
Barrington, IL 60010847-381-1730
2:00 PM


Friday, July 3rd, 2:00 pm
The Power of Song In Democracy
Barrington History Museum
212 W. Main St
Barrington, IL 60010
847-381-1730

This is a delightful small museum in Barrington, IL.  I play outdoors underneath a big old tree.  It's a lovely setting.  Free to the public, Limited seating but feel free to bring lawn chairs.


Saturday, July 4th, time TBA
The Power of Song In Democracy
Historic Charlton Park
2545 S Charlton Park Rd
Hastings, MI 49058

I'll celebrate the power of song for the 4th of July!
This is a lovely living history museum complete with historic structures, a school, a church, and museum displays all on a beautiful shaded grounds.  Free to the public.


Thursday, July 9th time TBA
Songs of the Illinois Freedom Road
Ottawa History Museum 

I'll perform my show on the Underground Railroad in Illinois as part of the upcoming documentary on John Hassock and Jim Grey for the Ottawa Historical Museum.

Tuesday, July 14th 6:30 pm
Civil War Museum
5400 First Avenue
Kenosha, WI 53140
262-653-4140

I love this place! it's a wonderful museum dedicated to the civil war.  I'll be presenting The Power Of Song In Democracy as part of their celebration of the 250th anniversary of our country.

Wednesday, July the 15th
Black Point Estate Historic Site
Lake Geneva, WI

the Power of Song In Democracy.
Performance Location TBA


Saturday, July 18th 7:00 pm
Hickory Ridge Concerts
Featuring Bobcat Opossum
Ellisville Opera House
120 Main St. Ellisville, IL

I'll host this great old time string band duo.
Admission 10.00, kids free.


Friday, July 31st 7:00 pm
The Power Of Song In Democracy
Lake County Historical Museum
915 Michigan Ave
Baldwin, MI 49304-8101
231 898 6500

One of my very favorite gigs, this outstanding regional museum has grown by leaps and bounds over the past years and is always doing amazing work!

Sunday, August 2nd, 3:00 pm
Tobias Music Concert Hall
5013 Fairview Avenue
Downers Grove Illinois

I'll perform an outreach  program for the Fox Valley Folk Festival courtesy of Illinois Humanities.  I'll perform the Power of Song In Democracy. Free.

August 5th, Hinkley, IL  6:30  PM
Hinkley Community Building  
100 N. Maple,
Hinkley, IL
I'll perform The Power Of Song In Democracy in celebration of the 250th! This is a small auditorium that once was a vaudeville house... my kind of venue!

August 6th, DeKalb County History Center
1730 N. Main Street 
Sycamore, IL 60178
815-895-5762

I'll perform Abraham Lincoln In Song in Celebration of the 250th!

Saturday and Sunday, August 8th and 9th
I'll be bringing my new show Forgottonia to Chicago
but I am not at liberty to share details until the venue announces the season.  HOLD THE DATES, IT WILL BE GOOD!


Saturday, August 15th 7:00 pm
Hickory Ridge Concerts Featuring  Joe Gorka
Ellisville Opera House120 Main St. Ellisville, ILI'll host this great old time string band duo.Admission 10.00, kids free.
Joe Gorka is the son of songwriter John Gorka and he has inherited his dad's musical talents!

Thursday, August 20th, TBA
The Normal Theater, 
209 W North St, Normal, IL 61761
I'll be taking the full Theatrical performance of Forgottonia to the Normal Theater to kick off their Sweet Corn Circus celebration.

Saturday, August 22nd  3:00 pm
The Bishop Hill Chautauqua
town Park
Bishop Hill, IL

This is a great event put on by my friend Fox Ellis at one of Illinois best historic sites.  There will be performances starting at around 1:00, I'll close the day at 3:00 with the Power of Song in Democracy.