On June 3rd, Head East will perform in Savanna, Illinois at Poopy's the self-professed biggest biker destination in Illinois. The Fortunate Sons a CCR Tribute Band will open the show at 7pm followed by Head East who will close the show. Tickets are now on sale and are $15 in advance and $25 at the door. VIP seating is available for $40. Tickets can be purchased online through the Poopy's website, in person at Poopy's, or by calling (815) 273-2363. For more information or to purchase tickets visit the Poopy's website.
Head East will headline Friday night's entertainment at the Festival on the Trails which runs from Friday, June 9th through Saturday, June 10th in Gardner, KS. The concert is free and open to the public. Music will begin at 6:45 pm (CDT) on Friday. Head East will take the stage at 9:00 pm and will close the show with a 75 minute set. For more info visit the festival's website at: www.festivalonthetrails.com
Carlyle Lake 50th Anniversary Celebration
Head East will headline Sunday's entertainment at the Carlyle Lake 50th Anniversary Celebration Music Festival which runs from Friday, June 9th through Sunday, June 11th at the Dam West Recreation Area in Carlyle, IL. The concert is free and open to the public. Music will begin at 10:00 am (CDT) on Sunday. Head East will take the stage at 3:00 pm and will close the show with a 90 minute set.
Head East is expecting several former band membes to be present, and many are expected to take the stage with Head East. Original Head East lead vocalist John Schlitt will open Sunday's entertainment at 10:00 am (CDT)and will be followed by The Riker Band at 11:30 am (CDT) featuring Head East alumnus Steve Riker and his sons Stephen and Seth who have made several guest appearances with Head East in recent years. Several more prominent former members who have committed to attend will be announced in the coming months.
The music festival is a small part of the Carlyle Lake 50th Anniversary Celebration. For a full list of events and to see the full entertainment line-up visit their website at the addresses below:
Head East will perform at the Kansas Crossing Casino in Pittsburg, Kansas on Friday, June 16th. Tickets will go on sale on Saturday, May 20th through the casino's website. Doors open at 7:00 pm with Head East scheduled to take the stage at 8:00 pm (CDT).
The Kansas Crossing Casino is located at the junction of U.S. Highways 69 and 400 just outside of Pittsburg in Southeast Kansas. This newly built casino, which opened its doors to the public earlier this year on March 31st, features some of the biggest names in comedy, music. and other entertainment.
Waterfest Summer Concert Series - Oshkosh, WI
Tickets are now on sale for the June 22nd Head East and Hairball concert at Leach Amphitheater in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Reserved area access "VIP" tickets are $30 (plus fees) and are available online through Hometown Tickets. Gates open at 6:00 pm and an opening act yet to be announced will kick things off at 7:00 pm. Head East will co-headline the show and take the stage at 7:30 pm for a 70 minute set followed by Hairball who will close the show (all times CDT).
The concert is part of the Waterfest Summer Concert Series at Leach Amphitheater in downtown Oshkosh which runs from mid-June through mid-August. For more information and to buy tickets visit the Official Waterfest Website and HometownTickets.com.
Head East, April Wine, & BÖC at the Genesee Theatre
Head East, April Wine, and Blue Öyster Cult will be live in concert at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, IL on Saturday, October 7th. Ticketmaster and Genesee Theatre internet presales begin on May 23rd at 10:00 am (CDT). Tickets go on sale to the public on May 26th at 10:00 am (CDT). Tickets range from $39.50 - $89.50. Tickets are available by visiting the Genesee Theatre Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com & Ticketmaster charge by phone at 800-982-2787.
WGLO 95.5 FM Interview with Head East Lead Vocalist Darren Walker
In conjuction with Head East's appearance at the Limelight Eventplex in Peoria, IL on February 24th, Head East lead vocalist Darren Walker was interviewed by radio personality Doc Watson of WGLO 95.5 FM.
Click the play button below to listen to this interview.
WYMG 100.5 FM Interview with Head East Band Leader Roger Boyd
In conjuction with Head East's appearance at the Limelight Eventplex in Peoria, IL on February 24th, Head East band leader and keyboardist Roger Boyd recently spoke with radio personalities Lynch and Liz from WYMG 100.5 FM serving Springfield, Illinois. Listen to the interview on Sound Cloud linked below: https://soundcloud.com/100-5-wymg/roger-boyd-head-east-intv-2-22-17
Kankakee Daily Journal Newspaper Article
The Kankakee Daily Journal Newspaper recently ran the article, "Head East to play Watseka Theatre" in conjunction with the band's appearance at the Watseka Theatre in Watseka, IL on Saturday, February 25th. The article features an interview with Head East band leader and keyboardist Roger Boyd and can be read online on the Daily Journal website linked below:
New Year's Greetings From Head East Band Leader Roger Boyd
We, the entire Head East family, hope all our friends and fans out there have had a wonderful holiday season and great start to the new year. Highlights of our 2016 concert season included three sold out shows at the Wildey Theatre; the Violet Festival, in Pickerington, OH with LRB; Fort Dodge’s Fort Frenzy; and incredible back to back shows to finish our year at the Rhythm City and Riverside Casinos. We’re looking to get 2017 off to a rockin’ start with three back-to-back shows in February at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, IL. (with Lou Graham of Foreigner fame), the Limelight in Peoria, and the Watseka Theatre in Watseka, IL.
We would like to warmly thank all our wonderful fans who made it out to see and support us in 2016. And, we are looking forward to seeing you all again during our 2017 touring schedule and welcome those of you who were tied up and disappointed in missing us in 2016. Keep abreast of all HE comings and goings and special events in 2017 by staying logged in to our website and Facebook pages and come join us this year for another Head East rockin’ great time!
On a sad note, we wish to again recognize the passing of some of the exceptional musical talent that was taken from us in 2016. Though they are gone, the music of David Bowie, Glen Frey, Prince, Greg Lake, Leon Russell, and George Michael, as well as many others, will live on and continue to remind us of their exceptional talent and creativity. Long may their music and memorable performances be with us.
Head East & AC/DC - August 1977, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
During Head East's 47 year career many up and coming bands have been opening acts for Head East. Some have gone on to stardom while many others have faded into obscurity. Of those who gained stardom, Van Halen and AC/DC immediately come to mind. AC/DC were special guests of Head East at their August 17, 1977 show at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The concert which attracted a near capacity crowd of about 2,000 fans was one of nearly 200 shows performed by Head East that year.
By most accounts the show was not unlike the hundreds of others performed that year, but author Jesse Fink suggests in his book The Youngs: The Brothers Who Built AC/DC that the meeting of bands may have influenced one of AC/DC's biggest hits. Jesse gives many examples of where AC/DC either consciously or subconsciously "pinched" from other bands early in their career, stating that AC/DC's 1980 song You Shook Me All Night Long has "undeniable flecks of Head East's opening riff in Never Been Any Reason" and that "Illinois band Head East's 1975 hit Never Been Any Reason, written by guitarist Michael Somerville, also informs 1980's You Shook Me All Night Long. Intriguingly, AC/DC supported Head East for one show at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee in August 1977."
Prior to doing research for The Youngs: The Brothers Who Built AC/DC Jesse Fink knew little about Head East. In his 2014 article titled, 10 AC/DC Songs That Are More Important Than You Think when talking about You Shook Me All Night Long he states, "But what’s also really interesting about this song is how much the opening guitar riff sounds similar to Head East’s Never Been Any Reason. I didn’t know a hell of a lot about Head East before I started working on this book, but came across Never Been Any Reason in the process of doing my research and was blown away when I heard it for the first time."
Below we have short mp3 segments of the opening guitar riff to both songs. Click on each play button and give them a listen and see if you hear the similarities.
On June 3rd, Head East will perform in Savanna, Illinois at Poopy's the self-professed biggest biker destination in Illinois. The Fortunate Sons a CCR Tribute Band will open the show at 7pm followed by Head East who will close the show. Tickets are now on sale and are $15 in advance and $25 at the door. VIP seating is available for $40. Tickets can be purchased online through the Poopy's website, in person at Poopy's, or by calling (815) 273-2363. For more information or to purchase tickets visit the Poopy's website.
Head East will headline Friday night's entertainment at the Festival on the Trails which runs from Friday, June 9th through Saturday, June 10th in Gardner, KS. The concert is free and open to the public. Music will begin at 6:45 pm (CDT) on Friday. Head East will take the stage at 9:00 pm and will close the show with a 75 minute set. For more info visit the festival's website at: 
Head East will headline Sunday's entertainment at the Carlyle Lake 50th Anniversary Celebration Music Festival which runs from Friday, June 9th through Sunday, June 11th at the Dam West Recreation Area in Carlyle, IL. The concert is free and open to the public. Music will begin at 10:00 am (CDT) on Sunday. Head East will take the stage at 3:00 pm and will close the show with a 90 minute set.
Head East will perform at the Kansas Crossing Casino in Pittsburg, Kansas on Friday, June 16th. Tickets will go on sale on Saturday, May 20th through the 
Tickets are now on sale for the June 22nd Head East and Hairball concert at Leach Amphitheater in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Reserved area access "VIP" tickets are $30 (plus fees) and are available online through Hometown Tickets. Gates open at 6:00 pm and an opening act yet to be announced will kick things off at 7:00 pm. Head East will co-headline the show and take the stage at 7:30 pm for a 70 minute set followed by Hairball who will close the show (all times CDT).
Head East, April Wine, and Blue Öyster Cult will be live in concert at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, IL on Saturday, October 7th. Ticketmaster and Genesee Theatre internet presales begin on May 23rd at 10:00 am (CDT). Tickets go on sale to the public on May 26th at 10:00 am (CDT). Tickets range from $39.50 - $89.50. Tickets are available by visiting the Genesee Theatre Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com & Ticketmaster charge by phone at 800-982-2787.
In conjuction with Head East's appearance at the Limelight Eventplex in Peoria, IL on February 24th,
In conjuction with Head East's appearance at the Limelight Eventplex in Peoria, IL on February 24th, Head East band leader and keyboardist Roger Boyd recently spoke with radio personalities Lynch and Liz from WYMG 100.5 FM serving Springfield, Illinois. Listen to the interview on Sound Cloud linked below: 
The Kankakee Daily Journal Newspaper recently ran the article, "Head East to play Watseka Theatre" in conjunction with the band's appearance at the Watseka Theatre in Watseka, IL on Saturday, February 25th. The article features an interview with Head East band leader and keyboardist Roger Boyd and can be read online on the Daily Journal website linked below:
During Head East's 47 year career many up and coming bands have been opening acts for Head East. Some have gone on to stardom while many others have faded into obscurity. Of those who gained stardom, Van Halen and AC/DC immediately come to mind. AC/DC were special guests of Head East at their August 17, 1977 show at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The concert which attracted a near capacity crowd of about 2,000 fans was one of nearly 200 shows performed by Head East that year.