Music lovers should be impressed with the wide variety of soundstage performances at this year’s Corn Fest—from funk to country and western.

Lollapalooza never had it so good. Well, Corn Fest is free.

“This is the best lineup we’ve had in five years,” said Dave Bavido, program director for WDEK, and the man in charge of the Corn Fest Soundstage.

The Soundstage will be located on Locust Street between Second and Third streets.

Donel Austin and the Austin City Limits will perform Saturday at noon. Austin owns the Austin Music Center in DeKalb and was a popular country and western star in Nashville in the ‘60s.

Also on Saturday, The Duke Quintet will be playing jazz at 2 p.m. The group is made up of former NIU students and led by Brian Duke, who also manages Rose Records in DeKalb.

Mr. Myers, a favorite local act, will be back again jammin’ some reggae and calypso at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Mr. Myers often can be spotted playing Andy’s, but they are also popular in the Chicago music scene.

The Deadbeats will close Saturday night’s performance at 7 p.m. Bavido said they aren’t really a Grateful Dead cover band, but the sound is similar and they do play original tunes.

“If you like the Dead, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the show,” Bavido said.

The Soundstage cranks up again on Sunday at noon with Funkhouse, which also is made up of ex-NIU students. Funkhouse features ‘70s funk like The Ohio Players and Rufus as well as new tunes.

At 2 p.m., the guys that made “easy riding” hip, John Kay and Steppenwolf will be at Corn Fest. (They might be here for Barb Fest as opposed to Corn Fest.)

They’ll be “performing all the classics” including ’60s staples like “Magic Carpet Ride” and “Born to be Wild,” Bavido said. John Kay and Steppenwolf are just returning from a gig at the Holiday Star Theatre in Merriville, Ind.

The highlight will be blues queen Koko Taylor Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Bavido said Taylor is “probably the biggest blues act in the world”. Taylor is one of the last living blues legends.