LANSING, Ill. (February 25, 2019) – The Village of Lansing has big plans set and in the making for Fox Pointe’s 2019 summer schedule of musical entertainment and events. Newly hired Director of Fox Pointe Tony Troncozo says they are planning for an “aggressive” 2019 schedule. “What we have [planned] right now is a Wednesday concert series that will be like a concert-in-the-park. You bring your blanket, you bring your chairs, you sit down…and we’ll have a kitchen with full concessions, and we will also have drinks for people.”
Troncozo has booked a variety of local musical acts for the Wednesday Concert Series, including rock, country, Latin, and reggae bands. “We’re going to mix it up and have a little bit of something for everyone. Hopefully people will come to one, and want to come the next week—even if it’s not their favorite music—just to have the atmosphere and be out there in the summer. We haven’t had anything like that in a long time.”
The Wednesday concert series will run full summer with a total of 13 concerts, starting the Wednesday after Memorial Day and ending the Wednesday before Labor Day, with the exception of the July 3rd Wednesday, so as not to conflict with Fourth of July activities. Free to the general public, the Wednesday Concert Series will take place from 7:00pm to 9:30pm. People may arrive earlier if they like, and concessions will be available before and during the concerts.
In addition to the Wednesday Concert Series, Troncozo says they are planning a food truck festival, a two-day blues festival, and a craft beer fest. For August or September he hopes to have a couple of national acts in place. Troncozo also says he expects to have a Fox Pointe website up and running by April to announce and detail upcoming events and to sell tickets online for ticketed events.
Troncozo, who was hired for the full time position of Director of Fox Pointe in December of 2018, has 30 years’ experience in sound and stage production and in booking talent and promoting shows in the Chicago suburbs and Northwest Indiana. Recently married, Troncozo currently lives in Highland, Indiana, but has lived in and around the Lansing area for a good part of his life. Shortly after graduating from TF South in 1984, he explains, he moved to California, where he played as a band musician first and then did some production work for KTLA. He eventually moved back to Lansing and in 1997 started his own production company, Gerard Audio.
Troncozo has helped LACE with every Autumn Fest since its inception. In the years before the Fox Pointe venue was built, he brought the stage and the generator for the Fest. He also ran sound and stage for the last four Lansing Fests at the Knights of Columbus from 1999 to 2002, and he has worked at the St. Thomas More Festival in Munster, Indiana, for 13 years. He has worked in sound and stage production for Lansing’s JJ Kelley’s for 25 years, for Crest Hill’s Bada Brew for 12 years, and for Palatine’s Durty Nellies for 11 years.
According to Troncozo, his job description at Fox Pointe is to get Fox Pointe up and running for community events, to help LACE with Autumn Fest, and to book entertainment and the festivals. “If somebody wants to have an event, they will come through me, and I will explain how everything works and what our usage policy is and rental agreement. We can do corporate events, company picnics, maybe even weddings at some point.” Troncozo will continue to assist LACE with Autumn Fest and possibly with future Cruise Nights. He welcomes requests from all community groups—the library, Visible Music College, the schools, Lions Club, LARC, and Copper Muggers, to name a few. He also is open to submissions from musical talent for consideration for future Fox Pointe events. Troncozo can be reached at Lansing’s Municipal Center: 708-895-7200.
Troncozo makes it clear that as Director of Fox Pointe, he will not be working alone. He will have an ongoing working relationship with the Village administration and Board, the Lansing Police Department, and Lansing Public Works. Plans for Fox Pointe continue to take shape as decisions about sponsorships, liquor licensing, and food vendor qualifications have been and will continue to be agenda items at Village Board meetings. A Fox Pointe usage policy and specific contract language are also being refined. The Village is currently seeking corporate sponsorships as well as applications from chefs who can provide a menu of signature fare for the Fox Pointe concessions.
Troncozo hopes that together they will create a premier destination where both Lansing residents and visitors from out of town will return, invigorating downtown Lansing businesses. “We want them to know it’s a safe, beautiful place that they can come to enjoy.”
