Rooftop Concert Planned Atop Restaurant During Shutdown

BRIDGEVIEW, IL — Music lovers in the south suburbs who might be bummed about the cancellation and postponement of concerts this year amid the coronavirus pandemic have a chance to get their live music fix in this upcoming Tuesday. A rooftop concert, complete with proper social distancing but also a rocking good time, is planned atop the Mama Luigi's restaurant at 7500 S. Harlem Ave. in Bridgeview.

Ed Hill & The Unusuals, a local rock band headed by Evergreen Park native Ed Hill, will perform on the roof of the venue from 7-10 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19. While the few "prime spots" have already been reserved, the rest of the parking lot is first come, first served for whoever wants to show up in their cars.

The concert was originally planned for Saturday night, May 16 but has been postponed to Tuesday due to the weather forecast for this upcoming weekend, Hill said.

Hill, whose band last year played the final concert ever at the legendary Duke's Drive-In at 81st and Harlem, said the idea for a rooftop concert amid the pandemic came from his desire to help the community the best way he knew how.

"And for me, that was with music," he said. "I figured people have been locked down long enough that they must be itching to get out and do something remotely normal again."

But with the usual crowds associated with concerts, how would this be possible?

"That's when it hit me," Hill said. "I approached Mama Luigi's, where my band has been playing every second Saturday for the last few years, and I presented them with this idea of doing a concert on the roof, while people sat in their cars and listened. They loved the idea. Fast forward a few days and a few phone calls later and here we are, pulling it off."

Hill said it brings him and the other band members "great joy knowing that we can share our gift of music with everyone and help brighten their day even just a little bit during such an unusual time."