A Concert for Will’s Place

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Will’s Place is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a positive, safe, and inclusive workspace for a portion of our population that too often gets overlooked in the job market.

Lineup:
Al Stewart (“Year of the Cat”, “Time Passages”, “On the Border”)
The Empty Pockets (#1 Billboard Blues Artists)
Lynne Jordan (Chicago blues diva)
Todd Kessler (Singer-songwriter featured on NBC’s The Voice)
Chase Huna (Jazz saxophone rising star)
Barry DeBois (Star of ‘Once the Musical’ National Tour)
The Lovettes (A Salute to the Female Icons & Girls Groups of the 40s-60s)
Hosted by Chicago radio legend Steve Cochran

Will’s Place Cafe: 
Will’s Place is more than just a sandwich shop—it is a movement toward a more equitable workforce. Our mission is to:
· Provide comprehensive job training and employment opportunities for adults with disabilities.
· Educate the community about inclusivity and the capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
· Foster an environment where diversity is celebrated and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

The Empty Pockets:
Will is our biggest fan (and also band member Josh’s younger brother)
But this world isn’t always designed for people like Will who have a disability.
That’s why The Empty Pockets are excited to announce our A Concert for Will’s Place; a Skokie, Illinois-based café offering a chef-driven, ingredient-focused sandwich menu while providing employment opportunities to adults with developmental disabilities.

Chicago blues quartet The Empty Pockets harness a joyful friction between Americana, folk, and rock ‘n’ roll spiked with roots soul. The Chicago quartet – Josh Solomon [guitar, vocals], Erika Brett [keyboards, vocals], Nate Bellon [bass, vocals], and Adam Balasco [drums] – lean on an unspoken, yet airtight musical dialogue honed by countless miles on the road, performances alongside the likes of Kenny Loggins, a procession of fan favorite releases (including two #1 debuts), and a wealth of memories together. The musicians shine brighter than ever in 2025, touring on the strength of their top-of-the-charts independent albums. The band has never sounded better on their latest record, a beautifully captured concert album, “Live In Buffalo.”

Al Stewart:
Al Stewart came to stardom as part of the legendary British folk revival in the sixties and seventies and developed the combination of folk-rock songs with delicately woven tales of the great characters and events from history. Stewart has 19 studio albums between “Bedsitter Images” in 1967 and “Sparks of Ancient Light” in 2008, plus the live album “Al Stewart and the Empty Pockets Live” 2023.

Al continues to tour extensively around the U.S. and Europe. He is perhaps best known for his hits ‘Year of the Cat” from the Platinum album of the same name and the Platinum follow up album “Time Passages.” But his career spans four decades as a key figure in British music. He played at the first ever Glastonbury Festival in 1970, worked with Yoko Ono pre-Lennon and shared a London apartment with a young Paul Simon.
“This venerable singer-songwriter is still doing what he does best, and clearly his best is as good as ever.”
— Miami Herald

Will’s Place Skokie
The Empty Pockets