The Venue

After an extensive search for a permanent home for the Fox Valley Music Foundation, the perfect location was presented to us by the City of Aurora. 21 South Broadway was once the Woolworth Building. Although the building was destined for demolition as part of the City’s formal and long term Master Plan, the Foundation's leaders convinced the City to give them a crack at turning the building into a live music performance and special event space. The City Council voted to approve the proposal and we entered into a Redevelopment Agreement in November 2017.

 

The location in the heart of downtown Aurora only seemed appropriate, given that the impetus for the formation of the Foundation came out of the knowledge and love of the Bluebird recordings that took place in downtown Aurora during 1937 and 1938. The rediscovery of those recordings by a group of local blues enthusiasts in the mid 1990’s led to the formation of the Fox Valley Blues Society, who originated the Blues on the Fox festival that first took place in 1997.

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The growth and significance of the Blues on the Fox festival was a huge factor in the development of the area's premier outdoor music venue named RiverEdge Park, located just north of downtown Aurora. 

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Today, the Foundation is located at 21 South Broadway in Aurora,, also the home of our performance space called The Venue. The building is located on the west side of Broadway (IL Rt. 25), south of Galena Blvd., north of Downer Pl., directly adjacent to Mundy Park. Our building entrance can be found on the Water Street Mall at the rear of the building.

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Needless to say, we are excited about the future and what opportunities we'll find to continue our mission to preserve, promote, protect and present music in the Fox River Valley. We hope you will join us on that journey! 

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For more information on upcoming shows and events scheduled for our 200-seat live music space with the best sound around, click the button below. (Don't forget, our space is available to rent for your private event too - contact us today!)