Gay Country Singer Steve Grand to Perform at Market Days 2013

Chicago-area native and gay country singer Steve Grand is slated to perform at Northalsted Market Days Saturday, taking the stage just before pop trio Wilson Phillips, organizers announced.

Grand will perform his viral gay-themed love song “All American Boy” at 8 :15 p.m. on the street festival’s North Stage. Market Days’ headliners also include names like Lynda Carter and David Cassidy.

On July 2, Grand, an aspiring songwriter, released the video for "All-American Boy," a country-rock ballad about unrequited love. The video has attracted more than 1.8 million views and thousands of fans on Facebook and Twitter. 

Grand also attracted the attention of media outlets across the country, including Good Morning America, the Associated Press, Windy City Live and several radio stations.

Grand, who graduated from Lemont High School in 2008, discovered he was gay in eighth grade. Although "All-American Boy" is based on his own experience falling for a straight friend during summer camp, Grand said the story is one that transcends sexual orientation.

"The song is not about being gay," Grand told Patch in July. "I've been able to relate to straight people my whole life and the way they experience love. I hope people are smart enough to realize that everyone has an 'All-American Boy,' whether they're gay, straight, or a man or woman."

Northalsted Market Days’ full lineup is as follows:

Saturday

• Aiden Leslie, 2-2:30 p.m.
• Aaron Carter, 3:15-4:30 p.m.
• K Rose, 5;15-5:45 p.m.
• Kerli, 6:30-7:15 p.m.
• Branden James, 8 p.m.
• Steve Grand, 8:15 p.m.
• Wilson Phillips, 8:30-9:45 p.m.

• Everelle, 12:15-1:15 p.m.
• Slap Happy, 2-3:30 p.m.
• Chicago Spirit Brigade, 3:30 p.m.
• Legendary Rockstars, 4:15-5:35 p.m.
• Cherie Currie, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
• 10,000 Maniacs, 8:30-9:45 p.m.

• Sugar High, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
• Sugar High, 1:50-2:50 p.m.
• Girlband, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
• The Lauren Wolf Band, 5-6:30 p.m.
• Dot Dot Dot, 7:45-9:30 p.m.

Sunday

• Kristine W, 1-1:45 p.m.
• Kat Graham, 3-3:30 p.m.
• Shara Strand, 4:40-4:50 p.m.
• Alexis Jordan, 5-5:30 p.m.
• Whiskey & Cherries, 5:30-6 p.m.
• David Cassidy, 6:45-7:45 p.m.
• Erasure’s Andy Bell, 9-9:45 p.m.

• A Thousand Julys, 12:15-1:30 p.m.
• Chicago Spirit Brigade, 1:30 p.m.
• A Thousand Julys, 1:50-2:50 p.m.
• Windy City Cowboys, 2:50 p.m.
• Jaymes & James, 4-4:30 p.m.
• Lynda Carter, 5:30-7 p.m.
• 16 Candles, 8-9:45 p.m.

• Déjà vu, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
• Déjà vu, 1:50-2:50 p.m.
• The Handcuffs, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
• 7th Heaven, 5:15-7:15 p.m.
• Journey Unauthorized, 8-9:45 p.m.