BackForward / Adam Cartwright
BackForward Trio (3-Piece)
BackForward Band
Adam (Solo Acoustic Guitarist / Singer)
Solo Acoustic Sample Video
Goo Goo Dolls – Slide Acoustic Cover
Hey Jealousy – Gin Blossoms (Acoustic Version)
Solo Acoustic Guitarist / Singer
BackForward 4-Piece Full Band
Naperville Concert In The Park Overhead
Naperville Concert In The Park
BackForward Trio
BackForward Duo
BackForward Solo
Adam – Solo Performance at a Brewery
BackForward Trio performing in Chicago
Overview
BackForward is available as a solo acoustic, duo, trio or 4-piece rock band. We primarily play radio hits from the 80s-90s-current. We also play a bit of 1960s-70's classic rock and some country and original music. Based in Naperville, IL - we play all over Chicagoland and are willing to travel further depending on the event. Looking forward to playing for you!
Reviews
38 reviews
Ray K.
October 15, 2023Adam is the Absolute BEST!
We had Adam for our Fall house party. What a blessing and we a so grateful to have found him. He has been exactly what one might expect and want from a true professional entertainer! He’s vocals are outstanding, guitar, timing and blending in with the party guests and hosts make him my 100% top recommendation. BOOK HIM, and have a peace of mind that your party is well taken care off. Also, he’s great about choosing the right music.
Hired as: 1980s Era Entertainment, 1990s Era Entertainment, Acoustic Band, Classic Rock Band, Guitarist, One Man Band, Singing Guitarist
BackForward / Adam Cartwright
Had so much fun at your event! Thanks to you, your family and all your guests for a Fantastic Fall Party!
Brad H.
June 29, 2023Great back yard party
I hired BackForward for a backyard party. Had them play for 4 hours and they sounded great!
Hired as: Rock Band
BackForward / Adam Cartwright
Thanks for having us Brad - such a great time for everyone. We're looking forward to your your next rockin' party!
Jason W.
July 1, 2026Adam is amazing!
Not only did he fill in for us with very little notice, but helped us make our weekend one of the best we have had in sometime. I can’t thank him enough!
Hired as: Singing Guitarist
BackForward / Adam Cartwright
Thank you so much for having me at your festival. Looking forward to playing there again!
Rachel P.
May 2, 2026This Band Is A Must For Your Party
Highly recommend! Super easy to work with, great communication, and they did an amazing job keeping everyone engaged. They brought great energy and even managed to get my husband, who never speaks in front of a crowd, involved. That alone was impressive. Everything felt smooth and fun the whole time
Hired as: 1980s Era Entertainment, 1990s Era Entertainment, Alternative Band, Cover Band, Guitarist, Party Band, Rock Band, Singing Guitarist
BackForward / Adam Cartwright
Thank you for the kind words, we had a great time at your party!!
Violet
March 24, 2026Memory Care for Seniors family event for St. Patrick's Day
Adam did a great job! We had a St. Patrick's Day event, and he had everyone enjoying the music. Thank You and I would definitely hire him again for an event.
Hired as: Singing Guitarist
BackForward / Adam Cartwright
Thanks for having me, so nice to meet everyone and spend St. Pats With you!
Booking information
Price range: Contact for rates
Languages: English
Gig length: 30 - 240 minutes
What to expect
Our setlist is up to 4 hours long with radio hits primarily from the 80's-90's to 2000's+ current hits including Tears For Fears, Duran Duran, New Order, Gin Blossoms, Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, Don Henley, Poison, etc. We also do some classic rock from the 1960s-70s (Pink Floyd, Lynryd Skynrd, Van Morrison, Rolling Stones etc), as well as a bit of modern country (Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts) and some original music.
We perform as these options:
– Solo (Guitar / Singer)
– Duo (Guitar / Singer + Bass / Singer + Drum Tracks)
– Trio (Guitar / Singer + Bass / Singer + Live Drums / Singer)
– 4-Piece Full Band (Guitar / Singer + Bass / Singer + Drums / Singer + Keyboards / Piano)
We bring all of our own equipment and will setup prior to event start time.
We're looking forward to making your event / location fun!
About
BackForward is a rock band based in Naperville, IL. We perform all over the Chicagoland area in bars, restaurants, private events and concerts. All of the musicians have been playing in bands for many years and have all done in excess of 100 gigs at many locations, private parties and events. Whether solo, duo, trio or 4-piece band we will play up to 4 hours with radio hits of famous bands from around the world. The 4-piece offers guitar, bass, keyboards / piano + drums with multi singers on lead vocals and harmony vocals. We play songs from the 1960s-current, with most of the set from the 1980s-current hits. Looking forward to working with you!
Additional booking notes
Equipment we provide:
– Bose Sound System
– Microphones
– Guitar
– Bass
– Keyboard / Piano
– Drums
Will need power supplied.
Services offered
Set list
1. Lets Dance (David Bowie)
2. Slide (Goo Goo Dolls)
3. Kids Arent All Right (offspring)
4. Take On Me (A-Ha)
5. How Soon Is Now? (The Smiths)
6. Hey Jealousy (Gin Blossoms)
7. Rain King (Counting Crows)
8. Stand by me – Every breath you take (Ben E. King / The Police)
9. Jack N Diane (John Cougar Mellencamp)
10. Wagon Wheel (Darius Rucker / Old Crow Medicine Show
11. Wonderwall (Oasis)
12. Alex Chilton (The Replacements)
13. Never Let Me Down (Depeche Mode)
14. Bizarre Love Triangle (New Order)
15. This Must Be The Place (Talking Heads)
17. Rockin Free World (Neil Young)
18. Just What I Needed (The Cars)
19. Gimme Shelter (Rolling Stones)
20. The Way It Is (Bruce Hornsby)
21. Jane Says (Janes Addiction)
22. Rebel Yell (Billy Idol)
23. Dancing in the dark (Bruce Springsteen)
25. Everybody Want To Rule The World (Tears For Fears)
26. Even Flow (Pearl Jam)
27. Nutshell - (Alice In Chains)
28. Every Rose has its thorn (Poison)
29. Careless Whisper (George Michael)
30. Boys of Summer (Don Henley)
31. Man in the box (Alice In Chains)
32. Disarm (Smashing Pumpkins)
33. My hero (Foo Fighters)
34. Working For The Weekend (Loverboy)
35. Who can it be now (Men At Work)
36. Just like Heaven (The Cure)
37. Elderly Woman Behind The Counter (Pearl Jam)
38. Can’t you see (Marshall Tucker)
39. What Hurts (Rascal Flatts)
40. Hash Pipe 2 (Weezer)
41. Kryptonite (3 Doors Down)
42. Somebody To Shove (Soul Asylum)
43. All Summer Long / Sweet Home Alabama (Kid Rock / Lynyrd Skynyrd)
44. Brown eyed girl (Van Morrison)
45. Wish you were here (Pink Floyd)
46. Comfortably Numb (Pink Floyd)
47. Hungry Like The Wolf (Duran Duran)
48. Dont You Forget About Me (Simple Minds)
51. Good Things (BoDeans)
55. All along the watchtower (Bob Dylan / Jimi Hendrix)
56. Free Fallin’ (Tom Petty)
57. God gave me you (Blake Shelton)
58. Something Like That (Tim McGraw)
59. Anywhere with you (Jake Owen)
60. Days Like This (Van Morrison)
61. Hello (Adele)
62. Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen / Jeff Buckley)
63. Wont Back Down (Tom Petty)
64. Losing My Religion (REM)
65. Turn The Page (Bob Seger)
66. Fire Away (Chris Stapleton)
67. Drink A Beer (Luke Bryan)
68. Joey (Concrete Blonde)
69. Low (Cracker)
70. Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton)
71. Cant Help Falling In Love (Elvis)
72. Love Song (The Cure)
73. One Of Us (Joan Osbourne
74. Tangled Up In Blue (Bob Dylan)
75. Landslide (Fleetwood Mac)
76. Cheers Theme (Where Everybody Knows Your Name)
77. Do They Know Its Christmas (Band Aid)
78. Building A Mystery (Sarah McLaclan)
79. My Hear Cant Tell You No (Rod Stewart)
80. Have I Told You Lately? (Van Morrison)
81. The Rest Of The Dream (John Hiatt)
82. If I Had A Boat (Lyle Lovett)
83. The Middle (Jimmy Eat World)
84. Melt With You (Modern English)
85. Shine (Collective Soul)
86. Fight For Your Right To Party (Beastie Boys)
87. Mr Brightside (The Killers)
88. Chicken Fried (Zac Brown)
89. Dust On The Bottle (David Lee Murphy)
90. Fast Car (Luke Combs/Tracy Chapman
91. Fire On The Mountain (Grateful Dead)
92. Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder / Red Hot Chili Peppers)
93. Hotel California (Eagles)
94. Mama Im Coming Home (Ozzy Osbourne)
95. Shoulda Been A Cowboy (Toby Keith)
96. Take Me Home Country Roads (John Denver)
97. Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)
98. Happy Birthday
+ Many More
(10) BackForward Originals
+ Requests
Influences and inspiration
Primarily influenced by 1980-s, 90's - current rock artists.
80's rock / pop, 90's Alternative, grunge. 60's-70's classic rock + a bit of country.
Setup requirements
Electricity needed to power equipment