Summer in the City

There really is no better city in the summer than Chicago. Some say it’s everyone busting out of their skin from all of the winter hibernation, but I say it’s because Chicago is filled to the brim with culture and summer is when we have the chance to shine.

So, here we are again, facing another incredible summer of music in the City of Big Shoulders. Lean on me bro, as we take a little look into what’s in store. And just to give you an idea of how serious things are about to get, try this on for size: The season gets kicked off with a member of one of the greatest bands of all time playing an iconic album in a historic baseball stadium. Seems about right to me!

Notable Single Shows

• Roger Waters – Friday, June 8 (Wrigley Field)
• Deer Tick w/ Scott Lucas & the Married Men, Turbo Fruits – Saturday, June 9 (Metro)
• Earth Wind & Fire – Saturday, June 9 (Ravinia)
• Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley – Saturday, June 9 (Wrigley Field)
• Radiohead – Sunday, June 10 (First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre)
• Dennis DeYoung – Thursday, June 14 (Navy Pier Rooftop)
• Moby – Saturday, June 16 (Congress Theater)
• Bruce Hornsby w/ Van Ghost – Sunday, June 17 (Park West)
• Jimmy Cliff – Sunday, June 17 (Ravinia)
• Foster the People w/ Tokyo Police Club, Kimbra – Wednesday, June 20 (Congress Theater)
• Mogwai w/ Balam Acab – Wednesday, June 20 (Metro)
• Keane w/ Mystery Jets – Friday, June 22 (The Vic Theatre)
• Aerosmith w/ Cheap Trick – Friday, June 22 (United Center)
• Styx and REO Speedwagon – Sunday, June 24 (Charter One Pavilion)
• Scissor Sisters – Sunday, June 24 (The Vic Theatre)
• Glen Hansard – Tuesday, June 26 (The Vic Theatre)
• Glen Campbell – Thursday, June 28 (Ravinia)
• Aretha Franklin w/ The Impressions – Saturday, June 30 (Arie Crown Theater)
• David Gray – Saturday, June 30 (House of Blues)
• Jimmy Buffet – Saturday, June 30 (First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre)
• Sarah McLachlan – Saturday, June 30 (Ravinia)
• Neil Diamond – Friday, July 6 (United Center)
• Tenacious D – Saturday, July 7 (Aragon Ballroom)
• Barenaked Ladies, Blues Traveler, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Cracker – Monday, July 9 (Charter One Pavilion)
• Blitzen Trapper – Monday, July 9 (Lincoln Hall)
• Santana – Monday, July 9 (Ravinia)
• The Blues Brothers feat. Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi – Wednesday, July 11 (Ravinia)
• Barry Manilow – Friday, July 13 (Chicago Theatre)
• Diana Krall – Tuesday, July 17 (Ravinia)
• Tedeschi Trucks Band – Wednesday, July 18 (Ravinia)
• Bodeans – Friday, July 20 (Ravinia)
• Seal and Macy Gray – Sunday, July 22 (Ravinia)
• James Taylor – Friday, July 27 & Saturday, July 28 (Ravinia)
• Chicago – Saturday, July 28 (Charter One Pavilion)
• Rascal Flatts – Saturday, July 28 (First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre)
• Crosby, Stills & Nash – Friday, August 3 (Ravinia)
• Matisyahu w/ The Dirty Heads – Tuesday, August 7 (Congress Theater)
• Garbage – Tuesday, August 7 (Metro)
• Coldplay w/ Marina and the Diamonds, Charli XCX – Tuesday, August 7 & Wednesday, August 8 (United Center)
• Rufus Wainwright – Wednesday, August 8 (Bank of America Theatre)
• Huey Lewis and The News & Joe Cocker – Friday, August 10 (Ravinia)
• Train – Saturday, August 11 & Sunday, August 12 (Ravinia)
• 311 w/ Slightly Stoopid, The Aggrolites – Friday, August 17 (Charter One Pavilion)
• Tony Bennett – Saturday, August 18 (Ravinia)
• My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses – Wednesday, August 22 (Pritzker Pavilion)
• Gotye w/ Missy Higgins, Jonti – Friday, August 24 (Charter One Pavilion)
• Lyle Lovett – Friday, August 24 (Ravinia)
• John Hiatt and Combo – Sunday, August 26 (Ravinia)
• Duran Duran – Wednesday, August 29 (Ravinia)
• Daryl Hall & John Oates – Saturday, September 1 (Ravinia)
• Kelly Clarkson – Saturday, September 1 (First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre)
• Toby Keith – Sunday, September 2 (First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre)
• Umphrey’s McGee – Sunday, September 2 (Congress Theater)
• Bruce Springsteen – Friday, September 7 & Saturday, September 8 (Wrigley Field)
• Kiss and Motley Crue – Friday, September 7 (First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre)
• Buddy Guy w/ Johnny Lang – Saturday, September 15 (The Chicago Theatre)
• Rush – Saturday, September 15 (United Center)
• Fishbone – Sunday, September 16 (Congress Theater)
• Madonna – Wednesday, September 19 (United Center)
• Ani DiFranco – Tuesday, September 25 (The Vic Theatre)
• Peter Gabriel – Thursday, September 27 (United Center)
• The Avett Brothers – Friday, September 28 (Charter One Pavilion)

Special Venues

Jay Pritzker Pavilion
When it comes to music, you can’t do much better than free. The Grant Park Music Festival celebrates its 78^th season of free summertime classical music. Opening night is June 13 and it runs at least two, and sometimes three shows per week through August 18. So, pack a picnic and enjoy the world’s greatest music under the world’s greatest skyline. And if you go on Saturday, be sure to stick around for the Navy Pier fireworks.

Ravinia
The best shows from this year’s Ravinia calendar are noted above, but it really doesn’t even matter what you’re there to see. Gather some friends, get some cheap lawn tickets, pack a picnic (don’t forget the booze) and enjoy one of the most unique music venues around. Just keep in mind that they keep the lawn quiet for classical shows. So, if you want to gab with your pals, pick a rock show.

Neighborhood Festivals
Yeah, we agree, many of the hundreds of neighborhood festivals across Chicago are very similar. But as far as music goes, a few are making starting to stand out from the crowd. Green Music Fest (June 23-24),World’s Largest Block Party (June 29-30) and Wicker Park Fest (July 28-29), are among the best.

Local Festivals

Chicago Blues Festival – June 8 – 10 (Grant Park)
The largest free blues festival in the world and Chicago Blues Festival is the largest of Chicago’s music festivals. During three days, five stages and more than 500,000 blues fans, the fest proves Chicago is the “Blues Capital of the World.” This year’s highlights include Texas Johnny Brown, Floyd Taylor, Mavis Staples and many, many more.

Spring Awakening Music Festival – June 16 – 17 (Soldier Field)
This fest will make history this summer by being first dance music festival to take place both outside and inside of Soldier Field. Two-day passes are $120 and daily admittance is $65. Be sure to catch Moby, Afrojack and Skrillex.

Taste of Chicago – June 12-15 (Grant Park)
Besides the new dates, this year’s Taste also introduces a charge for seats at the Petrillo Music Shell. And a charge it is. $25 will let you rest your feet during Jennifer Hudson, Death Cab for Cutie and Chaka Khan. The Bud Light Stage is still free and it’s where you can catch Kids These Days and a special tribute day on the 14^th featuring the music of Woody Guthrie, Koko Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Pitchfork Music Festival – June 13-15 (Union Park)
Hop on the Green Line and catch the first of two killer fests in Union Park. Individual day tickets are $45. Three-dday passes are sold out. Among the best of this year’s line-up is Sleigh Bells, Atlas Sound, Feist, Vampire Weekend, Beach House, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Hot Chip, AraabMUZIK, A$AP Rocky, Grimes, Cloud Nothings and Liturgy.

Chicago Gospel Music Festival – June 21 – 24 (Millennium Park & Ellis Park)
Changing it up this year, the main part of Gospel Fest will be moving to Ellis Park (37^th and Cottage Grove). Don’t miss J. Moss, Fred Hammond, Take 6, Blind Boys of Alabama and Mary Mary.

Lollapalooza – August 3-5 (Grant Park)
More than 20 years since Lolla first blew our minds with bands like Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, the fest is now a who’s who of bands from around the world. To use the term highlights seems a bit understated, but yet again we’ll get a taste of the best with The Black Keys, Black Sabbath, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Avicii, Jack White, Florence and the Machine, The Shins, Bassnectar, Franz Ferdinand, JJ Grey & Mofro, Trampled by Turtles and Miike Snow. Single day tickets are all that’s left at $95 a pop.

Chicago Jazz Festival – August 30 – September 2 (Grant Park)

The 34^th annual Chicago Jazz Festival is a great way to wind down the summer music scene in Chicago. It’s definitely more geared towards jazz aficionados than, say, the New Orleans version. But don’t let that deter you. There’s definitely a little something for everyone. Roy Hayes, Dianne Reeves and Allen Toussaint headline this year’s gathering.

North Coast Music Festival – August 31 – September 2 (Union Park)
Put on by a collaboration of independent promoters in Chicago, this one has that special, local vibe to it. Chicago-favorites Umphrey’s McGee, Pretty Lights, Paul Oakenfold, Future Rock, Wyllys & The NY Hustler Ensemble, Family Groove Company all add to it too.

Riot Fest and Carnival – September 14-16 (Humbolt Park)
Hosted in Chicago and Philadelphia, Riot Fest and Carnival will get your head banging with Rise Against, A Day to Remember, The Offspring, Alkaline Trio, Built to Spill, Dropkick Murphys, Elvis Costello, Fishbone, GWAR, Less than Jake, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and Rev. Horton Heat.

Near Chicago

Alpine Valley (Elkhorn, WI)
Phish – June 30, July 1
Dave Matthews Band – July 6, 7
Jimmy Buffet – August 25
Kiss & Motley Crue – September 8

Deer Creek (Klipsch) (Noblesville, IN)
Dave Matthews Band – June 22, 23
Phish – June 28, 29
Iron Maiden – July 19
Jimmy Buffet – July 31
Kiss & Motley Crue – September 1

All Good Music Festival and Campout – July 19 – 22 (Thornville, OH)
Get your fill of jam bands right here! The pioneers of the genre are among this year’s headliners: The Allman Brothers Band, Phil Lesh & Friends, Bob Weir & Bruce Hornsby and Mickey Hart Band. There’s plenty from the modern era too, including Yonder Mountain String Band, G. Love & Special Sauce, Railroad Earth, The Wood Brothers and Trampled by Turtles. Tickets are only sold in four-day passes for $199 in advance. Looks like they’ll be closer to $250 at the gate.

Jammin’ on the Wolf – July 26 – 28 (Langlade, WI)
Getting bigger and better every year, this mostly-trancefusion fest features three stages and three days of solid music, mostly from the Midwest area. Break Science, Wyllys & the New York Hustler Ensemble, This Must Be the Band and The New Fuse are among more than 40 bands scheduled to play. Three-day passes are $100 in advance and $125 at the door for VIP and $75 and $90 (respectively) for general admission.

Lou Fest – August 25-26 (St. Louis, MO)
Year three and getting nothing but better. St. Louis as a city continues to make big strides towards putting itself back on the cultural map and Lou Fest is a great example. Still small but getting bigger, this year’s notables are The Flaming Lips, Girl Talk, Dinosaur Jr. and Phantogram. Two-day passes are $70, or you can grab individual days for $40 each.