Nothing makes you appreciate Chicago more than a free rock concert in the park, unless it’s 100 degrees. Then, you’d have to be mad to want to sit out there for three hours absorbing not only oppressive heat, but cancerous sun rays and thick humidity. If there were a pair of bands that could battle such harsh conditions it would be spooky art rockers My Gold Mask and experimental poppers Blonde Redhead, whose mix of digital samples and high-pitched, cutting vocals were enough to distract from the unbearable weather.

Continue Reading…

By Audrey Leon  \  comments

The Spanish electronic music festival Sonar has released the first round of acts for its first ever Chicago edition to be held Thursday, Sept. 9 through Saturday, Sept. 11 at both Jay Pritzker Pavilion and the Chicago Cultural Center.

Time Out Chicago confirms that Canadian DJ Kid Koala will perform with his new project The Slew. Also slated to appear are dubstep guru Martyn, electronica artist and producer Nosaj Thing, Chicago experimental producer The Flashbulb, and ambient techno-poppers Oval, who are signed to Chicago’s own Thrill Jockey.

Get the full schedule and information on Sonar’s film festival after the jump.

Continue Reading…

By Audrey Leon  \  comments

The full lineup for the 32nd Annual Chicago Jazz Festival scheduled for September 2-5 in downtown Chicago was announced today.

As previously reported, the festival will take on a bit of different look this year, due to city budget cuts that have forced a smaller scale operation.  Grant Park will host performances on September 4 and 5 with the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center holding shows on September 2 and 3.

As always all of the events are free and open to the public.

Continue Reading…

By Andrew Kahn  \  comments

Three long-and-curly-hair-in-the-muggy-summertime-is-a-bad-idea reasons to grab your folding chairs and some snacks and head to Pritzker Pavilion tonight…

1. Tonight is night one of the Downtown Sound summer concert series and that means it’s summer, right? I mean it is right in the name. Chicagoans earn summer each year and come out in droves (not to mention in flip flops) once the sun even hints at shining. The city in return responds with a plethora of outdoor festivals. Well, here we are. For the complete line-up of bands playing this years Downtown Sound check out our comprehensive list. As for tonight…

Continue Reading…

By Ross Meyerson  \  comments

The Edible Audible Picnic free concert series at Millennium Park announced an expanded line-up of electronic based artists that has a sharp focus on local acts and labels.

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Millennium Park sponsored events will take place at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion from noon – 1:00 p.m. each Monday starting June 7 through August 30.  There also three Saturday events scheduled for July 3, 24 and September 4.

Continue Reading…

By Andrew Kahn  \  comments

Hold onto your hats (your tiny biking hats) late 20-something Chicago raised indie rockers! Your favorite band, Hum is poised to reunite once again to send you all into a tizzy.

Remember how you all paid, I believe, upwards of $65 to see them on new years at the Double Door a few years back? Seemed a bit much, but this time around you may get to keep your wallet in your pocket because, according to Hum’s Web site, this reunion show will take place at Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park on Monday, May 31. That means free, right? More details to come.

In the meantime, pull out those old cd’s or buy them again (I’m sure you can find them in the cut-out bins), and remember what it was like to be in your teens. When local bands seemed like gods, and Radiohead hadn’t yet completely blown your minds.

By Ross Meyerson  \  5 comments

If your Monday evening stroll in downtown’s Millennium Park is interrupted by some raucous noise from the beautiful Jay Pritzker Pavilion, don’t be alarmed.

It’s only the new Downtown Sound: News Music Mondays series, which offers free Monday evening performances from up-and-coming national and local acts. Downtown Sound, a renamed and newly time-slotted version of last year’s Audible Architecture music series, joins Dusk Variations: A Chamber Series and Edible Audible picnic as one of three new music series at Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion this summer. It’s the combination of local and national acts, low key Monday nights and early evening start time that makes Downtown Sound: New Music Mondays so appealing to many Chicago music fans.

Continue Reading…

By Richard Giraldi  \  3 comments