Sound check: Celebrate Latin artists at Ruido Fest; Boz Scaggs; Alice in Chains with Bush

Ruido weekend

Argentine ska band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs are cruising into town this weekend, and they’re bringing singer-songwriter Cuco, the “high”-jinks of hip-hop group Cypress Hill, Babasonicos, Carla Morrison and a full lineup of Latin artists with them for the three-day Ruido Fest. Held at Chicago’s Union Park, the fest celebrates the cultural contributions to the global musical conversation around alternative, electronic and rock en espanol. Save time Sunday afternoon to catch the funky, synthy grooves of Chicago’s own George Arthur Calendar. Gates open at 2:45 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, and 12:45 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 20-21, at Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St., Chicago. $99.99 for single-day general admission, $199.99 for three-day, with VIP and Ultra VIP packages available. ruidofest.com.

Boz Scaggs and the blues

With more than five decades playing stages around the world, Boz Scaggs has a lot to celebrate, including a new album, on his “Out of the Blues Tour.” He makes a stop at RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora, bringing the Grammy-winning Robert Cray Band and indie singer-songwriter Jeff LeBlanc along. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora. $40 for general admission, $139 for a VIP Tour Package, including special merch and early entry to the park. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.

Dandelion wine, tales and tunes

Waukegan fetes native celebrity Ray Bradbury — the celebrated author behind “Fahrenheit 451,” “The Martian Chronicles” and “Dandelion Wine,” to name just a few — with this weekend’s Dandelion Wine Arts & Music Festival. The afternoon fest fills Bowen Park with art showcases, crafters and story times, while Juiette Z. Payne, Zion Ari, “Jazzman” Jeff Justman, Crooked Moon and more provide the tunes. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at Bowen Park, 1800 N. Sheridan Road, Waukegan. Free admission; food and drinks are available for purchase. waukeganparks.org/dandelion.

Alice in Tinley

With three platinum-selling albums (make that double-, triple- and quadruple-platinum), Alice in Chains is certainly iconic for crafting a sound that’s become synonymous with ’90s alternative. The rock band pays a midweek visit to the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, 19100 Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park, as part of a co-headlining tour with rock band Breaking Benjamin (“I Will Not Bow”), the seminal music of Bush (“Comedown,” “Glycerine,” “Machinehead” and many others) and special guests The L.I.F.E. Project. $18.75 for lawn, $25 and up for reserved pavilion seating. concerts.livenation.com. 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24

Pitbull and Iggy

Rappers Pitbull and Iggy Azalea team up for a midweek performance of electronic-influenced hip-hop under the stars at the Ravinia Festival, 201 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park. General admission lawn seats start at $49, reserved pavilion seating is $115-$155. ravinia.org. 7:30 p.m. (gates open at 5 p.m.) Thursday, Aug. 25

‘Idol’ auditions online

“American Idol” is once again taking to the internet to find its next star-in-the-making. Illinois auditions will be open Wednesday, Aug. 24, so either submit a full video audition recording (see requirements online) or sign up for a virtual audition slot at abc.com/shows/american-idol/auditions.

• Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor and local music junkie. Email him at bshamie@dailyherald.com, find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter (@thatshamieguy) or Instagram (@chicagosoundcheck).

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