Sound check: Violent Femmes, Nora Marks, Beer Can’d Fest and more

Oktoberfest at Buffalo Creek

Buffalo Creek Brewing goes German this weekend for its annual, family-friendly Oktoberfest celebration at 360 Historical Lane, Long Grove. With traditional food and beer on hand, guests can also participate in Oktoberfest games and challenges, sample the brewery’s featured Oktoberfest beer (The Big Ludwigski) and enjoy music from The Drindolls (7-10 p.m. Friday), the Lake County Symphony Orchestra brass section (3-6 p.m. Saturday) and The Chicago Brass Band (7-10 p.m. Saturday). Free; some proceeds will benefit the Rotary Club of Lake Zurich. buffalocreekbrewing.com/. Noon to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2

Dionne in Des Plaines

Six-time Grammy-winning hitmaker Dionne Warwick (“Walk on By,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “That’s What Friends Are For”) brings her catalog of soulful pop to the suburbs for a show in Des Plaines this weekend. 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at the Des Plaines Theatre, 1476 Miner St., Des Plaines. $59. desplainestheatre.com.

‘Buzzing’ with Nora Marks

Recently Nora Marks has been leaving a trail of singles leading to Friday’s EP release and show. Fans can check out “The Buzzing of Flies,” a thoughtful brew of rock with a punk edge and contemplative lyrics, at the Gman Tavern as Nora Marks takes the stage with Cut Your Losses, OK Cool and Pinksqueeze. 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at Gman Tavern, 3740 N. Clark St., Chicago. $12-$15. gmantavern.com.

CalicoParty

Not afraid to pair deep, emotional songs with upbeat, jangly melodies, CalicoLoco has been bringing joyful life to the Chicago-area music scene for the last few years, most notably with the earlier 2022 releases “Zeke Goes to Lala” and “Life of the Party.” Before the band — including members from Woodstock, Palatine and Chicago — heads out on tour this month, fans can catch them at a Chicago send-off show this weekend with Jen Fur, Llo Llo and an after-show set by DJ Zeetus Lapetus. Also, watch for our feature on the band and its upcoming single next week. 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at Golden Dagger, 2447 N. Halsted St., Chicago. $10. goldendagger.com.

Skateboards and street art

Aurora’s public art department hosts “Bom’ the Lot 2” a daylong event consisting of skateboarding demonstrations; 10 hours of music including bands, DJs and rappers; and 15 artists completing a mural depicting the history of Aurora. The fest takes place at public parking lot H, 14 Middle Ave., Aurora. Enter at Middle Avenue and New York Street. aurora-il.org. Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1

Beer Can’d Festival

Blue Island Beer Company keeps it local for its annual Beer Can’d Festival with a punk and ska bill packed with lots of Chicago and suburban bands. Take the Reins tops the lineup, along with Fear City, The Crombies, Tall Doug, Capgun Heroes, No Dead Heroes, Death & Memphis, Run and Punch, The Repellents, Islanders, James the Boneless, Everything We’re Not, DJ Ivanna Riot and Cara Scandal. 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Blue Island Beer Company, 13357 Old Western Ave., Blue Island. $30. eventbrite.com.

Cornernstones of Rock

Relive the classic rock era with the Cornerstones of Rock show in Waukegan this weekend. The Ides of March (featuring Jim Peterik) headline the evening, which also features The Buckinghams, The Cryan’ Shames and New Colony Six in an extravaganza of favorite tunes, all originally from the Chicago and suburban music scenes. 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $35-$85. genesee theatre.com.

Dressing up with ZORILA

Shine up your shoes for something completely different this weekend. Chicago alt-rock band ZORILA takes the stage at EVOLVE, the Field Associates’ annual fundraising gala at the Field Museum, The benefit, featuring food and drinks from BIPOC- and women-owned Chicago-area businesses, a silent auction and more, raises money for the museum’s community outreach programs, exhibits, research and more. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. $150 per ticket, but discounts for bundles. fieldmuseum.org.

‘Let me go on …’

The Wisconsin-bred band Violent Femmes was a staple in the ’80s — with strummy guitars and melodies that hooked listeners just right (and have stuck with me in particular for near four decades now) and lyrics both clever and just crude enough that I felt like I was doing something wrong. The folk-punk Femmes are coming back to Chicago for two nights at Thalia Hall early next week with Las Cafeteras. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 4-5, at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St., Chicago. Tuesday is sold out, but tickets for Wednesday start at $39.50. thaliahallchicago.com.

Superstar Styles

As fans kept snapping up tickets, Harry Styles’ “Love On Tour 2022: United Center is Harry’s House” tour kept adding dates for his stay in Chicago. Starting Thursday, Oct. 6, Styles and the band, joined by English singer Jessie Ware, will be holding court for two weekends onstage at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. Many shows are sold out, but watch for tickets closer to the show date at unitedcenter.com. 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6; Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 8-9; Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 13-15

• 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).

About Post Author