Sound check: Lolla, Homegrown and Bitter Jester this weekend
Lollapalooza returns to Grant Park. Homegrown celebrates local artists. Brian McKnight and Ruben Studdard hit Ravinia and Bitter Jester preps for week two of its summer series.
Columns
Sound check: Tina Jenkins Crawley at Gospelfest; Puddle of Mudd, Shallow Side bring rock to Lombard
Post-grunge/nu metal rockers Puddle of Mudd head the lineup at Afterlife Music Hall; the Bitter Jester summer concert/contest series returns; Underbelly Hours host a local showcase; and Tina Jenkins Crawley inspires at Gospelfest.
Sound check: Backyard Tire Fire returns to Aurora; Foghat at the Arcada; Geekd, The Shades and JORDY’s tour
Americana rock band Backyard Tire Fire plays The Venue’s outdoor stage, Mundy Park; Christian Moreno headlines the first night of the Separate Waves II art/music showcase; and Foghat takes the Arcada Stage.
Sound check: Metal scene streaming Dio’s birthday, benefit show
Heavy metal rockers celebrate the birthday of the late Ronnie James Dio; country and folk artists play Chill Nation in Buffalo Grove; Everclear heads up Summerland Tour; Tony Ocean plays the suburbs; and catch new music from Everyday Fantastic.
Sound check: Hey Nonny’s showcase with Todd Kessler
Deerfield musician Todd Kessler presents his final showcase (for now) at Hey Nonny; Long Play Music Festival brings hits to Loves Park; Buffalo Grove Brewing hosts a patriotic concert in Long Grove.
Sound check: Wolf Rd plays ‘Counterpoint’ release show at Empirical Brewery
Des Plaines-born Wolf Rd puts its pop-punk on stage; music on the menu at Long Grove Strawberry Fest; Reece Brunke’s livestreaming benefit; and Side Street gets behind the cameras.
Sound check: House Music anniversary show, Underbelly Hours showcase and more
The Arcada Theatre’s new summer lineup, House Music Saved My Life’s 10th anniversary, Underbelly Hours’ local showcase, and three ways you can help podcasters and musicians.
Sound check: Billy Strings takes the stage at Wintrust Field
Bluegrass star Billy Strings plays Schaumburg’s Wintrust Field, Fletcher Rockwell heads to BrauerHouse and Norah Jones livestreams her latest album.
Sound check: Moore’s listening party; the Morellos on Dave Grohl’s series
Elgin hip-hop artist Andrew Moore hosts a listening party/dinner; Dave Grohl features Tom Morello and his mom; Jeff Tweedy plays a drive-in show; Bitter Jester and Punk the Burbs are looking for submissions.
Sound check: Rosemont’s Rockin’ concert series returns; Homegrown battle of the bands
The “Rockin’ in the Park” summer concert series at Rosemont’s Parkway Bank Park kicks off this weekend; Homegrown Arts & Music Festival’s battle of the bands is Friday at BaseCamp; fest updates and more.
Sound check: Drive-up for Local H, The Mummies in Schaumburg
Chicago’s Local H and The Mummies reunion tour warm up the Live from the Lot stage in Schaumburg; Underbelly Hours hosts local showcase in Wheaton; “Situation Chicago 2” benefit compilation released Friday.
Sound check: Jukebox the Ghost revisits ‘Everything’
Jukebox the Ghost plays through its second album; families are invited to enjoy music with Little Jams; Bach Week Festival hits devices; and some major tours are coming back to the area.
Sound check: Get your mouth watering for Windy City Smokeout
Chicago’s weekend festival of country music and barbecue is back on; RocHaus fires up the stage lights for a show this weekend; and more.
Sound check: Andrea Dawn, Emily Tipping livestreaming from The Venue
The Venue in Aurora hosts Andrea Dawn and Emily Tipping livestreams; Arcada’s return; Tony Ocean at Chicago Prime; Beach Bunny plays Fallon and more.
Sound check: Get happy with outdoor Warp Corps; Samantha Fish in Aurora
Warp Corps holds its second annual outdoor music festival in Woodstock’s Town Square, and Samantha Fish plays the blues at Piazza.
Sound check: PIQNIQ music fest is back — as a drive-in event
Tickets are on sale for 101-WKQX’s PIQNIQ; new ARC Fest appears on the horizon; Side Street opens up its battle of the bands.
Sound check: Whitney, Ike Reilly and livestream fundraisers
The stars are coming out for Backline’s “Set Break” benefit show for mental health awareness; also Whitney, Ike Reilly, a Nichols Concert Hall chamber series streaming this week.
Sound check: Todd Kessler’s showcase returns to Hey Nonny
Music is back on stage at Hey Nonny and on screen at The Venue; plus not-to-miss livestreams this next week.
Sound check: Crown Vic Royal live, Lumineers on screen, Plain White T’s on stage
The Chicago area’s Plain White T’s play an acoustic-duo show in Waukegan; the Lumineers’ concert footage gets a limited theatrical release; Ramsey Lewis’ most-requested songs; and more.
Sound check: Hey Nonny brings music back to Arlington Heights
Hey Nonny’s lineup Signs are popping up that spring is creeping in to the area,