CenterstageChicago.com Presents: Festivals

Eat to the Beat

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:00:00 CST

The Taste of Chicago (June 26-July 5) is known primarily as an excuse to pig out on every kind of food imaginable. But one long, drawn-out walk through the crowd surrounding the festival's main stage at the Petrillo Music Shell will prove that the music is a pretty big draw, too. This year's event once again brings in some big names, and also addresses a key shortcoming by dedicating an entire stage to local artists. Here's a taste of our favorite tunes being dished up in Grant Park - and since you can't go to the Taste without getting some grub, we offer our choices for the best foods to accompany each performance.

Andre Williams
Saturday, June 27, noon, Taste Stage
R&B legend Williams kicks off a day full of Bloodshot Records artists (the lineup also includes The Deadstring Brothers, Dollar Store, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir and Waco Brothers), and he's sure to do it like he's done everything else in his 40-plus-year career: with swagger, style and a whole lotta swearin'. Expect a set full of the hits he's either penned or performed over the years, including "Shake a Tail Feather" (popularized by Ike & Tina Turner), plus the fuzzy punk of later releases.

Food: One of Williams's many raunchy classics was "Greasy Chicken," so Harold's Chicken (Booth 39) would probably be the way to go here ? and it's something Williams, an occasional Chicago resident, probably knows pretty well. (He also wrote "Bacon Fat," so do with that what you will.)

Counting Crows
Saturday, June 27, 5 p.m., Petrillo Music Shell
No matter how you feel about the band's direction since its 1993 debut, "August and Everything After," there's no debating that the Crows are a fun live act full of energy and improvisation. This show should include everything from altered versions of songs like "Round Here," to radio-friendly hits like "Hanginaround," to a healthy dose of covers (the band's 2002 re-imagining of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" among them).

Food: Frontman Adam Duritz's battles with weight issues have been well-documented. So you wouldn't want to taunt him with something greasy. Instead, show up with one of the Taste's relatively healthy options, like a grilled cajun turkey link with garlic potato from Oak Street Beach Cafe (Booth 41), or a watermelon slice from Dominick's (Booth 37). Ok, you can sneak a popcornsicle (Garrett Popcorn Shops, Booth 52) when he's not looking.

Chicago Afrobeat Project
Monday, June 29, 5:15 p.m., Taste Stage
Of all the internationally minded acts playing on "World Music Day" at the Taste Stage (others include Latin/Caribbean act Pantastic 4, reggae group The Opposition Party, El Payo Nuevo Flamenco and percussion troupe Be The Groove), these local torchbearers of Fela Kuti's legacy seem the most likely to spark a party ? and not only because they'll be playing for some just-released office workers ready to let off some steam. The band's horn-driven funk and jazz jams have been getting people grooving for years, and this set shouldn't be any different.

Food: A musical journey of this magnitude deserves some appropriately international accompaniment. The sauteed goat meat with plantain at Vee Vee's African Restaurant (Booth 20) should do the trick. Just remember to wait at least five minutes after eating before doing The Swim on the dance floor.

Ne-Yo and Keri Hilson
Wednesday, July 1, 5:30 p.m., Petrillo Music Shell
If you've turned on a radio in the past year, chances are you've heard one or both of these artists within 10 minutes. Hilson's debut album, In a Perfect World, has topped the R&B charts thanks to such hits as "Turnin' Me On" (featuring Lil' Wayne) and "Knock You Down" (featuring Kanye West and Ne-Yo). But it'll be hard for her to overshadow Ne-Yo, whose illustrious career now includes multiple Grammy awards (thanks to two wins this year for his song "Miss Independent"). Bring your smelling salts for this one, as the combination of Ne-Yo's steamy love songs and the July humidity could cause mass swooning.

Food: An evening with a suave "Gentleman" like Ne-Yo calls for something smooth and sensual, like gelato from Canady Le Chocolatier (Booth 15). For a true taste of romance, try the chocolate-covered strawberries (and chocolate-dipped bananas) at Aunt Diana's Candy Makers (Booth 17).

8 Bold Souls
Thursday, July 2, 7:15 p.m., Taste Stage
It's difficult to single out just one of the many talented artists representing Chicago's Thrill Jockey Records today; if you have the time, go see 'em all, including improv legend Fred Anderson, freewheeling popster Bobby Conn and alt-rock stalwarts Eleventh Dream Day. But Edward Wilkerson's jazz outfit gets the nod for its commitment to innovation and unusual instrumentation, plus the fact that it's a rare feat to get all eight musicians (including bassist Harrison Bankhead and woodwind player Mwata Bowden) on the same stage at the same time.

Food: Embrace the unpredictability of jazz ? close your eyes and pick a booth!

Independent Independence Day Extravaganza: Songs for Presidents
Saturday, July 4, noon-3 p.m., Taste Stage
Though it sounds like an extra-credit project for a high-school American history class ("44 songs for 44 U.S. Presidents"), this concert, presented by the Hideout, is worth checking out. Songwriters Christian Kiefer, Jefferson Pitcher and J. Matthew Gerken will perform the songs with a variety of Chicago musicians. We're especially looking forward to "William Howard Taft (There Was No Longer Use to Hide the Fact That It Was Gout)," "Lyndon Baines Johnson (Ladybird Take Me Home)" and, of course, the latest addition, "Barack Obama (Someone to Wake)."

Food: July 4 is a time to show what Americans are really made of. You know what that means ? barbecued turkey legs (Manny's, Booth 1) for all.

Buddy Guy
Saturday, July 4, 3 p.m., Petrillo Music Shell
He may not be the hippest of headliners, or wield a huge string of hits like last year's big draw, Stevie Wonder, but Guy is really a perfect fit for the Taste of Chicago. The huge, jovial crowd that comes in on the 4th should eat up (pun intended) the bluesman's legendary energy and showmanship ? not to mention the still-fiery guitar licks that have inspired countless performers.

Food: The real question here is, what do you want to be eating when you hear "Sweet Home Chicago"? In other words, what's your quintessential Chicago food? Is it a Billy Goat double cheeseburger (Booth 6)? A slice of sausage from Lou Malnati's (Booth 30)? A Chicago-style dog from Gold Coast Dogs (Booth 27)? You make the call.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals!

Grilled Goods at Taste of Chicago

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:00:00 CST

If any event has the power to bring locals and tourists together, it?s the city?s annual Taste of Chicago. This year?s culinary festival promises to be an even bigger hit with its celebrity lineup, including Food Network?s Emeril Lagasse, who will kick things off on opening day (4 p.m. on Friday, June 26 at Dominick?s Cooking Corner) with a cooking demo and book signing. Emeril?s known for his expertise on the grill (nothing says ?bam!? like rising flames), and Chicagoans are known for their, um, intimate relationship with barbecued foods. In honor of this match made in heaven, here?s our recommendation for a grilled-food day at the Taste. Grilled Anjou pear salad at The Grill on the Alley (Booth 12)
Located on the Magnificent Mile, this upscale steak and seafood house has been slingin? the grilled fare for Chicagoans since its inception in June 2000. But at TOC, the restaurant takes on a different appeal as it?s stripped of its regular swanky, 1920s-style decor and tucked tightly into a booth. Fortunately, executive chef Anselmo Gallegos? food lives up to its elite expectations in the festival?s less than glamorous surroundings. While the showstopper here seems to be the prime rib quesadilla, we recommend skipping the beef and starting with something a little more refreshing like the grilled Anjou pear salad with walnuts and Maytag blue cheese. (TOC: where even the salads are grilled.)

Polish sausage sandwich at Kasia's Deli (Booth 47)
We know what you?re thinking. Kasia?s is known for its award-winning pierogi (President Clinton and Mayor Daley are among its numerous fans), so why would you get anything else at this booth? You'll be singing a different tune once you get a look at the grilled Polish sausage sandwich with saut�ed onions. After all, who better to make you a Polish sausage than the city's reigning purveyor of Polish cuisine? Just make sure that you pick up some pierogi while you?re there; there?s no sense trying to resist a legend.

photo: courtesy of Bridget Montgomery

Las Tablas' grilled skirt steak

Grilled skirt steak at Las Tablas (Booth 48)
Folks love this meat-heavy restaurant for its huge portions and flashy service (meat served on swords, anyone?). The all-you-can-eat option won?t be in effect at TOC unless you really overbought on tickets, but you can still get the famous grilled skirt steak. Served with sweet plantain wedges, the juicy delight is a must for any meat-lover. The marinated grilled chicken is another option for the slightly less carnivorous.

Chicken breast with onions at Polka Sausage and Deli (Booth 13)
Established in 1945, this authentic Polish staple makes its own sausage and bratwurst in a small factory behind the deli. So you?re sure to be tempted by both creations at this booth. But if you?ve already had your fill of sausage (and you call yourself a Chicagoan?) the grilled chicken with onions makes for a good ?- even healthy ? substitute.

Char-grilled chicken kabob at Vermilion (Booth 10)
Ever wondered what happens when Indian cuisine clashes with Latin-American fare? The answer lies in the contemporary items found at this fusion-fueled restaurant. We can?t think of a publication that Vermilion?s name hasn?t graced, but we know there are plenty of palates that its cuisine has yet to please. Try the restaurant?s char-grilled chicken kabob with mango-mint chutney with caution, because after you take a bite, no other stick-friendly food will compare. Good thing it?s the last stop on our list.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals!

Fourth of July Fireworks

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:00:00 CST

Fourth of July fireworks.

Grab a blanket and a patch of grass. It's fireworks time, and you're not going to want to miss these visual displays, taking over the skies in the city and suburbs.

Check out all July 4th events in the area, including food and drink deals.

Grant Park
Friday, July 3, 7:30 p.m.
The night starts with the 85th Army Band dazzling the audience with their harmonious sound, followed by the fireworks show at 9 p.m. The show's best views are in Grant Park and the museum campus to the south.

Navy Pier
Saturday, July 4; 9 p.m.
The Pier is no stranger to fireworks; it fills the lakefront with them on Wednesday and Saturday nights from Memorial Day through Labor Day. But amid all the multi-color fun is the biggie: The extended fireworks for the fourth is a 10-minute display set to patriotic music.

Evanston (Dawes Park)
Saturday, July 4; 9:15 p.m.
The Palatine Concert Band will play patriotic favorites from 7:30-9 p.m., followed by fireworks launched from Clark Street Beach. If you want your summertime fun to start even earlier, check out the parade at 2 p.m.

Arlington Heights (Arlington Park)
July 3; 7:30 p.m.
Arlington Park has a tradition of lighting up the northwest suburb's skies, with its annual Independence Day Fireworks Celebration presented by Bank of America. This year the celebration will occur after racing on July 3. Glencoe (Lakefront Park)
July 4; 9 p.m.
Fireworks on the beach! What could be better? How about a full day of patriotic fun, starting with a two-mile fun run at 8 a.m. a parade at 2 p.m. and a 6:30 p.m. BBQ at the beach. Added to the events this year will be a children's carnival sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.

Lake Forest (Deerpath Community Park)
July 4; 9:30 p.m. Plan on starting your July 4th celebration at 5 p.m., when the Lake Forest Festival and Fireworks begins. You'll find food and beverages from local restaurants, live music and a new tweens and teens area, capped off by fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Lincolnshire (Spring Lake Park) July 3-4
Lincolnshire will host a fireworks display on July 4. But you can start celebrating early with special kid-friendly events on July 3. Morton Grove (Harrer Park)
July 4; 9:30 p.m.
A Community Parade kicks off at 2:30 p.m. at Central & Dempster and moves west to Harrer Park; hang out in the park for the afternoon, and snag a prime fireworks viewing spot. Fireworks blast off at 9:30 p.m.

Mundelein (Festival Grounds)
July 4; 9 p.m.
The evening fun at Kracklauer Park starts with a run, horseshoe tournament and karaoke contest. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m.

Northbrook (Techny Park)
July 4; dusk
There are plenty of ways to celebrate the stars and stripes on the 4th. A mile-long float-filled parade kicks off at 2:30. Fireworks begin at dusk.

Park Ridge (Maine East High School)
July 3; 8 p.m.
"Celebrate America" will feature stirring patriotic tributes to the people, the history, and the landscape of our America, plus Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture with fireworks. Fireworks begin at dusk.

Skokie 3-D fireworks (Niles West High School)
July 4
Skokie's Fourth of July parade kicks off at noon and features marching bands, tumblers, live animals, drill teams, clowns, vintage automobiles, and more from Oakton Community College on Lincoln Avenue to Oakton Street, then east from downtown to Oakton Park. The 3-D firework action begins at dusk. The first 10,000 people get free pair of 3-D glasses.

Vernon Hills (Century Park)
July 4; 9:30 p.m.
You might want to take a nap after the morning parade: It's going to be a full evening. Families will gather at Century Park at 6:30 p.m. to take in the sounds of J.P and the Cats. At approximately 9:30 p.m. the fireworks will overtake the skies over Big Bear and Little Bear Lakes.

Waukegan Harbor
July 4; 9:30 p.m.
Want to watch fireworks at the water's edge? There's no need to head all the way to Chicago. Waukegan Harbor will be ablaze at 9:30 p.m.

Wilmette (Gillson Park)
July 3; 9:30 p.m.
Games and rides for children, entertainment, roving performers, and a Tastefest are all part of the festivities beginning at 4 p.m. A traditional concert of patriotic music by the Palatine Concert Band is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Wallace Bowl. It will be preceded by a sneak preview of this summer's Broadway Show Sneak Preview: Disney?s Beauty and the Beast. The Grand Fireworks display lights up the sky at 9:30 p.m. There will be shuttle bus service for $2.50 round-trip.

Winnetka (Duke Child's Field)
July 4; 9:15 p.m.
Pack a picnic dinner at listen to music by the 215 West. There will be face painters, a moon walk and and mini-golf for the kids. Fireworks with recorded musical accompaniment begins at 9:15 p.m.

Zion (Shiloh Park)
July 4; 9:30 p.m.
A full day of food, fun and a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.

Barrington High School
July 4; dusk
Fireworks kick off at dusk from the Barrington High School front lawn. Before then you can explore an antique fire truck and listen to live music.

Bensenville (Redmond Recreational Complex)
July 4; 9:30 p.m.
Kick off your evening with the sounds of Radio Disney at 7 p.m. and Blood, Sweat and Tears at 8 p.m. Fireworks begin after the concert. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

Bartlett (Apple Orchard Community Park) July 4; 9:30 p.m.
Party from noon to 9:30 p.m. There will be food and beer tents, a carnival, a tractor pull for all ages, face painting, turtle racing, bingo, music by Big Guitars from Memphis and Rt. 66 and the main event: fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Buffalo Grove Golf Course
July 4; dusk
The Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band will delight with a special two hour pre-fireworks concert. This large and full range band has impressed audiences and will perform a variety of classic and contemporary symphonic band pieces as well as accompany the BG Singers. The annual fireworks display will immediately follow the concert, with excellent viewing from the Rotary Village Green, the Buffalo Grove Golf Course or Willow Stream.

Hoffman Estates (Village Hall Grounds)
July 4, 10 p.m.
The fireworks display kicks off at 10 p.m., but there's a lot going on all week. The Independence Day carnival runs from July 1-5.

Palatine (Community Park)
July 3; dusk
Fireworks start at dark, around 9 p.m., but before they do indulge your playful side at the carnival beginning at 4 p.m.

Des Plaines (Oakton Community College)
July 4 at 9 p.m.
At 4 p.m. the grounds at Oakton Community College will be available for picnicking, children's games, pony rides and face painting. The fireworks, provided by Mad Bomber, will get underway after 9 p.m. As in prior years, the Des Plaines Park District?s Community Concert Band will perform during the fireworks. In addition, a Petting Zoo, Patch 22, will be featured, along with a miniature train ride for kids.

Elgin Sports Complex
July 4; 9:30 p.m.
Live music from World Class Noise, entertainment, food concession and fireworks show. Entertainment begins at 7 p.m.

Evergreen Park (Duffy Park)
July 2; dusk
Come early for the parade, which starts at 6:30 and heads to 91st and Richmond. Then stay for the fireworks show at dusk.

Glenview
July 4; 9 p.m.
The Twilight Show begins at 7:30 p.m. with fireworks set to start at 9 p.m. The show is climaxed by fireworks synchronized to patriotic music.

Fox Lake (Mineola Bay)
July 4; dusk
Fireworks will take over the sky at 9 p.m. with a parade in the morning.

Batavia (Engstrom Park)
July 4; 9:30 p.m.
Before the fireworks, Engstrom Park will be filled with the aroma of food vendors and the sounds of local music. The "Sky Concert" begins promptly at 9:30 p.m.

Lockport (Dellwood Park)
July 4; dusk
Games, concerts and fireworks beginning around dusk will make the 4th a day of fun in Lockport.

Lisle Community Park
July 4 at 9:45 p.m.
Fireworks will, appropriately enough, take over the sky in conjunction with the Eyes to the Skies Balloon Festival. There will be live music, balloon events and a food court in addition to the 9:45 p.m. fireworks.

Lombard (Madison Meadow Park)
July 4; 9:30 p.m.
The Taste of Lombard will feature more than just fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Get your fill of tasty eats like a lobster pita, fried Twinkies, cinnamon-roasted almonds, foot-long hotdogs and funnel cakes. Tons of live music is in store as well. Naperville (Knoch Park)
July 4; 9:30 p.m.
Taking over the sky as part of Ribfest, Naperville's 30-minute fireworks display begins at 9:30 p.m. Also part of Ribfest are music acts like Sara Evans and Huey Lewis & The News. And, of course, ribs.

Blue Island (Eisenhower High School)
July 4; dusk
The city's Fourth of July parade starts at 11:30 a.m. at 123rd Street and Western Avenue and goes south on Western to New Street. The fireworks show is at dusk at Eisenhower Stadium.

Calumet City (T.F. North High School)
July 3; 9:15 p.m.
Festivities kick off with rock music from 6 p.m. on. Fireworks light up the sky at 9:15 p.m.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals!

You've Got the Blues

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:00:00 CST
The economy apparently didn't spare the Chicago Blues Festival, as the world's largest free blues event has been slimmed down to a three-day concert this year. But organizers made up for the loss of a day with the fest's most diverse line-up yet, once again weaving still-standing icons with the latest torchbearers of the genre. This year will see everything from Maxwell Street performer reunions to the Blues Fest's first DJ set. Here's the full story on all the performers:
Friday
Blues In The Schools presents The Stone Academy All stars w/ Katherine Davis, Carl Weathersby & Eric Noden
noon, Front Porch
The famous non-profit program for lil' blues enthusiasts hosts a pseudo-fundraiser featuring three of Chicago's finest teachers and performers: Noden, a resonator guitarist found at Old Town School of Folk Music courses, Kingston Mines regular Carl Weathersby and the sassy, opera-trained Katherine Davis.
Gloria Thompson Rogers
1:30 p.m., Front Porch
After training under Otis Clay as a teen in the '70s, this budding diva put her music career on hold for a decade and a half to raise a family, during which time she went through a veritable "blues school," sitting in with South Side slingers like Buddy Scott and Vance Kelly over at Lee's Unleaded Blues. When a second chance came knocking, she signed to Delmark and has cut two albums to date. Critics have compared her choir-meets-gritty pipes with those of Koko Taylor and Tina Turner.

Mud Morganfield
Big Bill & Mud Morganfield w/ Pinetop Perkins & Willie "Big Eyes" Smith
3 p.m., Front Porch
Sons of the late Muddy Waters, Big Bill and Mud Morganfield both carry themselves like the ghost of their father. In fact, their booming soul so resembles his that the drummer (Smith) and keys man (Perkins) from Muddy's original band ? both icons in their own right ? have agreed to round out the lineup.
Andrew Jr. Boy Jones
5 p.m., Front Porch
Another bluesman with a long career and a short catalogue, Dallas-bred singer/guitarist, Andrew Jones, has contributed to over four decades of timeless albums and tours. Freddie King was the first in a line of stalwarts to recruit Jones's talents when he invited him on tour at 16; Charlie Musselwhite, Katie Webster and R.L. Griffin were among those who followed. On his own, Jones generally pays homage to the hot-step part of the blues genre, with plenty of Ray Charles influence.
Charlie Musselwhite Band
6:30 p.m., Front Porch
The purported inspiration for Dan Aykroyd's Blues Brothers role, harpist Charlie Musselwhite has huffed his way through four decades of rock 'n' roll history, alongside everyone from John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters to Tom Waits and Eddie Vedder. Vocally, he also sounds a heck of a lot like Johnny Cash.
Chicago Blues Experience feat. Vince Agwada & Russ Green
1 p.m., Gibson Crossroads Stage
Young harp player Russ Green once aimed to become the "Jimi Hendrix of the harmonica" - that was before he met mentor Sugar Blue, who clearly already had the title. Green co-leads this fuzzy, modern-electric outfit perfect for posters of quintessential Chicago blues, save for guitarist Vince Agwada's bursts of rock showmanship.
Mary Lane's Blues All Stars
2:30 p.m., Gibson Crossroads Stage
West Side vocalist Mary Lane started out in the '50s with Magic Sam, Otis Rush and slide-guitar master Elmore James by her side. She seemed destined for stardom with her chug-a-lug, diva energy, but things didn't quite happen that way. She reemerges with her bass-playing husband, Morris Pejoe, from time to time in sporadic suburban appearances; this should be her largest audience all year.
Sherman "Moody" Thomas & The Lee's Unleaded Revue
4 p.m., Gibson Crossroads Stage
A Blues Fest newbie, this South Side regular walks an entertaining line between showy cheese and soulful style, offering R&B love (he's "God's gift to you," ladies) backed by an 8-bit Casio. And that's before mentioning earmuff-worthy cuts "Dirty Old Man" and "Dip My Dipper."
Grana' Louise
6 p.m., Gibson Crossroads Stage
Bessie Smith channeler Grana' is Chicago's big, brassy feather-boa mistress, specializing in bold blues cuts with equally bold titles like "Annie's Fanny," and "Queen Bee." Sometimes swaying into gospel and soul territory, Grana' commandeers The Troublemakers as if every night were a headlining gig at the Apollo, which is why her debut, Hit The Big Time, sold out of every pressing. Watch for her dance steps.

Charles "Wsir" Johnson
Charles "Wsir" Johnson
12:30 p.m., Front Porch; also Saturday and Sunday, 12:30 p.m., Zone Perfect Route 66 Roadhouse
Storyteller and old-world African instrumentalist, Charles "Wsir" Johnson, creates Udongos, Udus, Cerama-saxes, Akontings, gourd banjos and flutes by hand in hopes of being a "steward of the Earth" and a "beacon for positive social change for the next generation." He's been inspiring everyone from the Mississippi Delta-area school children he plays for, to Chuck D of Public Enemy, the artist who cast Johnson as part of an avant-garde play.
Donna Herula
2:30 p.m., Front Porch
Chicago-born singer/songwriter, Donna Herula, never heard a '20s and '30s bottleneck or slide-guitar tune she didn't like. She does the genre proud with her own set of museum-worthy steel resonators and an almost country bite on the mic. Herula's schooled herself in Robert Nighthawk's oeuvre, and she'll surely give us a taste during the celebration of the late artist's 100th birthday that follows this set.
East of Edens Soul Express
7 p.m., Front Porch; also Saturday and Sunday, 6:30 p.m., Zone Perfect Route 66 Roadhouse
Best known for its Saturday-night residencies at the Hideout, this DJ duo has an intense retro love for Southern soul and blues circa '60s and '70s Chicago, but makes sure to mix it up with contemporaries like Common in the interest of putting bodies on the dance floor.
Eddie Taylor Jr. w/ Harmonica Hinds
noon, Mississippi Juke Joint
One of the many sons of top-notch drummer, Eddie Taylor Sr., the younger Eddie offers stretched-out covers of his father's oeuvre on his instrument of choice, the guitar. Session star for the likes of John Primer and Koko Taylor, harpist/guitarist Mervyn "Harmonica" Hinds adds some '50s post-war class.
Maxwell Street Revisited: featuring Dancin' Perkins, Iceman Robinson, Smilin' Bobby, Bobby Too Tough and Frank "Lil' Sonny" Scott Jr.
noon, Mississippi Juke Joint
Maxwell Street's storied finest unite, from the 74-years-young cat-walking of Dancin' Perkins to the last man standing before UIC put an end to things, Frank "Lil' Sonny" Scott Jr.
Sam Lay
3:30 p.m., Mississippi Juke Joint
The drummer behind the greatest records of icons like Little Walter, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and Bob Dylan (the epic Highway 61; he was also on sticks at the Newport Folk Festival when the D-man went electric), Lay has too many accolades to count. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Memphis Blues Hall of Fame, the list goes on.
Fernando Jones and the Columbia College Blues Ensemble
5 p.m., Mississippi Juke Joint
Jones has been featured on the Travel Channel, "Dateline" and Eric Clapton's Crossroads DVD, along with a fleet of radio and print spots, mostly in promotion of his book, I Was There When The Blues Was Red Hot. He was there, as a guitarist in his youth, and he's still around, working as the teacher of the nation's first collegiate blues ensemble.
Shirley Johnson
7 p.m., Petrillo Music Shell
Delmark Records' resident gospel revivalist, Shirley Johnson, started her career when male guitarists dominated the Chicago sound, pursuing diversity along with fellow divas like Zora Young and Sarah Streeter. This campaign eventually paid off with a residency at Blue Chicago, and a place in blues marked with her signature choir-raised soul, which she just loves to dress in horn sections.

Eddie C. Campbell
Eddie C. Campbell's 70th Birthday
8:20 p.m., Petrillo Music Shell
Recruited heavily by everyone from Willie Dixon to Howlin' Wolf for his signature, reverb-shimmering West Side tweaks, Campbell got tired of the sideman role. He did some solo gigging in Europe for over a decade, eventually returning to Chicago for the birth of his son. He dropped two classic electric LPs on Blind Pig Records, and a hotly dropped third (May 19) via Delmark, aggressively dubbed Tear This World Up. It'll be promoted in tandem with the largest birthday party for a bluesman ever.

Saturday
Earwig Records Tribute to Sunnyland Slim feat. Aaron Moore, Allen Batts and Dennis Binder
noon, Front Porch
David "Honeyboy" Edwards' hometown label pays homage to his fellow forefather of eclectic blues, Sunnyland Slim, and his flirty bass-key style that influenced generations to come. The tribute is led by one of Sunnyland's old cohorts in the Muddy Waters circle, pianist Aaron Moore, and other historic prot�g�s, Allen Batts and Dennis Binder.
Holle Thee Maxwell
2 p.m., Front Porch
Formerly known as Holly Maxwell, 'thee' operatically (Julliard) trained Maxwell doesn't get much love here in her hometown of Chicago, but has become a staple over in Paris thanks to her sultry, gold-speckled attire and ear for jazz. Expect diva standards like "Respect" and "Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On."
Ray Allison
3:30 p.m., Front Porch
Though he made his name as a session guitarist who lurked behind the scenes of over 82 records of blues acts as diverse as Koko Taylor to Muddy Waters, Ray Allison was at first a drummer. He earned the moniker "Killer" for his wide-eyed, "follow me or suffer the consequences" rhythms that shared stages with The Rolling Stones and Carlos Santana, among others. Only since the turn of the millennium did he decide to take up vocal and axe duties in his own band, which can be seen every week at Rosa's Lounge.

Lil 'Ed & the Blues Imperials
Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
5 p.m., Front Porch
Lil' Ed's a Blues Fest vet, merging Hound Dog Taylor-type boogie over standard Chicago electric, albeit a couple notches too far right on the amp; this is loud stuff. Every once in a while Lil' Ed will shamble into some slide-guitar tricks he picked up from his uncle, J.B. Hutto.
Nolan Struck w/ King Edward
6:30 p.m., Front Porch
Golden brass and soul dynamo, Nolan Struck journeyed from Louisiana on a breaking bassist gig with Lonnie Smith's band back in the '60s, and has since teamed up with his brother, King Edward, to unleash his Bee Gee vocal range on the blues genre. His charming, showy style has earned the duo more than one appearance at the festival.
Lurrie Bell
8:20 p.m., Gibson Crossroads Stage
Son of late harpist Cary Bell, Lurrie's been itching to make his pappy proud ever since he first picked up the guitar at age 15, and founded what is now Billy Branch's back-up band, The Sons of Blues. Of course, father Carry took him on the road as his guitarist and schooled him proper. And he blew up the charts all by his lonesome with a quartet of LPs on Delmark. But he's forever ingrained with the yearn to step it up a notch. His latest Aria B. G. release, Let's Talk About Love, slings major Delta-twang fury.
Cyrus Hayes & Lady Lee
8:20 p.m., Gibson Crossroads Stage
This husband-and-wife combo oddly prefers to navigate the underground, even with Cyrus's barreling talent on the harp, and Lady Lee's shocking grit. Aside from this spotlight performance, you're lucky to catch the two maybe once a month at Wallace's Catfish Corner.
Travis Haddix
8:20 p.m., Gibson Crossroads Stage
Travis Haddix launched the first three albums of his career while serving as an Ohio postal worker in the 1980s; this is part of the reason why he's known as "Moonchild." Originally a piano player, the Memphis-bred musician fell for B.B. King's anxious guitar work at a young age, quickly brandishing the instrument himself. Paired with the inescapable proximity of Stax Records, Haddix produced brooding modern electric mixed with sweet Southern soul.
Samuel James
4:30 p.m., Zone Perfect Route 66 Roadhouse
Resonator-slick and skilled in the vein of Charley Patton and other pre-war roots musicians, this Maine-based singer/songwriter is like an indie Keb' Mo', except they're both on major labels. Call 'em neo-street musicians without a street, but plenty of talent.
Terry "Harmonica" Bean
12:30 p.m., Mississippi Juke Joint
The Pontotoc, Mississippi-raised Bean was a stud baseball prospect until he crashed his motorcycle. Subsequently, he began hanging out at his father's Delta stomping grounds and learning the trade, picking the guitar and harp as his instruments of choice. Fans of Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson will not be disappointed in this one-man band.

Eden Brent
Eden Brent
2 p.m., Mississippi Juke Joint
Garnering four nominations at the 30th annual Blues Music Awards, most notably Artist of the Year, Eden Brent's ivory skills and Janis Joplin-esque pipes are being marketed in the same way Norah Jones assaulted Starbucks racks in one-fell-swoop. Key differences: Brent writes her own tunes, and is actually from the area that inspires her.
Lil' Dave Thompson
3:30 p.m., Mississippi Juke Joint
A fourth-generation Mississippi Delta guitarist and vocalist, Thompson loves his electric funk slants, which he brooded over for years in the hometown of B.B. King. He's dubbed "Lil'" as a nod to his late father, Sam Thompson, who ran in the same circles as other Delta icons like Willie Foster, Asie Payton and Paul Wine Jones. John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band
5 p.m., Mississippi Juke Joint
After cutting licks with Willie Dixon's Chicago All-Stars, this muscle-guitarist saw training under Muddy Waters, and began a solo career shortly thereafter - Waters even allowed the budding musician to open for him on tour. A fanatic of the slide-technique, Primer's usually accompanied by fellow slidestress Joanna Connor about town, but here's a chance to see him with his band.
Demetria Taylor
6:30 p.m., Mississippi Juke Joint
Another offspring of famed drummer Eddie Taylor, daughter Demetria is the resident vocalist for the family band. Her brother Larry will probably provide backing duties for this jam session.
Trudy Lynn w/ the Chicago Rhythm and Blues Kings featuring "Daddy G"
6:40 p.m., Petrillo Music Shell
Formally known as The Mellow Fellows, backing soul giant Big Twist, the R&B Kings launched their second coming in '93, rounding out massive horn sections with a bellowing behemoth frontman, six-foot-five, 370-pound Ernie Peniston of the Quad Cities area. Making sure that horn section stays massive is iconic saxophonist and record producer (Stax, Chess), Gene Barge. Expect a special appearance here by fellow Stax-styled R&B singer, Trudy Lynn.

Bettye LaVette
Bettye LaVette
8:20 p.m., Petrillo Music Shell
The soul singer who was too punk for Atlantic Records just continues her comeback with hit after hit on Anti- Records, her new home. Recent highlights include a cover of The Who's "Love Reign O'er Me" at the Kennedy Center Honors, and an emotional performance of Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come" at the Presidential inauguration.

Sunday
Lee Boys
noon, Front Porch; 3:30 p.m., Gibson Crossroads Stage
These three brothers of a Southern reverend deal in "Sacred Steel," a form of gospel driven to the heavens via blues, which has become the staple of the Pentecostal church in Jacksonville, Florida. If you take away the context, it's not hard to see the crew entertaining masses of jam-band fans as openers at an Umphrey's McGee.
Christland Singers
1:30 p.m., Front Porch
Originally created by Sam Cooke's right-hand man, R.H. Harris, in the gospel-innovating crew, The Soul Stirrers, the Christland Singers are of huge importance in the transformation of gospel into soul.
Lou Pride & The Blues Disciples
3 p.m., Front Porch
A Milwaukee-area blues super-group, The Blues Disciples cover religiously rigorous renditions of '50s and '60s-era Chicago electric classics, from Muddy Waters to Little Walter. Occasionally, they'll make their own back-alley run at the genre, here joined by one of Chicago's own, soul/funk maestro Mr. Lou Pride.
Rabbit Factory Soul Revue
4:45 p.m., Front Porch
John Ciba (of East of Edens Soul Express) brings some of the artists on his label out for a spin. The Revue features the Checkmates backing Herbert Wiley, the Legendary Roscoe Robinson, Ralph 'Soul' Jackson and Hermon Hitson; all of these artists are central to the label's mission to popularize/save classic soul.

Vernon Harrington
Vernon Harrington & The Atomic Blues Band
6:30 p.m., Front Porch
West Side purist Vernon Harrington is the son of Atomic-H Records owner, Rev. Houston H. Harrington, who operated a recording studio out of his church basement back in the late '50s. He's also a brother of Eddy Harrington, a.k.a. Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater. Vernon is not as flashy as his brother, but has a rich past of over 30 years as one of the city's most-wanted sidemen. He's just now spreading his wings to develop his solo persona with the upcoming West Side Blues, featuring Eddy and harpist Billy Branch.
Tre' & The BlueKnights w/ Lady Kat
noon, Gibson Crossroads Stage
Son of L.V. Banks, Tre' honed his lead-man skills while under his father's wing in the mid-80s. His love for rock can be heard all over his records, and paired with the golden-boot spunk of Lady Kat, things should get aggressively funky.
Ernest Lane & The Kings of Rhythm
1:45 p.m., Gibson Crossroads Stage
Fifty-year ivory-tinkling vet Ernest Lane was Ike Turner's longtime friend and leader of the late musician?s backing band, The Kings of Rhythm. The band's seen here with some new ringers on guitar and sax, but it's still a true-to-the-core modern blues outfit with a jazzy backbone.
Ben Payton
12:30 p.m., Mississippi Juke Joint
Back in the '70s, this Mississippi-born guitarist worked with everyone from Eddie Shaw and the Wolfgang to Tail Dragger and Eddie C. Campbell. Payton just recently moved back to the Delta, where he reconnected with the toe-tapping styles of storied icons like Robert Johnson and Charley Patton, so expect a throwback set.

Big Jack Johnson
Big Jack Johnson & The Oilers
2 p.m., Mississippi Juke Joint; 6:10 p.m., Petrillo Music Shell
Housed on Honeyboy Edwards's Earwig imprint, Big Jack Johnson and his Oilers ? Johnson was once an oil-truck driver ? tackle heated social and political issues hidden behind major-key toe-tappers, complete with twinkling finishes and Johnson's post-war shrill. If not for Johnson's occasional solo wailers, this stuff could be mistaken for early '60s garage rock.
David Honeyboy Edwards w/ Devil in a Woodpile
3:30 p.m., Mississippi Juke Joint
Ninety-three-year-old David "Honeyboy" Edwards is one of the last living links to Delta pioneer Robert Johnson, the man who wrote "Sweet Home Chicago." Aside from Pinetop Perkins, Edwards is arguably the last true blue Delta musician alive. He's certainly past his freight train, moon-howlin' prime, but makes up for it with impromptu chord changes and decades of innate angst that won't ever quit his steel-lap-and-rasp pipes. He's teamed here with former Hideout residents (and now regular playing partners) Devil in a Woodpile, best known for their good-time blend of ragtime and swing.
Grady Champion
5 p.m., Mississippi Juke Joint
One of 28 Jackson, Mississippi-raised children, this new-generation harp, guitarist and vocalist has been mentioned in the same sentence as Sonny Boy Williamson for his politically tinted pen and his preacher energy on the live circuit. Yes, he's pushing 40 years old, but a two-record catalogue is prolific for a 'young' act in this genre.
Gary Gand's Pro Blues Jam
6:30 p.m., Mississippi Juke Joint
Otherwise known for his award-winning gear and installations at his namesake shop, Gary Gand moves his jam session from its regular Wednesday spot at Reggie's Music Joint to the grounds of Grant Park. Budding bluesmen and women will get their chance to shine, and modern-electric crew Blue Truth will fill in the gaps.
Johnny Drummer & the Starlighters
5 p.m., Petrillo Music Shell
It's no fluke that Johnny's been around for more than 30 years. His smooth approach to writing contemporary soul, blues and R&B tunes, along with his knack for catchy lyrical hooks, has brought "old-school" blues storytelling back to prominence.
Jeremy Spencer
7:20 p.m., Petrillo Music Shell
A British Blues Explosion icon, Spencer will forever be known for his role in the original formation of Fleetwood Mac, especially since his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in '98 via said band. But the guitarist's roots are deeply entwined in Elmore James and Slim Rhodes records. He's worked to master the slide-guitar technique; his latest, Precious Little, pays homage to the style with both originals and covers.

Sharon Jones
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
8:30 p.m., Petrillo Music Shell
The act taking over this spot had some mighty big shoes to fill, as last year's show-closing performance featured the man who brought the blues to the Tonight Show, Mr. B.B. King. But Brooklyn's Sharon Jones and her backing crew, The Dap Kings, make for clutch choice, as their funk and soul revivalism has found fans in virtually every lair of musicdom, from Pitchfork snarksters to Chase Manhattan execs. It's not often that a band rocks Lollapalooza one year and Blues Fest the next, but that's exactly what Jones and company will do. Bring your dancin' shoes, and don't be surprised if you end up on stage before the party is through.

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Fest Feasts For Less

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:00:00 CST

photo: Clifton Henri

From Ribfest to Oktoberfest, we at Centerstage just can't get enough of festival season. (Don't believe us? Check out our ridiculously over-informative festival guide.) We are especially delighted by any excuse to spend a weekend in Grant Park, soaking up the sun, staring down the cityscape and reveling in the knowledge that nobody books a music festival as well as Chicago. In fact, the only thing we take issue with is standing in lines; at the entrance, to get another 312, to go to the port-o-johns. But we've resigned ourselves to the fact that queuing up is a necessary evil; except when it comes to chow time. Instead of dutifully joining a long and winding line to get our grub, we sneak out to one of these Grant Park-vicinity restaurants:
Frencheezie at Old Timer's Restaurant and Bar
Sure, you could wait in line for a Chicago-style dog at one of the Grant Park vendors, but when one of the city's best frencheezies is just a stroll away, why would you? Old Timer's, the quintessential old-world haunt that set up shop downtown in 1967, boasts the lengthy Greek-American menu you'd expect from a place with wood-paneled walls and dirt-cheap domestic beers. You'll find plenty of old-man grub here (liver and onions, anyone?), but don't be silly; You're here for the frencheezie ($6.99). After all, how could anyone resist a gigantic fried hot-dog filled with cheese and wrapped in bacon? Yeah, it might kill you before you get back to the park, but you'll have bragging rights for the rest of the day.
Green Curry at Thai Spoon
No one has mastered the art of eating on the cheap quite like the students at Columbia College. You're guaranteed to find in-the-know co-eds traipsing from the summer's festivities in the park back to their home turf at Thai Spoon. The comfy digs call to eaters from all walks, but the clientele leans toward the artsy side. While it's tempting to stuff your face with the huge maki selection, opt for the green curry (small $6.50; large $8.50) to stave off your hunger. An earthy blend of spices go into this curry paste, which is then infused with coconut milk and served with basil, bamboo shoots and aromatic jasmine rice. In the grand tradition of Thai restaurants, you can choose your protein (beef, chicken or tofu) and specify how hot you want your meal.
Hackneyburger at Hackney's
Few things bring on a burger craving like the timeless marriage of summer heat and amplified music, but if you're wise enough to steer clear of fast-food chains, mile-long festival food-stand lines and the Billy Goat during the height of tourist season, you'd be smart to head over to Hackney's Printers' Row. This family-owned Illinois chain only has six locations, all local, so you'll be doing a good deed to bring them your business. But make no mistake, as rewarding as supporting local businesses might be, the famous Hackneyburger ($8.95, add $.95 for cheese) is infinitely more satisfying. "Classically" prepared since 1939, this burger is made from fresh ground beef that's never hit a freezer, dark rye bread baked fresh daily, raw onions and your choice of swiss, american or cheddar cheese. Served with house-made cole slaw and fresh-cut fries, this is the happiest meal in stomping distance.
Deep-Dish Pizza at Exchequer Pub
While all the out-of-towners are waiting for a table at Giordano's, Gino's and Uno to experience Chicago-style pizza, you (the savvy local) will already be on your second beer at Exchequer. Located in the heart of the Loop, just a stroll away from the screaming masses at Grant Park, this downtown pizza joint has been serving up deep-dish since 1969. The menu skews Italian, but the decor is pure Chicago; complete with local flavor like sport-clippings as decor and an Al Capone backstory (the OG used to dine here when it was the 226 Club). Because Exchequer has four enormous dining rooms, you'll be able to get a table in no time. If you're with a party of four, opt for the 14-inch deep-dish pan pizza ($14.75); the price can't be beat for this buttery crust, anchored by inches of gooey cheese and tangy tomato sauce.
Corned Beef at Ada's Famous Deli and Restaurant/14 Karat Lounge
If you're one of the many locals who can't shake the association of a heaping corned beef sandwich and a trip to the Loop, may we remind you that Ada's Famous Deli and Restaurant is a comfortable distance from Grant Park? This classic downtown institution has a ton of seating space, and is run with such precision that you'll rarely find yourself waiting for a place to enjoy your meal. And what meal would that be? Why, a heaping corned beef sandwich, of course. Ask them to make it into a club ($9), and you'll get a hefty triple-decker take on a Chicago classic. Three layers of savory corned beef on wheat toast served with creamy slaw and a crispy pickle; so good, you won't be surprised to learn that Ada's goes through 200 pounds of corned beef a week. Bonus: You can sidle up to the bar at the adjacent 14 Karat Lounge and order anything from Ada's menu, including breakfast.

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Chicago Festivals Guide

Fri, 22 May 2009 12:00:00 CST
You can't take advantage of Chicago festival season if you're paralyzed by indecision. But don't fear; Centerstage is here to narrow down your options at least a little bit. What follows is a list of the events you won't want to miss, from family-friendly fairs to massive musical bashes. Don't like to feel limited? Check out the full list of Chicago festivals.

May 28-31
Mayfest Chicago
Lincoln and Leland
FREE
Gemutlichkeit ("quality time spent in a cozy place") is the watchword at this German event, which features a traditional keg tapping (8 p.m. Friday) and tons of party music. 2009 marks the fest's 10th year, which should make things all the more celebratory.
May 30-31
Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival
Sheffield and Belmont
After 25 years, you can bet this fest at the "epicenter" of Lakeview knows a thing or two about entertaining a crowd. That means lots of cover bands (including Trippin? Billies, Elevation and Sixteen Candles), arts and crafts vendors and some pretty cool fashion displays.
May 30-31
Do Division Street Fest
Division from Ashland to Leavitt
This Wicker Park fest's got a built-in advantage: It takes place on a street chock-full of hip boutiques and restaurants, so you know the vendors will be good. The Empty Bottle-booked music's a draw, too; make sure to catch Centerstage fave J.C. Brooks and the Uptown Sound on Saturday. While you're there, also check out the Around the Coyote Spring Arts Festival.
June 6-7
Printers' Row Lit Fest
700 S. Dearborn
FREE
If you're still on the hunt for summer beach reading, this event?featuring more than 200 booksellers?is a must. After you shop, stick around for readings and panel discussions including authors like Dave Eggers, Neil Gaiman and Aleksander Hemon.

June 6-7
Chicago Gospel Music Festival
Millennium Park
FREE
If you grew up dreading those boring Sunday mornings at church, you owe it to yourself to check out this lively festival, where sermons take a backseat to soul. Featured artists include five-time Grammy winner Donnie McClurkin, The Voices of Acme Missionary Baptist Church Choir (named the best in the U.S.) and American Idol Season 3 winner Fantasia, who will perform with her mother, Diane Barrino, on Sunday.
June 6-7
57th Street Art Fair
57th and Kimbark
FREE
Hyde Park's unofficial summer kick-off event doubles as the Midwest's oldest juried art fair, having been founded by local gallery owner Mary Louise Womer in 1948. The not-for-profit fair now features more than 250 artists and welcomes over 100,000 attendees; its Art Buying Boot Camp will also get you in shape for the upcoming season.
June 6-7
Metronome Celebration
Intersection of Milwaukee, Armitage and Western
This first-year fest is serious about music (five stages will showcase everyone from John Vanderslice and Future Rock to Deals Gone Bad and Justin Townes Earle). It's also serious about the environment, as organizers aim to set the standard for sustainable business practices and will offer an award for area residents with green ideas.
June 10-August 15
Grant Park Music Festival
Millennium Park
FREE
All summer long, the Grant Park Orchestra will present a series of classical performances that span the centuries and the globe, from Beethoven?s 9th (August 14-15) to the Sounds of the Great Depression (June 26-27). Guest conductors and musicians appear throughout the season, including lauded soprano Nicole Cabell, who performs in the Opera Hits on Venetian Night program on July 25.
June 11-August 23
Chicago Summerdance Festival
Grant Park Spirit of Music Garden, 601 S. Michigan
FREE
Think you can't dance? This instructional fest will set you on a path to samba (or tango, or swing, or two-step) glory. Each session on the Spirit of Music Garden's 3,500-square-foot open-air dance floor features an hour of lessons from an expert teacher, followed by two hours of music from live bands in that night's style.

June 12-14
Chicago Blues Festival
Grant Park
FREE
Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? The world's largest free-admission blues festival welcomes two dozen first-time performers this year. At the top of that list ? for younger fans, at least ? has to be Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, the group that's led the recent revival of old-school soul. History gets its due, too, as the fest celebrates two milestones: the 30-year anniversary of Earwig Records and the 70th birthday of funk-blues master Eddie C. Campbell. Soul vet Bettye LaVette also headlines. Get the scoop on all Chicago Blues Fest performers.
June 12-14
Party at St. Mike's
1633 N. Cleveland
This popular Old Town fest celebrates 25 years in 2009 with one of its biggest acts ever: The Freddy Jones Band. The Bean Bag Tournament should also be a major draw, as there will be some major prizes - and bragging rights - for the winners.
June 12-14
Ribfest Chicago
Intersection of Lincoln, Irving Park and Damen
The annual BBQ celebration in North Center has gotten even bigger this year, as it adds on a third day. Otherwise, expect more of the same: mounds of the city's top ribs (you'll get to vote on who wins) and music (25 bands in 25 hours). Don't forget the wet naps.
June 13-14
Old Town Art Fair
Lincoln and Wisconsin
It's not just about the art at this renowned fair (although with all the nationally acclaimed artists, it could be). From the Garden Walk to the popular Children's Corner, there are plenty of distractions. If you really need something for your wall, be sure to make a second stop at the nearby Wells Street Art Festival (Wells between North and Division).
June 13-14
Andersonville Midsommarfest
Clark from Foster to Balmoral
It's not hard to get into a partying mood at this 44-year-old fest, as thousands of people crowd the streets to celebrate Andersonville's Swedish heritage. You'll find more than one type of international cuisine among the many vendors; the music and performances span the globe as well.
June 19-21
Taste of Randolph Street
900-1200 W. Randolph
Given its name and location in one of the city's hottest dining areas (the West Loop), you?d think this fest would be all about the food. But the music regularly outshines everything else, and this year's no different. Headliners include The Hold Steady (they rocked Pitchfork last year), Dr. Dog and Tinted Windows.
June 20-21
Belmont Arts and Music Festival
Belmont and Damen
The generally low-key (unless you count strollers) Roscoe Village will explode with arts and music thanks to this vibrant event. Popular rock acts like The Trews and Jon McLaughlin headline, and the weekend will also include tons of artisans and neighborhood vendors.

June 26-July 5
Taste of Chicago
Grant Park
FREE
As befits a festival dedicated to gluttony, there are tons of ways to enjoy the Taste of Chicago, from Emeril Lagasse's opening-day cooking demonstration to the Race to Taste 5K (June 28) to Buddy Guy's July 4 blowout concert at the Petrillo Music Shell. Our favorite '09 attraction (aside from all the foods-on-a-stick, of course) is the local talent at the smaller Taste Stage. Local record labels Bloodshot, Earwig and Thrill Jockey each get a day to showcase the talent on their rosters, and the Hideout presents an Independence Day Extravaganza with a song for every president. Just remember, while admission is free, the food sure isn't. You can buy a strip of 12 tickets for $8, and food items ? everything from turkey legs to cheesecake - generally cost 6-10 tickets each.
June 28
Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade
Begins at Halsted and Belmont
Unless you moved here from San Francisco, you probably haven't seen anything quite like this celebration of gay and lesbian culture. Midwestern friendliness ? not to mention colorful costumes, dancing and drunkenness ? will be on full display at this rowdy event, the culmination of a weekend of Pride parties. Thousands descend on Lakeview for the event, so be prepared for long lines at virtually all of the area's bars and restaurants.
July 10-11
Old St. Pat's World's Largest Block Party
Madison and Des Plaines
Oprah called this event the place to meet your match after more than 70 couples met here and later married. The party typically sells out early, so get your tickets ($35, on sale June 1) in advance-and make sure to get in line early for the drinks that come with the admission price. Ben Folds headlines on Saturday.
July 10-12
Irish American Heritage Festival
4626 N. Knox
This three-day fest at the Irish American Heritage Center features all manner of Irish celebration, including five stages of music (Gaelic Storm, The Tossers and others), folk dancing, traditional food and more. But we're most excited for the Mashed Potato Eating Contest, for obvious reasons.
July 11-12
Chicago Folk & Roots Festival
Welles Park (Lincoln between Montrose and Sunnyside)
The Old Town School of Folk Music's eclectic annual fest may fly a bit under the radar of many Chicagoans, but to know it is to love it (especially if you?ve got kids in tow). Don't be fooled by the name, as you'll find a whole lot more than just folk music here; this year's eclectic lineup includes throwback soul (Austin's Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears), Mediterranean electro (France's Watcha Clan) and what we'll describe as Indian-inspired club sounds (Karsh Kale, from New York).
July 11-12
West Fest
Chicago between Damen and Wood
The family- and pet-friendly fest draws nearly 30,000 for live music on two stages (plus a third for DJs). This year, Local H and Red Red Meat headline. The event also includes a "kid fest" with stroller parades and pony rides, as well as a "pet fest" featuring grooming stations and a pet beauty pageant and fashion show.
July 14-August 25 (Tuesdays)
Chicago Outdoor Film Festival
Grant Park
FREE
Pack a picnic, grab a bottle of wine and head out to Grant Park (early, if you actually want to be able to see and hear well) for these popular alfresco screenings of cinema classics. This year's slate is full of winners, including "Sunset Boulevard" (July 14), "Duck Soup" (July 21) and "Tootsie" (August 25).

July 17-19
Pitchfork Music Festival
Union Park (Randolph and Ashland)
Want to know who's gonna be playing Lollapalooza next year? At least a few names are likely to come from this fest, booked by the infamously snarky music-review site Pitchfork. But you don't have to be an indie snob to enjoy yourself, as organizers have continually done a good job of mixing the old with the new. This year's lineup features established rockers like Built to Spill, Yo La Tengo and The Flaming Lips in addition to on-the-verge acts like Black Lips, Vivian Girls and Wavves. Not bad for $75.
July 18-19
Sheffield Garden Walk
Webster and Sheffield
See some of the most beautiful gardens this side of Eden with self-guided tours around Lincoln Park homes; don't forget the dozens of packed house parties along the way. The fest hosts some big-name musical acts (Poi Dog Pondering and Rusted Root headline), plus a Kids Corner featuring a ferris wheel, petting zoo and other entertainment.
July 19
Chinatown Summer Fair
Wentworth from Cermak to 24th
FREE
Enjoy cultural entertainment on the hour, a children's area, street vendors, live music and access to Chinatown's unique shops and restaurants at this neighborhood fest. For the true Chinese-culture vulture, the lion dance procession at 1 p.m. should not be missed.
July 23-26
Newberry Book Fair
600 W. Walton
FREE
Come indulge your inner bibliophile at the 25th anniversary of the best little book fair in town. The Newberry Library has more than 100,000 donated titles, priced to move. From antiques to zoology, you'll find texts on every topic, most for less than $2. Stop by on Saturday for the infamous Bughouse Square Debates in nearby Washington Square Park.

July 24-26
Pierogi Fest
1442 119th, Whiting, Indiana
FREE
Make your way to Whiting for this unique ethnic event featuring pierogis, polka bands, a parade and Mr. Pierogi. This costumed character, along with his friends The Pieroguettes and Miss Paczki, makes the rounds of the fest and performs a number of musical spoofs. There will also be plenty of family fun, a pierogi toss contest, a beer garden and an art show.
July 25
Venetian Night Festival
Lakefront between Shedd Aquarium (Roosevelt) and the Chicago Yacht Club (Monroe)
FREE
Need a nightlight? Check out this classic fest on the lake. More than a half-million spectators will ooh and ahh as dozens of lighted boats parade by and fireworks displays fill the air. Venetian Night is the longest-running event that the city produces, so you know it'll be done well.
July 25-26
Wicker Park Fest
Milwaukee between Damen and Wood
When it comes to neighborhood music fests, this is about as good as it gets?and the residents of this eclectic area wouldn't have it any other way. Past artists have included DeVotchka, The Thermals and Prefuse 73, so set your expectations high for this year's lineup. Make sure bring an appetite, too; local BBQ fave Smoke Daddy is a sponsor.
July 25-26
Taste of Lincoln Avenue
Lincoln between Fullerton and Wrightwood
Thousands of Chicagoans pack the streets to hear more than 40 local and national music acts on five entertainment stages at this Lincoln Park event. Sugar Ray and Tonic lead the pack this year. There's also a block-long Kids Carnival that includes a giant slide, petting zoo, face painting and more.
July 31-August 2
Gold Coast Art Fair
Superior, Huron and Erie from Clark to Wells
FREE
An expected 350,000 will descend on the Gold Coast and River North neighborhoods for the 52nd year of this massive art festival. Expect fine art from nearly 400 vendors, along with eclectic music and food from local vendors.
August 1-2
Northalsted Market Days
Halsted between Belmont and Addison
The sheer numbers of this event, called the largest street fair in the Midwest, have got to spark your curiosity: six city blocks, 17 entrance gates, more than 30 musical acts, around 400 food, arts and crafts vendors. And we haven't even mentioned the crowds yet. As usual, this year's fest gets nostalgic for times past, with a music lineup including En Vogue, Jody Watley and the Village People.

August 7-9
Lollapalooza
Grant Park
When we say there's something for everyone Perry Farrell's mammoth festival, we're not just paying lip service. If you can't find at least one act you like amidst the 100-plus on the bill, well, you might want to give up on music in general. Depeche Mode, Tool, The Killers, Beastie Boys, Jane's Addiction and Kings of Leon are the named "headliners," but you're just as likely to find your favorite band halfway down the list, playing a small stage in the afternoon. While you're exploring, make sure to drop by the Kidzapalooza area, where many a big name has played a set for the wee ones over the years.
August 8
Bud Billiken Parade
MLK Drive from 39th to Washington Park
FREE
High-school drill teams, floats, marching bands and more make the trek down MLK Drive in the country's largest African-American parade, which celebrates its 80th year in ?09 (you might see a few celebrities, as past guests have included Barack Obama, Oprah and Muhammad Ali). The after-parade picnic boasts more than 80 local businesses and 170,000 participants.
August 15-16
Chicago Air & Water Show
North Avenue Beach (1600 N. Lake Shore)
FREE
The lakefront fills up rapidly for this event starring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, especially at the North Avenue Beach "Main Stage", where you'll get the best views and play-by-play commentary. You can get good views of the action in the air and on the water (sometimes both at once) from other locations, including nearby Oak Street Beach.
August 15-16
Green Music Fest
Eckhart Park, 1330 W. Chicago
This is apparently the year for first-time music fests with top-notch lineups. This eco-focused West Town event (they're only allowing green-friendly vendors) features some big names, including headliners Art Brut (Saturday) and Lucero (Sunday). Let's hear it for the earth!
August 29-30
Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival and Art Fair
Grant Park
FREE
A true fiesta with music, food and art from the Latino community, Viva! showcases local, national and international salsa, reggaeton, mariachi and Spanish pop talent. Regardless of who plays, this popular fest generally attracts a lively crowd, so bring your dancing shoes.
August 29-30
Bucktown Arts Fest
Senior Citizens Park (Oakley and Lyndale)
FREE
Fight the (gentrification) powers that be with a hearty roster of local music, art and food at this neighborhood fest. The event has drawn upwards of 30,000 people in recent years and is truly a grassroots event: It is put on completely by volunteers.

September 4-6
Chicago Jazz Festival
Grant Park
FREE
Though it's the oldest of all the city's lakefront festivals at more than 30 years, the Jazz Fest hasn't gotten crotchety. It still hosts an entertaining mix of performers, from big-band legends to experimental up-and-comers, with recent headliners including Ornette Coleman, Sonny Rollins and Medeski, Martin & Wood.
September 4-6
Taste of Melrose Park
1000 N. 25th, Melrose Park
FREE
Get all of the Taste, without all of the cost. There will be more than 75 different offerings available at this suburban fest, all priced under $2 for tasting portions. We recommend the sfingi (Italian doughnuts) offered by the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles. You?ll also enjoy four stages of entertainment, plus a Senior Oasis, kids' activities and a Salute to America fireworks display on Sunday.
September 4-7
African Festival of the Arts
Washington Park (5100 S. Cottage Grove) Celebrating its 20th anniversary, this lively Hyde Park festival will put history in the spotlight this year. Along with live performances by local and international artists (previous acts have included James Brown, George Clinton and Hugh Masekela), the event includes scores of authentic art, jewelry and food items. September 11-13
German Day Festival (aka German-American Festival)
4700 N. Lincoln
FREE
Dance to the traditional German music with the mix of locals and college kids at this festive ethnic celebration. When you get tired, try out the food and drink ? beer (free from the ceremonial first keg) and bratwurst and thuringer sandwiches with sauerkraut or potato salad. The event coincides with the annual Von Steuben parade on Saturday starting at 2 p.m.

September 12-13
Celtic Fest Chicago
Grant Park
FREE
Refresh your St. Paddy's Day spirit in Grant Park with this decade-old festival that features traditional food, beer, arts and crafts vendors and live entertainment, including the Annual Men in Kilts Leg Contest. Or stop into the Blarney Stop Beer Tent, where you can enjoy bagpipers and view the Scottish Heavy Athletics Competition. Got some lads in tow? Bring 'em to the Wee Ones area all weekend long.
September 19
Guinness Oyster Festival
Damen and Roscoe
Fresh oysters, Guinness and live music?what more do you need? Slurp away on oysters from Piazza Bella while enjoying traditional Irish and American tunes at this fest, which made the move from Wicker Park to Roscoe Village last year.
Hideout Block Party
No date's been set yet for this end-of-summer musical celebration - but it's usually around the third weekend of September, so you'll want to keep that time period open.
October 3-4
Chicago Country Music Festival
Grant Park
FREE
Dust off that cowboy hat and join 100,000 of your closest country friends for two days of music on three stages, along with a dance tent and a Kids Corral. The fest is back home in Grant Park after a stint outside Soldier Field last year, but the level of talent (2008 headliners included Taylor Swift and Gretchen Wilson) should remain the same.
October 8-21
Chicago International Film Festival
Forget Hollywood. Chicago is the country's film capital...for two weeks in October, at least. The oldest competitive international film festival in the country, CIFF has been a springboard for great directors such as Martin Scorsese, John Carpenter and Susan Seidelman.
October 16-18
Around The Coyote Fall Arts Festival
Those Coyotes just can't sit still; after one year in a single location (Plumber's Hall), this fest is back to hitting up multiple venues in '09. No matter where it's at, though, you can expect plenty of interesting music, theater and visual art performances and exhibits.
October 31
North Halsted Halloween Parade
Begins at Belmont and Halsted
FREE
You've never seen a parade quite like this. Boystown's finest get all dressed up for a rockin' Halloween party, which includes a costume contest with over $5,000 in prizes. There will also be post-parade musical entertainment.

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Snow Days Chicago

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 12:00:00 CST

For kids, there's nothing quite like hearing that school is canceled thanks to too much snow. For adults, there's nothing quite as frustrating as still having to trek through the stuff to get to work. But for Chicagoans, both young and old, there's something magical and inspiring about the white stuff. So much so that it warrants a five-day competition and festival in Chicago's Grant Park.
The inaugural Snow Days Chicago will kick off on Thursday, February 12 in the Spirit of Music Garden (located at Balbo and Michigan) at 11 a.m. Teams of professional snow-sculptors, including artists from Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Mexico City and a few local names, will compete against each other to create the most admired sculpture. We're not talking about your typical Jack Frost figure, but rather, detailed pieces crafted from 10-foot blocks of man-made snow. These sculptors have created everything from swimming swans and diving dolphins to elegant eagles and mysterious men.
Animals tend to dominate such competitions, but this year, the artists are branching out. Some of the proposed sketches for 2009 include a bust of Einstein (Sycamore, IL), palm trees (Clawson, MI) and an anatomical Valentine heart (Elmwood Park, IL). And if the Palatine team can pull it off, the show-stopper just might be its whimsical dragon. Once the sculpting frenzy is finished, visitors will have a chance to vote on their favorites. Winners will be announced on Saturday, February 14 at 3 p.m. during a ceremony at the Spertus Institute for Jewish Studies.
Chicago Public Schools will also get in on the artful action with teams of student sculptors from a number of area high schools, including Kenwood Academy, Lane Tech High School, Hyde Park Academy, Bronzeville Scholastic Institute and Northside High School in Palatine. The young talent promises to be just as impressive and innovative as the big boys, with crafty sculptures like a larger-than-life stacked burger, a "lumbergician" depicting a wizard-like lumberjack, and an "Obamanable snowman" with President Obama's face propped on a large mound of snow.
Snow Days Chicago will also offer a fun lineup of family-friendly activities, like the Snowboard Rail Jam, with snowboarding demonstrations from 6-8 p.m. daily, plus a competition on Saturday night, beginning at 6 p.m. There will also be demonstrations of dog-sled racing and weight-pulling with Siberian Huskies provided by Green Valley Dog Drivers. The dogs will run laps around a snowy trail each hour from noon-6 p.m. and once they're finished, visitors will be invited to pet the furry celebrities.
If you can manage to tear the little ones away from the pups, take 'em over to the Activities Igloo, where they can learn all about important cultural events through storytelling and arts and crafts. While little Johnny and Suzie are learning all about President's Day, Abraham Lincoln's birthday, African American History month and Valentine's Day, Mom and Dad can refuel at the nearby food and beverage booths.
Snow Days Chicago runs from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Thursday, February 12 through Sunday, February 15 and from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Monday, February 16. Get the complete list of scheduled activities and photos of snow sculptures at www.explorechicago.org.

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We Love Ya, Tomorrow!

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:00:00 CST
Schubas' Tomorrow Never Knows festival, now in its fifth year, has quickly become a proving ground for indie buzz bands. Lasting five days and hosting just 20 bands, the event is certainly miniscule in comparison to similarly minded fests like New York City's CMJ and Austin's South By Southwest. But TNK?named for the Beatles' first foray into psych-pop?does have one significant advantage: scheduling. Its midwinter date offers music-hungry fans an off-season chance to discover previously unknown sounds (or as "unknown" as you can get in these days of internet hype). Artists like The Ponys, Bon Iver, Tapes 'n' Tapes and The M's have found their way to recording contracts and best-of lists via recent stops at the fest. Here's your primer on the next big things taking the Schubas stage this year.

Bear Hands
Wednesday, January 14
The Soft Pack may rip off The Stooges (and The Strokes), but the San Diego group (formerly The Muslims) is set to tear up alternative-radio charts with its lo-fi, invigorating garage rock. Kansas City crew The Republic Tigers follows in the footsteps of Brit-pop standard bearers like Coldplay and Keane, making things a bit more melancholy along the way. Bear Hands, although "from Brooklyn" (no one's really from Brooklyn) pulls hooks from a West Coast pop treasure chest, and then proceeds to dominate ears with everything from post-punk to dance rock. Boston's Lost In The Trees, meanwhile, plays the Andrew Bird card, assembling hits on classical and orchestral arrangements, before taking genius aim at rock.
Thursday, January 15
As many bands are learning that somebody, somewhere, has already produced the sounds that they want to create, experimental pop has become the new frontier. Grizzly Bear took that path in 2007 with the successful Friend EP, and singer/guitarist Daniel Rossen's other band, Department of Eagles, did the same in the fall of ?08. The quirky New York duo's live show is a never-ending forest of surprise, thanks to tons of atmospheric space and lofty harmonies. Chicago dominates the other 75 percent of the night, starting with two minimalist groups, Disappears and The Poison Arrows. Both offer disaffected vocals and bare-bone guitar parts, as well as hearty obsessions with reverb and sludgy pedal effects. Alla, meanwhile, declares itself the "mark of a new revolution in psychedelic pop music," backing it up with a hodgepodge of everything from Motown to German Krautrock.

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson
Friday, January 16
Tim Kasher's been red in the face with heartache since the late '90s, leading Saddle Creek horn-blasted punk outfit Cursive, and he's only gotten more refined and harrowing with age. Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, though aided by fellow New Yorkers Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio and Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear, virtually appeared from nowhere in '08. His debut record is steeped in break-ups, drug dependence and homelessness, but the songs feel universal, inviting comparisons to Neil Young. Oklahoma-bred Colourmusic's Polyphonic Spree-meets-Unicorns sunshine pop appears oddly placed amidst the other self-deprecating bands playing tonight, but this is thinking-man's music, too; the group's latest album is based, appropriately, on the ability to see colors from music. Atlanta's All The Saints militantly obeys brooding rock, sometimes with organ-led ballads, other times with trenchant metal fuzz.
Saturday, January 17
Maybe it's because clubs and raves are played out, but one day in recent music history the line separating electronica and rock just up and disappeared. And 90,000 people of all tastes dancing like fools in Grant Park is what happened. Chicago's Hey Champ didn't ignite those feet. That was Daft Punk. But Hey Champ follows suit with a.) the best MySpace bio ever written and b.) a sonic circus that appeases both DJ and musician. Toronto's Thunderheist sticks close to sultry bass and synth, and appears poised to make ?Jerk It? the next awesome bit of hipster lexicon. Hometown DJ Bald Eagle takes a pseudo-Girl Talk approach to his performances, which has earned him multiple spots at Lollapalooza. Also from Chicago, Pretty Good Dance Moves are not to be missed. Vocalist Genevieve Schatz is a dead ringer for Leslie Feist, offering a stark contrast to the band's innovative, Postal Service-type Moog synth tinkerings.
Sunday, January 18
Slightly dusty choral arrangements, token keyboard fills, at least one unconventional percussion apparatus?these are the bread-and-butter ingredients of indie-pop. Bishop Allen is nothing if not a rule-follower?and you can expect that when Apple finally launches a camera line, the Brooklyn group will be in the background with "Click, Click, Click, Click." The Donkeys aren't as easily marketable. The San Diegans are borderline psychedelic, with touches of doo-wop and southern rock. Tulsa (from Massachusetts, incidentally) recalls an earlier, sunnier My Morning Jacket, from back when the band used to make its records in barns.
Tomorrow Never Knows takes place at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport. All shows are at 9 p.m., and cost $15 each (a five-day pass is $55). There will be DJs playing upstairs every night, and special all-ages School of Rock shows at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday ($10 adv/$12 door). Call (773) 525-2508 or visit schubas.com for more information.

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Survival of the Hippest

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:00:00 CST
Memorize your buzz-band stats and put on those aviators, because it's that time of year again. Festival season in Chicago will keep you in food samples, wine tastings and craft booths all summer long, but it's the al fresco concerts we get truly excited about. We've channeled that energy into compiling the most comprehensive festival survival guide you'll ever see. Follow our lead and you'll be sure to make it to September with everything intact.

Plan ahead

Musicians just don't show up to festivals without advance work, and neither should you. And while you don't need to worry about the intricacies of riders, contracts or guest slots, you do need to concern yourself with some tedious details now, so that your festival experience is totally carefree.
Buy your tickets, unless you want to pay ten times as much to a scalper for a ticket that's probably worthless. This counts for after-parties, too. Figure out which ones you want to attend, get on the list, buy the ticket, bribe the door guy; just do it in advance.
Do your research. You know who you want to see. Plan for it. Write it down. Study the line-up before you head out and schedule your "can't miss" bands. Of course, planning every tiny detail has a way of taking the fun out of the festival experience, so be sure to leave gaps in your schedule to go with the flow and discover the next big thing.
Get with your people. If you're attending with other folks, you'll have to incorporate their schedules into your own. Do this ahead of time so you don't spend half the day arguing by the Buckingham Fountain. Figure out meeting times, lunch places and after-parties ahead of time.
Get there. Be sure to plan out routes to the park, to any and all after-parties you plan on hitting up, and back home again. Search for nearby bars, banks and restaurants so that you have your bearings when you're drunk later on. Don't drive, that's what the CTA is for.

Dress appropriately

Those motorcycle boots and fishnet stockings might have seemed like a great fashion choice when you left the house, but by 10 a.m., you'll be chafing like crazy and you won't be able to lift your feet. Dressing to impress has its place, but spending all day in the blazing sun means that comfort should come first. Wear practical attire. Choose light colors, they deflect heat and keep your core temperature down. Be sure to bring a light outer layer like a hoodie or nylon windbreaker. Carry a bag that fits comfortably over your shoulder (dudes, bring your own bag; your lady friends aren't responsible for lugging around your crap). Bring a hat to keep away the sun, but not one that will block the view of the people behind you (unless you're in Montana or a Hot Topic store circa 2002, lose the cowboy hat). Remember to don some shades that block at least 70 percent of UVB rays and 60 percent of UVA rays ? and that won't break the bank if they get lost, stolen or stepped on.
Choose your footwear carefully. Flip-flops might seem sensible, but you'll be walking through gravel in Grant Park and dirt fields in Union Park. Canvas slides make a great choice for girls and gals; they're comfy, light, breathable and cheap enough to take a few fallen beers without breaking your heart. Ladies, slip the flip-flops in your bag for the after-party.
Prepare for the weather with consideration. Rain is part of the fun, but being poked in the eye with an umbrella is not. Lollapalooza (which has the strictest guidelines of Chicago's summer festivals) allows small-handed umbrellas, so bring it if you really can't stand to get wet. But please, don't bust it out during a drizzle; you'll inhibit the sightlines of those behind you, who paid just as much and are likely considerate enough to keep their umbrellas tucked away. Plastic ponchos are a much more practical option; they take up less space, keep you dry all over and don't annoy your fellow festival-goers.

Don't be "that guy" (or girl)

In the realm of concert-going, there are many unspoken rules: don't wear the t-shirt of the band you're going to see; don't flash the stage (it's not 1987, and you aren't at a Poison concert); don't crowd-surf shirtless (in fact, don't crowd-surf at all) and don't, under any circumstances, yell out "Free Bird." Got all that? Good, now here are some other essential guidelines for not being a jerk while other people are trying to have fun: Put your shirt on. No one wants to see your beer gut, tribal tattoos or the dead skin curling off your back from when you went shirtless at last weekend's festival.
Smoke 'em if you got 'em. But not around children or when standing in line. And carry a container to throw your butts in (a partially filled water bottle works great, just don't get confused).
Stay hydrated. You like beer; of course you do, it's beer. Just remember to drink water, too. You might think it's cool that you can down the brewskis from sun-up, but that person whose feet you're puking on at noon doesn't think it's very cool at all.
Hugs not drugs. Or the other way around, your choice. But please, not both. If you choose to get high, talk to the people you came with, not the innocent people standing around you. They don't care what your blue looks like.

Be Kind to Chicago

Every year Chicagoans and tourists alike descend on the city's green spaces and whole-heartedly embrace the festival season. It's a grand tradition that dates back to 1893, and the biggest fair the world had ever seen. You know what another Chicago tradition is? Keeping green space alive. Fortunately for our beautiful parks, festival organizers are taking necessary (and long overdue) strides to minimize the impact on Chicago, its resources and the environment as a whole. Now it's your turn:
Don't drive. Take public transit, carpool, bike or walk to the fest. Parking's going to suck, anyway.
Pay your share. Many fests now offer an option of offsetting your carbon footprint when you buy your ticket; it costs a few extra bucks, but maybe your unborn children will pay you back when they're able to enjoy the same green earth you are. Or maybe not.
Consume consciously. Bring a reusable water bottle, buy from local food vendors and don't leave any garbage behind.
Pick up. Bring an empty bag, and fill it with litter throughout the day. Sure, they pay people to do that, but Chicago is a windy town, and that napkin will be halfway to Mackinaw by the end of the night.

Pack that Bag

Experienced festival-goers know that your enjoyment of the weekend is directly proportionate to your bag-packing prowess. Just ask anyone who's ever passed out from heat stroke, been burnt to a crisp, or found themselves stuck in a port-o-john without any paper. In short, fest-packing is an art, an art we Centerstagers happen to excel at:
Get a sturdy bag.. Trader Joe's totes work great, but if you're going with canvas, be sure to bring some plastic bags to wrap around things that shouldn't get wet. Bring something that fits comfortably around your shoulders, is big enough to fit everything you bring with space to spare and isn't too heavy on its own (you'll be cursing that hip vintage bowling bag by noon). Beware, if your bag is too big, it might be prohibited. This regulation is enforced by the whim of the guys at the gate, so just stick to carry-on size and under and you'll be okay.
H20. Most fests are okay with you bringing in factory-sealed water, but to be a true environmental trooper (and to lighten your load), bring a refillable water bottle or an empty CamelBak. Parks are equipped with water-filling stations, and you won't be producing unnecessary waste (fact: 86 percent of empty plastic water bottles in the U.S. are not recycled (Source: Food and Water Watch)). Drink at least as much water as beer, more if possible.
Snacks. Some festivals wave the no-no flag at outside food, but we say, "Just tell 'em you're diabetic." Don't bring anything in a glass or metal container, because it will likely be confiscated at the gate. Fruit might seem like a good idea, but eat it on the way or it will get mushy by day's end. Pack like you're going on a hike: nuts, trail-mix, granola and dry cereal will give you plenty of energy, and won't take up too much room in your bag.
Protect your skin. Grab that SPF. Apply early (45 minutes before sun exposure) and often (every two hours). Try training yourself to apply a new coat every time you refill your water bottle or beer cup, so you don't end up slathered in aloe tomorrow. An SPF of 30 is ideal; it blocks 97 percent of UVB rays. Check to see that your sunscreen has Helioplex, which protects against wrinkle-causing UVA rays, too.
Keep clean. Bring a half-roll of toilet paper. It's an ideal size to carry around, and it should last you through the day. Bring a pocket-sized bottle of hand-sanitizer or travel pack of wet-naps (check in the baby section at the drugstore), because those portable sinks always run out of water, soap or paper towels (or all three). Ladies, be sure to bring more girly provisions than you think you'll need; you don't know how late you'll be out and you might be a hero to some ill-prepared line-buddy.
Sit on it. Chairs aren't allowed at most music fests, so don't even try it. Bring a thin blanket to picnic on, use as a wind-guard and stake out primo territory in front of the headliner's stage. This also comes in handy after last call, when you're drunkenly darting through downtown streets, pretending that you're Superman.
Moolah. Don't forget the money. You'll likely need enough for at least three meals, a day's worth of beverages, cab or CTA fare, spontaneous merch purchases and cover charges for unexpected detours afterwards. Stuff enough for cab or CTA fare in your shoe, just in case your wallet gets lost or stolen.
Technology. Don't forget to charge your cell phone, because you'll be texting locations with your buddies in the park all day. Leave the iPod at home. Don't bring any fancy equipment with you (pro audio, video or photo equipment is strictly prohibited, and it's one of the few things that the bouncers are told to really enforce), because it will probably get confiscated. If your camera is of acceptable size (if it's nice enough to have a detachable lens, it's not allowed), be sure you're willing to part with it, because handheld technology has a way of getting drunkenly misplaced at festivals. Hey, that's what camera phones are for!

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Local-Palooza

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:00:00 CST
Lollapalooza is back in town once again this weekend, and as usual Chicago is represented well with a bevy of homegrown talent on the bill. In addition to internationally known local acts like Wilco, Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco, this year's festival also features some of the best-kept secrets from the local scene, including indie pop rockers Office and club DJ staples Willy Joy, Bald Eagle and Zebo. Centerstage recently caught up with these underground favorites to get their views on playing the massive outdoor music spectacle.
Are you a real locavore? See if you know everything we do.

Scott Masson of Office
What's the best thing about being a band from Chicago?
The best part about being in a band from Chicago is not being in another band from Brooklyn or Los Angeles. While the rest of the country is trying to figure out where the next fashionable blog-eruption will occur, Chicago just keeps it chill and focused on the music. We like living here because it's cheap, and not over-hyped.
What are your favorite aspects of outdoor musical festivals?
As long as the music is loud, it tends to be fun. I don't really pay attention to who's onstage ever. I'm just there to play and browse. People are mind-blowing to watch.
Why should people make a long trek across Grant Park to check out your set?
Our band is definitely not the kind of band who likes to shove our stuff down people's throats. I'll be happy if 20 people are there. I'd say people might like to see us because our songs are well-written, and we don't use backing tracks. We make mistakes onstage, and we're not condescending to the audience. OFFICE has never been a part of any trend or specific sound, therefore, we offer something original to the listener.
If you were to create an "Office-palooza" festival, what would that be like?
If we were to create our own festival, we would only hire rappers, DJs, songwriters, bands, and orchestras with talent. There would be no buzz bands allowed and it would take place between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. the next morning. A tent would be set up in the middle for oil wrestling and bingo. The entry fee for the entire festival would be around $5. I will be near the tent, making balloon animals.

photo: Clayton Hauck

Bald Eagle
What's the best thing about being an artist from Chicago?
Not doing it for a living, but doing it for the experience. Taking advantage of the decent/affordable work/living spaces, great venues of all sizes and various support networks. As far as bands and DJs go, there seems to be an increasing unification of the two as more and more live events have both represented.
What are your favorite aspects of outdoor musical festivals?
If the weather is nice and the sun is not in your eyes, it's just that simple and amazing. I love being outside surrounded by music, but not so much being around thousands and thousands of people getting burnt up in the sun or soaked by rain. Whether I'm an artist performing or a fan taking in a festival experience, I tend to find my own little spot, away from the masses.
Why should people make a long trek across Grant Park to check out your set?
I'll be playing songs people know (hopefully), so even if they have no idea who Bald Eagle is, it's not like they're hearing me sing 10 songs they've never heard. I'm also one of the few, if not only, acts that will encourage people to laugh with and at me. Also, people won't be stuck with one overall genre of music for 45 minutes straight. A song in my set generally lasts two minutes (three at the most), so I'm grateful for today's youth of America and their inability to focus and remain mentally stimulated.
If you were to create a "Bald Eagle-apalooza" festival, what would that be like?
I grew up in central Pennsylvania so if I close my eyes I envision the festival in this gigantic, open and slightly rolling field surrounded by mountains. The spot in mind is actually the field where I went to summer camp as a kid and was a counselor as a teen. Not sure how the Amish communities surrounding this land would feel about Bald Eagle-apalooza, but I'd make sure they got VIP passes and their own stage/barn to showcase their approved entertainment (likely acoustic since most don't use electricity).

Willy Joy
What's the best thing about being an artist from Chicago?
The freedom to carve your own path without having to kowtow to an exclusionary scene. Also, the freedom to carve and eat sausages every day.
What are your favorite aspects of outdoor musical festivals?
Everyone's happier at an outdoor event. "Yea, we're outside! Oh, and there's someone playing music? Awesome...life rules!"
Why should people make a long trek across Grant Park to check out your set?
Because I'm really, really, really good. (Hah!) I've got tons of tricks up my sleeve, and tons of upcoming/unreleased/exclusive music that you won't hear anywhere else. We're going to have a HUGE party during my set! That's all I can say.
If you were to create a "Willy Joy-apalooza" festival, what would that be like?
It would be 1/3 dance club, 1/3 freak tent and 1/3 petting zoo. There would also be an owl flying around somewhere, that's in my contract.

photo: Clifton Henri

Zebo
What's the best thing about being an artist from Chicago?
The wonderfully diverse music scene this great city has to offer.
What are your favorite aspects of outdoor musical festivals?
Being outside with good music...doesn't get much better than that.
Why should people make a long trek across a sea of softball fields to check out your set?
If they choose not to, I will find them on MySpace and "Rick Roll" them.
If you were to create a "Zebo-palooza" festival, what would that be like?
It would be a two-day event that would celebrate the greatness of all that is Ditka; hosted by The Superfans. Zebo had a lot more to say in our interview with him in May.

Want more Lolla? We've got you covered. Become an expert on the fest with our alphabetical primer; learn how you can go green in Grant Park; plan out your schedule (and your kids' schedules, too). If you're still not satisfied, check out one of these after-parties. And don't forget our music-festival survival guide.

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The Chicago School

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:00:00 CST
Just as Lollapalooza descends on Grant Park each year, Chicago's talent pool has swept in to upstage many a touring band in the lineup. This year's installment is no different. You've already got the goods on Wilco, Lupe and Kanye, but what about our rising stars? Here are the stats on three of Lolla's hottest acts?all local, of course.
Want to know what the locals are thinking before they take the stage? Centerstage talked to a few of them to find out.

Cool Kids (7 p.m. Friday, BMI)
What's the deal with them, anyway?
Antoine Reed (aka Mikey Rocks) and Evan Ingersoll (aka Chuck Inglish) managed to take Pitchfork audiences by storm last year; tour with M.I.A. and the Rock the Bells festival; and develop an enormous online following?all well before releasing a debut album, which is expected later this year.
Sounds Like
Old-school hip-hop, comparisons to the Beastie Boys and LL Cool J have been plentiful (largely due to the assault of catchy hooks and dance-worthy beats), but make no mistake: The Cool Kids may be building on hip-hop's '80s heyday, but with such tremendous skill showcased at the onset of their career, it's clear that they've got more to offer than just a rehashing of the past.
What to expect this weekend
The frenetic energy that only youth can bring, an audience full of impressed and writhing masses, some tongue-in-cheek '80s apparel and an unusually high amount of BMX jargon injected into the stage banter.
Album to check out
The debut LP is to come, but this spring saw the release of The Bake Sale, an EP that compiles stand-out tracks from The Cool Kids' live shows and Myspace page?including fan favorite, "Black Mags."

Office (11:30 a.m. Sunday, PS3)
What's the deal with them, anyway? The brainchild of Scott Masson, Office is one of Chicago's workhorse bands?having played nearly every venue around the city?and was signed to James Iha's (of the Smashing Pumpkins) indie label, Scratchie Records, before negotiating out of the contract to get back in touch with its DIY roots. The lineup now includes drummer Erica Corniel, bassist Colin DeKuiper and guitarist/vocalist Tom Smith in addition to Masson.
Sounds Like
Concentrated, unblemished pop-bliss. Impossibly catchy, impeccably orchestrated and bouncy as hell, Office delivers concentrated indie rock that owes a debt to Brian Wilson.
What to expect this weekend
Fun. With only a few exceptions, the Office catalogue is sunny, energetic and perfectly suited to a festival environment. A few drops of psych add just the right amount of whimsy, and the whole package is delivered with the precision of a headliner?but the heart of an indie band.
Album to check out
A Night at the Ritz was released in 2007 on Scratchie Records to great reviews, and serves as an excellent intro to Office, as it's full of material from the group's self-released demos.

Kid Sister (12:15 p.m. Sunday, AT&T) What's the deal with her, anyway?
This Chicagoland native got her start MC-ing at her little bro's (Josh "J2K" Young, who is half of Flosstradamus) parties, and eventually earned Kanye West's stamp of approval with her single "Pro Nails," which the producer added a verse to and released on his Can't Tell Me Nothing mixtape, to massive fanfare and heavy MTV rotation. She's now a Kanye protege, signed to Fool's Gold/Downtown Records and her debut album, Dream Date, is due out in September.
Sounds Like
Club rap with an electro chaser. Her bro is her hype-man/DJ, and Dream Date is riddled with cameos from the likes of Kanye West and A-Trak (West's touring DJ). Dance-inducing beats, old-school sensibilities, slick production and the natural talents of Kid Sister culminate in one hell of a package from this Chicago twenty-something.
What to expect this weekend
Cameos. With mentor Kanye headlining Sunday, if his entourage pulls into town early, expect that he and A-Trak will be popping in to accent Kid Sister's performance. DJ JTK will be anchoring the beats and the audience will be going ape.
Album to check out
Dream Date isn't out until September, so if you want a dose of Kid Sister before then (and after Sunday's show, you will), you'll have to pick up Kanye's Can't Tell Me Nothing.
Want more Lolla? We've got you covered. Become an expert on the fest with our alphabetical primer; learn how you can go green in Grant Park; plan out your schedule (and your kids' schedules, too). If you're still not satisfied, check out one of these after-parties. And don't forget our music-festival survival guide.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals!

From Amadou to Z

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:00:00 CST

You may not have to rattle off band stats at Lollapalooza to preserve your scene cred?most of the weekend's bands are pretty well-known, and there won't be a quiz in the port-a-potty line?but it doesn't hurt to bone up on some festival basics. From festival history to this year's buzz bands, industry luminaries to local heroes, here's our alphabetical primer on all things Lolla:
Amadou and Mariam
Blind folk duo from Mali injects worldly elements?from Dogan percussion to Syrian violins?and rock guitars into a set rife with blues, Afro-beat and rock.
Buckingham Fountain
Impressive Georgian pink marble centerpiece to Grant Park and the Lollapalooza grounds was constructed in 1927, long before it garnered pop-culture fame in the opening credits of "Married With Children."
C3 Presents
Austin-based production company (a merger between Charles Attal Presents and the music division of Capitol Sports & Entertainment) cut a five-year deal with Grant Park to make Lollapalooza one of the country's premier destination festivals, sparking controversy in the local music scene by imposing a radius clause barring any Lolla acts from playing within 250 miles of Chicago for 60 days before the festival and 30 days after.
Danger Mouse
New York producer who famously folded the Beatles and Jay-Z together into The Grey Album, has mixed albums by Beck and Gorillaz, been nominated for a Grammy and comes to Lollapalooza as half of the eccentric alt-hip-hop duo, Gnarls Barkley.
ENIT
Launched by Perry Farrell in '96, this misguided fest sought to be a "Spiritual Alternative" to Lollapalooza?complete with an all-night lineup, early-morning rave and sunrise tree-planting ceremony. Due to the complications of having thousands of fest-goers planting trees and the tendency of major metropolitan areas to have sound curfews, the ENIT festival was a massive failure from the onset.
Fuck
2008 has been the year of expletive-deleted band names, and Chicago's summer festivals reflect this well: Pitchfork delivered the experimental UK group, Fuck Buttons, while Lolla gets in on the trend with Canadian media-manipulators, Holy Fuck.
Grant Park
Chicago's front yard and Lolla's home for the weekend stretches for 319 acres along Lake Michigan and boasts incredible views of the cityscape. The adjacent Millennium Park includes a host of public art and the distinction of being the world's largest rooftop garden (it's built on top of a parking garage).
Hard Rock Hotel
The nearby hotel is once again hosting The Music Lounge, Lolla's all-day celebrity-spotting den and the Rock The Vote Lounge, the weekend's after-party headquarters: DJ Momjeans and Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings rock Friday night; Saturday sees both Ronsons (and a rumored appearance by Lindsay Lohan); and Sunday closes out with DJ AM.
Innerpartysystem
The Orwellian-named Pennsylvania band doles out dark electro-dance music with a rock bent, a la Nine Inch Nails and the Chemical Brothers.
Jamie Lidell
This Brit's penchant for exploratory layers, loops and sequencing, along with his soulful lyrics and showmanship, have him straddling the awkward territory between the electronic and soul genres. His always exuberant performances (his energetic knob-twiddling once set a speaker aflame at Washington's Bumbershoot festival) are not to be missed.
Kurt Cobain
Cobain's band, Nirvana, was largely responsible for ushering grunge music (the genre that was to become early Lollapalooza's bread and butter) into the mainstream. The group was slated to headline the '94 Lollapalooza tour, but pulled out of the headlining spot on April 7, just a day before the body of frontman Kurt Cobain was found. Spooky.
Last Band Standing
The festival's online battle-of-the-bands contest offers a slot at Lollapalooza to the winning band, as well as the runner-up. As of press time, only five finalists remain from thousands of entries; .Sub (UK), ArtOfficial (Miami), Foxtail Somersault (San Francisco), Lapdance (Puerto Rico) and The Melismatics (Minneapolis). The winner will be announced during the final July 30 concert at the Double Door.
Momjeans
The oddball moniker of DJ Danny Masterson (best known as Hyde from "That '70s Show") is actually not as strange as his first club name, DJ Donkey Punch. In addition to renewing his afterparty responsibilities at the Hard Rock (he also DJ'ed last year), Masterson has a two-hour Saturday night set on Perry's Stage.
Nine Inch Nails
Trent Reznor's brainchild, Nine Inch Nails, played the first incarnation of Lollapalooza way back in 1991. Although live NIN shows rarely sound like the albums (this being due to the fact that Reznor does everything himself in the studio), they make up for it by employing heavy production elements. This year's NIN lineup: Alessandro Cortini (keys), Robin Finck (lead guitar), Josh Freese (drums) and Justin Meldal-Johnsen (bass).
Obama
The presumptive Democratic nominee?whose campaign headquarters are located less than a mile from the fest?has reportedly cleared a slot in his schedule for a Lolla appearance, during which he is expected to introduce either Kanye West or Wilco.
Perry Farrell
The alt-rocker conceptualized Lollapalooza as a farewell tour for his band, Jane's Addiction, back in 1991. The annual festival toured until '97, was revived in '03 and will remain as a destination festival in Grant Park until 2011, at least. Farrell's other projects include Porno for Pyros, a DJ career (DJ Peretz) and The Satellite Party.
Quasi
This Portland alternative band is the long-time side project of Sleater-Kinney drummer Janet Weiss and her now ex-husband Sam Coomes. Jicks bassist Joanna Bolme toured with the band in 2006, the same year that Weiss became a permanent member of the Jicks. In 2007, Bolme officially joined Quasi, making the Touch & Go band a trio.
Ronson
The siblings Ronson are all over Lollapalooza this year. Grammy-winning producer Mark (who was the architect behind Amy Winehouse's Back to Black) performs a Sunday-evening set that will undoubtedly be rife with Brit pop, but catch him and little sis Samantha at the Rock the Vote Lounge on Saturday (with an expected cameo by Sam's girlfriend, Lindsay Lohan).
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
Daptone's house band didn't get its due praise for anchoring Amy Winehouse's Back to Black, but with Sharon Jones at the helm, the boys get proper billing. Expect plenty of soulful crooning from "Queen of Funk" Jones to accompany in this retro, horn-driven set.
Tweedy
Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy is the Chicago music scene's beloved poet, Grammy-grabber and rock hero (he also happens to be an active supporter of another favorite son, Barack Obama). When this year's schedule was announced, festival attendees were horrified to discover that Wilco would headline on Saturday night, in direct competition with Rage Against the Machine.
Uffie
Tomorrow's "It"-Girl, 20-year-old Anna-Catherine Hartley?the resident ingenue of France's Ed Banger Records?already has the blogosphere in eruptive stance, and her debut hasn't even been released. Expect crunky club with an electro smear and plenty of vulgarity during her Saturday-evening set.
VIP
While most concerts, festivals and performances of any ilk offer VIP access, Lollapalooza's disparity of wealth is perhaps the biggest stretch: while the GA massive (who paid a paltry $200 for their passes) fry in the sun, those willing to shell out serious dough for access to the Lolla Lounge get a catered affair complete with prime viewing, spa treatments and air-conditioned rest rooms. Those willing to flash even more green can book personal climate-controlled cabanas with private servers.
Williams, Saul
The New York slam-poet has spent his entire career gathering accolades; be them for his award-winning Sundance and Cannes entry, Slam, his four collections of poetry or his inspired 2003 dissent album, Not In My Name. He takes the Citi Stage on Sunday at 5 p.m.
XIV, Louis
Another entry in the long column of shaggy-haired, dandy Brit-fetishists, San Diego's Louis XIV finds itself in a tough spot on Friday: Playing against the synth-driven duo of The Kills and Welsh Motown sensation, Duffy.
Yeasayer
This Brooklyn group marries experimental rock with worldly influences?taking notes from Middle Eastern and African traditions for an east-coast answer to freak folk. Although its slot is in steep competition?with The Enemy UK, The Go! Team and Holy Fuck?this band's tailor-made for a festival environment.
Z
One of last year's most talked about Lolla acts was Kentucky-based My Morning Jacket, who performed a number of songs with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. Festival founder, Perry Farrell, jumped on stage to request that the audience break our their cameras to film "Gideon," a stand-out track from the band's breakthrough album, Z (2005). Snippets of audience-sourced footage (an astounding 8GB, and estimated 1,000 contributers) were spliced into a music video for Current TV.
Want more Lolla? We've got you covered. With our guides, you can get to know the local acts in this year's lineup; learn how you can go green in Grant Park; and, of course, plan out your schedule. Got kids? You can plan out their schedules, too. If you've got a sitter for the night, you should be at one of these after-parties. And don't forget our music-festival survival guide.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals!

Green-a-Palooza

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:00:00 CST

Since their inception, outdoor music festivals haven't exactly been known as zero-waste, reduced-consumption models of ecological savvy. Several summer music staples have been trying to change that image, including the leviathan Lollapalooza. Fleeting are the days of bands bussing cross-country in gas-guzzling beaters to entertain crowds that will eat, drink and smoke heavily, leaving a fine layer of trash in their wake. Summer music fests are figuring out how to reduce the waste while keeping the fun intact. Lollapalooza is working to lessen the impact of its offices, its bands and its attendees. Here's how.
For the fans: Green Street
Just south of Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park you'll find Green Street, where festival attendees can stop to pick up some eco-friendly apparel and learn exactly what the green labels on various products mean. Besides environmentally friendly swag, concert-goers are also encouraged to purchase BeGreen Fan Tags: $5 carbon offsets provided by fest partner Green Mountain Energy. Each tag offsets 682 pounds of CO2, or 500 kilowatt-hours of energy. That's the equivalent of 757 miles in a car, 1700 in a plane or the carbon poundage gobbled up by 41 trees, depending on which unit of measure you prefer. After the $200 three-day pass, what's another five bucks to reduce the load of your summer road trip?
The world's biggest music fest is also encouraging rowdy music fans to behave like responsible and thrifty grown-ups: Don't throw your butts on the ground, refill your water bottles at free fountains instead of buying more and separate your recyclables from your trash. The goal: to leave Grant Park more pristine after rocking out than before.
Cleaning up the ops: Eco-Palooza
This year, the whole multi-media shebang will run on biodiesel generators, saving something in the neighborhood of 2,000 gallons of petrol and cutting down on the white noise to boot. All paper, from the posters to the plates to the rolls in the port-a-johns, will be made from recycled materials. Everything you eat off of or drink from will be biodegradable (so be on the lookout for the recycling bins around the grounds) and, best of all, promotional paper hand-outs are banned! No carpeting of flyers blanketing the ground?and no tucking your sweaty hands in your pockets as you pass eager promoters.
With the help of offsets and responsible office policies like ink-cartridge recycling and paper reuse and recycling, the Lollapalooza corporate office is aiming for a 100% carbon-neutral year. The fest is encouraging its vendors and performers to follow suit. Food vendors will offer organic, locally-grown fare. Artists are encouraged to travel on grease and help spread the green gospel to their fans.
To learn more about what you can do after the fest, visit the Quick Tips page of the Green Lolla website, which not only reminds you to change those bulbs to CFLs, but plugs some great local organizations like the Chicago Conservation Corps and the Chicagoland Environmental Network, too.
Want more Lolla? We've got you covered with tons of high-impact content. Become an expert on the fest with our alphabetical primer, get to know the local acts in this year's lineup, then plan out your schedule (and your kids' schedules, too). Still not satisfied? You'll probably be interested in one of these after-parties. And don't forget our music-festival survival guide.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals!

Easy as ABC

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:00:00 CST

"Oh man, last year I was so close that I got drenched in Dan Deacon's sweat." "I can't believe you've never read 'Our Band Could be Your Life.'" "Tuten's been up there forever, I bet the band isn't even here yet."
Um...come again?
The Pitchfork Music Festival's penchant for booking cutting-edge indie bands has a way of bringing out the snarky, music snobbery in attendees. But for casual rock appreciators, these conversations can be pure torture. If you have no idea what the hell all of those hipsters are talking about, this handy alphabetical guide to past performances, indie fixtures and Pitchfork lingo will help you hold your own in the port-o-john line.
All Tomorrow's Parties
This English music festival?named after a Nico-crooned Velvet Underground song?curates Friday night's "Don't Look Back" series, which sees seminal bands Sebadoh, Public Enemy and Mission of Burma playing their most influential albums in entirety. This September also marks the first incarnation of ATP New York.
Boban Markovic
The Serbian trumpeter, who has earned countless awards and is widely considered to be the best horn player to ever emerge from the Balkans, descends upon Pitchfork as bandleader of the gypsy-jazz-Latin-pop troupe, his own Boban I Marko Markovic Orkestar.
CHIRP
Organized by the Chicago Independent Radio Project, this weekend-long record fair returns to share the shade of the "Big Tent" with the DEPART-ment craft fair?vinyl dealers and indie labels from all over the world set up shop to satisfy all record-geek urges that emerge while at the festival.
Dan Deacon
The Baltimore native was the talk of the fest last year for a performance that saw fans climbing trees, fences, basketball poles and each other to get a glimpse. Deacon's trademark electro-freak-out set took place not on stage, but in the audience, and caused such a ruckus that festival officials abruptly pulled the plug on him, citing safety and security concerns as reason.
Election If you're gonna vote, you need to be registered. That's where the all-volunteer, non-partisan forces of Interchange come in. You may remember them from their efforts during the 2004 campaign season, when they hosted a sold out four-day festival, registered almost 500 hundred voters, and raised $25,000 for Citizen Action (profits that helped the organization sign-up 75,000 new voters). Check out the very visible Interchange booth on the festival grounds, or flag down one of the 50 volunteers that will be circulating all day, every day. Regardless of which state you live in, they've got the goods to get you registered.
Flatstock
Take a break from the music and wander over to the America Poster Institute's outdoor mall of concert posters. If you're harboring any doubts about the legitimacy of posters as fine art, preeminent artists like Jay Ryan and Lil' Tuffy will squash them. Poster artists man their own makeshift galleries, answer questions and peddle their wares.
Goose Island
Chicago's finest brew makes yet another appearance as festival sponsor, touting its crispy, citrus-tinged 312 Urban Wheat Ale as the ultimate remedy to the blazing July sun. This year, the Goose takes good deeds even further?all GI beer cups at the festival are made from a biodegradable corn-base.
Harrington, Tim
The always unpredictable Les Savy Fav frontman is a festival must-see; in the past, the theatrical Harrington has performed in a bath towel (with nothing underneath), sported a fake sunburn and donned a mosquito costume; and has also been known to join a pickup game of dodgeball during a set, make out with audience members and utilize any props within reach.
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Released in 1988, the sophomore album by hip-hop luminaries Public Enemy has spent the last two decades taking up prime real estate on many a "Best of" list. Tags like revolutionary, incendiary, hilarious and innovative are commonly attached to the release, on the strength of stand-out tracks like "Bring the Noise," "Don't Believe the Hype" and "Night of the Living Baseheads." The group will perform it in its entirety on Friday night.
Jay Reatard
The Memphis-born garage punk prodigy?he's been in the biz since age 15?has his name all over the blogosphere this year. Founding member and creative center of the Oblivians-influenced punk band, The Reatards, the artist is now experiencing a madly popular solo career due to a series of limited-edition singles released on Matador Records.
Kenyan Benga
Kenya's popular music owes a heaping debt to the Benga genre, which began in the mid-20th century and balances notes of Cuban dance, experimental jazz and tribal folk music. Pitchfork performers and Thrill Jockey artists Extra Golden take it one step further by adding American rock into the fray.
Louden Up Now
The breakthrough album from the thoroughly un-Google-able spastic dance band !!! (pronounced "chk chk chk"), Louden Up Now shot the group to underground notoriety with hits like the bass-heavy, infinitely danceable "Me & Giuliani Down By the School Yard."
Maths & English
One of 2007's most critically-lauded albums, Dizzee Rascal's third full-length release, Maths & English, did what few hip-hop albums have done in years: folded standard MC bravado, cultural ponderings, clever lyrics, grime sensibilities and relentless beats into a radio-friendly, hot-pink package.
Night Clubs at Noon
A summer concert series designed through a collaboration among Pitchfork, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and music venues around the city, "Audible Architecture: Night Clubs at Noon" takes over the Frank Gehry-designed Pritzker Pavilion on various dates throughout the summer with bands like Tortoise, the Ex and Habib Koite & Bamada.
Our Band Could Be Your Life
A bookshelf staple among indie aficionados, Michael Azerrad's Our Band Could Be Your Life is the quintessential guide to the pioneering bands of independent music. Two Pitchfork 2008 acts?Mission of Burma and Dinosaur Jr.?had entire chapters of the cherished tome devoted to their music.
Pulp
One of the UK's most popular bands of the '80s and '90s, Pulp has a distinctive catalogue of sexually charged Brit pop tunes that still enjoy prime placement on DJ playlists worldwide?with disco-ready tracks "Common People," "Mis-Shapes," and "Sorted for E's and Wizz" leading the pack. Frontman Jarvis Cocker's Pitchfork performance this year will no doubt satisfy legions of Brit-pop fanatics still torn up over Pulp's indefinite hiatus.
Quart Festival
Norway's largest music festival has long been regarded with the same tastemaker moniker that Chicago's Pitchfork Fest has recently garnered, but this year's event?which was slotted for early July?was cancelled due to low ticket sales, casting doubts on the futures of music festivals world-round.
Ryan Schreiber
The Pitchfork founder began the indie-media empire just out of high school in Minneapolis before relocating the entire operation to Chicago. At the time, print media still reigned supreme and the recent grad's prescient understanding of new media set the website up to be one of the most influential brands in the music industry?despite the fact that Schreiber had no writing experience whatsoever.
Spacemen 3
Heavy distortion, avant-garde tendencies and a firm footing in minimalism made the UK-based Spacemen 3 early pioneers of the shoegaze movement. The group's members later went on to form Spiritualized, a group with a similar droning-aesthetic and a huge indie following. Jason Pierce?now the sole consistent member of the band?nearly died from respiratory failure in 2005 and made a full recovery to release this year's Songs in A&E.
Tim Tuten
The Hideout co-owner and long-time Pitchfork emcee is charged with introducing the festival's bands throughout the weekend, and also with hosting one of this year's most anticipated after-shows; Friday after Union Park closes down, head to the Hideout for the synth-driven antics of LA-based noise-rockers, HEALTH.
Union Park
The gorgeous West Loop park nestled under primo views of the Chicago skyline has a long history with music; it's been hosting concerts since the 1920's and was one of Chicago's first integrated public spaces.
Vampire Weekend
Quite possibly 2008's most blogged-about band, the self-titled debut from these New York youngsters marries afro-pop with chamber music while showcases a twee-infused David Byrne fetish. While the album has been continuously lauded by music critics from coast to coast, the live shows have continuously fallen short of the hype, leaving the group with a lot to prove during its Pitchfork set.
Wisconsin
It's the stuff of music industry mythology: little-known indie-folk troubadour Justin Vernon locked himself up in a remote Wisconsin cabin to record his critically-adored album, Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago, which has racked up so many perfect and near-perfect ratings that it averaged out to one of the highest collective scores the music review-aggregator site, Metacritic, has ever seen.
Xylophone
Rockin' the mallets isn't exactly a new trend?China was crazy about the suspended wooden bars as far back as 2000 BC?but this year's Pitchfork performers can't get enough of the xy's: the Dirty Projectors, San Francisco's Dodos and Chicago's own Mahjongg have all been known to tickle the scaled-percussion.
Yoko
In one of 2007's most talked-about performances at Pitchfork, Yoko Ono performed "Mulberries" in its entirety with a little help from Thurston Moore for what she said would be the last time ever. Prior to that night, the avant-garde songstress had only performed the tune live twice before with husband John Lennon and son Sean Lennon.
Zooey Deschanel
As half of the duo She & Him, Zooey Deschanel has managed to do what many actresses before her have failed miserably at: she's gone from the silver screen to the recording studio without looking like a moron. The actress-turned-folk chanteuse is rumored to appear at this year's festival during her partner, M. Ward's highly-anticipated set.
Now that you know the basics, find out the nitty-gritty details with our guides to the fest's can't-miss bands, food booths and other vendors. Plus, get all the tips you need to survive the weekend.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals!

A Forkful of Food

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:00:00 CST

The ribs at Robinson's should keep you satisfied.
Sure, the Pitchfork Music Festival is all about the music, but the event also happens to have another great lineup in store: food vendors.
While other festivals are content with bringing in grimy hot-dog grills and overpriced funnel cake, Pitchfork steps it up by inviting local vendors to peddle the stuff you actually want to eat?and at reasonable prices. While the entire vendor list got us hankering for some park food, we're particularly excited about the slabs of ribs, Italian beef and bean-cake sammies from these folks:
Meaty Treats:
Few things say summertime like a face full of barbecue sauce, something that Robinson's #1 Ribs understands all too well. The rib mecca has been doling out the slabs since the very first Pitchfork Fest, and it's back this year with a full menu: Boneless rib, pulled pork or pulled turkey sandwiches ($4-$7); and of course, monster half-slabs for only $9. If you're feeling dainty, but still can't resist the call of meat-on-the-bone, order up the Rib Sampler ($5), for a meal that's just big enough. This vendor proudly peddles no vegetables, but they'll gladly supply you with plenty of wet naps.
Pure Chicago:
La Luce, a northern-Italian haunt that's been around for 16 years, serves up fine fare like fresh lasagne and caprese salads in its cozy dining room just a block from festival grounds. But if you sidle up to their stand at the fest, you'll get Italian beef, Italian sausage and a boatful of fried gnocchi. Sandwiches are served with La Luce's special house-made sweet peppers. All of the food is above par, but if you're feeling adventurous go for the combo (that's Italian beef and sausage all on one bun); they sold over 4,000 of these bad boys at Taste of Randolph. You can also pick up watermelon and lemon Italian ice here.
Southern Hospitality:
For down-home cookin' with a healthy streak, look no further than the vendor booth of Wishbone. These guys have been whistling vegan-Dixie since the very first incarnation of the Pitchfork Fest. This year, they're bringing those beloved mango salsa, bean-cake sandwiches ($5), North Carolina-style BBQ pork topped with peppery vinegar sauce ($6) and a series of po'boys?including blackened catfish and chicken andouille?built for festivals. Even if you aren't hungry, be sure to stop by for a round of watermelon lemonade ($3); chunks of fresh watermelon in a 16-ounce cup, filled in with refreshing lemony goodness.

We also dig that festival sponsors are getting in on the action, so be sure to show your appreciation by stopping by these booths:
Goose Island
Chicago's own craft brewery is a major sponsor of this year's fest, which means you don't have to stomach stale PBRs, watered down domestics or over-priced imports. Grab a cup (or five or six) of the one and only urban wheat ale, 312, to cut through the blazing July sun. The effervescent, citrusy brew satisfies even the most discerning beer aficionados, and the biodegradable corn-based cups give big ups to environmental responsibility.
Whole Foods Market
Looking to steer clear of the junk food during this year's festivities? A wander around festival sponsor Whole Foods' satellite market will reveal all kinds of ready-to-go items that will satisfy health nuts, vegetarians and vegans alike. An assortment of veggie wraps ($6) will be on offer for lunch; sweet treats like vegan chocolate mouse ($4) and chocolate-covered frozen bananas ($1) will keep you cool; and the Whole Foods peeps are hoping to track down some local Michigan cherries for you to snack on ($8), too.
Still hungry for Pitchfork coverage? Fill up with our guides to the can't miss bands and vendors, and get all the tips you need to survive the weekend.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals!

Purveyors of Cool

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:00:00 CST
You've been ready for Pitchfork ever since the lineup was announced, but what about the rest of the fest? The event's organizers have always taken enormous strides to bring you the music scene in its entirety?and it runs way deeper than what you see on the stages. What about the folks who put out the records, the artists printing up the posters and the always-adjacent DIY scene? We've scoured the booths of the fests-within-the-Fest for can't-miss Chicago vendors. Our picks:

Flatstock
The enormous open-air mall arranged by the American Poster Institute returns to the Pitchfork Fest with dozens of leading poster artists in tow. Now's the chance to nab those limited-edition prints you've had your eye on, chat up the best of the best for screen-printing tips and kick yourself for not recognizing posters as high art until now. Although the national concert-poster community has experienced a recent revival, Chicagoans still do it better, so don't miss these locals:
Jay Ryan, The Bird Machine
Jay Ryan's been in the poster game since 1995, honing his screen-printing chops by creating promotional masterpieces for his friends' gigs, and his own band, Dianogah. He started The Bird Machine in the basement of his apartment building and has since become one of the most prolific artists in the biz, having designed posters for just about every band, venue, publication and festival in town?including every Pitchfork incarnation.
Kathleen Judge, Judgeworks
A poster artist since 2000, Kathleen Judge uses an oddball technique to get her unique look: she first chisels her images onto scratchboard, which resembles a woodcut, and then she gets to screen-printing. The results are intricately detailed, gorgeously colored and chock-full of texture. You've seen her work on promotions for Schubas and the Hideout, not to mention on every Neko Case poster in the past few years.
Dan MacAdam, Crosshair
It's worth wandering past MacAdam's booth just to catch a glimpse of his breathtaking new Wilco series, but if you need more reasons, how about photo-realistic posters for Queens of the Stone Age, Daniel Johnston and The Gutter Twins? He's been in the game since '96, and his style is easy to spot; many of his pieces feature photos of industrial buildings against prairie landscapes, the show information cleverly peaking out from some graffitied wall.
Want more poster art? Check out "Busted Amp," which runs through July 23 at Columbia College's A + D Gallery

CHIRP
Ever wonder how Chicago's music scene got so big? Give thanks to your friendly neighborhood indie labels; many will be manning booths at Chicago Independent Radio Project's Record Fair. This is your chance to buy hard-to-find albums, bump elbows with the folks who discovered your favorite bands, and get the inside scoop on what's coming up. You should have time to visit everyone, but don't forget to say hi to our faves:
Thrill Jockey
Thrill Jockey may have started in Manhattan, but these music-savvy folks quickly moved to where the real music scene is: Chicago. They've been here since '95, and boy have they been busy: look for recent releases from Thalia Zedek, the Boredoms and Pontiak at their CHIRP booth. They'll also be hawking loads of label merch?from tote bags to t-shirts?and of course, plenty of goodies from their two festival bands, Extra Golden and High Places. Be sure to ask about the upcoming albums from the Fiery Furnaces, Angela Desveaux and Pit er Pat, as well as the awesome new split from Pontiak and Arbouretum.
Touch and Go
Founded during the heyday of hardcore, this Chicago label has been doling out influential alt-rock since the early '80s. Bands like Shellac, Slint, Dirty Three, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, and !!! all grew up here, and recent releases aren't too shabby either: Look for new albums by Cocorosie, Dead Child and Peter Moren. If you're nice they might tell you all about the upcoming projects from Ugly Suit (August), Calexico (September) and the long-awaited new Black Heart Procession (early '09).
Drag City
On the eve of its 20th birthday (in '09), this longtime Chicago imprint knows no genre lines; its artists range from nu-folkers like Joanna Newsom and Will Oldham to axe-wielding rockers like the Fucking Champs. At its CHIRP booth, be sure to nab a copy of the recently released Silver Jews (it's like nothing you've ever heard), as well as new stuff from Bonnie Prince Billy and the recently unearthed Children of the Sixth Root Race (aka The Source Family). Don't forget to chat about the goodies on the horizon; releases from Helena Espvall & Masaki Batoh, The Red Krayola and Faun Fables are on the way.
For more info on these and other Chicago record labels, check out The Windy City on Wax.

DEPART-ment
The good folks at Pitchfork understand that music and DIY culture go hand-in-hand, so every year they clear a huge amount of real estate for the DEPART-ment craft fair to come and do their thing. From warped-record fruit bowls to cork-crate belt buckles, this all-volunteer bazaar has all the home-made sundries you can stand. When you need to catch some shade, head into the tent and check out this year's most exciting crafters:
Katie Johansson, Dollybird Designs
Johansson has been peddling her innovative baubles at every Pitchfork Music Festival to date. This Bucktown artist handcrafts metalsmith jewelry, like free-formed sterling flower rings, fossil pendants and cubed-Pyrite earrings. As beloved as she is in Chicago, she's even bigger in Japan; the popular Japanese magazine, flashfilm, recently ran a huge feature on Johansson's inventive wares, and now Dollybird trinkets are rather coveted overseas.
Scott Sullivan, Automatik Homegoods
Here's one Chicagoan who likes digging through the garbage. Not that we blame him?if we could have figured out a way to make a gorgeous lamp from re-purposed auto parts we'd head to the dump, too. Sullivan's interior-decor series includes lamps, bookends and furniture built from rusty transmissions, shift gears and used clutches. Industrial-chic and eco-savvy? It's no wonder the Wall Street Journal's Style section can't get enough of him. This will be his first booth at the Pitchfork Fest, so be nice!
Michelle Quick, Casual Service
This recent Art Institute grad has been on the DEPART-ment roster for awhile, so you've probably already swooned over her crocheted necklaces and zippered pouches, but this year she's got her foot in something new: um, shoes. Simple t-strap sandals in leather or vegan materials are almost too adorable. On the horizon for Quick and her company, Casual Service, which she runs with college roomie Dara Cahill: handmade Victorian-inspired boots.
Need a dose of craftiness, but can't wait until the next DEPART-ment event? Head to Renegade Handmade or the new Andersonville Galleria

Looking for more Pitchfork? Study up with our guides to the can't-miss bands and food booths, and get all the tips you need to survive the weekend.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals!

Pitchfork's Grid Wars

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:00:00 CST
Nothing's harder on indecisive music buffs than sorting out a festival schedule; disappointment looms behind every amp, and there's no avoiding it. In years past you've come to trust us to iron out your Lollapalooza schedules, and now we're extending our music-consultant services to include the Pitchfork Music Festival, whose bookings this year pit genre against genre, buzz bands against underground virtuosos?and all in the same time slot. Here are the weekend's top battles, and our bets on which crowds to fight through. Note: We're starting the battles on Saturday, as the kind bookers at Pitchfork/ATP have allowed ample time to see all three of Friday's bands; thank goodness, because if we had to decide between Mission of Burma and Flavor Flav, our brains would probably melt.

SATURDAY

A Hawk and a Hacksaw (B) vs. Jay Reatard (A) vs. Caribou (C) vs. Icy Demons 1:25-3 p.m.
Advantage: Jay Reatard
Right out of the gate on Saturday, there'll be some tough decisions to make: Do you take in the Balkan-tinged folk sounds of Albuquerque duo, A Hawk and a Hacksaw? Chase down the buzz on Memphis punk Jay Reatard? Check out the math-infused electro stylings of Caribou or see what local club kids the Icy Demons are up to? Since there'll be plenty of opportunities to see Chicago's Demons, let's scratch that one out right away. Ditto for Caribou, who consistently delivers a stellar live show that's more appropriate for a cavernous club than a sunny day in the park: Which brings us to the real question: twee folk or spastic, blogosphere-propelled punk? No doubt the New Mexican duo is worth checking out, but Jay Reatard is the only one of these acts guaranteed to get the adrenaline going for the rest of the day. Long live punk rock.

Fleet Foxes (A) vs. Fuck Buttons (B) 3-4 p.m.
Advantage: Fleet Foxes
The Seattle-based Fleet Foxes artfully balance baroque sensibilities with overtones of grunge in their weirdo brand of folk rock (that has nothing to do with San Francisco's freak-folk movement, thank-you-very-much). Meanwhile, Fuck Buttons, the UK's prog-rock poster kids, deliver apocalyptic noise with pop flair. Although Foxes and Buttons occupy opposite ends of the genre spectrum, both bands appeal to audiences eager for a mid-day dose of psychedelia. For our money, the harmony-laden, big folk sound of Fleet Foxes perfectly embodies the summertime-festival spirit.

Vampire Weekend (A) vs. Elf Power (B) 5-6 p.m.
Advantage: Vampire Weekend
Oh, Industry Hype, you're such a fickle mistress. Vampire Weekend, that oft-blogged about band formed by a handful of Columbia University students, has a lot of living up to do. Its debut garnered heaps of glowing reviews, earning the boys hoards of adoring fans and tons of MySpace plays. The expected critical and hipster backlash came shortly after, with many asking, "Is Vampire Weekend just 2008's flash-in-the-pan?" Sorry, Elf Power, but we're gonna have to see if these Brooklyn kids fall on their faces or prove themselves worthy of all the attention.

!!! (C) vs. Extra Golden (B) 6-7 p.m.
Advantage: !!!
This is a tough one: It's almost time for the big bands to get started, and you need to get some dancing in before it gets too crowded. Do you wiggle to the Benga strains of Kenya-based (Thrill Jockey-signed) Extra Golden or to the sweaty hipster grooves of Brooklyn's punctuation-rebels? While my inner music critic says, "Run run run to the Extra Golden stage, especially after !!!'s lackluster performance at Lollapalooza last year," I just can't: Extra Golden will put on a phenomenal show, but when !!! turns on its A-game (which is likely this year, given the small side-stage booking, where the band can interact with the crowd), you'll have more fun than you've had all year.

The Hold Steady (A) vs. Atlas Sound (B) vs. Jarvis Cocker (C) vs. No Age (B) 7-9 p.m.
Advantage: Hold Steady, Jarvis Cocker
As the evening draws to a close, the end game is to get to the Animal Collective set on the Aluminum stage by 9 p.m., but which route to take? In two hours, you could probably catch a bit of each of these bands, but if you're not crazy about spending most of the show elbowing through crowds, you'll have to choose. Although Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox's solo project, Atlas Sound, is usually a grand time, sticking with the Hold Steady, which always delivers top-notch fun with its distinctive take on geek rock, will set the tone for the rest of the night. Venture over to the Connector stage to catch Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker doling out the Brit-pop, then load up on enough 312s to get you through Animal Collective's headlining performance.

SUNDAY

High Places (B) vs. Dirty Projectors (A) 1:25-2 p.m.
Advantage: High Places
Brooklyn duo High Places is about to break big, and on Chicago's own Thrill Jockey label, no less. While fellow Brooklynites the Dirty Projectors have honed their orchestral pop skills down to a science, including the occasional deeply penetrating dance beat, the highly experimental tunes just don't seem suited to an afternoon outdoors. Plus, we just can't help but swoon over the glitched-out island-electro thing that High Places is rockin'.

Boris (C) vs. HEALTH (B) 2-3 p.m.
Advantage: Boris
Sometimes 'loud' just isn't enough; sometimes you need grating, invasive METAL as delivered by a trio of Japanese hotties. That would be Boris for you; the group wears its influences on its sleeves, from the hard-rocking Melvins to the delicate tunes of Nick Drake. Needless to say, there's no getting bored with Boris on stage. While we couldn't be more excited that Los Angeles noise-rockers HEALTH are coming out for the festivities, we plan to catch them at the Hideout aftershow on Friday.

M. Ward (C) vs. The Dodos (B) 6-7 p.m.
Advantage: M. Ward
We're not hippies or anything?in fact, we kinda hate hippies?but we feel that every outdoor fest needs a folk troubadour to step up and make us sway. Fortunately for us, Townes Van Zandt's heir apparent, M. Ward, isn't a hippie, either. Ward's been around forever, and we've always adored him. This year, he became a household name with new project, She & Him; the duo's other half, "It"-girl and surprisingly impressive musician Zooey Deschanel, is rumored to be popping in for a cameo.

Spiritualized (A) vs. Bon Iver (B) 7-8 p.m.
Advantage: Spiritualized
This is the tough one, folks. Justin Vernon, the year's most promising new singer-songwriter, or Jason Spaceman after a deathbed-defying hiatus? Um, we're gonna say lung failure trumps heartbreak. Songs in A & E, the new Spiritualized album, is chock-full of the kind of slow, melancholy gems we first fell in love with on 1997's Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space, but we suspect that?since this is the largest Spiritualized show on U.S. soil in a very, very long time?the band will be playing well into its back catalogue. Pitchfork offers much more than music. Study up with our guides to the fest's can't-miss food booths and other vendors. Plus, get all the tips you need to survive the weekend.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals!