Popular Events This Weekend

Event: Cirque Du Soleil - Kooza at United Center, Sat, Jul 12 8:00p

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 16:25:34 +0000

The U.S. Premiere of Cirque du Soleil’s latest spectacular combines two circus traditions – acrobatics and clowning -- in a return to the origins of the Canadian circus.

Event: Soulive, Al Green, Dr. John at Charter One Pavilion, Sat, Jul 12 8:00p

59276 — Sun, 6 Jul 2008 20:10:04 +0000

Event: Ringo Starr, Billy Squier, Colin Hay, Edgar Winter , Gary Wright, Hamish Stuart at Charter One Pavilion, Sun, Jul 13 8:00p

119467 — Mon, 7 Jul 2008 08:17:47 +0000

Event: Blue Man Group at Briar Street Theatre, Fri, Jul 11 7:00p

119467 — Fri, 7 Mar 2008 22:41:36 +0000

Experimental musical theatre troupe the Blue Man Group was founded in 1987 by longtime friends Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton, and Chris Wink; identical in their blue-painted skin, skullcaps and black clothing, the trio soon became a fixture of the New York underground performance art scene thanks to their regular appearances in Central Park, followed by shows at noted East Village spaces including Dixon Place, Performance Space 122 and the Wooster Group's Performing Garage. Equal parts play, concert, and sketch routine, the Blue Man Group combined sight gags, physical stunts and audience participation, with members of the front rows given plastic rain ponchos as protection from the hail of paint, food and other assorted projectiles launched from the stage; in early 1991, they premiered their production Tubes at La MaMa, moving to the Astor Place Theater by the end of the year and ultimately winning an Obie Award for their efforts. Tubes eventually expanded to long runs in Boston, Chicago and Las Vegas; in 1999, the Blue Man Group also issued an album, Audio, spotlighting their custom musical instruments. Three year later, the trio inked a multi-album deal with Atlantic's sister label, Lava Records. The Complex, which appeared in April 2003, marked the Blue Man Group's monumental sophomore album - a slick effort showcasing impressive collaborations with Tracy Bonham, Dave Matthews, Dan the Automator and Esthero. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

Event: Mark Knopfler at The Chicago Theatre, Sun, Jul 13 7:30p

35359 — Mon, 7 Jul 2008 06:04:57 +0000

Reserved Seating

Event: Wicked at Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Fri, Jul 11 8:00p

35359 — Sun, 6 Jul 2008 16:29:22 +0000

Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two unlikely friends end up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch makes for the most spellbinding new musical in years. Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman ("My So Called Life," "Once And Again" and "thirtysomething"), and is based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire. With musical staging by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who's Tommy, How To Succeed...), WICKED is directed by 2003 Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, A Man of No Importance).

Event: Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Sat, Jul 12 2:00p

59276 — Fri, 30 May 2008 20:56:05 +0000

ROCKSTAR ENERGY MAYHEM FESTIVAL announces today that hard-hitting metalcore band UNDEROATH will headline the HOT TOPIC STAGE at this summer’s highly anticipated tour, set to kick off July 9th at the White River Amphitheatre in Seattle. The much-buzzed-about tour will hit 30 cities in the U.S. and Canada between early July and late August. A full itinerary will be announced on April 1 with the festival's Pre Sale commencing on April 4 and the national on sale to commence on April 19. Underoath joins an all-star lineup that includes main stage closer SLIPKNOT, DISTURBED, DRAGONFORCE and MASTODON and a plethora of hard music’s most influential artists and exciting young voices. The tour will have two second stages: Underoath will headline the HOT TOPIC STAGE and MACHINE HEAD will headline the JAGERMEISTER stage. The second stages will also feature BLACK TIDE, SUICIDE SILENCE, AIRBOURNE, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, 36 CRAZY FISTS, THE RED CHORD, WALLS OF JERICHO and the JAGERMEISTER Battle of The Bands Winner. Tour title sponsor ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK, who will be offering product samples and providing great surprises for attendees, will also be presenting the VIP area THE ROCKSTAR LOUNGE where a national contest will take place, and fans can PARTY LIKE A ROCKSTAR in the VIP area. Details for this special promotion will be forthcoming and can be accessed at www.rockstar69.com Festival organizers have also announced that world famous freestyle motocross team METAL MULISHA—known for its lineup of legendary riders—are joining the riotous road show, performing three backflip-laden sets at each date in the festival area. “The Rockstar Energy Mayhem festival combines the best bands in extreme music with the Metal Mulisha rebels,” says freestyle Motocross legend Brian Deegan. “They’ll be mixing the sound of riffing and ripping 250CC motorcycles flying 150 feet in the air against the backdrop of double bass drums and shredding guitars.” In other news, SLIPKNOT is holed up in a Des Moines studio laying tracks down for their forthcoming album. No phones, no interference... JUST ROCK!!!! DISTURBED, recently back from rocking Kuwait, will release their forthcoming album, Indestructible on June 3 on Reprise Records. The album’s first single, “Inside The Fire,” hits radio airwaves on March 24, but fans can get an early taste of rdthIndestructible by visiting www.disturbed1.com to sign up and hear new track “Perfect Insanity.” The Rockstar Energy Mayhem festival brings together the creative team that has founded many music tours including the highly successful Vans Warped Tour and the Worldwide Rockstar Taste of Chaos Tour. Kevin Lyman, John Reese and CAA’s Darryl Eaton have partnered again to bring fans the next great music festival juggernaut, which will be MAYHEM! Following the proven model of utilizing sponsorship to deliver a lower ticket price and an enhanced concert experience the tour organizers have joined forces again with Rockstar Energy Drink as the title sponsor. Live Nation is set to promote the festival nationally. UNDEROATH are currently recording the follow-up to their juggernaut gold-certified and critically acclaimed third album Define The Great Line (Tooth & Nail/Solid State). The Florida-based sextet's inexplicably delightful amalgam of mayhem and melody--plus their depth and ability--propelled the landmark 2006 album to a #2 debut on the Billboard Top 200 Chart. Renowned for their cathartic and frenzied live performances Underoath have solidly built their fan base from incessant touring and their unrelentingly intense live shows, establishing an unbreakable bond with their fans. The combined sales of their three albums is close to one million copies. The strength and explosive lure of Underoath continues in 2008. About ROCKSTAR Energy Drink – Developed to increase the recovery time of those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles, ROCKSTAR Energy Drink is available in ten amazing flavors. You can find Original, Sugar Free, Juiced, Zero Carb, Guava, Pomegranate, Punched and Roasted Mocha, Roasted Vanilla Light and Roasted Latte at convenience and grocery retail outlets across the United States, Canada, Australia and the UK.

Event: Chicago Celebrates Bastille Day at Navy Pier, Sat, Jul 12 8:30p

104525 — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:48:23 +0000

This outdoor spectacle features the world renowned French theater troupe, Transe Express, as they perform their American premiere of Maudit Sonnants:Celestial Carillon.

Event: Blues Day Festival at Congress Theatre, Sat, Jul 12 9:00a

119467 — Wed, 2 Jul 2008 19:16:31 +0000

Come and enjoy the July 12, 2008 Blues Day Festival at the Congress Theatre. This event starts at 9am, so get up early and bring your kids.

Event: Jersey Boys at Bank of America Theatre, Fri, Jul 11 8:00p

35359 — Sat, 17 May 2008 13:29:18 +0000

Jersey Boys is the story of how a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time - Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Winner of Best Musical Tony Award 2005.