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The sun is out, the sky is blue, it’s time to listen to live music!
Chicago’s vibrant music scene is gearing up for a busy summer with sounds from every genre under the sun. The concerts are multiplying in small and large venues in the area, in neighborhood bars and at festivals in and around Chicago.
We’ve listed some of the summer’s must-have music, from jazz to jam bands and everything in between:
All summer
Ravinia Festival. Pitbull, Erykah Badu, Common, Diana Ross and Grace Potter are just some of the performers you can listen to under the stars during the annual Highland Park extravaganza, this year running until September 18. Visit ravinia.org
Grant Park Music Festival with the Grant Park Orchestra and more. June 15-August. 20. Millennium Park, Pritzker Pavilion, Michigan and Randolph and throughout the city. Free. grantparkmusicfestival.com
Jazzin’ at the Shedd with Detour JazFunk, Rio Bamba, Michele Thomas Quartet and more. June 15-August. 31. The Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr. $14.95-$39.95; sheddaquarium.org
Naper Nights with The Prince Experience, Soul 2 the Bone, Red NOT Chili Peppers and more. June 17-August. 20. Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. $15 to $20; napersettlement.org
Chicago SummerDancing with salsa, polka, swing and more. June 18-Sept. 17. Spirit of Music Gardens, 331 E. Randolph St. and throughout the city. Free. chicagosummerdance.com
Pitbull is on the cover of Ravinia on August 25. |
Summer Breeze Concert Series with Shining Star, The Flat Cats and The Chicago Experience. July 9-August. 27. Robert O. Atcher Civic Center, 101 Schaumburg Ct., Schaumburg. Free. parkfun.com
Lakeside Pavilion Free Outdoor Summer Series with The Greatest Piano Men, Magic of Motown, Frida Fiesta! and more. July 15-August. 5. McAninch Center for the Arts, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Free. atthemac.org
Rockin’ in the park with Rush Tribute Project, Bruce USA and Deadfest, Motley Inc. and more. Until September 1. Parkway Bank Park, 5501 Park Pl., Rosemont. Free. rosemont.com
Live on the lake! TBA interpreters. Until September 4. Navy Pier Beer Garden, 600 E. Grand Ave. Free. marinepier.org
Jazz’n on the steps Until September 25. St. Moses The Black Parish, 331 E. 71st St. Free. southsidejazzcoalition.org
Bring a picnic blanket and listen to classic tunes at the Grant Park Music Festival, June 15-August 15. 20. Canopy seats also available.|
Patrick L. Pyszka/ City of Chicago
June
The Music Institute of Chicago Chorale – From Africa June 5. Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston. Free. musicinst.org/choir
Chicago Blues Fest June 9-12. Millennium Park, Pritzker Pavilion, Michigan and Randolph and throughout the city. Free. chicagobluesfestival.us
Chi Soul Festival June 11-12. TBA interpreters. Navy Pier Beer Garden and Polk Bros Park Performance Lawn, 600 E. Grand Ave. Free. marinepier.org
Departure (Tribute Trip) June 16. Parkway Bank Park, 5501 Park Pl., Rosemont. Free. rosemont.com
Summer crash featuring Post Malone, Playboi Carti, Young Thug x Gunna, Wiz Khalifa and more. June 17-19. Douglass Park, 1401 S. Sacramento Dr. $275 to $450; thesummersmash.com
Lionel Richie Tribute, All Night June 18. Metropolis Performing Arts Center, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $40; metropolisarts.com
Elvis My Way with Brandon Bennett June 18-19. Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire. $55; artistsloungelive.com
Liz Callaway: Broadway and Beyond June 23. Metropolis Performing Arts Center, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $40 to $45; metropolisarts.com
River North Live Music Festival with The Calling, Emo Night Brooklyn, Michigander, Baysik and more. June 24-26. River Park at theMART, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza. $10 to $12; rivernorthlive.com
Lil Wayne, Wu-Tang Clan and Wiz Khalifa at Summerfest. June 25. American Family Insurance Amphitheater, 100 N. Harbor Dr., Milwaukee, WI. $66.25+; summerfest.com
Toronzo Cannon is among the artists scheduled for the Chicago Blues Festival, June 9-12.|
Mike White/City of Chicago
Pack leaders with the Lovettes June 25-26. Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire. $55; artistsloungelive.com
Pride in the park featuring The Chainsmokers, Alesso, Saucy Santana, Rebecca Black and more. June 25-26. Butler Field, Grant Park, 377 E. Monroe St. $45-$300; prideparkchi.com
Catch big-name bands at Pride in the Park, June 25-26, in Grant Park.|
Courtesy of Adam Alexander Photography
July
Square Root Festival with Bob Mould, Guided by Voices, Dehd and more. July 8-10. Lincoln Ave. between Montrose Ave. and Wilson Ave. Free. squareroots.org
Michael Franti and spearhead with development stopped. July 9th. Ravinia Pavilion, 200 Ravinia Park Rd., Highland Park. $49 to $110; ravinia.org
Passport Vibes: Afrobeat Street Festival Programming to be determined. July 9th. The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. Free. passportvibesfest.com
Ticket to the Moon (ELO Tribute) July 14th. Parkway Bank Park, 5501 Park Pl., Rosemont. Free. rosemont.com
Fork Music Festival with The National, Mitski, Japanese Breakfast, The Roots and more. July 15-17. Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St. $99-$399; pitchforkmusicfestival.com
Heat Wave Music Festival with Above & Beyond, Galantis, RL Grime, Tiësto and more. July 16-17. Douglass Park, W. Ogden Ave. and S. Sacramento Dr. $99 to $448; heatwavemusicfestival.com
The black keys with band of horses and ceramic animal. July 17. Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, 19100 Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park. $38+; tinleyparkamphitheatre.com
Wicker Park Festival featuring Masked Intruder, Ric Wilson, Archers of Loaf and more. July 22-24. N. Milwaukee Ave. between N. Damen Ave. and N. Wolcott Ave. Suggested donation of $10; www.wickerparkfest.com
Leslie Odom Jr. with Marin Alsop and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. July 24. Ravinia Pavilion, 200 Ravinia Park Rd., Highland Park. $15 to $125; ravinia.org
Lollapalooza featuring Metallica, Dua Lipa, Machine Gun Kelly, Green Day, Doja Cat, J.Cole and more. July 28-31. Grant Park, 331 E. Randolph St. $125-$4,200; lollapaloza.com
August
American English (Beatles Tribute) August 4. Parkway Bank Park, 5501 Park Pl., Rosemont. Free. rosemont.com
Windy City Smoke with Willie Nelson & Family, Tim McGraw, Sam Hunt, Miranda Lambert and more. August 4-7. United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. $44.95+; windycitysmokeout.com
Country music superstar Tim McGraw is part of the Windy City Smokeout lineup in August. |
Elton John 5 August. Soldier Field, 425 E. McFetridge Dr. $159+; chicago-theatre.com
Grant Park Choir August 8. South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr. Free. grantparkmusicfestival.com
Fitz and the Tantrums & Andy Grammer August 12. RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora. $35 to $199; paramountaurora.com
My Home Music Festival featuring DJ Sneak, Farley, Ralphie Rosario, Jackmaster Funk and more. August 13-14. Harrison Park, 1824 S. Wood St. $30 to $125; myhousemusicfest.com
Ruido Festival with Cuco, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Cypress Hill and more. August 19-21. Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St. $99.99-$599.99; ruidofest.com
Sunday in the Park with Lyric with the Lyric Opera Orchestra. 21st of August. Millennium Park, Pritzker Pavilion, Michigan and Randolph. Free. lyricopera.org
Alicia’s Keys August 23. Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island, 1300 S. Linn White Dr. $54+; chicago-theatre.com
Leon Bridges August 24. Credit Union 1 Arena, 525 S. Racine Ave. $48+; chicago-theatre.com
dream girls directed by Christopher Betts. Aug. 31-Oct. 16. Paramount Theater, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Ticket prices to be determined. paramountaurora.com
September
The Lumineers will headline Wrigley Field on September 3. |
Chicago Jazz Festival September 1-4. Millennium Park, Pritzker Pavilion, Michigan and Randolph and throughout the city. Free. chicago.gov
Out of space to temperance with Houndmouth, Car Seat Headrest, Neko Case, Steel Pulse and more. September 1-4. Temperance Beer Co., 2000 Dempster Street, Evanston. $35 to $40; outofspaceconcerts.com
Michel Buble September 2. Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $109+; chicago-theatre.com
ARC Music Festival with Carl Cox, Charlotte De Witte, Fatboy Slim and many more. September 2-4. Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St. $279-$999; arcmusicfestival.com
North Coast Music Festival with Armin Van Buuren, Illenium, Porter Robinson and many more. September 2-4. SeatGeek Stadium, 7000 S. Harlem Ave., Bridgeview. $73.57 to $391.50; northcoastfestival.com
The Luminous September 3. Wrigley Field, 1060 W. Addison St. $85+; chicago-theatre.com
The essentials of small rooms
Catch a live show at one of the many smaller venues Chicago has to offer.
Tiny moving parts with This Wild Life and In Her Own Words. June 9. Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St. $25; bottomlounge.com
lily with catcher. June 29. Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave. $15-$17; emptybottle.com
Umi June 30th. Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave. $23 – $89; lh-st.com
Corinne Bailey Rae with Malia. July the 5th. Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St. $38-$60; thaliahallchicago.com
bear spirit July 15th. Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave. $10+; hideoutchicago.com
Sleigh bells 5 August. Subway, 3730 N. Clark St. $29-$35; metrochicago.com
Jorja Smith August 25. The Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave. $49.50 – $129.50; saltshedchicago.com
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