A lot of them are music festivals! Cindy Gatziolis with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (link: http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en.html) was in our ABC7 studio to tell us about the Millenium Park Downtown Sound series, the Chicago Blues Festival, Bike to Work Week, the Chicago Gospel Music Festival, and the Puerto Rican and Pride Parades.
1. Millennium Park Music Series (link: http://explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/event_landing/special_events/dca_tourism/downtown_sound__new.html)
Downtown Sound
Monday Nights at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, May 28 - July 30, 2012
Lineup (headlining act listed first):
May 28: Kelly Hogan (link: http://kellyhogan.com/
) + Scott Lucas and the Married Men (link: http://scottlucasandthemarriedmen.com/
)
The Downtown Sound series begins on Memorial Day with the dynamic Kelly Hogan and her versatile voice and transformative style. A Chicagoan by way of Atlanta, this singer-songwriter mixes her southern roots with Chicago charm. Scott Lucas and the Married Men open the night with their introspective brand of alternative rock.
June 4: Jonathan Richman + Bobby Broom and The Deep Blue Organ TrioJoel Paterson and the Modern Sounds (link: http://www.myspace.com/joelpaterson
)
Jonathan Richman brings his unaffected blend of rock and roll and folk music to Millennium Park after over 40 years of performing in small to mid-size venues. Opening is Chicago-based trio Joel Paterson and the Modern Sounds performing rockabilly, jazz, swing and classic blues.
Opening is Chicago based Jazz guitarist and educator Bobby Broom.
June 11: The Eternals (link: http://www.myspace.com/eternalsthe
) + Wild Belle (link: https://www.facebook.com/wildbelle?sk=app_178091127385
)
The Eternals have been combining jazz and funk into a unique mix for years, but add a live jazz band in Millennium Park to create a multi-genre performance of funk, hip-hop and punk rock. Emerging brother-sister duo Elliot and Natalie Bergman of Wild Belle start off the night with music from their debut album.
June 18: Cloud Cult (link: http://www.cloudcult.com/home.cfm
) + Judson Claiborne (link: http://judsonclaiborne.com/
)
Mixing indie-rock with environmental activism, Cloud Cult's moving, open-hearted songs are a call to action towards a greener world. Opening the night with their collaborative music, Judson Claiborne is the solo and band name of Low Skies frontman Christopher C. Salveter on guitar with Ryan Blaine Boyles on bass, Jamie Daniel Carter on drums and Jacob Floyd Ross on guitar.
June 25: Occidental Brothers Dance Band International + Chico Trujillo (link: http://www.chicotrujillo.com/
)
The Occidental Brothers' blend of high-energy West African highlife, Congolese dance music (soukous) and African jazz has won over music critics and seduced an audience of listeners as diverse as the members of this multi-racial band. Chico Trujillo starts this night of world music with a blend of classic cumbia, bolero, folk and reggae.
July 2: Joan of Arc (link: http://www.joanfrc.com/
) + Daniel Knox (link: http://danielknox.com/
)
After the recent release of their soundtrack for the classic French silent film, The Passion of Joan of Arc, Joan of Arc brings their explosive post-rock sound to Millennium Park for Independence Day week. Self-taught pianist Daniel Knox opens the evening with his lyrical deftness and musical lure.
July 9: The Sadies (link: http://www.thesadies.net/index.php
) + James Vincent McMorrow (link: http://www.jamesvmcmorrow.com/ep/
)
Canadian indie rock and alternative country band The Sadies combine country, psychedelic, rock and surf with musical chops and live intensity. Opening the night is Irish folk singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow with songs from his debut album.
July 16: Charles Bradley and his Extraordinaires (link: http://thecharlesbradley.com/
) + Abigail Washburn (link: http://www.abigailwashburn.com/website/
)
Charles Bradley, "the screaming eagle of soul," infuses his troubled and triumphant life story with the great tradition of classic soul, funk and R&B. Singer, songwriter and clawhammer banjo player, Abigail Washburn starts off the night mixing folk, global and far-flung sounds.
July 23: Ana Tijoux (link:
) + Sidi Touré (link: http://www.myspace.com/siditoure
)
Regarded by many as the best rapper in the Spanish language, Chile's Ana Tijoux took the U.S. by storm with her 2010 Grammy-nominated album 1977. This night of world music begins with Sidi Touré of Mali and songs from his homeland influenced by western blues and rock.
July 30: SMOD (link: http://www.myspace.com/smodbamako
) + M.A.K.U. Soundsystem (link: http://www.makusoundsystem.com/
)
Making their Chicago debut, Malian group SMOD mixes rap, hip hop, folk and traditional music to form an entirely new and exciting sound in the genre of world music. M.A.K.U. SoundSystem starts off the evening with music that begins in traditional Afro-Colombian rhythms and ends somewhere in the punk-jazz stratosphere.
2. 29th Annual Chicago Blues Festiva l (link: http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/supporting_narrative/events___special_events/special_events/mose/chicago_blues_festival.html
)
Grant Park June 8-10
Lineup:
(Schedule Subject to Change)
Friday, June 8
BUD LIGHT CROSSROADS STAGE
11:15 am - 12:15 pm: The Jimmy Reed Family
12:45 pm - 2:00 pm: Quintus McCormick
2:30 pm - 3:45 pm: Zora Young
4:15 pm - 5:30 pm: Joe Louis Walker
MISSISSIPPI JUKE JOINT STAGE
11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Panel Discussion (Lightnin' Hopkins) with Roger Wood, Chris Strachwitz & Alan Govenor
12:45 pm - 1:30 pm: Ol' Skool Revue from the Delta Music Institute of Delta State University
1:45 pm - 2:45 pm: Eddie C. Campbell
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Vasti Jackson
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm: Johnny Rawls
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Jam Session with Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith
PEPSI FRONT PORCH STAGE
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: Blues In The Schools w/Stone Academy, Eric Noden, Katherine Davis & Erwin Helfer
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm: Fernando Jones and My Band!
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Matthew Skoller Band
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm: Big James & The Chicago Playboys
PETRILLO MUSIC SHELL
(A Centennial Celebration of Lightnin' Hopkins)
5:50 pm - 6:35 pm: Rev. K M Williams
7:00 pm - 8:05 pm: Milton Hopkins and Jewel Brown
8:30 pm - 9:30 pm: Texas Johnny Brown
Saturday, June 9
BUD LIGHT CROSSROADS STAGE
11:15 am - 12:15 pm: Tommy McCracken
12:45 pm - 2:00 pm: Diunna and Blue Mercy
2:30 pm - 3:45 pm: Bob Jones with Ronnie Hicks & The Masheen Company Band featuring Mike Wheeler
4:15 pm - 5:30 pm: Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues
MISSISSIPPI JUKE JOINT STAGE
11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Panel Discussion of Malaco Records (Tommy Couch, Jr., Wolf Stephenson, Brett Bonner & Alex Thomas)
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Terry "Big T" Williams
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm: Mark "Muleman" Massey
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Homemade Jamz Blues Band feat. Ryan, Kyle & Taya Perry
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm: Jam Session w/ Ronnie Hicks & The Masheen Company Band
PEPSI FRONT PORCH STAGE
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: Columbia College Blues All Stars
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm: Rev. K M Williams
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Sam Lay Blues Band
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm: Tribute to Hubert Sumlin featuring Steady Rollin Bob Margolin, Eddie Shaw, Dave Specter , Bob Corritore, Johnny Iguana, Kenny "Beedy Eye's" Smith & Bob Stroger
PETRILLO MUSIC SHELL
5:40 pm - 6:10 pm: Paul Kaye (Tribute to David Honeyboy Edwards)
6:35 pm - 8:00 pm: (Celebrating Muddy Waters Disciples - Pinetop Perkins, Willie Big Eyes Smith & Mojo Buford ) featuring Steady Rollin Bob Margolin, Mud Morganfield, Kenny "Beedy Eye's" Smith, Barrelhouse Chuck, Lil Frank, Bob Stroger & Joe Filisko
8:25pm - 9:30 pm: Floyd Taylor
Sunday, June 10
BUD LIGHT CROSSROADS STAGE
11:15 am - 12:15 pm: Demetria Taylor
12:45 pm - 2:00 pm: Mary Lane and the No Static Blues Band
2:30 pm - 3:45 pm: Charles Wilson
4:15 pm - 5:30 pm: Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials
MISSISSIPPI JUKE JOINT STAGE
11:30 am - 12:15 pm: Howlin' Wolf B-Day/Panel Discussion with Barbra Marks, Sterling Plumpp & Dick Shurman
12:30 pm - 1:25 pm: The Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm: Eden Brent
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Pat Brown
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm: Patrice Moncel
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Mississippi Jam Session w/ Dexter Allen
PEPSI FRONT PORCH STAGE
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: Homemade Jamz Blues Band featuring Ryan, Kyle & Taya Perry
1:30pm - 2:30 pm: Lurrie Bell
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Omar Coleman and Friends
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm: Eddie Shaw & The Wolf Gang
PETRILLO MUSIC SHELL
6:00 pm - 7:20 pm: Celebrating Women in Blues - Tribute to KoKo Taylor, featuring Melvia "Chick" Rodgers, Jackie Scott, Deitra Farr , Nora Jean Brusco and The KoKo Taylor Blues Machine Band
7:45 pm - 9:00 pm: Mavis Staples
3. Bike to Work Week (link: www.bikechicago.us
)
June 11-15
4. 27th Chicago Gospel Music Festival (link: www.chicagogospelmusicfestival.us
)
Thursday-Sunday, June 21-24
Lineup:
Thursday, June 21
Millennium Park Jay Pritzker Pavilion
6:30pm Goodman Theatre's Crowns Sneak Peek
7:30pm JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound
Friday, June 22
Cultural Center 77 E. Randolph Preston Bradley Hall
12:00pm Valencia Lacy & Unquenchable Worshipper
12:35pm Carya Holmes
1:10pm Light of Love
Randolph Street Café
12:30pm Ron Barrett
1:00pm Dana Divine
1:30pm Martin Woods
2:00pm Silent Mime Worship
Ellis Park ~ 37th & Cottage Grove
Saturday, June 23
Day Stage
12:00pm G3
12:30pm Faith Temple Voices of Faith Combines Choirs
1:00pm Gospel Recording Artist "Maurice Griffin"
1:30pm Tyrone Pittman and The Chicago Black Catholics Choir
2:00pm Ms. Eboné S. Lewis (AnointedDVesseL)
2:20pm One 4 Christ
2:50pm Johnell Nicholas & ISM (Inspirit Ministries)
3:20pm J.C. Singers
3:50pm Anita Wilson
4:20pm Mark S. Hubbard & The Voices ftg Angie Spivey
Main Stage
McDonald's presents Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour
5:00pm Byron Cage
5:40pm J. Moss
6:30pm Fred Hammond
Sunday, June 24
Day Stage
12:00pm Dexter Walker & Zion Movement
12:30pm E. Mc Dancers from Douglas Park
12:45pm W.O.W. (Walking on Water)
1:15pm Marco The Poet
1:30pm M.A.D.D. Rhythms
1:50pm Todd Dulaney
2:20pm BRL Chicago
2:40pm Glorielle Williams & Wave of Glory
3:00pm Chicago Westside Music Festival "Battle of the Gospel Choirs" Winner
3:30pm Pilgrim Baptist Church Tribute to Thomas A. Dorsey
4:00pm The Original Chosen Ones
4:20pm Reverend Charles Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago
Main Stage
5:00pm Take 6
5:45pm Blind Boys of Alabama
6:45pm Mary Mary
McDonald's Kids Activity Zone
11:00am - 6:00pm
Activities include arts & crafts activities, roaming entertainment, open microphone opportunities, inflatable bouncy houses, and more!
5. Puerto Rican Parade (link: http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/event_landing/events/mose/puerto_rican_parade.html
)
Saturday, June 16, 2012
6. Pride Parade (link: http://www.chicagopridecalendar.org/parade.shtml
)
Sunday, June 24, 2012
