Music events: Sheryl Crow hits Waukegan

Rocking for a cause

A slew of local bands will kick out the jams Friday night to raise money for juvenile diabetes research. The event is called Freedom from Insulin 2011, and it will include performances by the bands Friction, Ovrevolt, AVM and Skinwalker. All profits from the event, which will include food and raffle prizes in addition to the music, will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Here's a chance to hear plenty of live music close to home and contribute to a worthy cause. Music starts at 6 p.m. Friday, May 6, at Real Time Sports Bar, 584 Randall Road, St. Charles. A minimum donation of $10 for adults and $5 for those under 21 required. Visit freedomfrominsulin.org.

Beautiful ‘Noise'

Neil Young proved in 2010 that old-timers can make rock 'n' roll as innovative, noisy and powerful as anything churned out by today's young whippersnappers. Young's latest solo record “Le Noise” featured just his voice, his songs and his wonderfully distorted electric guitar (courtesy of producer Daniel Lanois). Young appears in town this weekend for a pair of solo shows — a veteran rocker at the top of his game. 8 p.m. Friday, May 6, and Saturday, May 7, at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $43 to $253. Go to ticketmaster.com.

Time for Crow

Sheryl Crow is one of the big success stories of the 1990s and beyond. Her 1993 debut, “Tuesday Night Music Club,” was a multiplatinum hit, and she hasn't turned back since, releasing five best-selling studio albums, racking up more than two dozen Grammy nominations and performing with some of rock's biggest legends. Crow will perform next week in the suburbs. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $46 to $96. Go to ticketmaster.com.