Sound check: Andrea Dawn, Emily Tipping livestreaming from The Venue
Dawn, Tipping at The Venue
While in-person outdoor events are popping up in the near future for The Venue, Fox Valley Music Foundation's performance space in Aurora, organizers have been playing it safe with a string of livestreamed performances in April and a full roster of upcoming shows. May kicks off with two shows over the next week: Andrea Dawn, who puts a jazzy spin on the singer-songwriter genre, performs Sunday, May 2; and Emily Tipping jumps on piano with her original songs for her solo debut at The Venue Wednesday, May 5. Both shows will be livestreamed on The Venue's YouTube channel and Facebook page and will also remain available for later viewing after the livestreams. Donations during performances will benefit the artist and the Fox Valley Music Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps promote music education and present performance opportunities in the Fox Valley area.
Andrea Dawn at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 2, and Emily Tipping at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 5, livestreaming on Facebook and YouTube. Free, but donations are suggested. themusicvenue.org.
Arcada's back in the game
The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles announced this week it plans to reopen the theater sometime in July. Details haven't been released yet since organizers are still in the process of rescheduling the whole slate of shows postponed from last year, but ticketholders will be contacted. The Club Arcada Speakeasy will be reopening May 7. Visit arcadalive.com for more details.
The return of Genesis
English rock band Genesis is coming back to the States for the first time in 14 years, and the tour's, ahem, genesis is in Chicago. “The Last Domino Tour” launches from Chicago's United Center on Monday, Nov. 15, before the band takes off for stops across North America. Pre-sale tickets hit the box office Wednesday, May 5, and open to the general public Friday, May 7; register at genesis-music.com.
Swoons and supper with Tony Ocean
Travel back in time every Friday at Chicago Prime Steakhouse in Schaumburg when acclaimed singer Tony Ocean brings the best of the Rat Pack and beyond to his dinner show. Featuring songs by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Tom Jones and more, Ocean croons those timeless classic love songs that still live on today. Catch him with dinner starting at 7 p.m. most Fridays in Schaumburg.
7 p.m. Friday, April 30, at Chicago Prime Steakhouse, 1444 E. Algonquin Road, Schaumburg. (847) 969-9900 or ChicagoPrimeSteakhouse.com.
'Situation Chicago 2'
Last year when the pandemic shut down local music venues, nonprofit organization Quiet Pterodactyl spearheaded the release of “Situation Chicago,” a vinyl compilation (and digital download) of 25 area bands, to raise funds for 25 independent music venues. A year later, there is hope on the horizon, but those same venues are struggling after being shuttered since last spring. On May 21, Quiet Pterodactyl will be releasing “Situation Chicago 2,” a collaboration with 10 more Chicago-area bands to further benefit those venues. Get a tease Wednesday, May 5, when rapper Robust drops the first single and video from the compilation, which, when released in full, features songs from MIIRRORS, Fess Grandiose, Umphrey's McGee and Bela Fleck, Imperial Boxmen, Jeff Parker and more, along with bonus tracks included on the digital release. Proceeds will benefit CIVL SAVE Emergency Relief Fund and The Giving Back Fund, which offers grants to furloughed staff, artists and venues in the Chicago area. Watch for the new release and more info on “Situation Chicago 2” at quietpterodactyl.org.
Beach Bunny on Fallon Friday
Lili Trifilio and her pop-rock band Beach Bunny have been accessible at your fingertips on your phone or streaming devices for a few years now. But now they're just a remote control away from being on your TV. Trifilio, Anthony Vaccaro and South Elgin High grads Jonathan Alvarado and Matt Henkels will follow up a January Jimmy Kimmel appearance when they perform on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” this Friday. The band recently released a video for its song “Cloud 9” featuring Canadian indie pop band Tegan and Sara. And this week Beach Bunny also announced a U.S. tour for late fall, a rescheduling of last year's postponed tour. So the foursome will have much to celebrate on the late-night talk show. “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” airs at 10:35 p.m. Friday, April 30, on NBC. Get more information on the band's tour at beachbunnymusic.com.
Side Street deadline nears
The response has been hot so Side Street Studio Arts is closing submissions for the summerlong Battle of the Bands this weekend. If you want to join the 16 local and regional acts vying for the top slot and prize package in the 8th annual Elgin competition, get your applications in by 5 p.m. Saturday, May 1, at sidestreetstudioarts.org/battleofthebands.
Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor and local music junkie. Email him at bshamie@dailyherald.com, find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter (@thatshamieguy) or Instagram (@chicagosoundcheck). Brian also keeps tabs on the local music scene at chicagosoundcheck.com.