Sound check: Don't snooze on Saturday's SNUZFEST; Bitter Jester applications are open
SNÜZFEST 2023
Break out the PJs! SNÜZFEST is back this weekend with its annual punk-rock pajama party. This year's edition at Chicago's Beat Kitchen features some of the most fun punk, pop-punk, emo and alternative rock acts from the region, including Keep Flying, Guardrail, The Day After, Cut Your Losses, Leisure Hour, Goof, The Run Around and The Freedom Paradox. SNÜZFEST, started in 2017 by Kevin Andrew and his Guardrail bandmates, has always been a concert for a cause, and a portion of this year's ticket sales will benefit The Hope for Us Network in its mission to address risk factors for mental health crises in the Chicago area.
5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $15-$18 at beatkitchen.com. 17+ show.
Free Webstirs show
Chicago-area indie-pop band The Webstirs marks its latest album - 2021's self-titled "The Webstirs" - with a free show celebrating the album's release on vinyl this weekend. The show will feature two sets at FitzGerald's Sidebar, along with new merch, a few surprises and, of course, the vinyl for sale.
8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, at FitzGerald's Sidebar, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. Free. fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.
Anything release party
Chicago-based Anything Is Everything is currently pushing out an edgy rock sound, but the band's pop-punk roots still seep through in their latest tunes. The foursome drops its newest album, "a tragic optimism," Friday, Feb. 10, marked by a release party, supported by some of the best bands growing on the Chicago scene right now - Totally Cashed, OK Cool and Nora Marks.
8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $12 at beatkitchen.com. 17+ show.
Throw the horns for Ozzy
Relive the heavy metal and hard rock of OzzFest as Afterlife Entertainment and Swizzle Steve Presents host a tribute to the long-standing tour at Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill in Bolingbrook. The night features sets from Killer of Giants (Ozzy), Giznad (Danzig/Misfits), Reign in Blood (Slayer), Pale Grey Sky (Sepultura) and Zero Signal (Fear Factory).
6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at Tailgaters, 431 W. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook. General admission starts at $15, with table packages available at tailgatersgrill.com and afterlifechi.com.
The Giving Moon
West suburban-native alt-rock band The Giving Moon heads up a stellar lineup at Chop Shop this weekend. The bill, which includes a mix of genres, also features Robot Heart Throb, soul-funk from Wyatt Waddell and the rocking The Fundamental Kink.
8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at Chop Shop, 2033 W. North Ave., Chicago. $20. chopshopchi.com.
Americana night
A stalwart on the Nashville songwriter scene of late, Matt Hires brings his heartfelt Americana to Hey Nonny for a night with fellow singer-songwriter (and former suburban artist) Brian Allison.
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $15-$35. heynonny.com.
Bitter Jester applications
The Bitter Jester Music Festival is back. Applications opened last week for this year's edition of the festival, a Highland Park highlight for 17 seasons presenting up-and-coming regional acts in a battle of the bands competition for fortune and glory. (OK, for some cool prizes and useful feedback from industry pros.) The early application deadline is March 15; the application window closes April 30. bitterjesterfoundation.org.
• Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor and local music junkie. Email him at bshamie@dailyherald.com or follow him on Instagram (@chicagosoundcheck). He also keeps tabs on the Chicago music scene at chicagosoundcheck.com.