Summer music festivals, fairs and concerts
Warm weather notwithstanding, the summer music season has arrived, with oodles of top-notch indie, country and throwback-rock acts tagging along for the ride.
Aside from Chicago's marquee Lollapalooza and Pitchfork explosions - featuring the likes of Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Run DMC and Mission of Burma - suburbia antes up its share of classic rock (Ted Nugent and The Verve Pipe) and big-stage stars (Black Crowes and the Gin Blossoms) to keep our radio-loving hearts beating all summer long.
To help you sort through the fray, we've laid out summer by festival and touring rock star - all stopping by a town near you whether Mother Nature figures out the weather or not.
The big two
Lollapalooza: Grant Park, Chicago, Aug. 1-3
The buzz: In a word, Radiohead. If Lollapalooza lacked star power last year, the poster child for music's "free album" movement (read: Thom Yorke) replenishes it for this year's go-round. Rage Against the Machine feels a little late to the headliner dance after circling last summer's fest circuit, but Nine Inch Nails' first Lolla appearance since 1992 should liven things up a bit - if only to publicly tell off the record industry again. P.S. No Breeders?! We're shocked.
This year's lineup: Aside from odd flashback acts like the Toadies and Blues Traveler, Lolla soaks its stages with the likes of contemporary indie hit-sters, including but hardly limited to: electro-pop standouts MGMT, The Kills and England's Does it Offend You, Yeah?; media-loving rock staples The National, Yeasayer, Grizzly Bear and Okkervil River; and hip-hop up-and-comers Kid Sister, Spank Rock and The Cool Kids.
Local connection: We still consider you a Libertyville native, Tom Morello, and even though we haven't fully recovered from Rage not showing up last year, we welcome you back to Lolla's stage with open arms. In other news, Chicagoan-turned-L.A. moonlighter Lupe Fiasco turns up higher on this year's performance roster, and not to be topped by his own two-year-old performance, Kanye West makes his first Lollapalooza appearance since 2006. As for Wilco's cameo (how's this for a little Lollapalooza comeback history), this would've been their third appearance had poor ticket sales not cancelled the fest in 2004. Local indie rockers get their due thanks to Perry Farrell, who prides himself in giving back to Chicago's rock community by hosting his annual Last Band Standing band-battle contest. Until then, immediate hometown props go to Kid Sister and Office.
Cash: $205 for three-day pass
Pitchfork: Union Park, Chicago, July 18-20
The buzz: Twenty years after Public Enemy released "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" on Def Jam in 1988 (and 18 years before Flavor Flav began searching for love on VH1), Chuck D & Co. set the stage for Pitchfork weekend on Friday by playing the album all the way through. Reunions continue Friday with lo-fi rockster Sebadoh and Boston punksters Mission of Burma.
This year's lineup: A solid business knows when it's struck upon a good thing, and Pitchfork rightly uses last year's three-day formula for another weekend packed with indie acts meant for underground devotees. Obvious headliners Animal Collective, Spoon, Dinosaur Jr. and Wu Tang's Ghostface and Raekwon stand out among indie favorites Apples in Stereo; the quintessential New York rock find of the year, Vampire Weekend; and 2008 year-end-list New Wave shoe-ins Cut Copy.
Why you should go: As tiresome as its .9 ratings can get, Pitchfork Media knows its music, and 8.9 out of 10 hipsters agree. Go to brush up on your music culture, go to pay homage to Vampire Weekend, go to test out your best Flavor Flav "Yeeaaahh Booyeee."
Cash: $30 per day. Note: Three-day passes are sold out
Suburban fairs
DuPage County Fair, 2015 W. Manchester Road, Wheaton, July 23-27, (630) 668-6636.
The buzz: Taking a turn from last year's uber-local pop headliners Plain White T's and The Hush Sound, DuPage County steps outside of its suburban borders with Nashville's Little Big Town, whose "A Place to Land" scored high on indie charts last year, and Christian alternative rockers Jars of Clay (who met at college in Greenville, Ill.!).
Who should tune in: Anyone with an affinity for contemporary country or Christian rock. Oh, and considering "High School Musical" costar Corbin Bleu is making an appearance Friday, kids are welcome as well.
Cash: $10-$25 or $40 VIP, plus $10 fair admission
Naperville Ribfest, Knoch Park, Naperville, July 3-6, (630) 548-5205
The buzz: Ribfest shows off its classic-rock colors with a throwback performance schedule that includes: Ted "The Nuge" Nugent, REO Speedwagon, Trace Adkins, Big Head Todd and '80s U.K. blues rockers Foghat.
Who should tune in: Besides hardcore barbecue lovers still licking their chops from 14 major rib makers, this lineup beckons cover-rock enthusiasts craving the real deal.
Cash: $10 at the gate
Pride of the Fox RiverFest, Main Street at the Fox River, St. Charles; June 6-8, (630) 584-8415
The Buzz: Besides its big annual "Idol" search for the next Kane-to-Hollywood crooner, RiverFest invites local cover-rock staples 7th Heaven and Hi Infidelity to headline its Riverside Stage along with Saturday night stars, "Next Great American Band" electro-pop participants Dot Dot Dot.
Who should tune in: REO Speedwagon lovers who "can't fight this feeling anymore" and reality show junkies who want Dot Dot Dot singer Adam Blair's autograph.
Cash: Free
Wheeling Freedom Fest, 255 W. Dundee Road, Wheeling; July 3-5
Buzz: Wheeling outdoes last year's 10,000 Maniacs performance by inviting alt.-rockers The Verve Pipe and local faves the Gin Blossoms to headline the fest's yearly July 4 fireworks blowout.
Who should tune in: Mid-20-somethings (we're looking at you, class of 2000) who fondly recall smatterings of "The Freshman" being piped in during high school graduation and everyone else who still hasn't discarded their ragged copy of "New Miserable Experience."
Cash: Free
Kane County Fair, Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 South Randall Road, St. Charles. (630) 584-6926
The buzz: Two years after Trace Adkins took the Kane County stage, Chicago blues rocker Ronnie Baker Brooks takes the mainstage with Berwyn's own, circa-1970 Ides of March. Local supporting acts are Dot Dot Dot and '60s "flashback" group The New Invaders.
Who should tune in: Country fans, baby, and those wanting a spin around the dance floor after a day in the sun.
Cash: $5 Thursday through Sunday; $1 on Wednesday
Arlington Heights Frontier Days, Recreation Park, 500 E. Miner St., Arlington Heights, July 2- 6
The Buzz: Cast aside visions of last year's Rick Springfield performance, because Night Ranger rides into town with Dennis DeYoung and Little River Band.
Who should tune in: Those of us who've never truly rid our skulls of "Sister Christian" power ballads and the reincarnation of "Come Sail Away."
Cash: Free to enter fest
Bach Week Festival, Music Institute of Chicago, 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, May 2, 4, 9. (800) 595-4849
The Buzz: Per the fest's name, Johann Sebastian Bach takes center stage during three concerts in as many days, featuring musicians from the Bach Week Festival Chamber Orchestra and Festival Chorus (i.e. the Chicago Symphony, Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chicago-area enthusiasts).
Who should tune in: Bach junkies and classical music fans whose radios are forever set to "symphony."
Cash: $35 per concert or $100 per 3-show subscription
Naperville Last Fling, Rotary Hill, Naperville; Aug. 29-Sept. 1
The Buzz: There's good reason why the Last Fling's Sunday performance has sold out for the past three years, and this year is no exception thanks to The Black Crowes. Months after releasing their seventh studio album, expect to see this show on heavy download at liveblackcrowes.com.
Who should tune in: Do you know the words to "Shake Your Money Maker"? Yeah, then you should go. Buy tix early.
Cash: $15 for concerts, free to enter the fest.
Chicago
Taste of Chicago, Grant Park, June 27-July 6
The Buzz: Sure the Taste has tended to stumble music-wise in the face of Lollapalooza and Pitchfork's impressive lineups, but organizers manage to stay current this year with the Plain White T's, Joss Stone, Gomez and Ryan Shaw, not to mention crowd-drawers Bonnie Raitt and Stevie Wonder. Considering these concerts are free, they ain't half bad.
Who should tune in: If you'll be at the Taste anyway, you might as well stay for the tunes. Taste officials hope to appeal, once again, to musical palates across the board, so most "Hey There Delilah" radio followers and old-school "You are the Sunshine of My Life" fans will feel fulfilled.
Cash: Free
Blues Fest
The buzz: B.B. King is back! For the first time in 20 years, he returns to Blues Fest with his trusty "Lucille" in tow. Plenty of other blues-manner goodies round out the fest, including Chicago's Koko Taylor and Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials, as well as Johnny Winter, James Cotton and Buckwheat Zydeco.
Who should tune in: Blues fans! And those with enough sense to see B.B. King in a city that's thrived on blues for years.
Cost: Free
Out of town
Milwaukee's Summerfest, Henry W. Maier Festival Park, Milwaukee, Jun 26- July 6. (414) 273-2680
The buzz: More than 700 bands on 11 stages should give anyone reason to slap on a Summerfest smile and drive the hour and a half to the land of beer and cheese. The fact that bands like Blondie, Gnarls Barkley, The Zombies, 311, Gomez, Less Than Jake and Finger Eleven are available outside of the Marcus Amphitheatre for merely the cost of admission makes $4 gas seem like even less of an issue.
Who should tune in: Rock, pop and country share Summerfest's spotlight, but let's not forget about the oodles of Chicago bands making the trek as well. If you're a local-band watcher, you'll want to stake out space on your schedule now.
Cash: $8 weekdays between noon and 4 p.m.; $15 after 4 p.m. and on weekends
Illinois State Fair, Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave., Springfield. Aug. 8-17; (217) 782-6661
The buzz: Springfield attempts to lure us out of town with "My Humps" glitz girl Fergie. Will it work? Maybe, though a shiny co-starring cast that includes Weird Al Yankovic, ZZ Top, Vanessa Hudgens and Huey Lewis and the News might help.
Who should tune in: Let's see ... Fans of Top 40, James Blunt parodies, beards, "High School Musical" and anyone who wants to hear Huey Lewis' new theme song for Seth Rogan's "Pineapple Express."
Cash: $30-$38; fest admission is $3
Other Chicago fests of note
Chicago Ribfest, Lincoln Avenue and Irving Park Road, June 7-8, (847) 677-8273
Bands: Ha Ha Tonka, Treaty of Paris, Skybots, The Bon Mots, Nada Surf, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir
Cash: $5
Taste of Randolph Street, Randolph and Peoria, June 20-22 312-458-9401
Band highlights: Josh Ritter, Frisbie, The August, J. Davis Trio, Drive-By Truckers
Cash: $10 donation
Hideout Block Party, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave., Sept. 20-21, (773) 227-4433
Band highlights: To be announced
Chicago Folk & Roots Festival, Lincoln Square, July 12-13
Band highlights: FreezeDried Polka, The Dolce Veeta Wedding Band, Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble, The Mother Truckers
Cash: $7
Wicker Park Fest, Damen Ave. between North Avenue and Schiller Street, July 26-27, bamfest.biz
Band highlights: Ra Ra Riot, Bishop Allen, Maps & Atlases, Film School.
Cash: $5 donation
Second Annual Belmont Arts & Music Festival (BAM!), 2000 W. Belmont, June 28-29 (773) 327-5123
Band highlights: Cursive, Maritime, Smoking Popes, The Redwalls, Waco Brothers
Cash: $5
Cans Outdoor Music Fest, 1640 N. Damen, June 27-28, (773) 227-2277
Band highlights: Vanilla Ice and C & C Music Factory
Cash: $5
Harley Fest, Summerfest Grounds, Aug. 29-Aug. 30
The Buzz: Harley Fest's 105th anniversary program sort of blends in with the rest of Summerfest's rockin' lineup, which is kind of a shame since the Foo Fighters are the latest addition in a roster that includes Buddy Guy, Blind Melon, Joan Jett and headlining the whole thing, Bruce Springsteen.
Who should tune in: You don't have to be a hog lover to love the music. Stop by during Summerfest's duration and you're sure to get a heaping dose of the fun.
Cash: Cost of Summerfest admission.
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