Weekend picks: Arlington International throws open the gates for racing season
Out of the gate
Horse racing season begins again with Opening Day & Kentucky Derby Day events this weekend at Arlington International Racecourse, 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. $10 opening day general admission; free tickets are available online. (847) 870-7223 or arlingtonpark.com. 3:15 p.m. Friday, May 5, and 1:25 p.m. Saturday, May 6
Bring your appetite
More than a dozen local and regional food trucks will offer a wide variety of eats at Aurora's Downtown Food Truck Festival, on Benton Street, from River to Water streets in downtown Aurora. Plus, take in live music, art exhibits and more. Free. auroradowntown.org. 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 5
Jazz past & future
The SFJazz Collective and jazz violinist Regina Carter team up for the double-bill concert “The Music of Miles Davis & Original Compositions” and “Simply Ella” in honor of the 100th anniversary of late singer Ella Fitzgerald at the Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $28-$60. (312) 294-3000 or cso.org. 8 p.m. Friday, May 5
Metal men
Fans of heavy metal rock won't want to miss seeing Queensrÿche in concert at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$89. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com. 8 p.m. Friday, May 5
Jam is in season
Spring Jam is back for its 13th year of toe-tapping funk, foot-stomping bluegrass, and deep, deep jams from Chicago and throughout the suburbs. Friday night features tunes by Cymatic, Thinner Teed, Great Sky Band and Sean Shiel Music. Saturday packs the Concrete Roots, Urban Pioneers, PolySci and The Stringed Beans. Join the celebration at Mackey's Hideout for $10 each night. 8:15 p.m. Friday, May 5, and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at Mackey's Hideout, 2601 S. River Road, McHenry. $10. (815) 363-7040 or mackeyshideout.com.
Comedy bud
Comedian Doug Benson returns to town for a Cinco De Mayo Celebration standup show and podcast taping of “Doug Loves Movies” at Zanies at MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $20 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com/rosemont. Standup show at 8 p.m. Friday, May 5; podcast taping at 4:20 p.m. Saturday, May 6
Childish comedy
Comedian Christopher Titus mines his troubled early family life for humor with his “Born With a Defect” tour, which plays the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $33-$35. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 8 p.m. Friday, May 5
Go Fly a Kite
Hundreds of kites are expected to soar at the grand launch at 11 a.m. Saturday during the Wheaton Park District's Go Fly a Kite event in Graf Park, 1701 Manchester Road. See kite-flying demonstrations by the Chicago Fire Kite Team and participate in a highest-flying-kite contest or a most-unique-kite contest. Children can take part in a kids' candy drop and more. Bring your own kite or purchase one at the event. Free; no registration required. wheatonparkdistrict.com. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6
Derby de Mayo
Double your celebratory fun by commemorating both the Cinco de Mayo holiday and the running of the 2017 Kentucky Derby with the Derby de Mayo Pub Crawl starting at Village Hall, 50 S. Emerson St., Mount Prospect. $10 registration. downtownmountprospect.com. 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 6
Olympic preview
See skating champions like Karen Chen, Gracie Gold, Ashley Wagner and more when the tour of “Stars on Ice” returns to the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $25-$165; $15-$20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6
Orchestral paintings
Lyric Opera of Chicago baritone Takaoki Onishi and the Elgin Master Chorale join with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra to close out its season with a concert bill featuring Mussorgsky's “Pictures at an Exhibition,” Vaughan Williams' “Serenade to Music” and Mahler's “Songs of a Wayfarer” this weekend at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $30-$65; $10 students. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 7
New release by Killing gods
Born of rock and metal, Killing gods' sound wraps its hands around myriad influences and holds on tight, telling stories of life and redemption. Hear new songs when the band - Danny Koziel, Greg Sturmon, Oswaldo Rodriguez and frontman Jordan Gomer of Naperville - releases its third EP, “Tartarus,” at Bottom Lounge Saturday with Bubbles Erotica, Marwood's Fall, Bullet to the Heart and Comfort Scarcity. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago. $10. (312) 666-6775 or bottomlounge.com.
Yesterday & Today
I wonder if when Y&T first started (as Yesterday & Today) they knew they'd be as influential to the rock scene as they have become. And that they would put out 18 albums? And that they'd still be touring 40 years later? Catch the hard-rock pioneers when they play St. Charles' Arcada Theatre this weekend. 8 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.
Brahms guitarist
See classical guitarist Paul Galbraith perform works by Mozart, Bach and others at Bennett Gordon Hall at Ravinia, 200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park. Galbraith uses a special eight-string “Brahms guitar” that he helped to develop. The instrument has extra high and low strings. $10. No lawn sales. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6
Beer Can and Breweriana Show
The Bullfrog Chapter of the Brewery Collectibles Club of America hosts a Spring Beer Can and Breweriana Show at the American Legion Hall, 514 S. Main St., Wauconda. A variety of breweriana, including beer cans, trays and more, will be available. $1 admission. bcca.com. 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 7
Animal band
Bring the kids to see four farm animals triumph over a band of robbers when the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Once Upon a Symphony outreach program performs “The Bremen Town Musicians” at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $16; $14 kids. (630) 942-4000, atthemac.org or cso.org. 1:30 and 3:15 p.m. Sunday, May 7
'Tomorrow is another day'
Actress and historian Lynn Rymarz explores the life of Pulitzer Prize-winning “Gone With the Wind” author Margaret Mitchell in the History Speaks Lecture Series “Margaret Mitchell - Before and After Scarlett” in the Century Memorial Chapel at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Learn about Mitchell's childhood in Georgia and how she came to write a best-selling book that became a film which received eight Academy Awards. Photos and letters will be shared as part of the program. Reservations are recommended. $7-$10. (630) 420-6010. napersettlement.org. 4 p.m. Sunday, May 7
Songs of Africa
The African Children's Choir performs African songs and dances, along with spirituals and gospel selections, in a concert at Faith Lutheran Church, 1745 Kaneville Road, Geneva. The choir has performed in front of Queen Elizabeth II and has sung with musical artists such as Paul McCartney, Keith Urban and many others. Free. A freewill offering will be collected to help support the African Children's Choir programs, including those relating to care, relief and education. (630) 232-8420. 7 p.m. Sunday, May 7
Upcoming concerts
Queensryche: 8 p.m. Friday, May 5, Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Rock. Tickets start at $39. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.
deadmau5: 9 p.m. Friday, May 5, Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago. Tickets start at $71. (773) 561-9500 or aragonballroom.com.
Funky Mojodaddy: 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 5, Harlem Avenue Lounge, 3701 S. Harlem Ave., Berwyn. Blues, soul, roots-rock. $6. (708) 484-3610 or harlemavenuelounge.com.
Hairbanger's Ball: 10 p.m. Friday, May 5, at BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $8. (331) 777-4712 or basecamppub.com.
Don McLean: 10 p.m. Friday, May 5, City Winery Chicago, 100 W. Randolph St., Chicago. Pop, rock. $75-$90. (312) 733-9463 or citywinery.com.
Flutist Rachel Lowe: 5 p.m. Saturday, May 6, Da Capo Music Studio, 140 E. Route 38, Unit C, Elburn. Free; donations are welcome and will be given to the Aurora Christian School Music Department. (630) 777-2955 or dcmusicstudio.com.
Kayak Jones, Caving, City Mouth, Tiny Kingdoms, Forest Green, Silver Age: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at Evolution Music, 923 Curtiss St., Downers Grove. $10-$12. (630) 541-5022 or evolutionmusicstore.com.
The Great Divide, Capital Vices, Ryno, Luca: 7 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $7-$10. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.
Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra with “Musical Monuments” concert: 7 p.m. Saturday, May 6, Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, 149 Brush Hill Road, Elmhurst. Pianist Adam Neiman and violinist Karisa Chiu join the orchestra. Classical and more. $9-$32. Families (two adults and three children) $65. elmhurstsymphony.org.
Underwater People: 8 p.m. Saturday, May 6, Frankie's Blue Room, 16 W. Chicago Ave., Naperville. Rock. $7. For ages 21 and older. frankiesblueroom.net.
Y&T: 8 p.m. Saturday, May 6, Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Hard rock. Tickets start at $39. (6300 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.
Lewis Del Mar, Anna Wise: 8 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St., Chicago. $16-$24. (312) 526-3851 or thaliahallchicago.com.
Wayside Story, The First Rule, Welfare Beer League: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at Silvie's Lounge, 1902 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago. (773) 871-6239 or silvieslounge.com.
The Blu Wavs: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6, Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail, Arlington Heights. Blues rock. No cover. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.
The Clarks, Ryan Powers and the Secret Weapons: 9 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $10-$22. (773) 281-4444 or beatkitchen.com.
Mark Dvorak with “The Power of Song - A Tribute to Pete Seeger”: 2 p.m. Sunday, May 7, Rolling Meadows Library, 3110 Martin Lane, Rolling Meadows. Folk. Free. Tickets available at library's welcome desk, or call (847) 259-6050.
Festival Chorus: 3 p.m. Sunday, May 7, Harper College's Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. $10-$15. kids ages 12 and younger are free. (847) 925-6100 or harpercollege.edu.
Franco DeVita: 7 p.m. Sunday, May 7, Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. Tickets start at $59. (800) 745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.
The Phantom Broadcast, Those Manic Seas, Menacerno: 8 p.m. Monday, May 8, at Emporium Arcade Bar, 1366 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Free. (773) 697-7922 or emporiumchicago.com.
Trapt, Smile Empty Soul, Toy Called God: 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, at BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $15-$20. (331) 777-4712 or basecamppub.com.
Roots of Creation, Concrete Roots, Hitsleep: 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $10-$12. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.
“An Evening with Scotty McCreery,” with guest Jamie Lynn Spears: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 11, Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Country. $32.50-$59.50. (800) 982-2787 or ticketmaster.com. For information, visit geneseetheatre.com.
RaeLynn: 8 p.m. Thursday, May 11, Joe's Live Rosemont, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. Country. $10-$12. Those ages 16 and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com.
Information is provided by entertainment venues. Check with venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings, visit dailyherald.com/calendar.