Sound check: Better Than Ezra, Vertical Horizon headline Naperville's Last Fling; Chicago talent packs Bears Block Party
Last Fling
Naperville shuts the door on summer with the Jaycees' annual Last Fling carnival, business expo and concert festival. The Fling - Friday through Monday, Aug. 30 to Sept. 2 - features the expected food, rides and other activities, but one of the main draws is the music. The Main Stage showcases some great national acts: Friday features Better Than Ezra with 7th heaven starting at 5 p.m.; Vertical Horizon headlines Saturday with Take the Reins, The Right Now and Bad Medicine starting at noon; and Big Head Todd and the Monsters heads up Sunday with Tres Moustache, The Ron Burgundys and 16 Candles kicking off at noon. The Last Fling Block Party Stage is stacked with local talent as well: Friday's lineup includes Hi Infidelity, Libido Funk Circus and INDIGO; The Boy Band Night, The Hair Band Night, Alt 101, OMT and Double Identity play Saturday; Sunday features Wedding Banned, Hello Weekend, Gregory Hyde Band, Billy Martin Band and AD3 Acoustic Trio. Kashmir, The Hat Guys, Strung Out and The Run Around play Labor Day Monday. Note that admission policies have changed this year: $10 a day (or $30 for the weekend) gets you access to both stages, Family Fun Land at Naper Settlement, the Art Expo and food and business vendors, with admission to the carnival area remaining free. Children 12 and younger are admitted free with a paid adult.
The Main Stage is on Rotary Hill, across from 440 W. Aurora Ave., Naperville. The Block Party Stage is on Jackson Avenue, between Webster and Main streets, Naperville. Get tickets and see schedules and package deals at lastfling.org.
Here's the kickoff!
The weekend before the Chicago Bears host Green Bay to kick off the NFL's 100th season, the team celebrates with the 2019 Miller Lite Chicago Bears Block Party. Taking over Logan Square for the day, the free event features loads of music, including Latin-fusion band Jugo De Mango kicking off the festivities, along with the Chicago 6 Band, DJ Jay iLLa, lo-fi indie rock from Love in October, intoxicating power-popsters Marina City, and Friday Pilots Club, engaging indie rockers from Chicago and the winners of last year's national Next2Rock contest. California indie pop act lovelytheband ("Broken") headlines the party, which also offers food, a Kids Zone packed with activities, photo ops with Bears and alums, a drum line performance and more.
Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, in Logan Square, along Milwaukee Avenue between Spaulding and Kedzie, Chicago. Free. More info at chicagobears.com.
• Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor and local music junkie. Find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter at @thatshamieguy. Brian also keeps tabs on the Chicago-area music scene at chicagosoundcheck.com.