Sound check: Drive-in country concert, livestreams to watch

Country road show

Superstar Garth Brooks visits the suburban area this weekend ... on the big screen. Encore Live presents the country artist's filmed concert experience at a drive-in show in Elgin Saturday, June 27. Tickets were just added for an 11:45 p.m. performance when the earlier show sold out. Load up the car and head to the Elgin Cinema, 111 S. Randall Road, Elgin. $100 per standard-sized car or truck; limit six people. ticketmaster.com.

Livestream highlights

Mirabelle Skipworth and Rob Krause: Oswego singer-songwriter Mirabelle Skipworth joins with Rob Krause of The Darling Suns for a livestreaming performance of folksy tunes from Tredwell Coffee in Aurora. Tune in to the live performance at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 26, at facebook.com/MirabelleSkipworthMusic.

Better Than Ezra: Kevin Griffin, Tom Drummond and Michael Jerome from alternative rock band Better Than Ezra will take to the webcam for an hourlong set on Facebook Live. The alternative rock band is taking requests via social media, so drop your faves on the event page. Proceeds will be donated to the BTE Foundation, which supports cultural and educational organizations in New Orleans and South Louisiana. 8 p.m. Friday, June 26, at facebook.com/betterthanezra.

Ike Reilly and the Family Quarantine Hour: Libertyville musician Ike Reilly has been entertaining regularly via livestreams during the stay-at-home season. Now that the Chicago area is opening up gradually, he's turning his performances into a monthly event. See him and his family play at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at facebook.com/ikereilly.

Richard Marx: Pop crooner Richard Marx invites viewers into his home for an up-close solo concert this weekend with "Front Row Seat: Live At Your House." Streaming at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 28, Marx presents a high-quality concert experience with old favorites and new hits. Tickets range from $15 to $130 for live access plus seven days of on-demand viewing; some packages also include soundcheck access and merch, with a portion of the proceeds going to nokidhungry.org. Visit tourgigs.com for tickets and packages.

Bitter Jester competition

I know I don't need to explain the benefits of social distancing and how it's shut down some major fests this summer. Others have taken to more creative approaches. Bitter Jester's revamped annual music celebration has taken to the internet for this summer. Each week, Bitter Jester posts a roster of new songs on Facebook.com/BitterJesterBattle and the IGTV posts on Instagram.com/bitterjester_musicfestival. Your votes throughout the week (ending at 11:59 p.m. Friday), as well as the decision of a panel of judges, will determine who moves on to the final round June 29. Check out this week's lineup:

• "All For You" by Joey Wilbur

• "Burning Sage in My Mother's House" by Isabel Osorio

• "Gentleman" by Quick and Painless

• "Ire" by Rue

• "Keep Two-Stepping" by Pretoria

• "Lonely Nights in My Room" by Jack Straughan

• "Never Wanna Die" by Sam Poll

• "One For The Road" by Sugar Weather

• "safe" by Sadie Evelyn

• "Second Chances" by Kyra Cain

• "Separated by a Screen" by Riley Levine

• "Skeptic" by True Vamp

• "Your Anything" by Double Identity

• "Your Love for the End of the World" by The Cuz

Congratulations to the winners of week 3 who will move on to the final round: Feed The Monkeys & Ax and the Hatchetmen!

Side Street's virtual battle

Side Street Studio Arts' virtual Battle of the Bands enters the second half of Round 1 contests with The Mini Projects and Hunter Funk's Funk Hunters as they vie for $100 and a slot in the Aug. 8 Final Round. Check in and vote from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at sidestreetstudioarts.com/battleofthebands.

Sound Check Presents ...

Punk band Take the Reins joins us at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 25, on Instagram.com/chicagosoundcheck. The band will play an acoustic set of some favorites and answer a few questions from viewers, so tune in for the last of our regularly scheduled lockdown entertainment events (for now).

• 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 Chicago-area music scene at chicagosoundcheck.com.