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Sound check: PIQNIQ music fest is back — as a drive-in event

PIQNIQ season

Not to be deterred by the ongoing pandemic, Chicago's 101-WKQX is reviving its summer celebration of alternative rock for 2021 — in drive-in form. The PIQNIQ concert, announced this week, features headliner lovelytheband, along with SHAED and Texan-now-Chicagoan Letdown (otherwise known as Blake Coddington) on stage at the Lakeshore Drive-In on Chicago's museum campus Friday, June 4. Socially distanced assigned parking spaces will give fans a chance to get out and dance while still following COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Presale tickets are available now at 101wkqx.com (with the top-secret password ILOVEBEAR); general admission and Preferred Viewing packages are available to the public at 10 a.m. Friday, April 16. 7 p.m. Friday, June 4, at the Lakeshore Drive-In, 1362 S. Linn White Drive, Chicago. General admission is $250 per car (up to four passengers, with an additional $40 per extra person); Preferred Viewing passes start at $300. 101wkqx.com.

Introducing ARC

With summer music festival announcements tentatively dribbling out, Chicago house fans have one more to look forward to this year: ARC Fest introduces the debut of its two-day dance music festival taking over Union Park Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 4-5. The Labor Day weekend festival will feature four stages of performances by some big names in modern music, including Eric Prydz, Camelphat, Bob Moses, Gene Farris, Hot Since 82, Steve Gerard, Meduza and more. Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 15, so sign up at arcmusicfestival.com for updates and further information.

Side Street Battle applications open

Last week, Side Street Studio Arts opened applications for this year's annual Battle of the Bands. Over the last seven years, the art collective's summerlong competition has proven a great way to get to know up-and-coming regional musical acts, collaborate with other artists and foster connections with fellow fans. After last year's speedy pivot to online voting, Side Street organizers Erin Rehberg and Tanner Melvin made the decision to bring back the weekly live and in-person shows that helped build community support for the local music scene. With outdoor performances planned for June through early August, they hope to draw crowds back to downtown Elgin. Acts from the Chicago and suburban region are invited to submit entries and music samples at sidestreetstudioarts.org/battleofthebands. All submissions are due by May 14.

Play Together success

Play Together's 2021 collaboration project between Chicago rapper femdot. and visual artist Liz Flores has come to a successful close, with more than $7,000 going to benefit Delacreme Scholars, a nonprofit organization helping Black students pursue higher education in the arts. Fans can listen to femdot.'s two singles “Lifetime” and “Back Home” — released as his part of the collaboration — as well as visiting Flores' mural inspired by the music at 4875 N. Magnolia Ave., Chicago. Donations are welcome and merchandise inspired by the artists is available at Play Together.

• 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 local music scene at chicagosoundcheck.com.

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