Collaboraction’s youth artist-activist ensemble, The Light, concludes its summer tour with Night Out in the Parks this weekend, with a show tonight at 5 PM at Austin’s LaFollette Park (1333 N. Laramie) and tomorrow at 5 PM at Englewood’s Hamilton Park (513 W. 72nd). The ten performers—whose backgrounds include experience with spoken word, dance, theater, and music—offer a collage of pieces reflecting on their experiences in a city that too often offers too few alternatives for youth. The Light provides its participants with a yearlong paid training program under the guidance of lead mentor Carolyn Hoerdemann and teaching artist F.U.R.Y., (aka Samantha Jordan). The performances are free; for more information, visit collaboraction.org. (KR)
Did you know? The Reader is nonprofit. The Reader is member supported. You can help keep the Reader free for everyone—and get exclusive rewards—when you become a member. The Reader Revolution membership program is a sustainable way for you to support local, independent media.
The deluge of outdoor neighborhood and music festivals continues this weekend. Tonight’s Friday Night Cobblestone Jam (6-10 PM) kicks off the well-loved Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest in Rogers Park, a free festival of art, music, food, and more running along Glenwood from Lunt south to Farwell. The music this year includes a good mix of national acts and neighborhood favorites: tonight’s lineup boasts the flamenco, rock, and Latin country fusion of Radio Free Honduras and LowDown Brass Band’s dance-friendly sound. Veteran rapper and writer Psalm One headlines. Art booths and vendors will be on hand tomorrow from 11 AM-9 PM and again Sunday from 11 AM-7 PM; for a full schedule including music lineups for the entire weekend, check out the Glenwood Avenue Arts District’s website and Facebook page. (SCJ)
Here are some recommendations from our music writers for tonight. Reader associate editor Jamie Ludwig says that Ruido Fest “stands out as more intentional and visionary than most of Chicago’s destination festivals.” The three-day festival in Union Park (1501 W. Randolph) includes an international lineup of indie pop, punk, rock en español, hip-hop, cumbia rock, electronic DJs, and more, including Chicago DJ Patrixia, who Reader staffer Micco Caporale wrote about this week. Gates open at 3 PM today, and at 1 PM on Saturday and Sunday; tickets and more information are available at the Ruido Fest website. And contributor Steve Krakow wrote about a show tonight from Chicago band Bitchin Bajas in tribute to Sun Ra: showtime is 10 PM at the Empty Bottle (1035 N. Western) and Tim Kinsella and Jenny Pulse open. (SCJ)
