GUYRA, Australia — An Australian farmer couldn’t go to his aunt’s funeral because of coronavirus pandemic restrictions. So he paid his respects and expressed his love by arranging dozens of sheep in the shape of a heart and sending the video to the funeral.

Drone-shot video of pregnant ewes munching barley while unwittingly expressing Ben Jackson’s affection for his beloved Auntie Deb was viewed by mourners at her funeral in the city of Brisbane in Queensland state.

Posted online, the video also drew an emotional response on social media.

Jackson was locked down across a state border at his farm in Guyra in New South Wales state, which is 270 miles away.

“It took me a few goes to get it right,” Jackson said. “And the final result is what you see. That was as close to a heart as I could get it.”

Jackson started experimenting with making shapes with sheep to relieve the monotonous stress of hand-feeding livestock during a devastating drought across most of Australia that broke in the early months of the pandemic.

If he spelled the names of his favorite musical bands with grain dropped from the back of a truck, he found that the flock would roughly adopt the same shape for several minutes.

“It certainly lifted my spirits back in the drought,” Jackson said. “This heart that I’ve done for my auntie, it certainly seems like it’s had a bit of an effect across Australia.

“Maybe we all just need to give ourselves a big virtual hug.”

Jackson said he was lucky to have any grain left on his property after a mouse plague this year that followed the drought.

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You might have noticed that when I review multi-episode documentaries and streaming series for the Sun-Times, I often mention I’ve seen six of the total eight chapters, or the first eight of 10, etc. The various platforms providing these series for critics often withhold the final episode or two — sometimes because editing hasn’t been completed, sometimes because they want to be 100%, rock-solid certain the ending won’t somehow leak into the Twittersphere.

When I recently reviewed Spike Lee’s HBO documentary series “NYC Epicenter,” I had seen three of the four episodes, and I was mightily impressed by Lee’s sweeping, epic, journalistically sound and timely look at how his beloved home city reacted to 9/11 and its aftermath, not to mention the pandemic, the emergence of the polarizing Donald Trump from Big Apple super celebrity to the president of the United States, and the Black Lives Matter movement. It was six hours of brilliance — but I hadn’t seen the final episode when I wrote the review.

Last Monday, the New York Times reported Lee had devoted about a half-hour of that final chapter to wholly unsubstantiated and categorically false conspiracy theories about the terrorist attacks, and in particular to a group known as Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth, including the organization’s founder, one Richard Gage, who has been peddling fictional garbage about 9/11 for years. (Gage is also a major proponent of COVID-19 hoaxes; as reported by Slate, he has said the pandemic is a “deep state…hoax” and a “false flag event” and the government has “locked us into our own homes and…poisoned us with vaccines that are going to kill us.”)

As a longtime admirer of Spike Lee the filmmaker and Spike Lee the human being, I was devastated to hear this. It’s one thing for Lee to have questions about certain circumstances surrounding the 9/11 attacks — though I would be more than happy to answer those questions, as I first did in my book “Debunked,” which included a full chapter dissecting and tearing apart many of the biggest lies perpetrated by conspiracy theorists who always ask us to prove a negative but never, never, EVER have provided significant evidence of their hurtful and delusional theories. It’s quite another thing for Lee to sully and sour what could have been a defining and lasting look at New York City over the last 20 years by ceding his platform to such garbage.

Here’s the good news. After the Times broke the story, there was widespread and deserved outrage, which led to Lee sending out a message saying, “I’m back in the editing room and looking at…the final chapter of NYC Epicenters. I respectfully ask you to hold your judgment until you see the final cut.”

Fair enough — and that’s exactly what I did. Courtesy of HBO, I was given access to the last episode of “NYC Epicenters,” the version that will be seen by the public on September 11, and I’m so pleased to report there’s not even a hint of a whisper about any conspiracy theories regarding 9/11. In fact, this final chapter is the crowning moment of the entire series, as Lee pays tribute to the fallen heroes, the firefighters, the rescue workers, the volunteers, the survivors, the loved ones and celebrity activists such as Jon Stewart, who has worked tirelessly to advocate for benefits for the families of 9/11 victims. It is a passionate, beautiful, respectful, deeply moving and resonant piece of work, with unforgettable images, e.g., footage of rescue workers saluting as the remains of a victim are carried to a waiting ambulance, while Lee’s longtime composer Terence Blanchard provides the perfect musical eulogy for the moment.

Logic and facts and reason and decency spoke up, and Spike Lee listened. The final cut of “NYC Epicenters” is a masterwork.

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It was extraordinary.

On Aug. 7, the night police Officer Ella French was killed and her partner seriously wounded, a police radio dispatcher worked his magic.

All at once, in the blink of instant tragedy, Keith Thornton, Jr., 32, an employee of the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications, seemed to know precisely what to do. What to say. Where to go.

And his calm, commanding exceptionalism transfixed listeners to a 10-minute police radio transmission that hit the internet the next day.

Thornton’s clear and lightning speed bullet dispatches were lauded as exemplary; police Supt. David Brown and Mayor Lori Lightfoot called to congratulate Thornton on his service.

But except for a brief Facebook post calling for public police support, he basically went silent.

Who is this guy?

In an exclusive interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, the elusive Thornton describes himself as a proud, gay, Black American who grew up poor on the West Side in Austin with his parents, two sisters and four brothers.

And what he brought to the table the night of Aug. 7 was a confluence of all the jobs “I have ever held” — along with a gift from his dad when he was 4 years old: a fire scanner from Radio Shack.

“I learned about fire routes and ambulances on that little scanner when I was a kid,” he said. “And I’ve basically worked alongside police officers and firemen and paramedics and ambulances most of my adult life.”

The jobs include when he moved to California in 2012, “where I worked as a member of the L.A. police department for five years focusing on community police work — as well as a stint as an emergency medical technician.”

After returning to Chicago, “I’ve worked or volunteered in the emergency management world in some capacity since I moved back,” he said.

“So I felt prepared, but please don’t let it sound like I’m bragging. I just slipped into a frame of mind and started running.”

Thornton’s trajectory into that dark August night began at 9:08 p.m. when a police call came through from West Englewood.

“At first, it sounded like a broken frequency transmission … but it turned into the sound of someone running, someone almost breathless,” he told Sneed.

On excerpts from his police radio transmissions, Thornton can be heard asking, “Who is running? Somebody’s running. Who is running out there?” He was working the third watch OMEC shift and looking forward to dinner in 45 minutes.

It turned out to be policeman Joshua Blas gasping for air at 63th Street and Bell Avenue.

“Who is this and what you got?” asked Thornton, shortly after a deadly traffic stop led to the shooting death of police Officer Ella French and the catastrophic wounding of Officer Carlos Yanez Jr.

“Officer Blas was heroic,” Thornton now says. “He gave us everything we needed immediately to get things rolling.”

The excerpts show Thornton in a commanding position.

“Two ambulances, two ambulances needed for two officers down, two officers down . . . six-three and Bell,” he says.

“I want a perimeter set up three blocks north, south, east, west of that location,” he added in breakneck speed.

His orders were interspersed with authoritative directives: “Make it quick.” “Get it there.” “Be safe.” “I got my job — do yours.” “Take care of my officers out there.”

Thornton also called for a helicopter search and gave medical advice.

“OK, listen to me: Take that damn vest off right now, and start compressions,” he told officers taking an unresponsive Officer French to the hospital.

“Start breathing, whatever we got to do. Start it now. While you’re driving, the officer in the back with her, take the vest off, and start compressions now.” They already had.

Keith Thornton wears a bracelet emblazoned with Chicago Police Officer Ella French’s name.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

He insisted officers taking the wounded to a nearby local hospital reroute instead to University of Chicago Medicine and its world-class trauma center. He provided directions to the hospital and ordered street closings so they could get get there faster.

Soon after learning Officer French was dead, Thornton momentarily choked up.

After that fateful night, Emonte Morgan, 21, and his brother, Eric Morgan, 22, were charged with killing French and critically wounding Yanez Jr. and ordered held without bail.

In addition to his training, Thornton credits his attendance at the James Otis Elementary School as providing an irreplaceable learning curve in other areas.

“I had to be bussed there because our schools were full. I got to truly see life from many sides, … observing the school’s service to many other students who were blind and deaf and had special needs. It taught me to really respect life,” he said.

He tells Sneed: “I guess I’ve always wanted to be a fireman first. And I came back to Chicago to get into the emergency management field. Being of service is a powerful thing … Working in the community in a leadership role is so important. I just want to help.”

In a world where leaders often seem to have no answers, Thornton seemed to have had them all one night when it mattered most.

And now he is headed out of town on a much-needed vacation.

Sneedlings . . .

Saturday birthday: Jack Black, 52; Shania Twain, 56; and Jennifer Coolidge, 60. … Sunday birthdays: Liam Payne, 28; Lea Michele, 35; and Chris Hadfield, 62.

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Welcome to our highlights of events and entertainment on stage at Chicago’s theaters. From local productions to Broadway hits, our guide has the latest on shows in the city. Bookmark this page and check back for updates and ticket information.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater in the Parks

Yin He Dance is part of “Dream: A Community Reimagining of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”Yin He Dance

WHAT: Chicago Shakespeare Theater celebrates the 10th anniversary of Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks with “Dream: A Community Reimagining of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The new staging was created in collaboration with Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel, Cage Sebastian Pierre, GQ and Joriah Kwame with artists and organizations from Englewood, Austin, Hermosa, Little Village, West Pullman and Chinatown including Me’Lo the Generation Hero, DJ Jeremy Heights, Move Me Soul, Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, Yin He Dance and Fulton Street Collective.

WHEN: From Aug. 24-Sept. 4 at various city parks.

TICKETS: Admission is free. For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies as well as park locations, visit chicagoshakes.com.

Music Theater Works

Alexis Armstrong (top) and Heather Banks rehearse “Mamma Mia!”Music Theater Works

WHAT: Music Theater Works begins its new season with the popular musical “Mamma Mia!,” Catherine Johnson, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson’s musical featuring the music of ABBA. Heather Banks stars as Shopine Sheridan, a young woman about to be married who is intent on discovering who her father is so he can walk her down the aisle. Justin Brill directs.

WHEN: From Aug. 19-29 at Music Theater Works at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie.

TICKETS: $20.50-$108. For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit musictheaterworks.com.

PrideArts

Elissa Newcorn (from left), Kyra Leigh, Carl Herzog and Nate Hall star in PrideArts’ productoin of “The Things I Never Could Tell Steven.” Marisa KM

WHAT: PrideArts presents Jye Bryant’s “The Things I Never Could Tell Steven,” a four-character musical in which the four most important people in one man’s life struggle to communicate meaningfully with him and really know him. The cast features Carl Herzog, Kyra Leigh, Elissa Newcorn and Nate Hall under the direction of Jay Espano.

WHEN: From Aug. 19-Sept. 19

WHERE: The Broadway, Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway.

TICKETS: $30. For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit pridearts.org.

‘Mr. Burns, a post-electric play’

Theater Wit rehearses its 2021 restaged production of “Mr. Burns, a post-electric play.” Elizabeth Lovelady

WHAT: Theater Wit returns with a restaging of its hit 2015 production of Anne Washburn’s “Mr. Burns, a post-electric play,” directed by Jeremy Wechsler. The story begins after a global catastrophe where life as we know it has ended (sound familiar?) and a small band of survivors attempt to keep civilization on a path to survival. And, yes, an episode of “The Simpsons” (“Cape Feare” in which Sideshow Bob attempts to murder Bart on a houseboat) plays a role here. From Aug. 27-Sept. 5 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont. Tickets: $36-$54. For updated information regarding the theater’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit theaterwit.org.

‘Off The Map’

WHAT: The storytelling collective 2nd Story kicks off its new virtual season with “Off the Map.” a program featuring three world premiere stories that explore how to move forward in a world that is no longer familiar. Included is Jared Bellot’s “Finding Mr. Bellot,” about his first year teaching English in a public school plus stories from Katie Hauser and Karla Estela Rivera.

WHEN: Aug. 28-Sept. 4

TICKETS: pay-what-you-can.

INFO: For a look at the entire season, go to 2ndstorycom.

‘Faces’

Goose Island Beer Co and Do312 present “Faces,” showcasing a special drag performance featuring Shea Coulee, the winner of season 5 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.”Courtesy Goose Island

WHAT: Goose Island Beer Co and Do312 present “Faces,” showcasing a special drag performance featuring Shea Coulee, the winner of season 5 of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. Goose Island brewers also have teamed with Coulee to create Shea Coul-Ale: Royal Edition, with a portion of proceeds going to Brave Space Alliance, the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQIA+ center on the city’s South Side.

WHEN: At 9 p.m. Aug. 27

WHERE: at Hydrate Nightclub, 3458 N. Halste. To enter a drawing for a chance to meet Shea Coulee before the show and for updated information regarding the club’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies visit do312.com/shea-coulale-faces.

‘Kinky Boots’

Michael Wordly makes his Paramount Theatre debut as Lola in “Kinky Boots.”Thomas J. King

What: Live performances return for a new season at the Paramount Theatre with Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein’s high-kicking “Kinky Boots.” This first regional production of the Broadway musical, directed by Trent Stork, stars Devin DeSantis as Charlie, the shoemaker attempting to save his failing shoe factory, and Michael Wordly as Lola, the fierce drag queen who shows him the way.

When: Aug. 18-Oct. 17

Where: Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena, Aurora

Tickets: $36-$74

For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit paramountaurora.com.

Theatre Y

WHAT: Theatre Y’s ambitious new adventure “You Are Here: The Emerald Camino Project” is a return of its urban pilgrimages, this time through Daniel Burnham’s Emerald Necklace — the boulevard system that links the public parks on Chicago’s West and South sides. The immersive 12-part walking experience was created with artists, community leaders and organizations across a dozen communities. “This is a joyful post-pandemic experience that connects Chicago’s diverse communities through the intersection of conversation and art,” says Theatre Y’s artistic director, Melissa Lorraine. If you are walking through the neighborhood in which you live, admission is free; all other participants are Theatre Y Members or encouraged to become members (for as little as $5/month).

WHEN: Aug. 21-Sept. 26 For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies as well as dates and times for each walk, visit theatre-y.com.

Blue Man Group

Blue Man Group Caroline Talbot Photography

What: Those crazy characters in blue return for more goofy fun. The show, which encourages audiences to reconnect with their inner child, is a combination of art, music, comedy and technology.

When: Ongoing

Where: Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted.

Tickets: $49-$89

For updated information regarding the theater’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit blueman.com.

Teatro ZinZanni

The artistry and the excitement of Teatro ZinZanni returns to Chicago starting July 8. Pictured: Lea Hinz.Michael Doucet

What: The immersive, whirlwind theater experience that is Teatro ZinZanni has reopened featuring a new show with a cast of comedians, aerialists, acrobats, singers, dancers and a gourmet meal, it brings comedy, music and cirque back after a long pandemic hiatus. Included among the performers are powerhouse vocalists Storm Marrero and Cunio, aerial acts Lea Hinz and Duo 19, veteran comedians Frank Ferrante and Joe DePaul and acrobatic dancers Mickael and Vita.

When: Ongoing

Where: Spiegeltent ZaZou on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel, 32 W. Randolph

Tickets: $119-$189; limited show only tickets $69. Visit zinzanni.com/chicago.

The Artistic Home Theatre

What: The Artistic Home presents “Summer on the Patio,” a seasonlong event which invites theatergoers to share in the creative workshop process via free staged readings and open rehearsals of three contemporary plays: Maria Irene Fornes’ “Mud” (To Aug. 27), Martyna Majok’s “Ironbound” (To Aug. 28) and Craig Wright’s “The Pavilion” (To Aug. 22).

Where: It all takes place at the company’s new space at 3054 N. Milwaukee with rehearsals in July and staged readings in August.

Admission: free

Visit theartistichome.org

Steppenwolf Theatre

Donnetta Lavinia Grays in “Where We Stand”Joan Marcus/WP Theater

What: The final entry in the Steppenwolf NOW virtual season is “Where We Stand,” a storytelling tour-de-force about community and accountability written and performed by Donnetta Lavinia Grays. Through poetic verse and music, the drama challenges our ability to forgive and our ideas of mercy and who might deserve it. The filmed play captures a performance originally presented at Baltimore Center Stage co-produced with WP Theater.

When/tickets: A $75 ticket includes all six of the productions in the NOW series available online through Aug. 31

Visit: steppenwolf.org/now

Labyrinth Arts and Performance Collective

What: Labyrinth Arts and Performance Collective presents “Emerge,” a cabaret series featuring music, drag performance, comedy and spoken word.

When: every second Friday of the month

Where: Porkchop, 1132 W. Grand

Tickets: $20. Visit labyrinthartsperformance.com.

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Welcome to our highlights for concerts, festivals and live music in Chicago. From free shows at Millennium Park to large festivals like Ravinia and Lollapalooza, and intimate shows at small local venues, our guide has all the latest music entertainment. Bookmark this page and check back for updates on concerts and events.

Sunday in the Park with Lyric’s Rising Stars

The Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park.Copyright Todd Rosenberg Photography

WHAT: Lyric Opera of Chicago launches its 67th season with the free outdoor performance “Sunday in the Park with Lyric’s Rising Stars.” Appearing with the Lyric Opera Orchestra, the concert features the members of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center — sopranos Mathilda Edge, Maria Novella Malfatti and Denis Velez; mezzo-sopranos Katherine Beck, Katherine DeYoung and Kathleen Felty; tenors Martin Luther Clark and Lunga Eric Hallam; baritone Leroy Davis; basses Rivers Hawkins and Anthony Reed with conductor/pianist Donald Lee III and pianist Chris Reynolds.

WHEN: 6 p.m. Aug. 29

WHERE: Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, Michigan and Randolph

VISIT: lyricopera.org.

Wilco and Sleater-Kinney

WilcoAnnabel Mehran Photo

WHAT: Wilco is in the process of working on its next album so expect some new tunes here as well as tunes from its 2019 album, “Ode to Joy,” released in fall 2019 just before the pandemic shut down all tours. Sleater-Kinney is touring behind its new album, “The Path of Wellness,” the first effort since parting ways with longtime drummer Janet Weiss, which shows frontwomen Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker in fine form both lyrically and musically. Chicago multi-instrumentalist NNAMDI opens the show.

WHEN: 6 p.m. Aug. 28.

WHERE: Millennium Park

TICKETS: $45+

VISIT: jamusa.com

Bronzeville Blues Festival

John PrimerMarilyn Stringer Photo

WHAT: The Bronzeville Blues Festival features four stages featuring classic Chicago blues in the neighborhood where it grew up. This is where many of the most famous blues musicians (Muddy Waters, Otis Rush, Sonny Boy Williamson) lived and played (Checkerboard Lounge, Pepper’s Lounge, 708 Club). Among the festival’s performers are John Primer & the Real Deal Blues Band, Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith, Melody Angel, Big James & the Chicago Playboys, Mississippi Gabe Carter, Harmonica Hinds and many more. Plus, there are self-guided walking and biking tours of historic sites and food trucks.

WHEN: From noon-7 p.m. Aug. 29 at 43rd and Calumet

ADMISSION: free

VISIT: chicagobluesrevival.org.

World Music Wednesday

Bomba con Buya Amy Young Photo

WHAT: The Old Town School of Folk Music’s weekly showcase of world music and dance, returns beginning Sept. 1 with Jazz a la Mexicana, a concert featuring traditional and folkloric Mexican music mixed with jazz. A celebration of Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center’s 50th anniversary follows on Sept. 8 with performances of Puerto Rican bomba music by Bomba con Buya and Mancha E’ Platano. The current roster of concerts runs through Dec. 1.

WHERE: Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln

Admission is free, a $10 suggested donation is appreciated. For updated information regarding the venue’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit oldtownschool.org.

Grace Pettis

Grace PettisNicola Gell Photo

WHAT: Singer-songwriter Grace Pettis showcases her recent album, “Working Woman,” a set of songs in the tradition of Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton’s strong working women. American Songwriter says, “Pettis writes vibrant pictures of the world around us today with fierce accuracy and soulful grace.” Also on the bill: Minnesota indie-folk songwriter Rachael Kilgour.

WHEN: At 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31

WHERE: Hey Nonny, 10 South Vail, Arlington Heights.

TICKETS: $15-$30. For updated information regarding the venue’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit heynonny.com

House City Series

DJ TraxmanCourtesy Chicago Park District

What: The Departments of Cultural Affairs and Special Event’s tribute to house music continues with House City, a new series of free events popping up throughout the summer in the neighborhoods that helped create the house music genre over 35 years ago.

When/Where: vent dates and communities are July 23 in South Shore, July 31 on the Southeast Side, Aug. 14 in Humboldt Park, Aug. 28 in Englewood, Aug. 29 in Lakeview, Sept. 12 in South Shore and Sept.19 in Bronzeville. DJs playing include Traxman, Lori Branch, Deeon, Elbert Philips, Duane Powell and more.

Info: For locations and times, visit chicagohousemusicfestival.us

Chris Foreman Courtesy Origin Records

Chris Foreman at the Green Mill

What: The Green Mill has reopened and that means the return of Chris Foreman, a Friday night fixture at the popular jazz club. Foreman, a jazz organist blind since birth, is a master on the Hammond B3 and regarded as Chicago’s best. His playing is a blend of blues-gospel and jazz honed in his professional experience, which has included work with Hank Crawford, Albert Collins, Bernard Purdie, The Deep Blue Organ Trio and The Mighty Blue Kings.

When: 5-7:30 p.m. Fridays

Where: The Green Mill, 4802 N. Broadway

Cost: No cover charge

Visit greenmilljazz.com

Ravinia Festival

What: The Ravinia Festival, the oldest outdoor music festival in the country, returns with reduced capacity. As usual, the lineup is a varied slate of music from classical to pop, jazz and rock. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra returns for a six-week run with conductor Marin Alsop leading seven concerts in her first season as Ravinia’s chief conductor. Also on the roster are: Garrick Ohlsson, Cynthia Erivo, Counting Crows, Kurt Elling, Brian McKnight, John Hiatt and the Jerry Douglas Band, The Roots, John Legend, Madeleine Peyroux, Midori, Joshua Bell, Pinchas Zukerman, the Chicago Sinfonietta and the Joffrey Ballet.

When: July 1-Sept. 26

Where: Highland Park

Tickets: prices vary

Visit: ravinia.org.

Tuesdays on the Terrace

“Tuesdays on the Terrace” at the MCA in Chicago.Copyright MCA

When: 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays June 1-Aug. 31

Where: Museum of Contemporary Art’s outdoor sculpture garden, 220 E. Chicago

What: Tuesdays on the Terrace returns to the Museum of Contemporary Art’s outdoor sculpture garden. The popular jazz concert series features an array of Chicago jazz musiciansFirst up on June 1 is Alexis Lombre’s Ancestral Awakenings. Free with advance reservations. Visit mcachicago.org.

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Summer is still not over and that means there’s a month or so left of music festivals and concerts. Yes, concerts can be enjoyed in any weather, but it’s the best time to enjoy rock, country, blues, and heavy metal (?) during the summer. Now, most of these bands, you millennials and Gen Z’s won’t have a clue about who they are. But for those a little bit older, this is your chance to enjoy the music of your time. However, some of these are up and coming or new to the music scene, so those who love to explore new music, these are for you as well! I’ve compiled a list of 8 upcoming concerts to attend in Aurora, IL below!

RiverEdge Park

Poi Dog Pondering will be performing at RiverEdge Park for a big event that you can’t miss! “The Me That Was Your Son” is usually a fan favorite and will most likely be played at the Poi Dog Pondering Aurora concert. Plus, you may catch Poi Dog Pondering play “Keep the Faith,” which is also quite sought-after.

Purchase tickets here.

The Venue

The festival is taking place at The Venue in Aurora, featuring The Arcadian Wild (fan favorite), The Accidentals, Dawson Hollow, and Good Morning Bedlam.  

Purchase tickets here. 

The Piazza

Blackberry Smoke will be coming to The Piazza – IL for a memorable show that will bring fans from all over! “Pretty Little Lie” is always a fan favorite and will likely be heard at the Blackberry Smoke Aurora show. Secondly, you could hear another staple, “One Horse Town,” which is also quite sought-after.

Purchase tickets here.

The Forge

Jungle Rot is an American death metal band from Kenosha, Wisconsin, formed in 1992. The concert is expected to be sold out, so if you’re a death metal fan, hurry and purchase tickets! “Worst case scenario” is continuously a fan favorite and will likely be heard at the concert. Plus, the crowd could see Jungle Rot play “Decapitated,” which is also very in demand.

Purchase tickets here

Arcada Theater

Molly Hatchet is an American Southern rock band formed by guitarist Dave Hlubek in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1971. They were a popular band during the late 1970s and early-to-mid 1980s among the Southern rock and hard rock communities.

Purchase tickets here.

Arcada Theater

What started out in 2010 as a regional band is now the Nations #1 touring tribute to Tom Petty. The PettyBreakers have played in 22 states and Washington D.C. ­with more being added constantly. 

Purchase tickets here.

The Piazza

Aaron Lewis is an American singer, songwriter and musician who is best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and founding member of the rock band Staind, with whom he released seven studio albums.

Purchase tickets here.

Featured Image Cred: WXXI News

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What can the Bears learn about Justin Fields against the Titans on Saturday? Patrick Finley and Jason Lieser debate — and break down who the heck will block for the Bears.

New episodes of “Halas Intrigue” will be published regularly with accompanying stories collected on the podcast’s hub page. You can also listen to “Halas Intrigue” wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Luminary, Spotify, and Stitcher.

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As the delta variant of the COVID-19 virus surges across the U.S., almost 1 in 5 Americans continue to resist getting shots that are widely available, safe and effective — particularly for preventing the most severe outcomes of the virus.

While people have many different justifications for not getting the shot, one particularly insidious bit of pseudoscience has surfaced. It is routinely invoked in the contentious debate over vaccine policy in the U.S. and continues to stir confusion and skepticism toward vaccines in young women across the globe.

This misinformed argument reasons that the coronavirus vaccines could affect fertility in women by mistakenly triggering the creation of antibodies that react with an important placental protein called syncytin-1. This protein contains minor similarities to the coronavirus spike protein used in all current COVID-19 vaccines. Thus, the false narrative goes, the immune system will not be able to differentiate between the two and will create antibodies that interfere with proper development of the placenta.

This argument lacks understanding of how the immune system does its job.

As an immunologist who studies COVID-19 infection and the ways it can cause the immune system to turn against itself, this misunderstanding comes up frequently in my conversations with friends, family members and even medical workers who are legitimately concerned about their health and their future ability to have children.

It is completely understandable to have questions about how a new vaccine might affect reproductive health. But the science is clear that getting vaccinated does not put women at risk for infertility. It protects women, their unborn children and their families from a serious disease that, ironically, could in fact affect fertility in men.

Antibodies rarely make mistakes

The immune system is an immensely complicated network of cells, tissues and proteins that interact with one another — and the outside world. It works to maintain a balanced, healthy environment so the rest of the cells in the body can do their jobs. Among other things, the immune system helps direct fetal development, oversees and manages the microbes that aid in digestion and, of course, fights off infection.

One of the immune system’s most critical jobs is to differentiate between the body’s own cells and those of outside invaders to prevent accidental attacks on itself. In immunology, this careful selection of responses is called “immune tolerance.” People whose immune systems fail to maintain this tolerance and instead attack their own cells and tissues are diagnosed with autoimmune disorders. These can range in symptoms and severity depending on the tissue being attacked. An example is rheumatoid arthritis — a misdirected antibody attack on soft tissue in the joints.

The immune system has a series of checks and balances that are intended to prevent such autoimmune attacks. When B-cells — the cells in the immune system that produce antibodies — are first “born,” they carefully screen themselves to make sure that they won’t target the body’s own organs. That self-screening continues as B-cells patrol the body looking for an infection to fight; if they find something potentially threatening, like a vaccine, they engage in a highly orchestrated dance with other immune cells. Through that weeks-long process, only B-cells that produce antibodies against the outside invader survive. B-cells with self-destructive potential are killed.

Importantly, in parts of the body where it is absolutely critical that the immune system not mistakenly turn on its own cells — such as a developing placenta or in the brain — the entire region is immunosuppressive. This means that the threshold for activating the body’s immune response in those areas is set at an even higher bar.

This is not emerging science. These are well-established concepts among immunology experts. and have been for almost a half-century. As a result, it was not particularly noteworthy that a new preliminary study of women with fully developed immune responses against coronavirus showed no activity against the placental protein syncytin-1. Another study unsurprisingly demonstrated that the vaccine does not damage the placenta.

COVID-19 is the real threat to the immune system

It is important to remember that the COVID-19 vaccines authorized — and in the case of Pfizer-BioNTech, fully approved — in the U.S. carry the instructions to make the same spike protein that the virus uses to force its way into cells. Regardless of whether a person is infected with COVID-19 or receives a vaccine that emulates part of the virus, the immune system will respond aggressively to the spike protein that the body sees as foreign. Study after study confirm that in people who contract the virus, the majority of the immune response is directed at the spike protein.

However, there is one critical difference between vaccination and infection.

When you get vaccinated, your immune system has the time to respond under relatively low-risk circumstances. In other words, the immune system senses a threat and begins to build up its arsenal without rushing. But when it is confronted with a severe infection, the immune system recruits every weapon it has, as quickly as possible, to fend off severe infection or death.

This is important because we now know that under the severe stress of fighting COVID-19, the immune system fires up an emergency response pathway and begins producing antibodies that are not well selected. Many of these antibodies will target the virus, but our work now under review and others’ published findings confirm that in more than half of severe patients, a large number of antibodies also target their own cells.

Simply put: The danger of this kind of “auto-reactivity” in COVID-19 doesn’t come from responding against the spike protein in a vaccine — it occurs when the body has to fight a real COVID-19 infection.

Getting vaccinated protects unborn children

Getting vaccinated costs people a couple of days of not feeling 100%. In return, it provides protection from contracting a serious disease with the potential to cause serious illness or death. Being vaccinated also gives crossover protection to an unborn child.

COVID-19 infection, on the other hand, puts pregnant women at risk of severe disease, pregnancy complications and death. It may also affect a couple’s ability to have children by decreasing a man’s sperm counts and causing erectile dysfunction.

The science is clear, but for me this is also deeply personal. My wife was vaccinated in March, and we are expecting a baby in December. We are both deeply grateful for a vaccine that has given us the confidence to support a healthy pregnancy in the midst of a pandemic.

Matthew Woodruff is an instructor in human immunology at Emory University.

This article originally was published on The Conversation.

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