Things to do in Chicago for music fansMary Houlihan - For the Sun-Timeson August 5, 2021 at 5:47 pm 2024 Events Concerts Things To Do

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.

Yue Bao

What: Conductor Yue Bao makes her Ravinia debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at 5 p.m. Aug. 8. Her selections for the program include Chen Yi’s “Duo Ye” No. 1 for chamber orchestra, Mozart’s “Sinfonia concertante” for violin and viola featuring Stella Chen and Matthew Lipman and Tchaikovsky’s Suite No. 4 (“Mozartiana”).

When: 5 p.m. Aug. 8

Where: At Ravinia, 200 Ravinia Park Rd., Highland Park.

Tickets: $10-$115. Visit ravinia.org

LatiNxt Music Festival

Sotomayor -- featuring siblings Paulina and Raul Sotomayor -- is among the lineup for the LatiNxt Music Fest. — Sotomayor — featuring siblings Paulina and Raul Sotomayor — is among the lineup for the LatiNxt Music Fest.

What; The LatiNxt Music Festival features artists from the Latin American diaspora as well as Chicago’s burgeoning Latinx music scene. Among the performers are hip-hop duo Los Rakas, Afro-Dominican fusion group Yasser Tejeda & Palotre, singer-songwriter Angelica Garcia and the Latin rhythms/electronic beats of Sotomayor featuring siblings Paulina and Raul Sotomayor.

When: From at 5:30-11:30 p.m. Aug. 6 and 2-11:30 p.m. Aug. 7

Where: Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand.

Tickets: Admission is free. Visit navypier.org.

Canal Shores — ‘Out of Space’

Patti Smith and Her Band perform on day three of Riot Fest in Douglas Park, Sunday evening, Sept. 15, 2019. — Patti Smith and Her Band perform on day three of Riot Fest in Douglas Park in 2019.

What: This August version of Out of Space features its continuing great roundup of artists. Two of the concerts Emmylou Harris and Los Lobos (Aug. 5) and Caamp with Madi Diaz (Aug. 8) are sold out. Tickets remain for Patti Smith and Her Band with Gregory Alan Isakov (7 p.m. Aug. 6, $50-$125) and Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals plus Jake Etheridge (7 p.m. Aug. 7, $45-$115).

Where: The concerts take place under the stars at Canal Shores, 1030 Central, Evanston. Visit evanstonspace.com.

Bette Smith

What: Sassy rock and soul dynamo Bette Smith tours behind her recent album “The Good, The Bad and the Bette.” The Brooklyn-based singer has been hailed by American Songwriter as “swaggering proof that there is nothing dated about soulful rock and roll sung with attitude, defiance and a take-no-prisoners aesthetic.”

When: 8 p.m. at Space, 1245 Chicago, Evanston.

Tickets: $12, $20; visit evanstonspace.com.

Lindsey Stirling

What: Platinum-selling artist Lindsey Stirling, known for her futuristic violin-driven electronic music and unique live show; her music incorporates elements of classical music, hip-hop, pop and dubstep. Also on the bill: electro-pop artist Kiesza.

When: 7 p.m. Aug. 10

Where: Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island.

Tickets: $23+

Visit pavilionnortherlyisland.com.

Davenport’s Piano Bar & Cabaret

What: Davenport’s Piano Bar & Cabaret reopens with Joan Curto’s “Back in Business” (8 p.m. Aug. 5-8, $30), featuring vocalist Curto with Beckie Menzie (piano), Jim Cox (bass) and Tim Davis (percussion). Other performers in the Cabaret include Cathy Glickman and Anna Palermo with “Judy and Liza, Don’t Tell Mama” (8 p.m. Aug. 14, 7 p.m. Aug. 15, $25) a tribute to Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli; singer-songwriter Kelly Tansor (8 p.m. Aug. 19, $10) performing songs by Billy Joel, Regina Spektor, Olivia Rodrigo and more; and David Edelfelt with “Broadway Baritones: The Men, the Music, the Magic” (8 p.m. Aug. 20-22, $25). Cabaret shows require advance tickets and a two drink minimum for each show. The Piano Bar has a variety of performances each week that do not require advance tickets. Masks optional for the vaccinated; the non-vaccinated must wear a mask.

Where: 1383 N. Milwaukee. Visit davenportspianobar.com.

House City Series

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 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.

Grant Park Music Festival

What: The Grant Park Music Festival is fully open for capacity audiences in the seated area and the lawn.

When: July 2-Aug. 21

Where: Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, Michigan and Randolph.

Admission: free

Visit: gpmf.org

Chicago Philharmonic

What: Chicago Philharmonic returns with a three-concert outdoor chamber series at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts parking lot, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie. The opening performance at 7 p.m. June 27 is “Chicago Phil Brass: Brass with Sass” and features Edward Elgar’s “Chanson du Matin,” Astor Piazzolla’s “Oblivion,” Fats Waller’s “That’s a Plenty,” Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” and more. There’s also a free streaming concert “Redemption” (June 29-Aug. 27), which features spirituals and gospel songs conducted by Adrian Dunn.

When: Subsequent concerts are July 25 and Aug. 5.

Tickets: $36-$42

Visit: chicagophilharmonic.org

Summer Nights with Northlight

What: Summer Nights with Northlight is a cabaret series held at Evanston restaurants to benefit Northlight Theatre. The performers are Alexis J. Roston and Kelvin Roston Jr. (June 10, Good to Go Jamaican, 711 W. Howard), Linda Solotaire (July 27, Sketchbook Brewing Company, 4901 Main, Skokie) and Heidi Kettenring (Aug. 24, Peckish Pig, 623 W. Howard).

When: Performances times are 6 p.m.

Tickets: $60 includes light dinner and select drinks. Visit northlight.org.

Tuesdays on the Terrace

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.

Things to do in Chicago for music fansMary Houlihan – For the Sun-Timeson August 5, 2021 at 5:47 pm