Join us each week as we spotlight the latest music in Chicago, featuring the artists and bands who are redefining its vibrant musical landscape.
Monday July 22 – Millenium Park
Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Zakir Hussain, Rakesh Chaurasia, Arooj Aftab
Béla Fleck is a musician who defies categorization. Starting out with the progressive bluegrass band New Grass Revival, Fleck has since taken his banjo to unexpected places, as noted by New York Times critic Jon Pareles. He founded the Flecktones, a pioneering group known for blending genres from fusion to Bach, now celebrating its 46th anniversary. Fleck’s versatility doesn’t stop there; he has played jazz with Chick Corea, explored American roots music with his partner, banjoist Abigail Washburn, composed concertos for banjo and orchestra, and delved into the banjo’s African origins in his documentary and album, Throw Down Your Heart. Throughout his career, he has earned 18 Grammys in 10 different categories.
Wednesday July 24 – The Vic Theater
Vacations, Lunar Vacation, Alex Lahey
“Home” isn’t always a physical place. Sometimes, it’s about finding inner peace and learning to hold space for yourself. This is the journey that Vacations lead singer and guitarist Campbell Burns has taken as he and his bandmates—Jake Johnson, Nate Delizzotti, and Joseph Van Lier—release their third LP, No Place Like Home. Produced by Campbell and John Velasquez (known for work with Zella Day and Broods), this album comes after a period of intense transformation for Campbell. He had to cancel all touring plans due to COVID, which led to a severe writer’s block. Therapy eventually revealed he had Pure OCD, a form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts. Reflecting on this challenging time, Campbell says, “I began to hit a wall, and then another wall. Writing became extremely difficult for years. I lost touch with Vacations’ voice and even my own. I had to rediscover my love for music and life, or I felt I would cease to exist.” As the world reopened, so did Campbell’s creative spirit, leading to the vibrant new project.
Friday, July 26
Vampire Weekend, Princess, Ra Ra Riot
Get ready for an electrifying summer as the indie rock giants, Vampire Weekend, hit the road once again. Hailing from NYC, this indie powerhouse is set to take the nation by storm with 45 shows across major cities. In Chicago, they’ll light up the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island! Expect to hear iconic hits and fan favorites as Vampire Weekend delivers an unforgettable performance. Known for their Grammy-winning talent and infectious energy, the band will have you singing and dancing all night to tracks from their self-titled 2008 debut to their upcoming album, Only God Above Us. Don’t miss out on this thrilling musical spectacle!
