music tours chicago

Concerts in Chicago, Illinois

Upcoming concerts in chicago, il (403), the best cities for concerts near chicago, il.

• Evanston, IL · 12 miles / 33 gigs
• Skokie, IL · 12 miles / 7 gigs
• Rosemont, IL · 15 miles / 58 gigs
• Des Plaines, IL · 17 miles / 13 gigs
• Tinley Park, IL · 23 miles / 22 gigs
• Highland Park, IL · 23 miles / 22 gigs
• Gary, IN · 25 miles / 17 gigs
• Joliet, IL · 34 miles / 19 gigs

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Concerts & Events in Chicago

Popular concerts & live events in Chicago, IL

Wintrust Arena

Plaza Garibaldi

Riviera Theatre

United Center

Soldier Field

Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre

Wrigley Field

Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island

Shows selling fast

Liar’s Club

Porter County Fair Offices

Hungry Brain

Beat Kitchen

The California Clipper

Chicago venues near you

United Center Parking Lot C - Chicago, IL

Interstate Center - Bloomington, IL

Grant Park - Chicago, IL

Three Sisters Park - Chillicothe, IL

Xroads41 - Oshkosh, WI

Franklin Field - Franklin, WI

Belknap Park - Grand Rapids, MI

Midland County Fairgrounds - Midland, MI

GingerMan Raceway - South Haven, MI

Clinton Riverfront - Clinton, IA

Historic Crew Stadium - Columbus, OH

Voice of America MetroPark - Olde West Chester, OH

Ohio State Reformatory - Mansfield, OH

Allianz Field - Saint Paul, MN

Carrie Furnace - Pittsburgh, PA

Azura Amphitheater - Bonner Springs, KS

Legends Field - Kansas City, KS

Lakeview Taco Fest - Chicago, IL

Belmont Avenue - Chicago, IL

Old Town - Chicago, IL

Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park - Chicago, IL

Nullable - Chicago, IL

Northcenter Neighborhood - Chicago, IL

Windy City Hot Dog Fest - Chicago, IL

Thalia Hall - Chicago, IL

Chinatown - Chicago, IL

Reggies Rock Club - Chicago, IL

McCormick Place - Chicago, IL

Buddy Guy's Legends - Chicago, IL

Chicago Street Race - Chicago, IL

Millenium park - Chicago, IL

St. Gianna Parish, 10233 S. Central Park, Evergreen Park, IL

Oak Lawn Gazebo

Cook Memorial Park

Merchant Street Music Fest

Ottawa County Fairgrounds Campground

Belknap Park

East Peoria River Front Park

Livonia Spree

Gate Keeper Bar and Game Store

RiversEdge at Marcum Park

Concerts near Chicago, IL

Concerts in chicago, il, find tickets to concerts, tour dates and live music near chicago, il.

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Concerts in Chicago: Your month-by-month live music calendar

Keep up with the best concerts in Chicago in 2022 at the best shows and festivals hitting town each month

Remember concerts? We spent more than a year watching them on our computer screens instead of experiencing them in the midst of a crowd. And whether you're squeezing into one of the best Chicago music venues or catching an act at a music festivals , there's simply nothing like seeing a song unfold in front of you. That's why we're keep tabs on the best shows coming to town in the coming months, including DJs spinning at local dance clubs and seasoned pros taking the stage for multi-night stands at area jazz clubs . There are so many concerts in Chicago that it can be hard to keep track of—but that's where we come in. Before you buy your tickets, take a look at our month-by-month picks of the best concerts in Chicago. See you at the show!

The best concerts each month

February concerts in Chicago

March concerts in Chicago

April concerts in Chicago

May concerts in Chicago

June concerts in Chicago

July concerts in Chicago

August concerts in Chicago

September concerts in Chicago

October concerts in Chicago

November concerts in Chicago

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January concerts in Chicago

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Was there ever a place better suited for Sofar than Chicago? In the city known for blossoming genres across all artforms, the music community in Chicago is as diverse, eclectic, and welcoming as Sofar gets. It’s this or one of those adult recreational sports leagues you’ve been avoiding.

Enjoy silky harmonies and smooth lyrics from three hip hop, soul, or R&B artists performing in unique, vibey spaces.

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Millennium Park Summer Music Series

Mondays & Thursdays, July 1 – Aug. 8, 2024 Free admission • Millennium Park

The Millennium Park Summer Music Series features free outdoor concerts, showcasing a broad spectrum of established and emerging musicians in a spectacular setting. Grab a seat or a spot on the lawn and enjoy views of the soaring Pritzker Pavilion overhead and the surrounding city skyline that lights up around you as dusk falls.

Concerts feature artists from across genres, including R&B, house, disco, jazz, pop, country, alternative, and world music. Come see your favorite artists or discover someone new. Don’t forget to pack a picnic to enjoy before and during the show.

Millennium Park Summer Music Series schedule

The free music series features a wide variety of music from local, national, and international artists at the iconic Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Check back for the full 2024 music line-up.

Millennium Park FAQs

What accessibility amenities are available at Millennium Park concerts?

Every aspect of Millennium Park has been designed to be accessible and inclusive to all patrons. That includes:

• American Sign Language interpretation is available for all concerts at Jay Pritzker Pavilion
• Assistive listening devices and wheelchairs are available at all Millennium Park events from the Patron Service Tent
• Accessible seating (with companion seats) is available throughout the Jay Pritzker Pavilion seating bowl

Learn more about accessibility in Millennium Park .

Can I bring a folding chair and blanket? Yes, chairs and blankets are welcome on the Great Lawn. Folding chairs are not allowed in the seating area of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

May I bring a picnic basket? Yes! Millennium Park is the perfect place for a picnic and a night of music and dining al fresco. However, in order to ensure that events are enjoyable for all attendees and to protect the lawn from wear and tear, please respect the following rules of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion: tents, oversized umbrellas, oversized blankets or plastic tarps, helium balloons, oversized flags, signs/banners, barbecue grills, open flame candles, or staking of any kind are not allowed on the Great Lawn area.

May I buy beer or wine in the park? How about food? Refreshments, including food, beer and wine, are available for purchase from the concessions tent located to the east of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. In addition, concessions can be purchased throughout the Park, including from Millennium Hall , a multi-restaurant concept that includes Napolita Pizzeria, Double Clutch Brewing Company, and Casa Bonita.

Alcohol may only be consumed in the seating area and the Great Lawn during the concerts. Alcohol sales in the Millennium Park concession tent end one half-hour prior to the end of the concert.

What is the rain policy? Concerts and performances in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion are held rain or shine, unless there are severe weather warnings and/or the threat of lightning in the area. The Pavilion seats are not protected from the elements. The Great Lawn has a high-tech design with underlying layers of sand and gravel that allows water to drain quickly.

May I bring my dog along? Animals are not permitted in Millennium Park, unless they are service animals.

Please note: Schedule is subject to change. For the latest on Millennium Park Summer Music Series and all Millennium Park events, visit millenniumpark.org .

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World Music Festival Chicago

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• July 24, 2024 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center with Earth, Wind & Fire Tickets
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• July 27, 2024 Mansfield, MA Xfinity Center with Earth, Wind & Fire Tickets
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Chicago summer festivals 2024: Music, food, street festivals happening across the city | See list

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago summers are perfect for outdoor activities, whether it is exploring a street festival in a new community, or a free concert in Millennium Park.

Dozens of festivals happen every year in the city to celebrate culture, communities and genres of music.

The list below contains a variety of free and paid festivities happening across the city through September.

This list will continue to be updated as events are announced.

Chicago Salsa and Bachata Festival

April 18-21

Become immersed in Afro-Latin culture at this music and dance festival in Rosemont. Attendees of all skill levels can actively engage in the festival's activities through social dances, performance camps and workshops.

Ravinia Festival

Dates from April 20 through Sept. 15

Ravinia Festival is a series of over 100 summer concerts from artists like The Beach Boys with John Stamos and TLC. The outdoor venue has concert seating as well as a lawn area, where you can bring your own food and drinks for a concert picnic.

Summer at Gallagher Way

Dates from May through September

3635 N. Clark St., Chicago

Gallagher Way, located next to Wrigley Field, has a variety of family activities planned throughout the summer. Events like free movie nights, markets, concerts and more will be free and open to the public. View the schedule here .

SEE ALSO: Gallagher Way announces summer events lineup for lawn area outside Wrigley Field

The Patio Theater, Chicago

Solar Tide is a bass music and arts festival in Portage Park. Featuring 19 artists over two days, tickets start at $50.

Chicago Mayfest

West Armitage Avenue from Sheffield Avenue to Racine Avenue, Chicago

Mayfest returns for the 27th year in Lincoln Park. The street festival will have a variety of music performances, artisan and food vendors. A pet parade and a glassblowing workshop will also take place over the weekend.

Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest

3200 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago

This annual street festival will kick off summer in Lakeview with music, food and artisan vendors. The festivities are conveniently located steps away from the Belmont "L" station.

Randolph Street Market Festival

1341 W. Randolph St., Chicago

Randolph Street Market brands itself as a "fancy, European-style flea market." The market will have antiques, décor, vintage fashion, art and much more. Tickets start at $12, and children under 12 can attend the event for free.

Grant Park, Chicago.

This reggaeton and Latin music festival is celebrating its third year in Grant Park. Featuring dozens of vendors, activities and headliners like Peso Pluma and Rauw Alejandro, Sueños is a celebration of Latin culture in Chicago.

Do Division Street Fest

May 31, June 1-2

Division Street, between Damen Avenue and Leavitt Street, Chicago

This Wicker Park street festival has events planned for all ages. Local food and retail vendors will be featured, along with music performances and a fashion show. "Family Fun Fest" is a part of the festivities, focused on children's entertainment. There will be a petting zoo, an inflatable slide and kids' music.

Chicago Gospel Music Festival

Millennium Park, Chicago

Gospel music lovers of all ages are welcome to attend this free music festival at Millennium Park. Entrances for the event will be located at Randolph Street and Monroe Street. More details can be found here .

Beyond Wonderland Chicago

Huntington Bank Pavilion, Chicago

Beyond Wonderland is an "Alice in Wonderland" themed electric genre festival. This year's headliners include popular artists like Diplo and Benny Benassi.

Chicago House Music Festival

The Chicago House Music Festival is an annual celebration to recognize the roots of house music in the city. A series of conferences and events will lead up to the festival in Millennium Park. Admission is free and open to all ages.

READ MORE: Chicago House Music Festival lineup announced, celebrating 40th anniversary of music genre

Chicago Blues Festival

June 6- Ramova Theatre, Chicago

The opening night performances of the Chicago Blues Festival will take place at Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport. Online RSVPs can be made for free admission.

June 7-9- Millennium Park, Chicago

Three stages around Millennium Park will host 35 performances celebrating the history of blues music. Buddy Guy will headline the last day of the Chicago Blues Festival in one of the final performances of his "Damn Right Farewell" tour.

Puerto Rican Fest

Humboldt Park, Chicago

Puerto Rican Fest , or Fiestas Patronales Puertorriqueñas, is an annual cultural celebration in Humboldt Park with carnival rides, music, food, a parade and more.

Andersonville Midsommarfest

Clark Street from Foster Avenue to Gregory Street, Chicago

This community event is an annual celebration of Andersonville. Local vendors, food and music will take over Clark Street from Foster Avenue to Gregory Street.

Old Town Art Fair

1763 N. North Park Ave., Chicago

On this June weekend, the Old Town Triangle Historical District is transformed into a fine art wonderland. More than 200 fine artists from around the country will be at the Old Town Art Fair to sell and display their art.

Wells Street Art Fest

Wells Street between North Avenue and Division Street, Chicago

Art lovers can venture down the Wells Street corridor in Old Town and shop from artists from around the continent. The Wells Street Art Festival features food and drink vendors, music, entertainment and a children's play area.

The Grant Park Music Festival

Dates from June 12 through Aug. 17

Grant Park, Chicago

The Grant Park Music Festival brings free concerts and activities to the park throughout the summer. Artists and performance schedules can be found at grantparkmusicfestival.com .

Sundays on State

June 16 and July 14

State Street from Lake Street to Adams Street

Two Sundays a year, downtown State Street closes off traffic for a "free, interactive block party." Sundays on State gives the community an opportunity to shop from local businesses, engage in family activities and enjoy food from local vendors.

Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash Festival

SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview

Three stages will host dozens of hip-hop performances over three days during the Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash Festival . This festival is an all-ages event.

Chicago Pride Fest

Halsted Street from Addison Street to Grace Street

Chicago Pride Fest is a weekend street festival in the Northalsted neighborhood. Halsted Street will be buzzing with live music, drag performances, parades and more.

Butler Field, Grant Park, Chicago

The plant-based food festival returns to Chicago with new innovative food options and lively entertainment. Attendees will have the opportunity to try vegan food from over 100 vendors from around the world, and enjoy performances from Saweetie, 2 Chainz and NLE Choppa.

The Opera Festival of Chicago

Dates from June 27 through July 14

The fourth season of the Opera Festival of Chicago will host performances at venues around the Chicago area. Show details can be found at operafestivalchicago.org .

Millennium Park Summer Music Series

Mondays and Thursdays, July 1-Aug. 8

The Jay Pritzker Pavilion will be the site of multiple free concerts during summer as a part of the Millennium Park Music Series .

Rose on the River

The Salt Shed, Chicago

One stage will be the site of 16 performances during this all-ages festival at the Salt Shed Fairgrounds. Rose on the River 2024 is headlined by My Morning Jacket, Tash Sultana, Thundercat and more.

NASCAR Chicago Street Race

The Chicago Street Race is a unique two-day sports and entertainment event with a festival-like atmosphere. This year's headliners include Keith Urban, The Chainsmokers, The Black Keys and Lauren Alaina. Visit NASCARChicago.com for more information.

Windy City Smokeout

United Center, Chicago

Windy City Smokeout brings the sounds and flavors of the South to the city. The festival includes four days of country music from artists such as Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood and Cody Johnson.

Square Roots Festival

Lincoln Avenue from Montrose Avenue to Wilson Avenue, Chicago

Square Roots is a Lincoln Square street festival that gives community members and visitors the opportunity to enjoy local food, vendors and music.

Pitchfork Music Festival Chicago

Union Park, Chicago

Pitchfork is a music festival featuring dozens of artists from a range of genres. This year's headliners include Black Pumas, Jamie xx and Alanis Morissette.

SEE ALSO: Pitchfork Music Festival 2024 lineup includes Alanis Morissette, Carly Rae Jepsen, more

Chicago Food Truck Festival

2300 S. Indiana Ave., Chicago

For the 11th year, the city's top food trucks will gather in the South Loop for the Chicago Food Truck Festival. For the 2024 season, the fest is joining forces with the Chicago Margarita Festival to create a special drink menu. Claim free tickets at chgofoodtruckfest.com .

Taste of Lincoln Avenue

2500 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago

The best food and drinks of Lincoln Park are showcased during Taste of Lincoln Avenue . The busy street will close for the weekend for live music, drink tastings and a children's carnival.

Fiesta Del Sol

Cermak Road from Ashland Avenue to Morgan Street, Chicago

Fiesta Del Sol is a free street festival and carnival in the Pilsen neighborhood. The festival features local food vendors, artisans and live performances.

Wicker Park Fest

Milwaukee Avenue from North Avenue to Ashland Avenue

Explore the food, art and culture of Wicker Park at this annual street festival . The live music lineup of pop and alternative bands includes artists like The Regrettes and Built to Spill.

Chinatown Summer Fair

Wentworth Avenue from Cermak Avenue to 24th Place, Chicago.

This annual cultural celebration will return for its 45th year. The festival opens with a lion dance procession, followed by a variety of other performances. The Chinatown Summer Fair will also have plenty of food and merchandise vendors.

Lollapalooza

Once a year Grant Park is transformed into the site of one of the biggest music festivals in the country. Over 170 bands and performers take the stage over the four day festival. Headliners for 2024 include big names like SZA, The Killers, Future and Metro Boomin.

READ MORE: Lollapalooza 2024 lineup day-by-day released, featuring headliners SZA, Tyler the Creator, Blink-182

Retro on Roscoe

200 W. Roscoe St., Chicago

Roscoe Village is a picturesque setting for live music, food, antique vendors and other merchants. More events will be taking place during Retro on Roscoe , like an antique car and motorcycle show.

Northalsted Market Days

Halsted Street from Belmont Avenue to Addison Street, Chicago

Market Days is a weekend street festival with food, music and vendors in the Northalsted neighborhood. From 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. performances will take place across five stages down Halsted Street.

Chicago Jazz Festival

Aug. 29-Sept. 1

Chicago Cultural Center and Millennium Park

The Chicago Jazz Festival is a weekend of free performances from the best local and international jazz talent.

North Coast Music Festival

Aug. 30- Sept. 1

North Coast is an electric genre music festival featuring over 100 artists, interactive art installations and activities.

ARC Music Festival

Aug. 30-Sept. 1

For the fourth year, ARC Music Festival is bringing dozens of house and techno artists to Union Park.

Taste of Chicago

Grant Park and other locations around Chicago

Taste of Chicago is a free city-wide event showcasing the best food and drinks in the city. The main event is located in September in Grant Park, but pop-up events will be taking place in neighborhoods around the city throughout summer.

Chicago German-American Oktoberfest

Lincoln Square, at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Western Avenue, Chicago

Oktoberfest is a free festival celebrating German heritage. The celebration is a chance to enjoy authentic German food, drinks, music and entertainment.

World Music Festival Chicago

Sept. 20-29

Chicago Cultural Center and Citywide

Performances by global artists will play at venues around the city during the World Music Festival . The festival will showcase sounds from Brazil, South Korea, Senegal and more.

Sept. 20-22

Douglass Park, Chicago

Riot Fest is an annual music festival specializing in punk, rock, alternative, metal and hip-hop. The lineup for Riot Fest has yet to be announced.

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• OUTDOOR MUSIC
• LOLLAPALOOZA

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Shakira Announces Initial Dates For 2024 N. American Las Mujeres No Lloran Fall Arena Tour

The 14-show swing kicks off on Nov. 2, with tickets on sale beginning April 22.

By Leila Cobo

Chief Content Officer Latin/Español, Billboard

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See latest videos, charts and news

Sabrina Carpenter Swirls 'Saltburn' Into 'Nonsense' Outro in a Nod to Barry Keoghan at Coachella

Trending on billboard.

Then, last month, following the release of Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran , she performed in New York City’s Times Square for a crowd of more than 40,000 fans. During her new tour, Shakira is expected to perform her new hits, as well as her iconic global chart stoppers. Find all announced dates below:

Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour  Dates :

Nov 2 – Palm Desert, CA @ Acrisure Arena

Nov. 7 – Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center

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Music and Concerts | Column: There once was a time when our city was…

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Music and concerts | column: there once was a time when our city was the country music capital.

Two relatively young men were sitting in a radio studio a few days ago talking about a radio show that started 100 years ago and one of them was saying, “This part of the city’s history should be better known, the part the city, this radio show, played in popularizing country music. Without Chicago, there would have been no Nashville, no Grand Ole Opry. … This is where the country music genre was born.”

That was Paul Durica, historian and producer. Sitting with him was musician Jefferey Thomas and together, along with dozens of other performers of all stripes, they will be celebrating this notion, bringing it back to life at the Hideout in “Hey, Hey, the Gang’s All Here: A Chicago Barn Dance.” It’s described as a “live radio show looking at 100 years of country music in the city.”

It’s an ambitious and potentially delightful concoction, based on a radio show that first went on the air on the Saturday night of April 19, 1924. Frankly and forcefully — surprising to many too — it wowed the country, or at least that portion of it that listened to radios.

It was a new program at a new station, “National Barn Dance” on WLS, and it advertised itself as simply a show of “old-time fiddle music.”

“This show made perfect sense for WLS not only to attract listeners in rural areas but also spark the sales of radio available from their Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog,” Durica says.

The station’s call letters stood for “World’s Largest Store” and its motto was “Bringing the world to the farm.” So it seemed obvious to play music that would appeal to rural customers, Sears customers. What shocked many was that a vast number of listeners were in cities, particularly Chicago, and that enabled the station to allow country music to emerge as a serious genre.

Durica was inspired to create this event by writer Mark Guarino’s book “Country and Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival,” which was published by University of Chicago Press in 2023.

Guarino says, “The Barn Dance on WLS established the blueprint for what would become the modern marketing of country music to mass market America. Long before the genre was named, country music flourished on the WLS airwaves, which transformed the music from a local commodity in communities throughout the upland South to living rooms throughout the United States.”

Durica has spent much of his career diving into the past. He is currently the director of exhibitions for the Chicago History Museum, previously worked at the Newberry Library and has produced many lively excursions into the city’s past, including such things as guiding tours, contributing to the Tribune, writing books and creating reenactments.

“I am drawn to stories from our history,” he says, “And many of those stories can be felt in the present. I was intrigued by how popular the ‘Barn Dance’ was and how long it remained on the air.”

The show every Saturday night featured barn dance callers, instrumentalists, barbershop quartets and comedians whose material was of the country-bumpkin-meets-city-slicker type.

It hired many local musicians, such as the great jazz violinist Johnny Frigo, who often referred to himself as “the hillbilly violinist.” It made stars too, none more shimmering than Gene Autry, who was hired in 1931 and eventually changed from conventional street clothes into cowboy garb and headed west to the movies as the “Singing Cowboy.”

Its popularity was such that after eight years broadcasting from a theater in the downtown Sherman Hotel, it moved to the Eighth Street Theatre, where it sold out its 1,200 seats for two shows every Saturday night.

It ran through the roaring ‘20s, the Great Depression, World War II and post-war prosperity, competing with television and other entertainments, until finally ceasing on WLS in 1960 and limping along on WGN until 1968.

Though the original “Barn Dance” was often more than four hours long, the upcoming Hideout program will feature performances in the form of  60-minute live radio shows. (These will later be edited to one hour and broadcast on WFMT-98.7 FM.)

Between shows there will be square dancing, called by a fellow named Paul Collins, a South Sider who has been calling dances since he was 12. And emcees and speakers (including Guarino) will offer historical and cultural commentary.

A couple of weeks before this event, Durica and Thomas did not display the anxiety that might expect to shadow such an ambitious endeavor.

“We have been putting this together for a year,” said Durica.

In addition to selecting the musicians for the shows and collaborating on song selections, Thomas will play guitar. He has been a composer, conductor, arranger and a member of Mucca Pazza. For this Hideout event he has composed a stirring piece that will accompany the reading of an original poem by Tara Betts.

“I have a neighbor whose father was the last bass player on the radio show and he has told me some wonderful stories he remembers from his youth,” said Thomas. “I went about this with the thought that let’s imagine the radio show never did go off the air and we were creating a sort of alternative universe, booking a show for what the ‘Barn Dance’ could, and would be in 2024.

“This city had and has always had such a rich musical landscape and to bring artists from different genres together to make and talk music has the potential to be a wonderful creative thing.”

Durica nodded his head and said, with his typical enthusiasm, “Yes, yes, in that way this will be not only a look into the past but into the future as well.”

“Hey, Hey, The Gang’s All Here: A Chicago Barn Dance” will be 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. April 20 at Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave.; tickets from $20 at hideoutchicago.com

[email protected]

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Andrew Davis, conductor of major orchestras, dies at 80

He spent more than 20 decades as music director of the lyric opera of chicago.

Andrew Davis, an acclaimed British conductor who was music director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and orchestras on three continents, died April 20 in Chicago. He was 80.

The cause was leukemia, said his manager, Jonathan Brill.

Mr. Davis, who had been managing the disease for nearly two years, conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra last December in the U.S. premiere of his own orchestration of Handel’s “Messiah.”

Mr. Davis was music director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 1975 to 1988 and Britain’s Glyndebourne Festival from 1988 to 2000; chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra from 1989 to 2000 and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra from 2013 to 2019; then music director of the Lyric Opera from 2000 to 2021.

“A consummate musician, incredibly versatile and a phenomenal colleague, as well,” soprano Renée Fleming wrote in an email. “It takes a special kind of command to be a great conductor, the power to make close to a hundred musicians (each one, at heart, a diva or divo) hang on your tiniest gesture.”

He made his Lyric Opera debut in 1986 and led about 700 performances of 62 operas by 22 composers.

Mr. Davis conducted a dozen Last Night of the Proms concerts, an annual celebration of Britain at London’s Royal Albert Hall. He twice gave the customary speech in the patter of the Major General’s song from Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance.”

Andrew Frank Davis was born in Ashridge, England, on Feb. 2, 1944, and played organ for his parish choir and joined the choir at the Watford Grammar School for Boys. He studied piano at London’s Royal Academy of Music in London, became an organ student at King’s College Cambridge and played piano, harpsichord and organ with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields from 1966 to 1970.

He made his conducting debut with the BBC Symphony in 1970, became an assistant conductor with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonia Orchestra, then in 1971 made his North American debut with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Davis made his opera-conducting debut in Strauss’s “Capriccio” at the Glyndebourne in 1973 and the following year met his future wife, soprano Gianna Rolandi, when she sang Zerbinetta in performances of Strauss’s “Ariadne auf Naxos” that he led at New York’s Metropolitan Opera. They married in 1989 and had a son, composer Edward F. Davis.

His wife died in 2021. In addition to his son, he is survived by a sister and two brothers.

Mr. Davis was honored as a Commander of the British Empire in 1992. The family moved to Chicago when he was hired by the Lyric Opera.

During the pandemic, Mr. Davis translated Virgil’s “Aeneid” from Latin into English verse.

“I took an entrance exam in classics in New College, Oxford,” he told NPR, “but then a couple of weeks later I took the organ scholarship trials at King’s College, Cambridge, which much to my surprise I won, so that was the end of classics for me.”

CBS to air Billy Joel's concert again, apologizes for cutting 'Piano Man' short

Fans who tuned in were upset after the broadcast was delayed by 30 minutes due to the 2024 masters tournament and ultimately cut off by local news..

Billy Joel performs during his 100th lifetime performance at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, July 18, 2018, in New York. The performance, which aired on CBS Sunday night, was cut short to broadcast local news telecasts.

Evan Agostini/AP

After turning the lights off during its Sunday night Billy Joel concert, CBS has apologized and added an extra broadcast of the show on Friday.

The network ended “Billy Joel: The 100th — Live at Madison Square Garden” special two minutes early on Sunday in certain parts of the country, including Illinois. CBS’ statement Monday blamed a “network programming timing error” and said the two-hour special will repeat starting at 8 p.m. Friday.

“We apologize to Mr. Joel, his fans, our affiliated stations, and our audience whose viewing experience was interrupted during the last song,” CBS said in a statement Monday.

Joel’s special also is available to stream on Paramount+ .

The special marked the centennial of Joel’s record-setting run at Madison Square Garden, which began in January 2014 and will conclude July 25.

Excited fans who tuned in were upset after the broadcast was delayed by 30 minutes due to the 2024 Masters Tournament and ultimately cut off in the middle of Joel’s larger-than-life “Piano Man” for local news programming.

The Barstool Sports account chimed into the discourse on X, formerly Twitter, writing , “How do you cut a Billy Joel Concert in the Middle of Piano Man?!”

“CBS has been promoting the Billy Joel concert special every two minutes for WEEKS. So what better way to air it than to preempt it for a half hour and the cut him off MID-PIANO MAN? C’mon guys,” one upset fan posted.

Another wrote , “You couldn’t produce a worse product than CBS just did on the Billy Joel special Way too many commercials, didn’t play some of his best songs, went extremely out of order in his set list, and then cuts away to the local news in the middle of Piano Man?!? A total flop by CBS.”

“Just an absolute disaster by CBS tonight producing the Billy Joel concert. Ineptitude at its finest. Start it late and cut it off early. Just horrible. #BillyJoel100,” another dissatisfied viewer posted .

In an interview with USA TODAY , efore the broadcast, the “Uptown Girl” singer said the 100th performance, including appearances from pals Jerry Seinfeld and Sting, was different from the earlier shows “because there were a bunch of cameras on stage!”

“I’ve been playing (Madison Square Garden) since the ‘70s. The 100 just happened to be a round number and happened to coincide with a Garden show I was already doing,” he said.

When it came to including Sting in this particular show, Joel said, “I’ve known him quite a while, since he was in The Police. We became friends right away and I always admired his musicianship. We respect each other as musicians. It’s very easy for me to work with him. It doesn’t require a long rehearsal process. I hate rehearsal.”

“I’m OK with making a mistake. A lot of the fun of it is in the spontaneity of the recovery,” he added. “He and I have great bands, and if you’re working with good musicians it makes life so much easier. I’ve written songs with Sting in mind, like ‘Big Man on Mulberry Street,’ which we do in this show.”

Contributing: Melissa Ruggieri

Read more at usatoday.com

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2209 upcoming concerts

• Sunday 21 April 2024

City Winery Chicago , Chicago, IL, US

Slaughter Beach, Dog and Erin Rae

SPACE , Evanston, IL, US

Giant Rooks and Friedberg

Thalia Hall , Chicago, IL, US

Dylan Schneider

Barstool River North , Chicago, IL, US

First to Eleven

Cobra Lounge , Chicago, IL, US

Meatbodies Axis: Sova

Schubas Tavern , Chicago, IL, US

Old Town School of Folk Music , Chicago, IL, US

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Symphony Center , Chicago, IL, US

Beat Kitchen , Chicago, IL, US

Impractical Jokers, James "Murr" Murray, and Sal Vulcano

Chicago Theatre , Chicago, IL, US

Daniel Sloss

Athenaeum Theatre , Chicago, IL, US

Greed Worm and Snuffed Sarin

Subterranean , Chicago, IL, US

SUMMORE Broken Nails, DJ Veganinblack, and Upon Her Eyes

Fallen Log , Chicago, IL, US

Sparkle Carcass

Judson & Moore , Chicago, IL, US

Hungry Brain , Chicago, IL, US

Constellation , Chicago, IL, US

Max Look Mezclado and Dogs at Large

The Empty Bottle , Chicago, IL, US

DECOY PRAYER MEETING

FITZGERALDS NIGHTCLUB , Berwyn, IL, US

Bill O'connell

Mike Wheeler Joe Doyle

Kingston Mines , Chicago, IL, US

Otter Petter and The Artist Formally Known As Vince Band

Montrose Saloon , Chicago, IL, US

Gold Coast Social , Chicago, IL, US

The Do Rights

Burlington Bar , Chicago, IL, US

• Monday 22 April 2024

Red Leather

Schuba's , Chicago, IL, US

COCOJOEY, Ultra Deluxe, Apostrophebeats, and Sawamura No Hitter

Bookclub Chi , Chicago, IL, US

Extraordinary Popular Delusions

prathloons Alta Vista and Gerfety

Chastity Griefeater

Shauna Dean Cokeland and Brye Zoe Gabrielle

• Tuesday 23 April 2024

Oneohtrix Point Never Arushi Jain

Metro , Chicago, IL, US

lovelytheband Luke Wild

Sierra Ferrell Cat Clyde

Sleeping Village , Chicago, IL, US

Louise Post

Apophy Dyslexicon and Death By Technology

Neil Jendon Dead Bandit

Cole's Bar , Chicago, IL, US

D. Anson Brody

Fitzgerald's Side Bar , Berwyn, IL, US

• Wednesday 24 April 2024

Nicki Minaj Monica

United Center , Chicago, IL, US

Cypress Hill The Pharcyde and Souls of Mischief

Concord Music Hall , Chicago, IL, US

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