When you live in a city where the weather is shitty for 8 months of the year, summer is a glorious thing. Get ready for North Avenue Beach, street fests galore, and some great free outdoor shows. Here’s a look at some of the free concerts in Chicago this summer.
Downtown Sound: New Music Mondays
It’s a little easier to wake up on a Monday in the summertime when you know you can head to Millenium Park for a free show when you get out of work. I’m stoked for Charles Bradley and for Jonathan Richman who you might remember from a little band called Modern Lovers, or maybe as the weird dude playing guitar in There’s Something About Mary. I must admit, I’ve never heard of some of the performers, but it’s hard to go wrong with a $0 admission spot on the lawn at beautiful Millenium Park. You might even get a pavilion seat if you show up early enough.
Millenium Park at Jay Prizker Pavilion
All ages – 6:30 pm
5/28 – Kelly Hogan with Scott Lucas and the Married Men
6/04 – Jonathan Richman with Joel Paterson and the Modern Sounds*
6/11 – The Eternals with Wilde Belle
6/18 – Cloud Cult with Judson Clairborn
6/25 – Chico Trujilo with Occidental Brothers Dance Band International
6/28 – Joan of Arc with Daniel Knox
7/09 – The Sadies with James Vincent McMorrow
7/16 – Charles Bradley with Abigail Washburn*
7/23 – Ana Tijoux with Sidi Touré
7/30 – SMOD with MAKU Soundsystem
Non-Monday free Millenium Park Concerts
6/14 @ 6:30 – Deerhoof
7/12 @ 6:30 – Third Coast Percussion
Take a look at the full Millenium Park summer schedule.
Other Free (if you’re a dick – otherwise $5 donation) Shows
On Damen between North and Schiller
Saturday 6/23
Dinosaur Jr.
Sunday 6/24
Raveonettes
Division between Ashland and Leavitt
Friday 6/2
JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound
Saturday 6/3
Mannequin Men
Sunday 6/4
The Antlers
Murder by Death
Lincoln / Damen / Irving Park
Friday 6/8
J Roddy Walston and the Business
Sunday 6/10
Heartless Bastards
Saturday 7/28
Cursive
Kill Hannah
The Drums
