MUSIC
The concerts we recommend, the artists we love, and the stories we want to share.
Julieta Venegas reflects on home and homecoming on Norteña
Malcolm Riordan, DIY community builder
Mansa build immersive songs with the feeling first
In bed with Andrew Sa
CONCERT PREVIEWS
Julieta Venegas reflects on home and homecoming on Norteña
Julieta Venegas has been a defining voice in Latin alternative pop since the late 90s, when she emerged from Tijuana, a city whose musical crossroads teem with constant exchanges of ranchera, punk rock, cumbia, norteño accordion, rock en español, and English-language radio. Her latest full-length, May’s Norteña, is a companion to her new…
Icelandic singer-songwriter Árný Margrét keeps fulfilling her dreams
Árný Margrét Wed 7/8 at Hideout
Junglepussy brings her raw, liberating rap to the Empty Bottle
Junglepussy Sat 7/18 at Empty Bottle
The Chosen Few Picnic remains the gold standard for summertime Chicago music festivals
Chosen Few Picnic Sat 7/11 at Jackson Park
Brazilian legend Marcos Valle brings his summery bossa nova to Millennium Park
Marcos Valle Thu 7/16 at Millennium Park
Chicago tech-death duo Become Death vent their rage on Vorara
Become Death Thu 7/2 at the Burlington
Chicago native KeiyaA carves a new path through R&B with Hooke’s Law
KeiyaA Tue 6/30 at Schubas
Shallowater and Cancer House bring new vitality to slowcore
Shallowater, Cancer House Sat 6/27 at Beat Kitchen
Babe Haven empower the babes and tweak their enemies on Nuisance
Babe Haven Sat 6/13 at Beat Kitchen
The Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash shows how big a grassroots hip-hop fest can get
Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash Fri 6/12 – Sun 6/14 at Seatgeek Stadium
Don’t want to miss a show? Be sure to check out Early Warnings, the Reader‘s definitive list of upcoming concerts in Chicago. ⚠️📆👀
GOSSIP WOLF
A furry ear to the ground of the local music scene
From our Community Calendar
THE SECRET HISTORY OF CHICAGO MUSIC
Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) shines a light on worthy artists with Chicago ties who’ve been forgotten, underrated, or never noticed in the first place.
Everything in Music
Brazilian legend Marcos Valle brings his summery bossa nova to Millennium Park
The Chosen Few Picnic remains the gold standard for summertime Chicago music festivals
Junglepussy brings her raw, liberating rap to the Empty Bottle
Chicago tech-death duo Become Death vent their rage on Vorara
WHPK builds a digital archive to broadcast its place in music history
Shallowater and Cancer House bring new vitality to slowcore
Chicago native KeiyaA carves a new path through R&B with Hooke’s Law
Internet radio station Redux throws a party for its first birthday compilation
Who wouldn’t be curious about a band called the Purple Cucumber?
The Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash shows how big a grassroots hip-hop fest can get
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