It's a big events weekend for Chicago! The big musical festival season is coming to an end and I can't think of a better way to finish it off than with the loud and massive Riot Fest! It's perfect for those looking for legacy acts (Nine Inch Nails! Queens of the Stone Age! Jawbreaker!), new sounds (Dessa! Action Bronson! The Regrettes!), and straight up weirdness (Tobacco! Peaches!). Then if you're looking for art, you can check out
EXPO Chicago, a massive showcase of global contemporary art and culture!
Both these events just scratch the surface, so let's get on with your curated weekend!
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14th
Big Lebowski Beer Party with Pipeworks Brewing and Galerie F @ The Logan Theatre, 2646 N Milwaukee Ave., 7:00PM
WHAT: An evening with beer inspired by The Dude
SO WHAT: Pipeworks Brewing Company has brewed another batch of their original white Russian milk stout, “Hey, Careful Man, There’s a Beverage Here”. Since it only comes around every so often, they’re throwing a Lewboski themed party for the occasion at
Logan Theatre! The party will include a costume contest with prizes awarded for the best costume (judged by the Piperworks folks) and a special screening of
The Big Lebowski at 10:00pm.
Galerie F will also add on some fun with the chance to purchase a special poster created by
Francisco Ramirez.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $10 for the screening (which includes a little beer cocktail delivered to your seat)! Put on your best cardigan, get you bowling ball, and avoid the nihilists as your party down with all the other appropriately dressed Dudes. And yes, you too can have your White Russian stout at your side at all times (it’s fair game in Pipeworks’ party auditoriums).
Of Montreal/Showtime Goma/Nancy Feast @ Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N Kedzie Blvd., 8:00PM
WHAT: Ecstatic and wild sounds of Kevin Barnes
SO WHAT: It’s
Of Montreal. Seriously, one never knows what to expect from the group other than you will certainly have a good time. Kevin Barnes just know how to throw party, making his shows an over the top spectacle of glammy tunes, magnificent theatrical presentations, and a little bit of tasteful drag to make your night fun and wild. Opening for Of Montreal will be
Showtime Goma and Nancy Feast, which means more amazing and joyful pop sounds!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $20 for this night of musical exuberance!
Tobacco/High Tides/J Alvarez @ Smart Bar, 3730 N Clark St., 10:00PM
WHAT: Electronic earworms for the soul
SO WHAT: Tobacco (TOBAXXO) blends weird psychedelic madness, electronic vibes, and distributing visuals that result in a sound that will leave you mesmerized and begging for more. His soundscapes range from the aggressive rhythms the “
Streaker” to sharp highs of “Stretch Your Face” (the song
Silicon Valley utilizes as its theme). It’s aural trip worth experiencing live as Tobacco shells out some of the most consistent and excellent grooves during his sets. Joining Tobacco will be
High Tides and
J Alvarez, making for a nice mix of styles in one night.
NOW WHAT: Ticket are $15 for this late night (and possibly early morning) of mind-bending tunes.
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th - 17th
Riot Fest 2017 @ Douglas Park, 1401 S Sacramento Dr., Noon - 10:00PM
WHAT: Three days of punk, rock, hip-hip and everything in between!
SO WHAT: Chicago’s festival season is coming to an end with one of the most raucous and high-energy events:
Riot Fest! This awesome three-day festival brings together the loudest and most fun sounds in the music world for a wild time. This year headliners include Nine Inch Nails, Queens of the Stone Age, and a reunited Jawbreaker!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are still available!
Single day passes start at $84.98 and
three day passes start at $198.98
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th
Cap'n Jazz & the Rapperchicks @ Bottom Lounge, 1375 W Lake St., 10:00PM
WHAT: Another hometown Cap’n Jazz show? Yes please!
SO WHAT: The reunited
Cap’n Jazz recently
spent a night at House of Vans and were absolutely spectacular. All the energy and madness you could hop for from this legendary local band were in full effect and made for a phenomenal show. Check them out at this Riot Fest after show with another wonderful local rappers the
Rapperchicks!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $25 for this 17+ show!
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th
Pollyanna Oktoberfest! @ Pollyanna Brewing Company, 431 Talcott Ave., 3:00PM - 11:00PM
WHAT: An Oktoberfest celebration!
SO WHAT: Pollyanna Brewing Company is throwing an Oktoberfest party where they will be the only brewery in the area pouring a Great American Beer Festival award winning Oktoberfest beer! Their bronze winner Fruhauf Oktoberfest Lager will be keeping those steins full and Weber Grill Restaurant Lombard will be grilling up all sorts of Oktoberfest fare. Add in some music from
Bruce Korosa Polka Band (3:30-6:00), PHAT BEATZ (6-7:30), and Cover Gurl (7:30-10:30) and you will surely have a great time!
NOW WHAT: Tickets can be purchased at the door. $10 entrance includes souvenir stein!
Rick and Morty Art Show @ Challengers Comics + Conversation, 1845 N Western Ave., 5:00PM - 9:00PM
WHAT: Turned myself into art, Mortyy! Boom! Big Reveal! I’m art! What do you think about that? Turned myself into art! I’m Art Rick!
SO WHAT: Challengers is hosting a
Rick and Morty Art Show to celebrate the third season of Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon’s ridiculous Adult Swim show! They have scooped up a group of Rick and Morty fans to create some awesome Rick and Morty artwork for this oddball gallery!
Check out their event page for a full list of artists participation on this schwifty art show!
NOW WHAT: The show is free to attend and will be up through Friday, September 22nd. The artwork will be for sale, so get there early and grab some Rick and Morty art!
Author Reading: Rust Belt Chicago Anthology @ Volumes Bookcafe, 1474 N Milwaukee Ave., 7:30PM - 9:30PM
WHAT: A release party for a great collection of literary works
SO WHAT: Join Belt Publishing and Volumes Bookcafe in celebrating
Rust Belt Chicago, a collection of essays, journalism, poetry, and fiction edited by Martha Bayne. The pieces in this collection tell the vibrant and culturally rich history of our great city, all together singing a forlorn love song to a place similarly marked, if less evident, by deindustrialization and economic decline as Rust Belt sister cities. There will be readings by contributors Zoe Zolbrod, Andrew Cantrell, Wyl Villacres, and Kari Lydersen.
NOW WHAT: This event is free and open to the public, so go and enjoy some great readings!
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17th
Vagabon/Nnamdi Ogbonnaya/Morimoto @ Subterreanean, 2011 W North Ave., 8:00PM
WHAT: Unique voices on one wonderful bill.
SO WHAT: Vagabon, the musical project of Lætitia Tamko, has been hitting all the right notes for the past few years; landing a beautiful new high with her latest album
Infinite World. Tamko excels with powerful vocals that swing from tender to visceral in a split second, all underscored by some inricate instrumentation. She will be joined by two local acts:
Nnamdi Ogbonnaya and his intensely experimental flow and the jazzy hip-hop of
Morimoto.
NOW WHAT: Tickets for this great night are only
$12 in advance, or $14 at the door!
A Giant Dog / Platinum Boys / Lifestyles / DJ Creepy Donnie @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western Ave., 9:00PM
WHAT: Fun and loud music at a cool rock venue
SO WHAT: A Giant Dog, fronted by the amazing Sabrina Ellis (who also fronts Sweet Spirit) is back in town for another amazing show! Ellis’s vibrant stage presence and intense voice will surely have the Bottle overflowing with fun vibes. Joining her will be
Platinum Boys,
Lifestyles, and tunes in-between sets from DJ Creepy Donnie (Glitter Creeps).
NOW WHAT: Tickets are only $10! Go and see this great lineup of bands!
