The weekend is finally here and so is the massive list of events going on in Chicago! Whether you're looking for concerts, food, festivals parties or talks, there is something waiting for you in the city. So let's not worry too much about the rainy forecast, instead focus on all the fun you'll be having in the upcoming days!
So let's get on with your curated weekend!
THURSDAY, JUNE 7th 
Delmark Records Anniversary Party @ Evanston SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL, 8:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: Delmark Records, the internationally renowned, Chicago-based blues and jazz record label is the oldest active record company still owned and operated by its founder.
SO WHAT: Join Evanston SPACE for Delmark Records’ 65th anniversary Blues Bash featuring Jimmy Johnson, Steve Freund, Omar Coleman, Dave Specter, Tad Robinson & more special guests!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $15!
Liz Phair Pre-Party and Giveaway @ Bucket O' Blood Books and Records, 3182 N Elston Ave,, 9:00pm, 21+
WHAT: A party and a chance to win the 25th Anniversary Box Set of Exile to Guyville!
SO WHAT: Join DMen Tap and Bucket O’ Blood Books and Records for a weekend-long party celebrating Liz Phair! They’ll have
Exile in Guyville, Whip-Smart, S/T, and
Whitechocolatespaceegg in stock and available to buy! They’ll also be playing Liz Phair and artists inspired by her all night. Plus $4 beers from War Pigs and $8 WarPigs Brewing USA Lazurite + Stolen Whiskey!
NOW WHAT: It’s free! Plus one lucky winner will go home with the special box set!
Liner Notes: A Musical Storytelling Series @ GMan Tavern, 3740 N Clark St, 9:30pm, 21+
WHAT: Awesome people talking about music
SO WHAT: Liner Notes, hosted and curated by Shannon Nico Shreibak, is a monthly storytelling series where writers, musicians, and members of the arts community reflect on the albums that changed their lives—for better, or for worse. Speakers will include Brittany Julious (Chicago Tribune) discussing a mystery album, Daniel Makagon (DePaul University, Author of
Underground: The Subterranean Culture of Punk House Shows) discussing
Ask for It by Hole, Jenna Blazevich (Vichcraft) discussing
Neon Bible by Arcade Fire, and Leor Galil (Chicago Reader) discussing
Follow The Leader by KoRn.
NOW WHAT: It’s free!
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, JUNE 8th - 10th
Spring Awakening @ Addams-Medill Park, 1301 W 14th St, 1:00pm - 10:00pm, 18+
WHAT: Three days of EDM madness!
SO WHAT: This year’s lineup stays true to Spring Awakening’s EDM centered mission to bring headlining acts and underground DJs together under one festival lineup! There will be plenty of big name artists including
Deadmau5,
Steve Aoki,
Big Gigantic,
Tiësto and Chicago’s own
Kaskade performing at the the enormous main stages. The specially branded tents
Heldeep,
Trance Arena,
DJ Mag, Requiem,
Bass Kitchen, & Sunday School will provide some more eclectic mixes to get more of the massive crowd dancing during the three day party!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are still available! Join in on the fun!
Ribfest Chicago @ Lincoln Avenue between Irving Park Road and Berteau Avenue, Friday 5:00pm - 10:00pm, Saturday & Sunday Noon - 10:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: 50,000 pounds
of pork to kick off summer
SO WHAT: It’s
Ribfest Chicago’s 20th birthday! T
he Northcenter neighborhood festival brings together the community for some of the best ribs and a fantastic musical lineup including Beach Bunny, Al Scorch,Waco Brothers, Rookie, Ra Ra Riot, Sports Boyfriend, and many more! Highlights will also include the celebrity-judged “Best Ribs” rivalry, the Friday Feature Entertainment, and a Kids Square for families to enjoy entertainment, inflatables, games and more.
NOW WHAT: $10 donation per person or $20 per family is requested to benefit Northcenter philanthropy and community programs.
FRIDAY, JUNE 8th
V.V. Lightbody & Rose Hotel @ Schubas, 3159 N Southport Ave, 9:00pm, 21+
WHAT: Chill tunes from some heavenly voices for your Friday night
SO WHAT: Head out to Schubas for an evening of excellent music brought to you by
CHIRP and
Midwest Action! Local songwriter
V.V. Lightbody will be celebrating the release of her album
Bathing Peach, sharing her ethereal folk songs along with the equally dreamy sounds of
Rose Hotel!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door!
The Kickback, Graveyard Club, Family of Geniuses @ Sleeping Village, 3734 W Belmont Ave, 9:00pm, 21+
WHAT: An evening of fun music!
SO WHAT: Chicago four-piece
The Kickback followed up their triumphant debut with
Weddings & Funerals earlier this year and this show is the perfect time to catch them play live! They will be joining the likes of
Graveyard Club their haunting synthpop and the pop tunes of
Family Of Geniuses.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door!
Midwest Connect Residency: Esso Afrojam Funkbeat, Cabildo, Luna Blues Machine @ Emporium Arcade Bar Wicker Park, 1366 N Milwaukee Ave, 9:00pm, 21+
WHAT: Once a month “El Sonido Sonic Octopus” invites their favorite bands and brethren from around the Midwest to come to
Emporium Chicago and get down to rep their cities
SO WHAT: Esso Afrojam Funkbeat takes elements of world music and brings them into a local preservative, adding in beautiful urban poetry and glorious group singing. Joining them will be West Michigan based alternative Latin rock collective
Cabildo and the charismatic and engaging songwriting of local band
The Luna Blues Machine.
NOW WHAT: The show is free! Plus,
RSVP here for 10 free game tokens!
SATURDAY, JUNE 9th
Rock 'n' Roll Market @ East Room, 2354 N Milwaukee Ave, 11:00am - 7:00pm, 21+
WHAT: Music, vendors, and day drinking
SO WHAT: Join
D0312 for another fantastic one-day pop up: Rock ‘n’ Roll Market! There will be 60+ Rock ‘n’ Roll and vintage vendors alongside some of Chicago’s best rock DJs and musicians for an outdoor all day affair. Music will include The Detroit Cobras, White Mystery, Platinum Boys, Sundown Club, KO Newborn, & Tangerine Beat DJs. Check out the full lineup of vendors here!
NOW WHAT: This market is free and and your first Deep Eddy Vodka & Red Bull Cocktailis free too with RSVP.
Deeper @ Shuga Records, 1272 N Milwaukee Ave, 2:00pm - 3:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: Free music in the middle of a rad music store
SO WHAT: Shuga Record’s in-store performances are always a treat and this time around local band
Deeper will be taking over the stage. Fresh off their debut album, Deeper is making their talents known and this set will be a great time to hang and rock out to their excellent grooves. Check out Brandon Smith’s
interview with the band as well as Colin Smith’s
review of their album release show!
NOW WHAT: It’s free, get down there and enjoy!
Lo Rez Anniversary Fest @ Lo Rez Brewing, 2101 S Carpenter St,3:00pm - 9:00pm, 21+
WHAT: Celebrate one year of brew with Lo Rez
SO WHAT: The fest will feature craft beer from Lo Rez Brewery, Whiner Beer Company, Hopewell Brewing Company, Marz Community Brewing, On Tour Brewing Co., and a chance to try casked home-brew beer by C.H.A.O.S. Brew Club. They will also be celebrating with a great lineup of local bands, businesses, food and drink vendors. Don’t miss the after party from 9:00 – 11:00 PM in the Lo Rez taproom, featuring live music from These Old Men They Play Records!
Check out their event page for more details!
NOW WHAT: It’s free! In an effort to support Pilsen students protected by DACA, the Lo Rez Anniversary Fest will be used as a platform to fundraise for Benito Juarez Community Academy, located at 21st and Laflin.
Oath Day Six @ Solemn Oath Brewery, 1661 Quincy Ave, Naperville, IL, 4:00pm -10:00pm, 21+
WHAT: Oath Day Six is coming.
SO WHAT: Solemn Oath will be setting the garage doors free, opening up as much of the brewery as they possibly can, taking over the parking lot, and throwing one of the strangest and most chill parties the Midwest has to offer. Their will be a massive beer list filled with their most innovative brews, incredible restaurant and food truck partners, and copious collaborators. This year there will be a market filled with unique artisans, a live band unlike most anything you’ve seen, fresh beard trims, and orchestrated disorder of all things Oath.
Check out their event page for more info on vendors!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are available at their website! Tiers include $20 for admission, $35 for admission and three beers, and $50 for admission, three beers, and exclusive glass, and unlimited Lu drafts.
SUNDAY, JUNE 10th
Chicago Summer Label Fair @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western Ave,Noon - 4:00pm, 21+
WHAT: Local labels selling their wares!
SO WHAT: Some of Chicago’s finest labels will be coming to Empty Bottle to present a unique and gem-filled fair inside the historic venue. Come by the Bottle to pick up a few LPs, singles, tapes, CDs and more from some of the most passionate, dedicated and knowledgeable labels in Chicago and beyond.
NOW WHAT: It’s free! There’ll be another impeccable lineup of vendors, so save your dough to grab some cool new tunes for you and your friends.
Kids Comics Workshop with Gabi Mendez and Sheika Lugtu @ Challengers Comics + Conversation, 1845 N Western Ave, 2:00pm - 4:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: Challengers is a hosting a Kids Comics Workshop, sponsored by Cow House Press publisher Sheika Lugtu and
Lemonade Summer creator Gabi Mendez!
SO WHAT: Kids will participate in a
Lemonade Summer reading, make and share a one-page comic, and get to talk about
Lemonade Summer with creator Gabi Mendez. Cow House Press publisher Sheika Lugtu will be on hand to sell prints and take preorders for the upcoming print edition of
Lemonade Summer. Also, there will be actual factual lemonade!
NOW WHAT: This is a free event suitable for kids and adults!
Check out their event page for the full lineup of programming!