Slumgullion

See yesterday’s Weekend Reminders post for events happening this weekend.

The Smithereens will kick off their 2026 Summer Tour in Rutherford, NJ tomorrow with Marshall Crenshaw as their guest lead vocalist. John Cowsill will take on the lead vocals when The Smithereens open for The Fixx in Norfolk, VA; Richmond, VA; Ponte Vedra, FL; and Orlando, FL. Singer-songwriter Wesley Stace will be the guest lead vocalist for Smithereens shows in Grass Valley, CA and Petaluma, CA, before Cowsill returns for final Summer Tour show in Park City, UT. Dates for these events have been posted on the official Smithereens Facebook page.

John Cowsill will also be busy performing with his wife Vicki Peterson of The Bangles on a six-date tour that kicks off in Mahomet, IL on July 31 and  runs through August 30 with a show at The Rhode Island Folk Festival in Riverside, RI.  Cowsill and Peterson will likely showcase songs from their Long After The Fire album, as well as material from The Bangles and The Cowsills.

Happy Birthday to Chicago-based singer-songwriter AJ Rosales, whose well-crafted acoustic music evokes Neil Young’s early recordings. Rosales recently released a live performance EP featuring some of his original songs, and he has a free show tomorrow at 4:00 pm as part of the Chopin Park Summer Fest event at 3420 N. Long in Chicago. (Sorry. This should have been mentioned in yesterday’s Weekend Reminders post.)

The Strokes released their latest album Reality Awaits today and kicked off an ambitious world tour that will include stops in the United States; Canada; Japan; the UK; Netherlands; Germany, Italy, France; and Spain.

The 9th Annual Chicago Blues Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held on August 16 at Buddy Guy’s Legends venue in the south end of downtown Chicago. A post on the official Chicago Blues Hall Of Fame notes that tickets will only be sold in advance.

The Rolling Stones’ new album Foreign Tongues is due out on July 10, and can be pre-ordered from Amazon and other sites. A video of the hard-edged first single “In The Stars” on YouTube finds the band at the top of their game.

Upcoming concerts at the 2026 Summer Concert Series at the Riverside Park venue in Aurora, IL include UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell on August 9; The Beach Boys on August 14; and Poi Dog Pondering on August 15.

The Buzzcocks, one of England’s first and best punk bands, will celebrate 50 years of crafting high-energy and irresistible music with a North American tour this fall. They’ll be at Park West in Chicago on October 3. Other stops include New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Denver. Minds Eye will be their special guest for these shows; tickets are now available.  

An Evening With Steve Dawson, an event celebrating the Chicago-based singer-songwriter’s 35 years of performing, will take place on October 11 at Evanston SPACE in Evanston, IL. His Facebook page promises “a few very special guests.”

Chris Stamey’s brand new album Modernism, finds The dB’s member offering cover versions of such hits as The Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset,” The Beatles’ “Hey Bulldog,” and The Rolling Stones’“Ruby Tuesday,” as well as his own material. Several guest musicians, including his mates in The dB’s, helped in the production.

Here comes Rhymin’ Simon. Paul Simon will perform at the The Hunter Pavilion at Ravinia Park in Highland Park, IL on July 18.

Custard Flux, AKA musician Gregory Curvey, will headline a Chicago Alternafest! event taking place on August 15 at the Underground Lounge. Piper No; Oh My Lover; and Mystic Mulberry will also be on the bill. Enter Xenon, the latest album from Custard Flux, was chosen as one of 2025’s best prog rock albums by the Brit magazines MOJO and Classic Rock. Underground Lounge is located at 952 W. Newport Avenue in Chicago.

English guitarist-vocalist Johnny Marr has released the catchy new single “Spin” as a teaser for his upcoming solo album The Age Of Everything, which is due out on October 2. Marr noted on his Facebook page that he has “two intimate warm-up shows” coming up on July 6 at Stylus in Leeds, and July 7 at O2 Academy in Liverpool.

The impressive and always fun combo of Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets will be one of the headline acts at this year’s Square Roots Festival in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on Chicago’s north side. The event takes place on the weekend of July 10 – 12, and will also feature Margo Price; Dehd; Robbie Fulks; Sons Of The Silent Age; The Tossers; and several other acts.

R.E.M. bassist-vocalist Mike Mills, violinist Robert McDuffie, and Allman Brothers (and other bands) keyboards player Chuck Leavell will join forces with the Orchestra Of St. Luke’s for A Night Of Georgia Music at Carnegie Hall in New York on July 25. The one-night-only event will feature them covering Otis Redding; Ray Charles; The Allman Brothers; R.E.M.; The B-52’s; Outkast, and other acts. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at Carnegie Hall.

Drink The Sea, the adventurous band that includes Peter Buck of R.E.M.; Alain Johannes of Queens of The Stone Age; and Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees, has an upcoming American tour that will run from August 30 to September 24 in support of their new album. An extensive European tour will kick off on September 30.

Chicago-based band The Bad Examples, whose clever and catchy songs often call to mind the music of Squeeze, will perform at the Moonlight Theatre in St. Charles, IL on July 18, and at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights, IL on August 15. Later that month, they’ll perform at International Pop Overthrow - San Diego on either August 21 or 22 (the schedule hasn’t been released yet).

Mike Campbell And The Dirty Knobs will kick off a tour with special guest Sarah Lee Guthrie in Minneapolis on July 7, and will be at The Vic in Chicago two days later. They’ll likely perform songs from their recently released album Mission Of Mercy . 

Earth, Wind And Fire (To Be Celestial Vs. That’s The Weight Of The World), a new documentary about the iconic soul band, directed by Questlove, recently debuted at the Tribeca Festival, and has be released on HBO and HBO Max.

You be me for a while. Androgynous Mustache, a collective of Chicago area musicians known for ambitious tribute shows honoring famous recording artists, will perform as The Replacements on July 14 at Evanston SPACE in Evanston, IL.

Toronto indie rock band Metric is currently on the road in support of its 10th album Romanticize The Drive. The tour, which features special guests Broken Social Scene and Stars, will include concerts in Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago (July 24 at Aragon Ballroom), Boston, Philadelphia, and New York.

Theater Of The Mind, the imaginative adventure crafted by David Byrne from Talking Heads and writer Mala Gaonkar, has been extended through August 30 at the Reid Murdoch Building at 333 N. LaSalle Street in downtown Chicago. Theater Of The Mind, a Goodman Theatre production, has been picking up rave reviews in Chicago newspapers.

Local comedy group Famous In The Future will present its annual three-day celebration of counter-culture entertainment, YippieFest, on the weekend of October 9 – 11 at the Cornservatory. The event features FIF, along with a variety of acts presenting short plays, improv, monologues, sketch comedy, stand-up, music, performance art, and dance. YippieFest is modeled after the late Mary-Arrchie Theatre’s long-running Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins Festival. Cornservatory is located at 4210 N. Lincoln Avenue on Chicago’s north side. Full disclosure: I was a member of Famous In The Future for several years.

The Roger Daltry - A Great Night Out! North American Tour will kick off in Mesa, AZ on August 23 and wrap up on September 29 in Medford, MA. Fans in the Midwest can choose New Lenox, IL on September 12 or Milwaukee, WI on September 15.

This year’s Lollapalooza festival takes place from July 30 to August 2 at Grant Park in downtown Chicago. The lineup includes Lorde; The Smashing Pumpkins; Sombr; Wet Leg; Suki Waterhouse; and Wolf Alice.

Psychedelic Soul: A Journey Through Rhythm And Time is now open at the Motown Museum in Detroit, MI, and will run through September 27. The website states the exhibit will focus on the years 1967 through 1975, “when the label expanded beyond its signature love songs to embrace experimentation and socially conscious storytelling.”

Death Cab For Cutie recently released its latest album, I Built You A Tower, and will embark on a massive tour starting July 10 in Minneapolis.

Mike Campbell And The Dirty Knobs have a show coming up at the Vic Theatre in Chicago on July 9. Guitarist-vocalist Campbell played an essential role with Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers, and released Vagabonds, Virgins And Misfits, his third album with The Dirty Knobs, in 2024.

Weekend Reminders

Weekend Reminders on Thursday posts focus on events that were previously mentioned on Broken Hearted Toy, and are taking place during the upcoming weekend. Plus, the occasional event taking place this weekend that has just come to my attention, or concert tickets going on sale.

Depending on when you read this (and how close you are to Milwaukee, WI), you could still catch at least part of the impressive Summerfest lineup of Robert Randolph and The Family Band; The Handcuffs; Sincere Engineer; and Kim Gordon.

If you miss the Summerfest gig by The Handcuffs or if you’re eager to see them twice within a few days, they have a show this Saturday with special guests Monkeymind at Mary’s Place in Rockford, IL. Be sure to grab one of their new t-shirts while you’re there.

Also depending on when you read this, you could join the merriment of Phil Angotti and friends performing songs from Headquarters by The Monkees followed by Milwaukee band The Taxmen performing songs from Rubber Soul by The Beatles at Reggies Music Joint tonight. According to his Facebook page, this will be a Phil Angotti Birthday Show although it might be a few days early for that. Doors open at 7:00 pm; Reggies Music Joint is located at 2105 S. State Street, south of downtown Chicago. 

The Strokes recently kicked off an ambitious world tour and will perform in Philadelphia tomorrow. That’s also the release date for their latest album, Reality Awaits. The tour will include stops in the United States; Canada; Japan; the UK; Netherlands; Germany, Italy, France; and Spain.

The Buzzcocks, one of England’s first and best punk bands, will celebrate 50 years of crafting high-energy and irresistible music with a North American tour this fall. They’ll be at Park West in Chicago on October 3. Other stops include New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Denver. The band Minds Eye will be their special guest for these shows; tickets are now available.  

Chicago radio station WXRT’s Live From The XRT Concert Archives continues tomorrow night at 9:00 pm with a 2002 July 4th Concert performed by Indigo Girls. Live From The XRT Concert Archives can be heard on 93.1FM; 93XRT.com; and the Audacy app.

The Smithereens have announced the locations for their 2026 Summer Tour, which kicks off in Rutherford, NJ this Saturday. Marshall Crenshaw will be their guest lead vocalist for that show. Dates (and guest lead vocalist info) for these events have been posted on the official Smithereens Facebook page.

Chicago-based recording artists Naked Brunch have a Pride Month themed release party coming up at G-Man Tavern this Sunday. Released by Rattleback Records, the new 12-inch vinyl single features exclusive remixes of “Kiddie Pool” and “Humanoid”—tracks from Naked Brunch’s critically acclaimed 2025 debut album At the Humanoid Motel.

Singer-guitarist Scott Niekelski from the Chicago-based, hard-hitting power pop band Go Time! has a solo gig coming up at the BuckleDown Grapefruit Festival this Saturday in Lyons, IL. Buckledown Brewing is located at 8700 47th Street in Lyons, IL. 

Incoming

This will be a busy week for The Handcuffs, the Chicago indie rock band led by drummer Brad Elvis of The Romantics and The Elvis Brothers fame and vocalist-guitarist Chloe Orwell. They’ll perform Thursday night at Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI; and at Mary’s Place in Rockford, IL on Saturday. The Handcuffs will likely showcase recently recorded new songs at these gigs, as well as material from their previous albums. Plus, they’ll have brand new t-shirts to sell.

The other acts performing at SummerFest this Thursday are Robert Randolph and The Family Band; Sincere Engineer; and Sonic Youth founding member Kim Gordon. The festival runs Thursday through Saturday; and again from July 2 – 4. See the official SummerFest 2026 website for the full schedule of acts.

The Smithereens have announced the locations for their 2026 Summer Tour, which kicks off in Rutherford, NJ this Saturday. Marshall Crenshaw will be their guest lead vocalist for that show. John Cowsill will take on the lead vocals when The Smithereens open for The Fixx in Norfolk, VA; Richmond, VA; Ponte Vedra, FL; and Orlando, FL. Singer-songwriter Wesley Stace will be the guest lead vocalist for shows in Grass Valley, CA and Petaluma, CA, before Cowsill returns for final Summer Tour date in Park City, UT. Dates for these events have been posted on the official Smithereens Facebook page.

     

Cheap Trick will perform at the Riverside Park venue in Aurora, IL this Thursday, as part of the venue’s 2026 Summer Concert Series. Other shows coming up at Riverside Park include UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell on August 9; The Beach Boys on August 14; and Poi Dog Pondering on August 15.

The 9th Annual Chicago Blues Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held on August 16 at Buddy Guy’s Legends venue in the south end of downtown Chicago. A post on the official Chicago Blues Hall Of Fame notes that tickets will only be sold in advance.

Singer-guitarist Scott Niekelski from the Chicago-based, hard-hitting power pop band Go Time! has a solo gig coming up at the BuckleDown Grapefruit Festival this Saturday in Lyons, IL. Buckledown Brewing is located at 8700 47th Street in Lyons, IL.

Chicago-based singer-guitarist Terry White will host another Songwriter Circle tomorrow night at Fitzgerald’s Sidebar in Berwyn, IL This time out, White’s guests will be Pravda Records recording artist Brian Crumm and musician/engineer Brian Leach.

Depending on when you read this, you could still catch Cult Canyon with strings, along with Moon Type and Jules Klee tonight at Cafe Mustache. Cult Canyon is a recently formed band led by Chicago-based vocalist-guitarist Josh Chicoine, who’s best known for his work with The M’s. The music starts at 7:00 pm; Cafe Mustache is located at 2313 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago.

Chicago-based recording artists Naked Brunch have a Pride Month themed release party coming up at G-Man Tavern this Sunday. Released by Rattleback Records, the new 12-inch vinyl single features exclusive remixes of “Kiddie Pool” and “Humanoid”—tracks from Naked Brunch’s critically acclaimed 2025 debut album At the Humanoid Motel.

Slumgullion

See yesterday’s Weekend Reminders post for events happening this weekend.

Here’s an event I should have mentioned on yesterday’s post. Chicago indie rock band The Handcuffs will perform with Parker Barrow and Sonny Landreth tomorrow night at the Metro Jam Festival in Manitowoc, WI. The Handcuffs are now selling some cool-looking, brand new t-shirts at their gigs.

Modernism, the new album from Chris Stamey that finds The dB’s member offering cover versions of such hits as The Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset,” The Beatles’ “Hey Bulldog,” and The Rolling Stones’“Ruby Tuesday,” as well as his own material, was released today via Flatiron Recordings. Several guest musicians, including his mates in The dB’s, helped in the production.

Happy Birthday to Heart’s dynamic singer Ann Wilson, who along with her guitar-wielding, fellow singer-songwriter sister Nancy, inspired other women rockers to follow in her path. Several years ago, I interviewed Ann Wilson and guitarist Howard Leese after a Heart concert at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in Wisconsin. Despite the band’s PR person suspecting the free paper I wrote for was about to go bust, Ann and Howard were incredibly nice. That free paper did implode, but luckily, a professional photographer was able to land my piece in the more respectable paper The Prairie Sun.

Also, Happy Birthday to Casey McDonough, who’s a current member of the legendary band NRBQ , as well as Pravda Records artists The Flat Five. Plus, McDonough can often be seen performing with musicians such as Phil Angotti on the local club scene.

English guitarist-vocalist Johnny Marr has released the catchy new single “Spin” as a teaser for his upcoming solo album The Age Of Everything, which is due out on October 2. Marr noted on his Facebook page that he has “two intimate warm-up shows” coming up on July 6 at Stylus in Leeds, and July 7 at O2 Academy in Liverpool.

Tickets are now on sale for An Evening With Steve Dawson, which will celebrate the Chicago-based singer-songwriter’s 35 years of performing. The event will take place on October 11 at Evanston SPACE in Evanston, IL. His Facebook page promises “a few very special guests.” I remember first meeting Dawson and his wife Diane Christiansen back when I was assigned to do a piece on their Stump The Host band for the Illinois Entertainer.

Here comes Rhymin’ Simon. Paul Simon will perform at the The Hunter Pavilion at Ravinia Park in Highland Park, IL on July 18.

Custard Flux, AKA musician Gregory Curvey, will headline a Chicago Alternafest! event taking place on August 15 at the Underground Lounge. Piper No; Oh My Lover; and Mystic Mulberry will also be on the bill. Enter Xenon, the latest album from Custard Flux, was chosen as one of 2025’s best prog rock albums by the Brit magazines MOJO and Classic Rock. Underground Lounge is located at 952 W. Newport Avenue in Chicago.

Chicago-based singer-guitarist Terry White will host another Songwriter Circle next Tuesday at Fitzgerald’s Sidebar in Berwyn, IL. This time out, White’s guests will be Pravda Records recording artist Brian Crumm and musician/engineer Brian Leach.

The Robert Plant with Saving Grace and Suzi Dian Up The Sharp End Tour is coming to The Chicago Theatre on October 15. Rockabilly musician Rosie Flores will be their special guest. Other stops on the tour, which kicks off on September 18 in St. Louis, include San Diego, San Francisco, and Salt Lake City. 

The impressive and always fun combo of Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets will be one of the headline acts at this year’s Square Roots Festival in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on Chicago’s north side. The event takes place on the weekend of July 10 – 12, and will also feature Margo Price; Dehd; Robbie Fulks; Sons Of The Silent Age; The Tossers; and several other acts.

R.E.M. bassist-vocalist Mike Mills, violinist Robert McDuffie, and Allman Brothers (and other bands) keyboards player Chuck Leavell will join forces with the Orchestra Of St. Luke’s for A Night Of Georgia Music at Carnegie Hall in New York on July 25. The one-night-only event will feature them covering Otis Redding; Ray Charles; The Allman Brothers; R.E.M.; The B-52’s; Outkast, and other acts. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at Carnegie Hall.

Drink The Sea, the adventurous band that includes Peter Buck of R.E.M.; Alain Johannes of Queens of The Stone Age; and Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees, has an upcoming American tour that will run from August 30 to September 24 in support of their new album. An extensive European tour will kick off on September 30.

Chicago-based band The Bad Examples, whose clever and catchy songs often call to mind the music of Squeeze, will perform at the Moonlight Theatre in St. Charles, IL on July 18, and at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights, IL on August 15. Later that month, they’ll perform at International Pop Overthrow - San Diego on either August 21 or 22 (the schedule hasn’t been released yet).

Mike Campbell And The Dirty Knobs will kick off a tour with special guest Sarah Lee Guthrie in Minneapolis on July 7, and will be at The Vic in Chicago two days later. They’ll likely perform songs from their recently released album Mission Of Mercy . 

Earth, Wind And Fire (To Be Celestial Vs. That’s The Weight Of The World), a new documentary about the iconic soul band, directed by Questlove, recently debuted at the Tribeca Festival, and has be released on HBO and HBO Max.

Toronto indie rock band Metric will showcase its 10th album Romanticize The Drive on its current tour with Broken Social Scene and Stars. Stops will include Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago (July 24 at Aragon Ballroom), Boston, Philadelphia, and New York.

Cult Canyon, a new band formed by Chicago-based vocalist-guitarist Josh Chicoine, has a show coming up this Monday at Cafe Mustache. Chicoine is best known for his work with The M’s, an indie rock band that released a series of albums (2003 – 2008) and built a loyal following via numerous live performances.

The Rolling Stones’ new album Foreign Tongues is due out on July 10, and can be pre-ordered from Amazon and other sites. A video of the hard-edged first single “In The Stars” on YouTube finds the band at the top of their game.

Theater Of The Mind, the imaginative adventure crafted by David Byrne from Talking Heads and writer Mala Gaonkar, has been extended through August 30 at the Reid Murdoch Building at 333 N. LaSalle Street in downtown Chicago. Theater Of The Mind, a Goodman Theatre production, has been picking up rave reviews in Chicago newspapers.

Local comedy group Famous In The Future will present its annual three-day celebration of counter-culture entertainment, YippieFest, on the weekend of October 9 – 11 at the Cornservatory. The event features FIF, along with a variety of acts presenting short plays, improv, monologues, sketch comedy, stand-up, music, performance art, and dance. YippieFest is modeled after the late Mary-Arrchie Theatre’s long-running Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins Festival. Cornservatory is located at 4210 N. Lincoln Avenue on Chicago’s north side. Full disclosure: I was a member of Famous In The Future for several years.

The Roger Daltry - A Great Night Out! North American Tour will kick off in Mesa, AZ on August 23 and wrap up on September 29 in Medford, MA. Fans in the Midwest can choose New Lenox, IL on September 12 or Milwaukee, WI on September 15.

Billy Idol must have enjoyed his 2025 It’s A Nice Day To . . . Tour Again! gigs because he’s scheduled four new ones for this fall. The first is on September 10 in St. Louis, MO; followed by September 11 in Grand Rapids, MI; September 13 in Cuyahoga Falls, OH; and September 16 in Kansas City, MO. Bangles founding member and solo artist Susanna Hoffs will be Idol’s special guest at each location.

Susanna Hoffs has a solo gig at The Old Town School Of Folk Music on September 14. It’s a co-presentation with Chicago Humanities. A week later, Hoffs has a five-night engagement at the Café Carlyle at the Carlyle Hotel in  New York.

This year’s Lollapalooza festival takes place from July 30 to August 2 at Grant Park in downtown Chicago. The lineup includes Lorde; The Smashing Pumpkins; Sombr; Wet Leg; Suki Waterhouse; and Wolf Alice.

Weekend Reminders

MJ Kim photo of Paul McCartney from the Paul McCartney Official Facebook age.

Weekend Reminders on Thursday posts focus on events that were previously mentioned on Broken Hearted Toy, and are taking place during the upcoming weekend. Plus, the occasional event taking place this weekend that has just come to my attention, or concert tickets going on sale.

Today, we celebrate the birthday of an English musician whose recordings have earned him a following across the pond as well. Yes, it’s Mordecai Smyth’s birthday. His latest album Gather The Scattered Mind on the Mega Dodo label offers another selection of catchy, offbeat songs such as “Breaking The Backs” and “One And The Same.” No wonder The Scattered Mind has been receiving positive reviews in the British press. Mr. Smyth was one of the first musicians to contact me via this blog, and we have a running joke that he’s an honorary citizen of my American hometown of Palatine, IL.

Today is also Paul McCartney’s birthday, and social media is justifiably overflowing with best wishes, tributes, and photos of him throughout his career. His latest album, The Boys Of Dungeon Lane, has been critically acclaimed as one of his better albums. My wife Pam and I had such a great time seeing him perform a high-energy, three-hour concert on my birthday nine years ago that it feels like it could have been Yesterday. A toast to you, Sir Paul.

Here’s a hearty Chicago welcome to Stevie Wonder; Bruce Springsteen; Common; Eddie Vedder; The Roots; Christina Aguilera; Jennifer Hudson; John Legend; Marc Anthony; Tems; Bono and The Edge from U2; and Marsai Martin, who have all arrived for a cocktail party on my gazebo. Just kidding, of course. They, along with former American presidents Joe Biden; George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, are in Chicago for the grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park. Congratulations to Barack and Michelle Obama.

The Meadowlark Lemons will showcase songs from their recently released self-titled debut album at Fitzgerald’s Sidebar in Berwyn, IL tomorrow night. The Chicago-based quintet creates a mix of jazz, funk, and soul that’s particularly impressive on “Meet Me At The Sidebar,” “The Laughing Heart,” and “Little Funky Wolf.” 

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for An Evening With Steve Dawson, which will celebrate the Chicago-based singer-songwriter’s 35 years of performing. The event will take place on October 11 at Evanston SPACE in Evanston, IL. His Facebook page promises “a few very special guests.” I remember first meeting Dawson and his wife Diane Christiansen back when I was assigned to do a piece on their Stump The Host band for the Illinois Entertainer.

Tony Richards, whose solo jazz guitar performances have gained him a loyal following on the local music scene, and world-traveling bassist Joe Policastro will perform as part of the Pro Musica Musical Evenings series this Saturday night, starting at 7:00 pm. Richards and Policastro are also recording artists. Pro Musica is located at 713 W. Wrightwood in Chicago.

This Saturday, I'll be pitching my completed rock and roll/paranormal/Young Adult novel and its work-in-progress rock and roll/paranormal sequel at the Writing Workshop Of Chicago on Michigan Avenue in the south downtown area. I’ve always found this event to be encouraging and helpful for aspiring writers of all genres. It’s open to the public with paid admission; pitches to agents can be added for an additional fee.

Incoming

Guitarist-vocalist Johnny Marr, who has found success performing with The Smiths, as a solo artist, and as a guest with a few well known bands, will release the catchy new single “Spin” tomorrow. As noted on his website, the song is a teaser for an upcoming solo album.

An Evening With Steve Dawson, which will celebrate the Chicago-based singer-songwriter’s 35 years of performing, is set to take place on October 11 at Evanston SPACE in Evanston, IL. His Facebook page promises “a few very special guests.” I remember first meeting Dawson and his wife Diane Christiansen back when they performed with the Stump The Host band.

This year’s SummerFest in Milwaukee, WI has concerts taking place tomorrow through June 20; June 25 – 27; and July 2 – 4. Performers include Echo And The Bunnymen; Alejandro Escovedo; Modern English; The Dream Syndicate; The Roots; Kim Gordon; Little Feat; Old 97s; Sons Of The Silent Age; Muse; Spoon; Gin Blossoms; BoDeans; The Jayhawks; Soul Asylum; and Spin Doctors.

The Meadowlark Lemons will showcase songs from their recently released self-titled debut album at Fitzgerald's Sidebar in Berwyn, IL this Friday. The Chicago-based quintet creates a mix of jazz, funk, and soul that’s particularly impressive on “Meet Me At The Sidebar,” “The Laughing Heart,” and “Little Funky Wolf.”

The Telepaths and whitewolfsonicprincess, two Chicago indie rock bands that include singer-guitarist-songwriter James Moeller, will share a double bill at Phyllis’ Musical Inn this Saturday night. The music starts at 9:00 pm, Phyllis’ Musical Inn is located at 1800 W. Division Street.

The folk-rock/acid folk-rock trio Esmerelda’s Boys, which has been picking up gigs on the Chicago club scene since forming last spring, will be part of a double bill with vocalist-guitarist Pierce Crask tomorrow night at Montrose Saloon. Esmerelda’s Boys recently started recording at the Loft Studio in Saline, MI, and expect to release a single some time this summer.