Saturday Slumgullion

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

If you detect a new computer smell coming from this post, it’s because I recently bought a new Mac Mini. It’s not fully operational yet, but I have to thank my wife Pam for getting it up and running. Without her help, I would have been distributing Broken Hearted Toy via a mimeographed sheets these past 15 years.

Australia’s adventurous and frequently humorous garage rock band Hoodoo Gurus will visit London for a single concert on September 28 at the Electric Ballroom in Camden Town. Girlband, a Nottingham, UK alt rock trio that sounds pretty cool judging from their Facebook page, will be the opening act.

The lineup for this year’s Riot Fest, which will take place September 18 – 20 at Douglass Park in Chicago, was announced earlier this week. Participating acts include Alanis Morissette; Social Distortion; Morrissey; Iggy Pop; Elvis Costello; Pixies; Patti Smith And Her Band; and Sugar. Tickets are available on the official website. 

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.

You know summer is on the way when bands start booking shows on the Chicago riverfront. EXPO ’76, the eclectic covers band that brings plenty of fun regardless of the season, will perform next Thursday at Riverwalk Tiny Tap in downtown Chicago. Two days later, EXPO ’76 will perform at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL.

Jack White will start touring today and keep at it through November 21. The tour is a mixed bag of European and American gigs, including Washington, D.C. on July 10; and Chicago on July 23 and 24. Several of these global concerts are sold out.

As recently noted by Chicago Sun-Times staff reporter Kaitlin Washburn, the people at Lollapalooza have donated $1.1 million to Chicago public schools to help expand art education programming. That’s certainly worth a standing ovation. 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.

Joe Algeri and Paul Colombini of the Australian power pop band The Outryders are on the verge of releasing their first album in a few years. The new songs will also feature Illinois native, bass player Herb Eimerman, who has worked with Algeri on several projects, thanks to modern recording technology.

Liz Phair and Sleater-Kinney, women performers who first found fame in the 1990s and have been successful ever since, will join together for The Flannel and the Fury Tour this fall. They’ll perform at The Salt Shed Fairgrounds in Chicago on September 17; other stops on the tour include Los Angeles; Denver; Brooklyn; Philadelphia, and Boston. 

Phil Angotti And Friends have performed a number of Beatles Brunches around the Chicago area and they have another one coming up on June 7 at FitzGerald’s On The Patio in Berwyn, IL.

The Rolling Stones recently announced their new album Foreign Tongues, which is due out on July 10, can now 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.

As announced by the Chicago-based, multifaceted writer Mark Guarino in a recent Facebook post, the Souvenirs - 80 Years Of John Prine four-day event will kick off October 8 at the Chicago Theatre. Members of Prine’s band will perform, along with Steve Earle; Ratboys; Jon Langford; Kathleen Edwards; Alynda Segarra; Amos Lee; Shemekia Copeland; Josh Ritter; Margo Price; and The Cactus Blossoms. Actor John C. Reilly will serve as host. All proceeds from Souvenirs will benefit the Prine-inspired Hello In There Foundation.

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.

A remastered seven-inch vinyl single of “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” by The Clash, with “Straight To Hell” on the B-side, will be available from various sites starting on June 12.

SOLSTICE, which is being described as “A Festival Where Nature Is Not The Backdrop, But The Headliner,” is coming June 19 – 22 to Trematon Castle in Cornwall, England. As noted on the SOLSTICE website, the event will offer live music, dialogue, and workshops centered on the concept of “what a truly nature-centric culture could look like.” Performers include Anna B Savage; Alexis Taylor; Boss Morris; and Chapel Of (Nature) Love. Andy Bell and Deb Grant are among the DJs scheduled.

Mike Campbell And The Dirty Knobs are coming to The Vic in Chicago on July 9 with special guest Sarah Lee Guthrie. It’s the second date on an upcoming tour that starts two days earlier in Minneapolis. The band has a new album titled Mission Of Mercy coming out on June 12.

Toronto indie rock band Metric will kick off a tour with Broken Social Scene and Stars on June 8 in Austin, TX. Metric will be promoting its 10th album Romanticize The Drive. Other cities include Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago (July 24 at Aragon Ballroom), Boston, Philadelphia, and New York.

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.”

Chicago indie rock band The Handcuffs have a series of live performances scheduled for the next few months. They’ll be at the Metro Jam Festival with Sonny Landreth in Manitowoc, WI on June 20; Summerfest (as Kim Gordon’s opening act) in Milwaukee, WI on June 25; Mary’s Place in Rockford, IL on June 27; Evanston SPACE with whitewolfsonicprincess on July 28; and PravdaFest at FitzGerald's in Berwyn, IL on September 12. As posted on Facebook today, The Handcuffs have recorded two new songs in the studio for a picture sleeve single to be released some time this summer.

A new music documentary titled Peter Asher Everywhere Man explores the multi-decade career of the English musician and producer. Several major stars are featured in the film, including James Taylor; Linda Ronstadt; Carole King; Paul McCartney; and Robin Williams. Peter Asher Everywhere Man will be shown in select theaters on June 19.

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.

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.

Billy Idol must have enjoyed his 2025 It’s A Nice Day To . . . Tour Again! gigs because he’s scheduled some 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.

Best wishes for a Happy Birthday to musician/journalist/publisher Tim Thomas. I’ve been buying issues of his sporadically released Pittsburgh-based rock and roll zine Secret Scene for a few years now. Issues are available via the Secret Scene Bandcamp page.

As noted in the CELEBRITIES column in today’s Chicago Tribune, rhythm and blues vocalist Gladys Knight and Creedence Clearwater Revival vocalist-guitarist John Fogerty were also born on this date. Best wishes for a splendid day to Gladys and John, and congratulations on those amazing careers.

Paul McCartney’s latest album, The Boys Of Dungeon Lane, an introspective look at his earliest days with The Beatles, will be released tomorrow. In related news, a Paul McCartney And Wings exhibit recently opened on at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland, OH.

Rattleback Records, a definitely cool store on Chicago’s far north side, has a three-act showcase of garage rockers Tuff Sudz, power pop/rock quartet A.M. Slingers, and former The M’s leader Josh Chicoine’s new band Cult Canyon coming up tomorrow at the Burlington Bar. A.M. Slingers will be celebrating the release of their second album To The Nines; and Cult Canyon recently released their Smoke Tricks album. Burlington Bar is located at 3425 W. Fullerton. 

Crawlspace Of The Pantheon, the latest album from Dayton, OH indie rock band Guided By Voices, will also be released tomorrow. Judging from their official website, there are no immediate plans to tour.

A four-act showcase at Montrose Saloon tomorrow will feature The 321’s; Bellevue Holiday; Means Of Production; and Ride The Lightning. The rocking starts at 7:30 pm. Montrose Saloon is located at 2933 W. Montrose on Chicago’s north side.

The Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival kicks off tonight in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, Ireland and will run through this through Sunday. According to the official website, the event will feature “Big Top Concerts each night as well as 30 Hours of Open Air Free Gigs on the Rockin’ Streets of Ballyshannon Co.”

This Sunday, City Winery Chicago will present the Highway Dream: 50 Years Of Tom Petty Brunch. It’s being staged by PureSoul, which has brought several tributes to famous acts to venues around the Chicago area. The music starts at noon.

International Pop Overthrow - Liverpool 2026 kicked off last Sunday and will run through through this Sunday at The Cavern Pub and The Cavern Club in The Beatles’ hometown of Liverpool. The official International Pop Overthrow website has the entire Liverpool 2026 schedule; with links for most of the acts who’ll be performing. For a personal touch, check out the video clips of some of the participating acts on the IPO founder David Bash’s Facebook page.

The Chicago-based, freewheeling covers band EXPO ’76 will perform tomorrow at Fuller’s Pub. EXPO ’76 has released an official album, titled Hot In The Dark, that reflects the variety of styles this band covers, and it’s available to purchase on their website. Fuller’s Pub is located at 3205 W Irving Park Road on Chicago’s north side.

Congratulations to The Zombies’ lead vocalist Colin Blunstone on the success of his UK Believe In Miracles Tour, which wraps up tonight with a show in London.

Monty Python’s The Holy Grail will continue its run through this Sunday at the CIBC Theatre in downtown Chicago.

The Ivy - Traces Of You - 2026 Tour, named after a 2025 album of previously unreleased Ivy songs recorded by band members Adam Schlesinger, Andy Chase, and Dominique Durand between 1995 and 2012, comes to the Schellraiser Humboldt Hideaway venue in Wells, NV this Saturday. Sadly, we lost Adam Schlesinger to COVID-19 in 2020.

Incoming

Paul McCartney’s latest album The Boys Of Dungeon Lane, which judging from the first single “Days We Left Behind,” offers an introspective look at his earliest days with The Beatles, will be released this Friday. As noted on the official Paul McCartney Facebook page, record stores around the globe will stage listening events a day earlier. In related news, a Paul McCartney And Wings exhibit recently opened on at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland, OH.

Happy Birthday to Ralph Covert, the versatile singer-guitarist who has led the Chicago-based band The Bad Examples for several years now. His clever and catchy songs often call to mind the music of Squeeze. Covert has also found extensive success as the creator of children’s rock music via Ralph’s World.

The Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival kicks off this Thursday in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, Ireland and will run through this through Sunday. According to the official website, the event will feature “Big Top Concerts each night as well as 30 Hours of Open Air Free Gigs on the Rockin’ Streets of Ballyshannon Co.”

Rattleback Records, a definitely cool store on Chicago’s far north side, has a three-act showcase of garage rockers Tuff Sudz, power pop/rock quartet A.M. Slingers, and former The M’s leader Josh Chicoine’s new band Cult Canyon coming up this Friday at the Burlington Bar. A.M. Slingers will be celebrating the release of their second album To The Nines; and Cult Canyon recently released their Smoke Tricks album. Burlington Bar is located at 3425 W. Fullerton.

International Pop Overthrow - Liverpool 2026 kicked off yesterday and will run through through this Sunday at The Cavern Pub and The Cavern Club in The Beatles’ hometown. Dozens of acts are scheduled to perform, including long-time IPO world travelers Dave Rave and The Jeremy Band. The official International Pop Overthrow website has the entire Liverpool 2026 schedule; with links for most of the acts who’ll be performing. For a personal touch, check out the video clips of some of the participating acts on the IPO founder David Bash’s Facebook page.

A four-act showcase at Montrose Saloon this Friday will feature The 321’s; Bellevue Holiday; Means Of Production; and Ride The Lightning. The rocking starts at 7:30 pm. Montrose Saloon is located at 2933 W. Montrose on Chicago’s north side.

The Zombies’ lead vocalist Colin Blunstone still draws rave reviews 60+ years after the band emerged from the British Invasion scene. He’s likely finding more critical acclaim during his UK Believe In Miracles Tour, which will wrap up this week with shows in Wimborne tomorrow; Worthing on Wednesday; and London Thursday.

This Sunday, City Winery Chicago will present the Highway Dream: 50 Years Of Tom Petty Brunch. This is a PureSoul event, and will start at noon. PureSoul has staged many tributes to famous acts at venues in the Chicago area.

The Ivy - Traces Of You - 2026 Tour, named after a 2025 album of previously unreleased Ivy songs recorded by band members Adam Schlesinger, Andy Chase, and Dominique Durand between 1995 and 2012, comes to the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles this Wednesday; and the Schellraiser Humboldt Hideaway venue in Wells, NV on Saturday. Sadly, we lost Adam Schlesinger to COVID-19 in 2020.

Chicago-based singer-songwriter AJ Rosales has a performance coming up at the Friendly Bar in Berwyn, IL tomorrow. The show is part of the Friendly Community Songwriter Series, and will include Rosales introducing new material that wasn’t on his Phasedrift album or earlier releases. The music starts at 7:00 pm, and there is no cover charge.

Monty Python’s The Holy Grail will continue its run through this Sunday at the CIBC Theatre in downtown Chicago.

The Chicago-based, freewheeling covers band EXPO ’76 will perform this Friday at Fuller’s Pub. EXPO ’76 has released an official album, titled Hot In The Dark, that reflects the variety of styles this band covers, and it’s available to purchase on their website. Fuller’s Pub is located at 3205 W Irving Park Road on Chicago’s north side.

Slumgullion

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

The Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival being held in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, Ireland from May 28 through 31 will feature “Big Top Concerts each night as well as 30 Hours of Open Air Free Gigs on the Rockin’ Streets of Ballyshannon Co.”

As noted by Chicago Sun-Times staff reporter Kaitlin Washburn in this past Monday’s edition, the people at Lollapalooza have donated $1.1 million to Chicago public schools to help expand art education programming. That’s certainly worth a standing ovation. 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.

Happy Birthday to musician-artist-promoter Jonathan Lea. I first came across his band The Jigsaw Seen on various artists tribute albums to The Bee Gees, Henry Mancini, The Hollies, and The Left Banke. The group also did well on its own albums of original material, and Lea would later tour with Dave Davies from The Kinks. He’s more recently recorded with the all-star band Tall Poppy Syndrome, and has worked with Carla Olson from The Textones and Allan Clarke from The Hollies.

Rattleback Records, a definitely cool store on Chicago’s far north side, has a three-act showcase of garage rockers Tuff Sudz, power pop/rock quartet A.M. Slingers, and former The M’s leader Josh Chicoine’s new band Cult Canyon coming up on May 29 at the Burlington Bar. A.M. Slingers will be celebrating the release of their second album To The Nines; and Cult Canyon recently released their Smoke Tricks album. Burlington Bar is located at 3425 W. Fullerton.

Joe Algeri and Paul Colombini of the Australian power pop band The Outryders are on the verge of releasing their first album in a few years. The new songs will also feature Illinois native, bass player Herb Eimerman, who has worked with Algeri on several projects, thanks to modern recording technology.

Phil Yates of Chicago-based power pop band Phil Yates And The Affiliates has a solo gig coming up at Uncommon Ground - Lakeview on June 6. The Transference and Joe Dilillo are also on the bill that night.

Liz Phair and Sleater-Kinney, women performers who first found fame in the 1990s and have been successful ever since, will join together for The Flannel and the Fury Tour this fall. They’ll perform at The Salt Shed Fairgrounds in Chicago on September 17; other stops on the tour include Los Angeles; Denver; Brooklyn; Philadelphia, and Boston.

Phil Angotti And Friends have performed a number of Beatles Brunches around the Chicago area and they have another one coming up on June 7 at FitzGerald’s On The Patio in Berwyn, IL.

The Rolling Stones recently announced that their new album Foreign Tongues, which is due out on July 10, can now 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.

Chicago-based singer-songwriter AJ Rosales has a performance coming up at the Friendly Bar in Berwyn, IL on May 26. The show is part of the Friendly Community Songwriter Series, and will include Rosales introducing new material that wasn’t on his Phasedrift album or earlier releases. The music starts at 7:00 pm, and there is no cover charge.

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.

As announced by the Chicago-based, multifaceted writer Mark Guarino in a recent Facebook post, the Souvenirs - 80 Years Of John Prine four-day event will kick off October 8 at the Chicago Theatre. Members of Prine’s band will perform, along with Steve Earle; Ratboys; Jon Langford; Kathleen Edwards; Alynda Segarra; Amos Lee; Shemekia Copeland; Josh Ritter; Margo Price; and The Cactus Blossoms. Actor John C. Reilly will serve as host. All proceeds from Souvenirs will benefit the Prine-inspired Hello In There Foundation.

A remastered seven-inch vinyl single of “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” by The Clash, with “Straight To Hell” on the B-side, will be available from various sites starting on June 12.

Congratulations to rock and roll legend Patti Smith on being chosen as the winner of this year’s Harold Washington Literary Award. As noted in Rick Kogan’s article in a recent issue of the Chicago Tribune, the award will be presented to Smith in Chicago on September 10. Her latest book, Bread Of Angels: A Memoir was published last year.

SOLSTICE, which is being described as “A Festival Where Nature Is Not The Backdrop, But The Headliner,” is coming June 19 – 22 to Trematon Castle in Cornwall, England. As noted on the SOLSTICE website, the event will offer live music, dialogue, and workshops centered on the concept of “what a truly nature-centric culture could look like.” Performers include Anna B Savage; Alexis Taylor; Boss Morris; and Chapel Of (Nature) Love. Andy Bell and Deb Grant are among the DJs scheduled.

Chicago-based power trio Triple will be in the middle of a three-act showcase at Liar’s on Chicago’s north side on June 5. Woolworthy gets things rocking at 9:00 pm, followed by Triple at 10:00 pm, and Panther Style at 11:00. Liar’s is located at 1665 W. Fullerton.

Mike Campbell And The Dirty Knobs are coming to The Vic in Chicago on July 9 with special guest Sarah Lee Guthrie. It’s the second date on an upcoming tour that starts two days earlier in Minneapolis. The band has a new album titled Mission Of Mercy coming out on June 12.

International Pop Overthrow regulars (in Chicago and elsewhere) Kerosene Stars will share a triple bill with Kenneth Scott Peters and Lonefeather at the Dan Electro’s venue in Houston, TX on June 6. Kerosene Stars have been releasing power pop albums since their 2014 self-titled effort.

Veteran Chicago band The Claudettes, whose adventurous music challenges critics as well fans to slap a label on it, will release their next album, Garage Glamour, on Pravda Records on June 5.

Toronto indie rock band Metric will kick off a tour with Broken Social Scene and Stars on June 8 in Austin, TX. Metric will be promoting its 10th album Romanticize The Drive. Other cities include Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago (July 24 at Aragon Ballroom), Boston, Philadelphia, and New York.

Montrose Saloon has a Power Pop On Stage event coming on June 7 that will feature The Unswept, Dolph Chaney And The Phins, and Andy Bopp. The music starts at 6:00 pm.

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.”

Chicago indie rock band The Handcuffs have a series of live performances scheduled for the next few months. They’ll be at the Metro Jam Festival with Sonny Landreth in Manitowoc, WI on June 20; Summerfest (as Kim Gordon’s opening act) in Milwaukee, WI on June 25; Mary’s Place in Rockford, IL on June 27; Evanston SPACE with whitewolfsonicprincess on July 28; and PravdaFest at FitzGerald's in Berwyn, IL on September 12. As posted on Facebook today, The Handcuffs have recorded two new songs in the studio for a picture sleeve single to be released some time this summer.

A new music documentary titled Peter Asher Everywhere Man explores the multi-decade career of the English musician and producer. Several major stars are featured in the film, including James Taylor; Linda Ronstadt; Carole King; Paul McCartney; and Robin Williams. Peter Asher Everywhere Man will be shown in select theaters on June 19.

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.

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.

International Pop Overthrow - Liverpool 2026 will kick this Sunday and run through through the following Sunday at The Cavern Pub and The Cavern Club. Dozens of acts are scheduled to perform, including long-time IPO world travelers Dave Rave and The Jeremy Band. The official International Pop Overthrow website has the entire Liverpool 2026 schedule; with links for most of the acts who’ll be performing. It’s a great way to discover new music, especially when the act has a Bandcamp page.

Two good local bands for the price of nothing. The Webstirs (9:00 pm) and The Imperial Sound with Rachel Drew (10:00 pm) will perform this Saturday night at FitzGerald’s Side Bar in Berwyn, IL. Admission is free. In related news, The Imperial Sound’s energetic new single titled “Coming Out To Fid You” is available to download on Bandcamp.

The Forever Mine Festival, taking place from noon to 10:00 pm this Saturday and Sunday in Union Park, will honor Chicago’s essential role in house and rhythm and blues music. Headline acts for the all-ages event include Keyshia Cole; Kelly Rowland; Kaytranada; and Shaggy. See the official website for the full lineup.

The Zombies’ lead vocalist Colin Blunstone still draws rave reviews 60+ years after the band emerged from the British Invasion scene. He’ll likely find more critical acclaim during his UK Believe In Miracles Tour, which continues this weekend with shows in Bristol tomorrow; Cardiff on Saturday; and Coventry on Sunday. The tour runs through May 28.

The Chris Greene Quartet will no doubt perform songs from their new Pravda Records album Conversance as they celebrate their 21st anniversary this Sunday at Evanston SPACE. A recent Facebook post states that general admission tickets are almost sold out.

Joe Shanahan, who’s been running the Chicago venue Metro for several years, is also an adventurous DJ. He’ll be spin funk, punk, and soul songs during his all-vinyl set at GMan Tavern this Saturday from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. And he says we should bring all our friends.

Avid record collectors in the northwest Illinois suburbs can now show off their favorite acquisitions before a live audience. The Hey Nonny venue in Arlington Heights recently started a New Vinyl Fridays series in which participants can sign up at 8:30, and hear their album played at some point after 9:30. As a recent Hey Nonny email noted, “You provide the record, we provide the player.”

Thrift Store Halo and The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club, two bands well known in Chicago for bringing catchy rock to their club appearances and albums, will perform this Saturday at Reggies just south of downtown. Levee District, who describe their approach as “Pure Power Pop from Chicago's saloons, brothels, key clubs, and late night dives” are also on the bill that night.

Music On Stage, which has been staging plays in Palatine, IL for some time now, will wrap up its performances of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! this Sunday at Cutting Hall. Billed as “freely adapted from Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist,” the musical features book, music, and lyrics by Lionel Bart. Cutting Hall is located at 150 E. Wood Street in Palatine.

Incoming

Here’s a hearty Chicago welcome to Joe Jackson, who’s in town as part of his 2026 North America Tour in support of his new album Hope And Fury. Jackson will perform at Park West tomorrow and Wednesday.

The Forever Mine Festival, taking place from noon to 10:00 pm this Saturday and Sunday in Union Park, will honor Chicago’s essential role in house and rhythm and blues music. Headline acts for the all-ages event include Keyshia Cole; Kelly Rowland; Kaytranada; and Shaggy. See the official website for the full lineup.

Rattleback Records, a definitely cool store on Chicago’s far north side, has a three-act showcase of garage rockers Tuff Sudz, power pop/rock quartet A.M. Slingers, and former The M’s leader Josh Chicoine’s new band Cult Canyon coming up on May 29 at the Burlington Bar. A.M. Slingers will be celebrating the release of their second album To The Nines; and Cult Canyon recently released their Smoke Tricks album. Burlington Bar is located at 3425 W. Fullerton.

The Zombies’ lead vocalist Colin Blunstone still draws rave reviews 60+ years after the band emerged from the British Invasion scene. He’ll likely find more critical acclaim during his UK Believe In Miracles Tour, which continues this week with shows in Lytham; Leeds; Bristol; and Coventry. The tour runs through May 28.

International Pop Overthrow - Liverpool 2026 will kick off this Sunday and run through through the following Sunday at The Cavern Pub and The Cavern Club. Dozens of acts are scheduled to perform, including long-time IPO world travelers Dave Rave and The Jeremy Band. The official International Pop Overthrow website has the entire Liverpool 2026 schedule; with links for most of the acts who’ll be performing. It’s a great way to discover new music, especially when the act has a Bandcamp page.

Chicago-based singer-songwriter AJ Rosales has a performance coming up at the Friendly Bar in Berwyn, IL on May 26. The show is part of the Friendly Community Songwriter Series, and will include Rosales introducing new material that wasn’t on his Phasedrift album or earlier releases. The music starts at 7:00 pm, and there is no cover charge.

Thrift Store Halo and The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club, two bands well known in Chicago for bringing catchy rock to their club appearances and albums, will perform this Saturday at Reggies just south of downtown. Levee District, who describe their approach as “Pure Power Pop from Chicago's saloons, brothels, key clubs, and late night dives” are also on the bill that night.

Joe Algeri and Paul Colombini of the Australian power pop band The Outryders are on the verge of releasing their first album in a few years. The new songs will also feature Illinois native, bass player Herb Eimerman, who has worked with Algeri on several projects, thanks to modern recording technology.

The Webstirs (9:00 pm) and The Imperial Sound with Rachel Drew (10:00 pm) will share a double bill this Saturday night at FitzGerald’s Side Bar in Berwyn, IL. Admission is free.

Singer-guitarist Phil Angotti, who’s known for his rock and roll tribute shows around the Chicago club scene, will celebrate Pete Townshed’s birthday a day late at Montrose Saloon this Wednesday. The music starts at 8:00 pm. Looking a few weeks ahead, Phil Angotti and Friends have a Beatles Brunch at FitzGerald’s On The Patio in Berwyn, IL on June 7.

The Ivy - Traces Of You - 2026 Tour, named after a 2025 album of previously unreleased Ivy songs recorded by band members Adam Schlesinger, Andy Chase, and Dominique Durand between 1995 and 2012, comes to Sony Hall in New York City this Thursday. Hopefully, the current version of Ivy will also perform songs from the band’s studio albums, such as Long Distance; guestroom; and realistic. The other venues on the Traces Of You Tour are the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles on May 27; and the Schellraiser Humboldt Hideaway venue in Wells, NV on May 30. Sadly, we lost Adam Schlesinger to COVID-19 in 2020.

Phil Yates of Chicago-based power pop band Phil Yates And The Affiliates has a solo gig coming up at Uncommon Ground - Lakeview on June 6. The Transference and Joe Dilillo are also on the bill that night.

Music On Stage, which has been staging plays in Palatine, IL for some time now, will perform Lionel Bart’s Oliver! starting this Saturday and running through May 24 at Cutting Hall. Billed as “freely adapted from Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist,” the musical features book, music, and lyrics by Lionel Bart. Cutting Hall is located at 150 E. Wood Street in Palatine.

Monty Python’s The Holy Grail will continue its run through May 31 at the CIBC Theatre in downtown Chicago.

Slumgullion

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

As announced by the Chicago-based, multifaceted writer Mark Guarino in a recent Facebook post, the Souvenirs - 80 Years Of John Prine four-day event will kick off October 8 at the Chicago Theatre. Members of Prine’s band will perform, along with Steve Earle; Ratboys; Jon Langford; Kathleen Edwards; Alynda Segarra; Amos Lee; Shemekia Copeland; Josh Ritter; Margo Price; and The Cactus Blossoms. Actor John C. Reilly will serve as host. All proceeds from Souvenirs will benefit the Prine-inspired Hello In There Foundation.

Avid record collectors in the northwest Illinois suburbs can now show off their favorite acquisitions before a live audience. The Hey Nonny venue in Arlington Heights recently started a New Vinyl Fridays series in which participants can sign up at 8:30, and hear their album played at some point after 9:30.  As a recent Hey Nonny email noted, “You provide the record, we provide the player.”

Liz Phair and Sleater-Kinney, women performers who first found fame in the 1990s and have been successful ever since, will join together for The Flannel and the Fury Tour this fall. They’ll perform at The Salt Shed Fairgrounds in Chicago on September 17; other stops on the tour include Los Angeles; Denver; Brooklyn; Philadelphia, and Boston.

Long-time entertainment writer Mark Caro (Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, etc.) has talked with several rock musicians on his Caropop podcast, and recently started making those interviews available on his YouTube channel, as well as on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The latest edition features an entertaining and informative two-part interview with XTC member Dave Gregory about the band’s 1982 American tour difficulties, and the recently released album XTC- Live Boots (Emerald City, Cherry Hill, New Jersey 17th April 1981).

The Rolling Stones recently announced that their new album Foreign Tongues, which is due out on July 10, can now 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.

Singer-guitarist Phil Angotti, who’s admired for his original material as well as rock and roll tribute shows around the Chicago club scene, will celebrate Pete Townshend’s birthday a day late at Montrose Saloon next Wednesday, May 20. The music starts at 8:00 pm.

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.

A four-act showcase at Montrose Saloon on May 29 will feature The 321’s; Bellevue Holiday; Means Of Production; and Ride The Lightning. The rocking starts at 7:30 pm. Montrose Saloon is located at 2933 W. Montrose on Chicago’s north side.

A remastered seven-inch vinyl single of “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” by The Clash, with “Straight To Hell” on the B-side, will be available from various sites starting on June 12.

Congratulations to rock and roll legend Patti Smith on being chosen as the winner of this year’s Harold Washington Literary Award. As noted in Rick Kogan’s article in this past Wednesday’s Chicago Tribune, the award will be presented to Smith in Chicago on September 10. Her latest book, Bread Of Angels: A Memoir was published last year.

Joe Jackson’s 2026 North America Tour in support of his new album Hope And Fury kicked off on May 11 in Poughkeepsie, NY, and will include dates at Park West in Chicago on May 19 and 20.

SOLSTICE, which is being described as “A Festival Where Nature Is Not The Backdrop, But The Headliner,” is coming June 19 – 22 to Trematon Castle in Cornwall, England. As noted on the SOLSTICE website, the event will offer live music, dialogue, and workshops centered on the concept of “what a truly nature-centric culture could look like.” Performers include Anna B Savage; Alexis Taylor; Boss Morris; and Chapel Of (Nature) Love. Andy Bell and Deb Grant are among the DJs scheduled. 

Tickets are now available for the May 19 – 31 performances of Monty Python’s The Holy Grail at the CIBC Theatre in downtown Chicago. 

Chicago-based power trio Triple will be in the middle of a three-act showcase at Liar’s on Chicago’s north side on June 5. Woolworthy gets things rocking at 9:00 pm, followed by Triple at 10:00 pm, and Panther Style at 11:00. Liar’s is located at 1665 W. Fullerton.

Bring us back some souvenirs. International Pop Overthrow - Liverpool will run from May 24 through May 31 at The Cavern Club, with dozens of acts scheduled to perform. Two of them—Who’s This Mary and Phil Yates And The Affiliates— are from Chicago, and The Incurables are from Detroit. All three recently performed at International Pop Overthrow - Chicago.

If you check out the official International Pop Overthrow website, you’ll find the entire Liverpool 2026 schedule; with links for most of the acts who’ll be performing. It’s a great way to discover new music, especially when the act has a Bandcamp page.

International Pop Overthrow regulars (in Chicago and elsewhere) Kerosene Stars will share a triple bill with Kenneth Scott Peters and Lonefeather at the Dan Electro’s venue in Houston, TX on June 6. Kerosene Stars have been releasing power pop albums since their 2014 self-titled effort.

Mike Campbell And The Dirty Knobs are coming to The Vic in Chicago on July 9 with special guest Sarah Lee Guthrie. It’s the second date on an upcoming tour that starts two days earlier in Minneapolis. The band has a new album titled Mission Of Mercy coming out on June 12.

Veteran Chicago band The Claudettes, whose adventurous music challenges critics as well fans to slap a label on it, will release their next album, Garage Glamour, on Pravda Records on June 5.

The Zombies’ lead vocalist Colin Blunstone still draws rave reviews 60+ years after the band emerged from the original British Invasion scene. He’ll likely find more critical acclaim during his UK Believe In Miracles Tour, which run through May 28.

Montrose Saloon has a Power Pop On Stage event coming on June 7 that will feature The Unswept, Dolph Chaney And The Phins, and Andy Bopp. The music starts at 6:00 pm.

Kinks fans who collect picture sleeve 45 rpm records are in for a treat. The band’s official Facebook page recently announced they’ll mark the 60th anniversary of their hit single “Sunny Afternoon” with a “sunshine coloured” seven-inch limited edition due out in June. The B-Side will be “I’m Not Like Everybody Else.”

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.”

Chicago indie rock band The Handcuffs have a series of live performances scheduled for the next few months. They’ll be at the Metro Jam Festival with Sonny Landreth in Manitowoc, WI on June 20; Summerfest (as Kim Gordon’s opening act) in Milwaukee, WI on June 25; Mary’s Place in Rockford, IL on June 27; Evanston SPACE with whitewolfsonicprincess on July 28; and PravdaFest at FitzGerald's in Berwyn, IL on September 12. As posted on Facebook today, The Handcuffs have recorded two new songs in the studio for a picture sleeve single to be released some time this summer.

A new music documentary titled Peter Asher Everywhere Man explores the multi-decade career of the English musician and producer. Several major stars are featured in the film, including James Taylor; Linda Ronstadt; Carole King; Paul McCartney; and Robin Williams. Peter Asher Everywhere Man will be shown in select theaters on June 19.

Theater Of The Mind, the imaginative adventure crafted by David Byrne from Talking Heads and writer Mala Gaonkar, has been extended through July 12 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.

Metric’s 10th album Romanticize The Drive dropped last Friday, and the Toronto indie rock band’s upcoming tour with Broken Social Scene and Stars kicks off on June 8 in Austin, TX. Other cities include Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago (July 24 at Aragon Ballroom), Boston, Philadelphia, and New York.