Incoming

Get It Now. Beatles fans were supposed to have been able to buy a DVD or Blu-Ray copy of director Peter Jackson’s critically acclaimed documentary The Beatles: Get Back a few months ago, but due to certain complications, the release date was indefinitely postponed. All those issues seemed to have been worked out, because a new release date of July 12 has been announced. I found out via an email from The Fest For Beatles Fans website, and immediately ordered one. If all goes well, I’ll have my copy in time to watch on my birthday. 

On a related note, Phil Angotti And Friends will present Beatles Love Songs as part of a Beatles Brunch being staged at City Winery Chicago this Sunday. Doors open at 11:00 am and the event starts at noon. General Admission with Brunch is $37; General Admission without Brunch is $12. It looks like Angotti will be back at this venue with more Beatles Brunches on June 26 and July 24.

The Coco And Blu Cafe in Arlington Heights is staging a Trivia And Concert event with live music and trivia next Wednesday, May 25. Admission is $10 and all proceeds will go to help an employee who is undergoing cancer treatment. CoCo and Blu has a cosmopolitan atmosphere and a friendly staff. My wife Pam and I have been regular customers pretty much since it opened a few years ago.  

Tickets are now on sale for a double bill of Smashing Pumpkins and Jane’s Addiction at the United Center on November 5. Smashing Pumpkins will be a month into their Spirits On Fire Tour at that point.

The Chicago Blues Festival takes place on the weekend of June 9 through 12, featuring Shemekia Copeland, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Lil’ Ed and The Blues Imperials, and several other blues acts.

The annual Long Grove Chocolate Festival takes place this Saturday with performances by 1980s tribute band Sixteen Candles and 1990s tribute band How Rude. I hate to think what a 2020s tribute band will be called some day in the future. At any rate, it’s always nice to see events going on in the Long Grove shopping area. The once-bustling retail area has been making a comeback, mostly via popular restaurants and coffee places.

 

Pop Aid, the 3-CD benefit album featuring new and previously unreleased tracks from an international cast of power pop bands, will be coming out soon. The album will support World Central Kitchen’s efforts to feed people in the Ukraine. Thrift Store Halo and The Walkdown are among the Chicago acts taking part, and there will also be contributions from Arvidson And Butterflies; Jamie Hoover; Joey Molland from Badfinger; Jeremy (with Ken Stringfellow); and several other acts. Look for it to be released on Kool Kat Musik.