Slumgullion

Ringo Starr announced today that he has a new four-song EP, titled EP3 coming out this fall. It will be available to stream on September 16, with the CD, cassette, and vinyl to appear soon afterward.

 As reported by Darel Jevens recently in the Chicago Sun-Times, the 30,000 sq.-ft. Harry Potter: Magic At Play interactive exhibition will open on November 11 at Water Tower Place on Michigan Avenue. Tickets will go on sale August 3. I can think of several members of the writers group I’ve belonged to who will definitely be checking this out.

Lollapalooza opened in Grant Park yesterday and will run through Sunday. Acts scheduled to perform tomorrow and Sunday include Coin; Willow; Charli XCX; Horsegirl; Beach Bunny; Banks; Måneskin, Porno For Pyros; and Green Day.

The Black Excellence Music Expo, featuring Nola Ade, Naglaa; Timmy F., Jana Ghee, and Graphics. will take place at the Promontory on August 3.

Red Door Community has announced the acts who will participate in its eighth annual 

Ten Bands One Cause initiative on October 28. As noted on its website, Red Door provides support for people who have been diagnosed with cancer, as well as their caretakers. Nas, The Black Keys, Colter Wall, The Allman Brothers, Judah & The Lion, Senses Fail, The Bangles, Turnpike Troubadours, Jungle Fire and BADBADNOTGOOD will each re-release one of their albums on pink vinyl to raise money to help Red Door with its mission.

 

The always reliable and fascinating website The Second Disc recently reported The Kinks plan to release a 6LP/4CD/1BD box that combines remastered versions of their early 1970s albums Muswell Hillbillies and Everybody’s In Show-Biz. The albums will also be available in various CD and LP combinations and in digital format. All the variations are available for preorder on Amazon.

As noted in an article by Stephanie Casanova and Gavin Good in today’s Chicago Tribune, the Together And Together Again benefit staged by Smashing Pumpkins founder Billy Corgan at his Madame Zulu’s Cafe in Highland Park this past Wednesday brought in $58,827 for Highland Park Community Foundation’s July 4th Shooting Response Fund. Performers included Corgan and his Smashing Pumpkins mate Jimmy Chamberlin, as well as special guests.

 

I witnessed an astounding set by Sonic45 last night at the Hey Nonny venue in Arlington Heights. The band is led by Len Kasper, who along with having announced White Sox and Cubs games, plays bass and writes songs. Lead vocalist Matt Spiegel likewise combines sports with performing; and the other members (Dag Juhlin, Gerald Dowd, Liam Davis) are all Chicago music scene veterans. In addition to playing songs from their impressive debut Space And Time, Sonic45 unveiled several new compositions at Hey Nonny that proved their songs just keep getting better and better.

U2 will be the first act to perform at the 17,500-capacity MSG Sphere venue when it opens in Las Vegas at some point in 2023. It’s been noted online that the MSG Sphere will have the largest LED screen in the world.

Chicago-based power pop band The Spindles and Go Time! will combine with Americana/pop band Falling Stars for a potent triple bill at Montrose Saloon on August 20.

The critically acclaimed and popular FitzGerald’s venue will hold its 2nd Annual Berwyn Blues Festival, with headliners Ruthie Foster, JDF McPherson, and Cedric Burnside on the weekend of September 23 – 25.

Chicago lost another star from its rock music legacy with the passing of Jimy Sohns from The Shadows Of Knight. For those of us who first encountered the band’s version of Them’s “Gloria” back when it first climbed the WLS and WCFL charts, it will always have an important place in our memories. My deepest sympathy to his family and the countless friends he made over the decades.