Although summer doesn’t officially start until three weeks into the month, June always seems to herald the arrival of the season. It’s also one of the busiest months for inside and outside fun and entertainment around much of the globe. I couldn’t begin to capture all the worthwhile events coming in those 30 days, but here are a few suggestions for your consideration. No doubt, I’ll be mentioning more in the coming weeks.
1964 - Eyes Of The Storm, a book of photographs taken by Paul McCartney in the midst of Beatlemania, comes out on June 13. There are bound to be some amazing shots (such as the one above) from his point of view. The collection will also be featured as an exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery in London from June 28 through October 1.
The Chicago Reader, one of the city’s longest-running free publications, will celebrate its annual Best Of Chicago issue with a celebration at Metro and Smart Bar on Thursday, June 1. The VIP version has a 5:30 start time at nearby GMAN Tavern, with the general admission event getting underway at Metro at 7:00 pm. Joseph Chilliams, Dos Santos, Bonita Appleblunt, Lillie West, and Ryan the Person will be performing. A Pride Kickoff afterparty with DJs Rae Chardonnay, Blesstonio, and VITIGRRL at Smartbar at 10 p.m will serve as the grand finale. Tickets for the Best Of Chicago Celebration range from $20 to $125.
Ex Norwegian, a Miami-based band I praised here on various occasions for their knack of mixing power pop, psychedelia, and coed harmonies on their albums, has a new single titled “Real Bad Bunny” coming out via Bandcamp on June 2. Ex Norwegian is one of the numerous acts scheduled for the upcoming International Pop Overthrow - Liverpool festival.
International Pop Overthrow - Liverpool kicked off at The Cavern Club on May 28 and will run through June 4. A quick glance at the schedule shows familiar acts such as Lannie Flowers, the previously mentioned Ex-Norwegian, Dave Rave, The Jeremy Band, Spygenius, and The Len Price 3.
Brian Krumm And His Barfly Friends have a record release show for Krumm’s debut solo effort Just Fade Away on Friday, June 2 at Liar’s Club. His Pravda Records label mates The Handcuffs will also be on the bill, along with North Carolina hard rock/punk band Electric Frankenstein. Liar’s Club is located at 1665 W. Fullerton in Chicago.
The Old Town School Of Folk Music in Chicago will hold its Blue Jean Gala on June 2. St. Paul And The Broken Bones will perform at the event, with an After Party with Funkadesi. A Graham Nash-signed guitar will be among the items auctioned to raise funds for the venue. Participants can also bid on a trip to Ireland, a private concert by Chicago alt rock/Americana band Dolly Varden, and other options. WXRT morning drive air personality Marty Lennartz will host the evening’s festivities.
Personality - The Lloyd Price Musical, which celebrates the impressive work of Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame songwriter (“Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” “Aint It A Shame”), opens at the Studebaker Theater on June 2.
The Spindles, Go Time! and Vinto Van Go must enjoy hanging out together on the Chicago area club scene, because they’re sharing another triple bill on June 3. This time, they’ll be at QBar in Darien, IL.
Rust For Glory, a Neil Young tribute band that’s based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Young’s Harvest album on June 3 at The Broadway in Barking. They’ll be part of the venue’s Neil Young Day festivities, along with the Harvest Time documentary and a presentation by author Daryl Easlea. Admission for all three Neil Young Day events is £36.50.
A Malibu Barbie Cafe pop-up restaurant/store will open on June 7 at a top secret location in Chicago, and tickets ($35 for kids, $50 for adults) are available via bucketlisters.com. The cafe will promote the Barbie film starring Margot Robbie, which is coming out July 21.
On June 10, Amazing Heeby Jeebies vocalist Ary Paloma will celebrate her birthday when the band performs as part of a three-act showcase at Montrose Saloon. The Metalliques and Feral Faucet will also be on the bill. I’m thinking a rockabilly take on “Happy Birthday” will be in order.
The Cure’s 2023 tour will bring them to the United Center in Chicago on June 10. Other dates include New Orleans, Houston, Phoenix, San Diego, Cleveland and Philadelphia.
Tellin’ Tales Theatre’s latest presentation is titled Divercity: Refocusing Disability, and will offer performances by artists, writers, and advocates with disabilities. Directed by founding member Tekki Lomnicki, Divercity: Refocusing Disability will run at the Greenhouse Theater Center on the weekend of June 9 – 11.
The Material Reissue and Frisbie show at Schubas on June 10 will feature Material Reissue original band members Mike Zelenko and Ted Ansani, with Phil Angotti now on lead vocals and guitar. It’ll be a rare opportunity to hear original lead vocalist-guitarist Jim Ellison’s power pop masterpieces in a live setting. Frisbie is closing in on 25 years of creating catchy rock tunes and is best known for its Subversive Sound Of Love and New Debut albums.
June brings three of Chicago’s most prestigious art fairs, with the 57th Street Art Fair on June 3 and 4; the Old Town Art Fair on June 10 and 11; and the Gold Coast Art Fair on June 17 and 18. The Wells Street Art Fair, which adds live music to the mix and aims for a younger crowd, is another summer highlight. It takes place on June 10 and 11.
Congratulations to The Neverly Brothers on 20 years of creating an entertaining hybrid of live music and spoken bits of rock and roll history. They have three gigs coming up in June: Washington Park in Ottawa on June 17; Memorial Park in Wheaton on June 23; and the Orland Hills Community Center on June 24.
Carlos, a new documentary about the life and multiple achievements of legendary guitarist Carlos Santana, will receive its world premiere on June 17 at the Tribeca Festival in New York City. The actual release date for Carlos will be revealed at some point in the future.
The David Bowie World Fan Convention takes place in New York City on June 16, 17, and 18. but tickets are completely sold out. The event features noted Bowie collaborators Carlos Alomar, Tony Visconti, Mike Garson, George Murray and Carmine Rojas.
Things That Fly, the Chicago-based indie rock band led by Heidi Serwer and Karen Salmon, each an accomplished singer-songwriter, has a record-release show for its self-titled EP at Martyrs’ on June 24. The event will benefit the charity organization Common Pantry.
Pete Towshend’s 1980 solo album Empty Glass and his 1977 collaboration with Ronnie Lane Rough Mix will be will be released as half-speed vinyl masters on June 23.
Peter Asher of Peter And Gordon will join Jeremy Clyde of Chad and Jeremy for a performance on June 23 at The Old Town School Of Folk Music in Chicago. They’ll perform the hits their duos scored back in the 1960s, and share memories of that era as well. I’ve seen these guys together and separately in the past, and their sense of humor plays a major part in making their shows so entertaining.
Kate Fagan from the Chicago’s beloved 1980s ska band Heavy Manners, has a solo performance coming up at the Rattleback Records store on June 28. She’ll be performing songs from her recently re-issued and expanded solo album I Don’t Want To Be Too Cool. The evening will include a Question and Answer session, a live performance, and signing.
The triple bill of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Garbage, and Metric is coming to the Huntington Bank Pavilion in Chicago on June 27. It’s part of a two-month American tour that will also visit Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Tampa, Cincinnati, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and other cities.
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