Incoming

The Regrettes, on a hillside.

First, I’d like to thank everyone who sent me birthday greetings on Facebook yesterday. As I stated in a post late last night, it was amazing to hear from such a variety of wonderful people from so many aspects and years of my life. I wish you all the very best.

Today is Mick Jagger’s birthday. He’s one of rock and roll’s the all-time best performers, as well as the perfect inspiration for how to rebound from major surgery at an advanced age. Jagger’s birthday comes a day after mine (I’m somewhat younger), so I’m surprised he’s never thought of us celebrating together. Happy Birthday, Mick.

The Los Angeles-based band The Regrettes, which has recorded three albums of energetic and catchy songs that mix elements of punk with the 1960s girl group sound, will be the main act this Saturday at the Wicker Park Fest. Boise, Idaho indie rockers Built To Spill will be the headline act on Friday night. The fest is on Milwaukee Avenue from Damen to Paulina. Several other acts are scheduled through July 30, and there will be an arts area and food vendors.

A new exhibit titled Tom Petty: Among The Wildflowers is now open at the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention in Gainesville, FL. It offers a 700 square foot collection of artifacts, including some from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and other exclusive memorabilia. Petty fans across the country can stream the 2021 documentary Tom Petty: Somewhere You Feel Free - The Making of Wildflowers on the Tom Petty YouTube Channel.

Various acts will be performing this Saturday from 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm in One Village Circle at the Willow Springs Blues Fest. There will be food vendors, and admission is free.

There’s a four-act showcase coming up this Friday at Montrose Saloon that kicks off with Go Time! at 8:00 pm and winds up at 11:00 pm with The Dyes. In between, The Spindles perform at 9:00 pm and Night Baby goes on at 10:00 pm.

Out Of Space, the four-day summer music festival created by the City of Evanston, radio station WXRT, the SPACE music venue, and Canal Shores Golf Course, opens tomorrow (July 27) with gigs by Dawes, Lucius and Celisse. Lord Huron with Allie Crowe Buckley and Kara Jackson will perform on Friday, and Regina Spektor is the main act on Saturday, preceded by Allison Russell and Elizabeth Moen. Andrew Bird, along with Uwade and Nora O’Connor will wrap up the festival on Sunday, July 30. Check the official website for tickets; some shows are already sold out.

NEO Reunion 2023 takes place at Metro this Saturday night at 7:30 pm. DJ sets by Suzanne Shelton, Jeff Moyer, Rob Kokot, Glenn Russell and others will no doubt bring back found memories of the iconic new wave club that reigned on Clark Street for so many years. 

Phil Angotti And Friends will continue their Beatles Brunch series at City Winery Chicago this Sunday at noon. Doors open at 11:00 pm.

Irish blues singer-guitarist Gráinne Duffy has a gig at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue tomorrow night, along with folk singer Rosa. Cheer-Accident and Outronaut will be there on Friday. On Saturday at Martyrs’, John Mead’s True Believers will perform a mix of acoustic and electric Neil Young songs. Mead will be joined by fellow Chicago music scene veterans Steve Dawson, Tommi Zender, Alton Smith, John Abbey, and Gregg Ostrom.

As noted on Facebook by the esteemed blues radio personality Tom Marker (WJKL, WXRT), Shemekia Copeland has a free performance coming up at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park next Monday July 31, at 6:30 pm. DJ James Porter will do a pre-show.