U2 has partnered with Fandiem to give people a chance to win a trip to meet the band at the high-tech venue Sphere in Las Vegas by making a donation to The Farmlink Project. The charity organization strives to keep fresh food from being dumped in trash bins and bring it to those who desperately need it. U2’s involvement in this effort comes as no surprise to those of us who’ve read Bono’s Surrender memoir, which describes his lifelong involvement with worthy causes.
Androgynous Mustache, a local collective of musicians that has been behind several impressive tribute shows, will bring their annual Warren Zevon Tribute show to SPACE in Evanston next Wednesday, January 24. Zevon fans should check out the January issue of the Brit rock magazine MOJO for writer Bob Mehr’s eight-page article on him, as well as photographer Aaron Rapaport’s numerous photos.
Cheap Trick will be the headline act the International Beatles On The Beach festival taking place at the Delray Beach Amphitheater in Delray Beach, FL January 24 – 28. Other performers include The Fab Faux; Gregg Bissonette; and The Weeklings.
Over the years, fans of WXRT have admired not only the music its DJs play, but also how often the songs flow together so smoothly. Now the Chicago FM radio station is inviting listeners to flaunt their own segue skills by submitting a five-song set to be played as part of a Select-A-Set Weekend starting February 9. Playlists can be submitted via WXRT’s website. As someone who has created and still has over 100 mixed cassettes, as well as well as over 40 various-artists playlists on iTunes, I find this opportunity particularly enticing.
There will be an all-star tribute to Sinead O’Connor and Shane McGowan of The Pogues at Carnegie Hall in New York on March 20. David Gray, Cat Power, Glen Hansard, Amanda Palmer, and Dropkick Murphys have been confirmed as performers, and other acts are expected to take part. City Winery is holding a contest for fans to win a trip to New York for the Sinead O’Connor and Shane McGowan event by donating to PEN America. The organization states its mission “is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.”
Sufjan Stevens’ Illinoise musical, based on his critically acclaimed 2005 Illinoise album, opens at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater next weekend.
Madness, those English ska lads who gave us the “Our House” hit single and funny video, as well as several nutty treasures on their LPs, will be playing concerts in the U.S.A. for first time in 12 years. Their C’est La Vie In America Tour, which starts in May, will include the Las Vegas Punk Bowling And Music Festival. Sadly, Chicago is not on their schedule.
Rachel Drew, a very active singer-songwriter on Chicago’s music scene, has released a new single titled “If My Heart Was Made For You.” The melodic and somewhat funky tale of unrequited love is available on Bandcamp and other sites.
The Pretenders will kick off an eight-city UK Tour in support of their impressive new album Relentless with a sold out show in Gateshead on February 24. Their concerts in Edinburgh, Manchester, Oxford, and Bristol have also sold out. The other stops on the tour are London, Nottingham, and Birmingham.
Chicago-based vocalist-guitarist Pierce Crask has a 7:00 pm gig tomorrow night at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side.
Congratulations to alt rock band Alvvays on its first Grammy Awards nomination. The single “Belinda Says” from their 2022 album Blu Rev, is up for Best Alternative Music Performance. Led by vocalist-guitarist Molly Rankin, Alvvays has released three albums of dreamy and catchy indie rock songs.
Sixteen venues around the city will take part in this year’s Chicago International Puppet Festival, which kicked off yesterday and will run through January 28. Some last-minute changes were recently announced, so it would be a good idea to check the official website before heading out for a performance. In addition to the various shows, the festival will present workshops, symposiums, and exhibitions, along with food and drinks vendors.
The Smithereens’ 2024 Winter Tour with guest vocalist Robin Wilson from The Gin Blossoms kicked off last night at the World Cafe Live in Philadelphia. They’ll perform at the State Theatre in Falls Church, VA tonight. Other stops on the tour include Annapolis, MD; Nashville, TN; and New York City.
Marshall Crenshaw, who has also served as a guest lead vocalist for The Smithereens, has his own gig coming up on March 24 at City Winery Chicago. He’ll be performing with Derrick Anderson on bass, Mark Ortmann on drums, and Fernando Perdomo on guitar and vocals.
Chicagoan Jon Langford is one of the artist-musicians, along with headliner Joan Baez, whose artwork will be featured at the Sound And Vision exhibit at Mad.Kat Gallery in Rancho Mirage, CA. Other participants include Penelope Houston; Juliana Hatfield; and Steve Wynn. Sound And Vision will run from March 16 through April 21.
Tickets are now on sale for The BoDeans’ concert at the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, IL on April 20.
Drop by for a glimpse of stocking. Porchlight Music Theatre’s production of the Cole Porter musical Anything Goes opened last Saturday and will run through February 25. The theatre is located at 1016 N. Dearborn in Chicago.
The Weeklings, a popular act at Fest For Beatles Fans conventions for some time now, recently held a Record Release Party for their new album Raspberry Park at the Stone Pony venue in Asbury, NJ. It was part of a multi-act Light Of Day charity event to raise funds to fight Parkinson’s, ALS and PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy). Other acts on the bill included Dramarama; Joe P; Joe Grushecky And The Houserockers; Joe D’Urso and The Stone Caravan; Ten Ton Mojo; and Midnight Callers.
Tickets are now on sale for The Rock and Roll Playhouse’s show Plays Music Of David Bowie and More For Kids at SPACE in Evanston on Sunday, February 18. The music starts at 2:00 pm.
The Bowery Electric venue in New York, NY will honor the life and music of Scott Kempner on February 5. Kempner, a member of the groundbreaking bands The Dictators and The Del-Lords, passed away last November. The Scott Kempner’s 70th Birthday Celebration will feature performances by The Del-Lords, The Dictators, Willie Nile, Marshall Crenshaw, Dennis Diken from The Smithereens, Syd Straw, and other bands. All proceeds from the event will be donated to The Association For Frontotemporal Degeneration.
Pegasus Theatre Chicago and India Nicole Burton are presenting the 37th Annual Young Playwrights Festival through January 27 at Chicago Dramatists. The event encourages local high school students to create one-act plays, and is the oldest event of its kind in America. Chicago Dramatists is located at 798 N. Aberdeen in Chicago.
Prince’s film Purple Rain is being adapted into a Broadway musical written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz. No date yet on when the production will be ready.
Highway Patrol, a new play by actress Dana Delaney opens tomorrow at the Goodman Theatre in downtown Chicago. It’s inspired by Delaney’s own experiences and is billed as a thriller that combines romance with a ghost story. Highway Patrol will run from January 20 through February 18.
MonaLisa Twins Live At The Cavern Club, an album featuring the Vienna, Austria band performing covers of songs by The Beatles, The Hollies, The Who, The Kinks, The Monkees, The Rolling Stones, and others 1960s acts, is now available in CD and download formats. A current offer on the band’s official website, includes Why, the duo’s album of original material for free.
The 27th Fillet Of Solo festival will continue its run today and tomorrow at Lifeline Theatre and South Of The Border. See the Lifeline Theatre website for the full schedule.
Nelikona Cafe in Palatine will host its next Acoustic Guitar And Vocals with Rick And Friends from 2:00 to 4:00 pm tomorrow. Admission is free.
The Pink Floyd tribute band Eclipse will perform at Durty Nellie’s in Palatine on January 27.
Best wishes to musician/writer Freda Love Smith on her ten-week educational series involving “close reading and exploratory writing.” Those who enroll will read works by Sigrid Nunez, Laura Kipnis, Phillip Lopate, and other contemporary writers before embarking on their own writing assignments. Enrollment will be limited to 12 students. Those interested can message Freda Love Smith on her Facebook page with any questions.
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