Slumgullion

An army of well-respected musicians calling themselves Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes have recorded a new version of  “Going Home (Theme From Local Hero)” from the Dire Straits guitarist’s 1983 soundtrack album. The song will be available on March 15 and will benefit The Who’s Teenage Cancer Fund. Participants include Jeff Beck (his last recording); Roger Daltry (playing harmonica) and Pete Townshend; Sheryl Crow; Ry Cooder; drummers Ringo Starr and Zak Starkey; Sting; David Gilmour; Joan Armatrading; Peter Frampton; Buddy Guy; John Sebastian; Keith Urban; Steve Cropper; Ronnie Wood; Joan Jett; Nile Rodgers; Albert Lee; Dave Mason; Rick Nielsen; Orianthi; Bruce Springsteen; Susan Tedeschi and Dereck Trucks; Joe Walsh; and Mike Ruthereford. Noted artist Peter Blake’s awe-inspiring cover portrait (similar to the masterpiece he created for The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’ Lonely Hearts Club Band) can best be appreciated on the vinyl version, but “Going Home (Theme From Local Hero)” is also available as a CD and on streaming sites. Pre-order from Mark Knopfler’s official online store.

Tickets are now on sale for The Bad Examples at the Hey Nonny venue in Arlington Heights on April 20. The Chicago band has a number of albums brimming with clever and melodic songs reminiscent of Squeeze.

The Michael Shannon And Jason Narducy And Friends Play R.E.M.’s Murmur tour paid a visit to the city where it all began last night with a performance at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA. Having members of R.E.M. in the audience made the event even more special, as Narducy noted in a Facebook post: “The band members, their staff, their family, and in particular their manager Bertis Downs made us feel incredibly welcome.” Guitarist Dag Juhlin, who along with John Wurster, Vijay Tellis-Nayak, and Nick Macri comprise Shannon and Narducy backing band, posted a great photo of himself with Michael Stipe (they look like brothers) and noted: “A beautiful night. Our band was on fire.”

The Unswept, a Chicago power pop band that brings fun, as well as catchy songs to each performance, has just released a nine-track live album. Highlights include a cover of Marshall Crenshaw’s “Cynical Girl” and originals such as “Got Lucky” and “Try To Forget You.”

Best wishes for a fab time to all attending Fest For Beatles Fans - New York this weekend. The event, which takes place at the TWA Hotel, marks The Fest’s 50th Anniversary. The TWA Hotel is located at the JFK Airport, which is where The Beatles first touched down in America back in 1964. Special Guests for this year's festivities include Patti Boyd; Billy J. Kramer; Laurence Juber; Gregg Bissonette; and Steve Holley. 

Several Chicago area musicians will gather at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue on February 24 for the annual My Sweet George George Harrison birthday tribute concert. The event will start at 7:00 pm, with Ellis Clark (Epicycle, Social Act) and Ary Paloma (Amazing Heeby Jeebies) serving as hosts. Clark and Paloma have also brought their My Sweet George show to Fest For Beatles Fans - Chicago a number of times. If previous years are any indication, the selection of Harrison material performed will range from hit singles to deep tracks and rarities. It’s also fun seeing musicians from different groups join together on stage. The event will help the MusiCares nonprofit charity organization.

Plans for a stage version of Prince’s film/album Purple Rain are moving along; according to the lead story in the CELEBRITIES column in yesterday’s Chicago Tribune. The premiere, with a story by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and direction by Lileana Blain-Cruz, will take place at the State Theatre in Minneapolis Broadway in the spring of 2025.

The Rock and Roll Playhouse’s show Plays Music Of David Bowie and More For Kids is coming to SPACE in Evanston on Sunday, February 18. The music starts at 2:00 pm.

Be sure to bring roses. They’ll be a bit early, but the highly regarded Americana band Over the Rhine, led by Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler, has two performances of Infamous Love Songs: An Over the Rhine Valentine’s Concert coming up in its home state of Ohio. The first is tonight at the Lincoln Theatre in Columbus and the second is tomorrow at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts in Hamilton.

With Valentine’s Day coming up next week, the Chicago Artisan Market, taking place tomorrow and Sunday, seems like a good site to find that special gift. It’s taking place from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at 4325 N. Ravenswood Avenue in Chicago. The event’s Facebook post promises over 100 of the city’s best artisans in food, fashion, home, and art will be on hand, along with wine and beer vendors.

In other Valentine’s Day news, Phil Angotti and Friends will perform Beatles Love Songs at SPACE in Evanston on February 14.

Tickets are now on sale for folk-rock icon Judy Collins’ May 5 concert at Old Town School Of Folk Music.

Congratulations to Elton John and Bernie Taupin on being awarded the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. They’ll be honored during a tribute concert being held in Washington, D.C. on March 20.

 Richard Milne is once again booking the performers for the annual Lakeview East Festival, after taking a year off. He can be contacted at rankentertainment@gmail.com. Many of us know Milne as the long-time WXRT air personality who hosted Local Anesthetic, the station’s weekly showcase of Chicago area talent. He also did a fine job as XRT’s early morning DJ.

Heart will be in good company on both sides of the Atlantic during their Royal Flush Tour 2024.  Cheap Trick will be the special guest for the North American concerts and Squeeze will be the special guest for the European concerts. Heart and Cheap Trick have justifiably been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and Squeeze jolly well should be.

10,000 Maniacs, with lead vocalist and violinist Mary Ramsey back onboard, have shows coming up at City Winery Chicago on February 15, 16, and 17.

Chicago-based entertainment writer Mark Caro’s two-part interview with XTC bassist-vocalist Colin Moulding is now available on the Caropop podcast site.

The Kooks have announced an upcoming 16-city tour that will bring them to America for the first time in quite a while. It kicks off in Atlanta on February 29, and includes a stop at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago on March 15. The shows will celebrate the 15th anniversary of The Kooks’ debut release Inside In Inside Out, and the band will perform the entire album. A recently released deluxe, double LP edition also marks the occasion.

It’s a pre-sale and a party. Tickets for the FitzGerald’s 41st Annual American Music Festival coming this summer in Berwyn will be available at an In-Person Pre-Sale Party taking place at a FitzGerald’s Sidebar event with The Shaun Gotti Showtime Band on February 18.

The Trouser Press 50th Birthday Party is coming to the Bowery Electric venue in New York on March 16. Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey from The dB’s will be on hand to perform, along with The Shirt Event featuring Dennis Diken from The Smithereens; the Washington, DC alt rock band Dot Dash; and DJ Steve Reynolds. Trouser Press Books will publish a book titled Zip It Up!: The Best of Trouser Press Magazine 1974-1984 in March of 2024.

 

As noted in recent Early Warnings pages in the Chicago Reader, major concerts coming to Chicago this year include Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Old Town School Of Folk Music on April 4; Louise Post at Empty Bottle on April 23; Robyn Hitchcock at Old Town School Of Folk Music on May 3 and 4; Ladytron and DJ Hiroko Yamamura at Thalia Hall on May 29; Miki Berenyi Trio, Lol Tolhurst and Budgie at Bottom Lounge on June 7; Raveonettes at Bottom Lounge on June 10; Pixies, Modest Mouse, and Cat Power at Huntington Bank Pavilion on June 19; Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid, and Linda Lindas at Wrigley Field on August 13; and Doobie Brothers and Steve Winwood at Credit Union Amphitheater on August 25.