Slumgullion

Congratulations to Kim Gordon on selling out tomorrow night’s gig at the Beyond The Gate venue in Chicago. It’s the second stop on the U.S. leg of her The Collective Tour. The Sonic Youth singer-guitarist’s second solo effort The Collective was released a few months back. Gordon’s upcoming shows in Detroit and Toronto have also sold out.

The Chicago Blues Festival, which is billed as the largest free blues event on the planet, opened today in Millennium Park with a multi-act Centennial Tribute to Jimmy Rogers, along with performances by five other acts. Tomorrow will bring a tribute to Dinah Washington, along with Alligator Records band Southern Avenue and 10 others acts. The legendary Buddy Guy will headline on Sunday, and other highlights will include a Centennial Tribute To Otis Spann, and performances by Cash Box Kings, Jaye Hammer, and Melody Angel. The music will take place on three stages.

Chicago-based singer-songwriter Steve Dawson consistently draws praise for his Americana/rock music, whether on solo efforts or as part of the Dolly Varden band. His much-anticipated sixth solo effort Ghosts is now available from Pravda Records in LP, CD and download formats. It’s another introspective and well-crafted effort, with Dawson delving deep into the characters he creates through lyrics and expressive vocals. “Time To Let Some Light In,” the first single, has already been getting noticed, and other highlights include the toe-tapping “Oh, California,” the bluesy “It Was A Mistake,” and “Leadville,” a Country and Western tale of a desolate southern town and its derelict citizens.

The Police will offer what the burning shed run by artists for artists website calls archival reissues of the band’s 1983 album Synchronicity in 6-CD and 4-LP editions on July 26. Those options include a 64-page books and four art print photographs; a double CD, and a limited 'Alternate Order' picture disc are also available.

 

This year’s Ravinia Festival in Highland Park kicked off tonight with the Return of The Flock concert tonight, and continues with James Taylor And His All-Star Band tomorrow and Sunday. Upcoming performances include Robert Plant and Alison Krauss; Kronos Quartet; Michael Franti And Spearhead; Violent Femmes with the Chicago Philharmonic; and Little Feat + Los Lobos.

The Hopscotch Music Festival will take place on September 5-7 in Raleigh, NC. The extensive list of scheduled performers includes St. Vincent; The dB’s; Ducks Ltd.; Guided By Voices; Chicano Batman; and Ty Segall (solo acoustic). The event will also feature comedy acts, local vendors, and VIP parties.

 

Uncle Boogie, a recently unveiled new side project from power pop band Thrift Store Halo, will perform an adventurous selection of cover versions tomorrow night at Mom’s Place just north of downtown Chicago.

As noted on The Second Disc website, Rhino and Avenue Records will release the 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition of The World Is a Ghetto - The Complete Sessions on July 19. The classic album by War will be remastered and include previously unreleased tracks and other bonus material. It will be available in 4 CD, 5LP box  and digital formats.

Sonic45 has a Record Release Party coming up at SPACE in Evanston for its new Cheap Kiss Records album Supersonic on July 13, with Sunshine Boys as the opening act that night. The Chicago-based, self-described new wave band just released a second song from Supersonic on Bandcamp, following “You And I Are Stereo,” which dropped in April. This one is called “Flying Away” and features guest vocalist Kate Tucker. Sonic45 comprises sports broadcaster/musician/songwriter Len Kasper, along with Chicago music scene veterans Matt Spiegel (also a sportscaster); Liam Davis; Gerald Dowd; and Dag Juhlin.

Purple Reign - A Weekend Celebration For His Royal Badness will feature A Birthday Celebration tonight at Joe’s Bar, and A Love Bizarre tomorrow night at Logan Square Auditorium. Both locations are in Chicago, and will feature DJs spinning Prince music.

 

Rebel Girl: My Life As A Feminist Punk, a memoir from riot-grrrl band Bikini Kill vocalist Kathleen Hanna is now available from HarperCollins Publishers on various websites and book stores.

The Old Town Art Fair and Wells Street Art Festival, longtime favorites among Chicago’s early summer (actually pre-summer) events scene, take place tomorrow and Sunday. The former is a more serious affair, while the latter appeals to a younger crowd that likes to party. The two events are within blocks of each other in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, and visitors will find lots of fascinating art at both.

Tickets are now available for The Zombies’ second annual Begin Here Festival taking place in St. Albans, UK on the weekend of November 10 – 12. The event will feature The Zombies Art Gallery; Record Signing; Drum Workshop; The Zombies Tour Of St. Albans; Sunday Music Brunch; a screening of the Hung Up On A Dream documentary; Colin Blunstone: One Year Show; The Zombies Show; Battle Of The Bands: Finale Show; and Question And Answer panels at the St. Albans Museum.

Dolph Chaney and The Phins have a show coming up at the Atlantic Bar and Grill in Chicago next Friday, June 14, with a solo performance by fellow Chicago pop rocker Phil Yates as the opening act. Chaney and Yates are both recording artists, as well as long-time veterans of the annual International Pop Overthrow - Chicago events.

Feathers McGraw, one of cinema’s most devious villains, will return to his wicked ways in the upcoming film Wallace And Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. The official Wallace And Gromit social media sites promise it’s coming to the BBC and Netflix sometime this winter.

Chicago: Home Of House, an exhibit honoring the city’s pivotal role in widespread success of house music, opened recently on Navy Pier, and will run through the end of October. As noted by Chicago Sun-Times reporter Erica Thompson, this year brings the 40th anniversary of the genre.

Tickets are now on sale for the B-52’s Day of The Dead Dance Party taking place November 2 at Riviera Theatre on Chicago’s north side. The band also has shows coming up in Las Vegas November 13 – 16.

Jay Goeppner from the 1960s rock and roll tribute band Backdated will star in The Lennon Project at 7:00 pm on June 15 at the Raue Center For The Performing Arts in Crystal Lake, IL. The event, which is being sponsored by SoundTracks Of A Generation, promises to “present the songs and the life of John Lennon in a chronological soundscape.”

Sarah McLachlan’s Fumbling Towards Ecstasy 30th Anniversary Tour with special guest Feist is coming to the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago this Tuesday, June 11. The Fumbling Towards Ecstasy album featured the biographical (and troubling) single “Possession.” Other cities on the extensive tour include Cincinnati; Indianapolis; Toronto; Boston. New York ; and Philadelphia.

A Charity Classic Concert will be held tomorrow at the Rolling Green Country Club in Arlington Heights to benefit Gerry’s Cafe and Rolling Green Cafe Employee Care Foundation. The hard-hitting country rock band Hillbilly Rockstar and adventurous covers band EXPO ’76 will be performing.

Blondie founding member Chris Stein has a memoir titled Under A Rock coming out on June 11, and it’s available to pre-order from various sites. The book, which features a forward by Debbie Harry, is described by MacMillan Publishers as a “a plunge into the moments that made a giant 1980’s artistic sensation.”

Singer-guitarist Michael Steven Cohen will perform favorites from the Great American Songbook at Take Flight Spirits in Skokie tomorrow, from 7:00 to 9:30 pm. 

Chicago-based folk music icon Bonnie Koloc will share the stage with journalist Mark Guarino at Hideout Inn tomorrow, starting at 4:00 pm. Along with an extended interview regarding her career and noted collaborations, Koloc will perform a few songs with singer-guitarist Steve Dawson. Guarino’s book Country and Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival was named as “Book of the Year” by the Illinois State Historical Society this past weekend in Springfield.

Wolf Alice will celebrate 10th anniversary of its Creature Songs EP with a ten-inch, pink and blue vinyl rerelease on June 21. It’s available to order on the band’s official online store. The English alt rock band’s 2022 album Blue Weekend achieved quite a bit of popular and critical success.

The Beaches, Friko, Local H, School Of Rock, and Lucky Boys Confusion are among the numerous acts that will perform at the Taste Of Randolph festival next weekend, June 14 –16. The event will be held on Randolph Street, between Peoria and Racine.

Have You Got It Yet? - The Story Of Syd Barrett And Pink Floyd will be available in DVD and Rlu-ray formats from Mercury Studios on July 19. The documentary was directed by filmmaker Roddy Bogawa and album cover artist Storm Thorgerson, and features interviews with Barrett’s bandmates David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Roger Waters, along with musicians Pete Townshend and Graham Coxon.

Phil Angotti And Friends (Casey McDonough, John San Juan, Tom Ryan and Blair Holmes) will return to City Winery Chicago for another Beatle Brunch on June 16. This time out, they’ll play the Beatles ‘65 album (plus other songs from 1965) and a mini set of McCartney songs for Paul’s birthday. About a month later, on July 14, Phil Angotti And Friends will perform a tribute to The Bee Gees as part of the City Winery Chicago Brunch Series.

Steve Wynn from The Dream Syndicate has accomplished a long-time of writing a book, and it’s due out from Jawbone Press around August 25. Wynn describes I Wouldn't Say It If It Wasn't True as “a memoir of a life of music that begins on the streets of LA and continues along the highways and byways of rock recording and touring with The Dream Syndicate.” Autographed copies are available for pre-order on Wynn’s Bandcamp page, which also mention he has a new solo album title Make It Right coming out around the same time as his book.

There will be a Catfight 20th Anniversary Reunion featuring band members Julie, Rose, Lori, and Lisa at the Backlot Bash being held June 30 on Chicago’s (5248 N. Clark Street) north side. I interviewed Catfight for the Palatine Countryside paper back when they were regulars at the original Durty Nellie’s. They later became one of the city’s most popular outdoor festival acts.

Tickets are now on sale for the Marky Ramone Plays The Ramones Classics show at Bottom Lounge in Chicago’s West Loop on September 27. Musician/author/media personality Marky Ramone played drums with The Ramones for 15 years after replacing original member Tommy Ramone, so he knows pretty their stuff.

The Sons Of The Silent Age - The Cracked Actor Cabaret is coming to City Winery Chicago on July 29. Sons Of The Silent Age also have a June 22 concert coming up at SummerFest in Milwaukee, WI.

Tickets are now on sale for The Imperial Sound’s gig at Hey Nonny’s in Arlington Heights on August 2.

Rhino Fest 2024 will continue through the end of June with several performances. Most will be at Facility Theatre and Chicago Dramatists, but check out the official Rhino Fest website for the full schedule.

An original concept recording of Ladyship The Musical has an official release date of July 12. It’s based on the true story of how England shipped women convicts to Australia from 1789 to 1841. The music and lyrics were composed by Linda Good and Laura Good. The sisters first started performing as The Good Twins on the Chicago club scene, and later formed the alt rock band The Twigs.