Weekend Reminders

Sorry for the late arrival. The wifi in our house was out for several hours last night.

Weekend Reminders posts focus on events that were previously mentioned on Broken Hearted Toy, and are taking place during the upcoming weekend. Plus, the occasional event taking place this weekend that has just come to my attention, or concert tickets going on sale.

First, a champagne toast to Oasis, who rocked Soldier Field on Chicago’s lakefront last night. We were one of the three U.S. cities included on the reunion tour. There was an inspiring Oasis photo in Wednesday’s Chicago Sun-Times (taken by Sammy Kogan of The Canadian Press) of Liam and Noel Gallagher arriving onstage together last Sunday in Toronto.

The Chicago Jazz Festival, a longtime favorite event in this city, returned to Millennium Park yesterday and will run through Sunday. The headliners are Esperanza Spalding, Monty Alexander, Kermit Ruffins, and Eliades Ochoa. Admission to the festival is free; other performers scheduled include Sarah Marie Young, Silvia Marque, Ari Brown, and Patricia Barber.

Northside venue Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue has an eclectic triple bill coming up this Saturday. McLuhan, the adventurous seven-piece Chicago band inspired by philosopher Marshall McLuhan, will showcase music from its critically acclaimed and recently re-released album Anomaly. This might also be a good time to watch McLuhan perform their new “King Bizzzarroo” single, a cautionary tale set to an ominous arrangement. Chicago club scene veterans The Hurtin’ Kind can tap into the Americana songs on their 2023 debut It Won’t Happen That Way; and the Americana/garage rock band Hitchcock Brunettes will likely offer material from their upcoming debut.

Nowhere Else Festival, the annual concert event staged by Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler from the critically acclaimed Americana band Over The Rhine, will take place this weekend in Martinsville, OH. In addition to Over The Rhine, the performers will include Amy Helm, John Paul White, Joy Clark, and The Newbees.

FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL is presenting a guitar-oriented event called Puttin’ On The Gretsch on its Patio Stage this Saturday afternoon from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. The event will feature musicians Tim Menard, Andon Davis, Chloe Orwell, Jim O’Donnell, Phil Angotti, Devin Nowakowski, Paul Divans, and Michael Krayniak. Attendees can enter a $10 ticket raffle for a chance to win a Gretsch guitar.

The alt rock band whitewolfsonicprincess, purveyors of what they call “21st Century Druid Music/Celtic Blues,” will perform with All Days and Victor Sanders this Saturday at Jarvis Square Pottery on Chicago’s far north side. The music starts at 8:00 pm.

Irish Days will offer a variety of Celtic music and fun in downtown Long Grove, IL this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Performers include Academy Of Irish Music; McNulty School Of Irish Dance; Shannon Rovers Pipe Band; The Larkin And Moran Brothers; and Trinity School Of Dance. There will be food and beverage vendors, or visitors can check out some of the various restaurants or cafes in downtown Long Grove. If you go to Blu Fig, tell them the ‘hot chai latte guy” sent you. 

Another VU, the Chicago-based band that performs 1969-era Velvet Underground songs, will perform at Montrose Saloon tomorrow night, along with Love Story In Blood Red; Nad Navillus Duo; and French Casino.

The International Pop Overthrow - Vancouver music festival is taking place through Sunday at the Lana Lou’s venue. Six acts performed on Thursday and Friday; seven will rock Lana Lou’s on Saturday. Check out the official IPO website for the full schedule.