Slumgullion

For events taking place this weekend, check out my previous post titled Weekend Reminders.

As I mentioned yesterday, the very first CBGB Festival will take place on Sept. 27 in Brooklyn, NY. An email from Western Publicity states, “The CBGB Festival pays tribute to New York City’s gritty, sticker-covered past through a modern lens.” The scheduled performers include Iggy Pop, Jack White, The Damned, Johnny Marr, Lunachicks, Marky Ramone, Soul Glo, and The Linda Lindas. Tickets are now available on the official website.

The Reel Underground, which describes the films it screens as Forgotten, Overlooked, Off The Radar Music Documentaries, will host a showing of Elvis Costello and the Attractions - The Making of Almost Blue next Wednesday, Sept 24th, at Montrose Saloon. DJ Louie B will start spinning Elvis Costello records at 6:00 pm; the screening takes place at 7 pm; and local musician Phil Angotti will perform a solo set of Costello music at 8:30. Montrose Saloon is located on Chicago’s north side.

Congratulation to Irish rockers U2 on being chosen as the 2025 Woody Guthrie Prize honorees. Bono and The Edge will receive the award on the band’s behalf at a Harper House Music Foundation event at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, OK on Oct. 21. The official Woody Guthrie Prize site states the annual award is presented to “an artist who best exemplifies Woody Guthrie’s spirit and work by speaking for the less fortunate through music, film, literature, dance or other art forms and serving as a positive force for social change.” Previous honorees include Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, and Mavis Staples. 

Pravda Records Presents, a showcase featuring three of the Chicago-based label’s acts, will take place at Martyrs’ on October 10. A recent Facebook post from The Handcuffs teases with the promise, “The ’Cuffs will be doing something a little different for this one show which should be fun for you and for us.” They’ll be joined by Brian Krumm And His Barfly Friends and Nathan Graham. Martyrs’ is located at 3855 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Just about two years ago on Broken Hearted Toy, I mentioned that legendary rock and roll photographer Henry Diltz had joined forces with Cindystock on a series of rock musician photo books that benefit the Yates Fund For Cancer Hope. Back then, the choices were Dan Fogelburg, Stephen Stills, David Crosby, and Micky Dolenz. Diltz has since added David Cassidy, Joni Mitchell, America, Graham Nash and Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young to the collection. Each book contains 40 photos and sells for $24.

Reeling2025 - The 43rd Chicago LGBTQ + International Film Festival opened today and will run through September 28 at Landmark’s Century Centre on the city’s north side.

The Psychedelic Furs With Special Guest Gary Numan Tour is coming to the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on October 4. Other stops on the tour include Seattle; Sacramento; Los Angeles; Denver; Washington, D.C.; Boston; and Brooklyn.

Casey McDonough and Eric Howell have worked with several Chicago area musicians over the years, but I’m not sure if they’ve ever performed as a duo. That’s what it looks like they’ll be doing at Cary’s Lounge (2251 W. Devon) on Friday, September 26.

Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan’s new album titled Better Broken came out today; with the title track being the first single. Her 2025 North American tour kicks off on October 15 in Victoria, BC, and will include a stop at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on November 22.

I recently received Issue 21 of Second Scene in the mail, and once again, it’s an appealing mix of indie rock journalism and colorful graphics. This issue features concert reviews of Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, and The English Beat, along with coverage of several up and coming bands. The Pittsburgh-based publication is available for $7 plus shipping on its Bandcamp page.

Aliza Hava’s new album Into The Light is now available exclusively on Bandcamp. The Ashland, Oregon folk rock singer-guitarist creates emotionally charged songs such as “Let It Roar” and “Fix My Fate” that convey how to navigate this troubled world.

Musician Jason Narducy and actor-musician Michael Shannon have another R.E.M. album tribute tour coming up. This time, they’ll be celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Lifes Rich Pageant, backed by Dag Juhlin, John Stirratt, Vijay Tellis-Nayak, and Jon Wurster. The tour kicks off in Denver on February 11, 2026, and will include stops in Seattle; Athens, GA; Los Angeles; Washington, DC; Chicago; Pittsburgh; and Minneapolis.

In related news, Drink The Sea, an exotic, experimental band of established musicians that includes R.E.M. founding member Peter Buck, has a U.S. Tour coming in 2026 that will visit Chicago, Boston, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and several other cities.

Singer-guitarist Terry White has a record release party with The Loaded Dice, Cannonball, and other special guests coming up on October 2 at Fitzgerald’s in Berywn, IL. The album is due out on September.

Pink Floyd will release a 50th Anniversary Edition of Wish You Were Here on December 12 in 2CD, 3LP, and a deluxe box formats.

Radio Soul - Early Songs Of Elvis Costello, featuring Mr. Costello and The Imposters with Charlie Sexton, kicked off a month’s worth of concerts on yesterday in Bethlehem, PA. The tour will come to The Chicago Theatre on Oct 16.

Hot In The Dark, the debut album from Chicago’s unpredictable and always entertaining covers band EXPO ’76 with the Total Pro Horns, is now available to pre-order on Bandcamp. The 12 tracks reflect the mind-boggling variety of music EXPO ’76 performs at its live gigs. Hot In The Dark will be officially released on October 24.

As noted by writer Mike Duquette on The Second Disc website, Patti Smith will release a Horses (50th Anniversary Edition) via Legacy Recordings on October 10. In addition to the original tracks, it will offer “nine alternate versions and outtakes from the album sessions.” Duquette also points out that Smith will release a memoir titled Bread Of Angels in November.

Beatland Books is set to release the first volume of a “massively enhanced and fully rewritten” update of Doug Hinman’s 2004 book on The Kinks. The Kinks - All Day And All Of The Night - The Day-By-Day Story Pt. 1: 1940 - 1971, with Andrew Sandoval joining Hinman, is due out later this year.

Duets Special - Chrissie Hynde And Pals, an album featuring The Pretenders lead vocalist pairing up with Lucinda Williams; Julian Lennon; Shirley Manson; k.d. lang; David Gahan; Debbie Harry; Brandon Flowers; Rufus Wainwright and other well-known performers, is due out on October 17. It’s currently available to pre-order from various sites.

Cheap Trick’s new album All Washed Up is due out November 14, and the group has posted a video on YouTube for the first single from it. “Twelve Gates” finds an animated version of the guys rocking a mid-tempo arrangement powered by guitars and layered vocals. A promising start.