Weekend Reminders

Weekend Reminders on Thursday 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.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10:00 am for a pair of Los Lobos performances at FitzGerald’s Outdoors in Berwyn, IL on July 11. Tickets will also go on sale tomorrow for a concert Los Lobos just added at The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA on April 20. (The band quickly sold out its April 19 show at that venue.)

Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights, IL  continues its Blues Week with the Smiley Tillmon Band tonight; The Jimmys tomorrow; and Will Tilson on Saturday.

The first Bandcamp Friday of 2026 takes place tomorrow. That’s when Bandcamp continues a tradition it started in March, 2020, and waives its revenue on the first Friday of the month. Or, as stated in an official email, “More of what you spend goes straight to the artists and labels you care about.”

Ratboys, one of Chicago’s better new bands in recent years, will release their next album, Singin’ To An Empty Chair via Bandcamp tomorrow. Based on the singles Ratboys have already released from the album, it’s going to be impressive.

GMan Tavern on Chicago’s north side (3740 N. Clark) will celebrate International Clash Day tomorrow with the tribute band Guns And Ammunition. DJ Stevo will provide a pre-show set; doors open at 7:00 pm.

The Copper Fiddle venue in Lake Zurich, IL will present an eclectic and entertaining double bill tomorrow night featuring folk rock trio Esmerelda’s Boys (John Lewandowski, Andrew Clark and Thomas Tojza) and the prog rock band McLuhan. Both acts have been performing on the local scene more and more lately; and McLuhan has two new singles to showcase.

The WXRT Live From The XRT Concert Archives series continues tomorrow night at 9:00 pm with an August 18, 2007 Crowded House performance at the The House Of Blues in Chicago. Live From The XRT Concert Archives can be heard on 93.1FM; 93XRT.com; and the Audacy app.

Phyllis’ Musical Inn on Chicago’s north side is throwing a Big 76th Birthday Bash this Saturday for one of its regular performers, singer-songwriter Mike Felten. In addition to The Mike Felten Band, there will be sets by The Polkaholics; Letterbomb; Andrew D. Huber; Taylor Morse; The Lovely Rut; and Tom Compton. The bash will also include a literary touch; with author Cally Raduenzel signing copies of her book Chicago Stories: An Outsider’s View From The Inside. The festivities start at 6:00 pm, Phyllis’ Musical Inn is located at 1800 W. Division.

The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles will present a double bill tomorrow featuring the current version of The Lovin’ Spoonful, along with singer-guitarist Terry Sylvester performing hits by The Hollies. Long-time Hollies fans will recognize Sylvester as the musician who replaced Graham Nash in the late 1960s and stayed with them for a few decades.

As noted by Chicago Sun-Times writer Mary Houlihan in today’s edition, Black And Highly Flavored, a mix of live music and comedy created by The 2026 Black Excellence Revue, opens tonight at Second City and will run through March 20.

The Desert Rock - A Tribute To The Laurel Canyon Music Scene event is coming to The Raue Center For The Arts in Crystal Lake, IL tomorrow. The two-hour multimedia show will celebrate the music of Linda Ronstadt; CSNY; The Byrds; Buffalo Springfield; Loggins And Messina; Poco; JD Souther; Warren Zevon; Lowell George; Tom Waits; Gram Parsons; and others.

Oddball Art Labs, which is devoted to promoting the arts in Chicago area suburbs, will hold their annual group show this Saturday from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at the Prairie Center For The Arts in Schaumburg. Expect the unusual.