Incoming

FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL will present its 43rd Annual American Music Festival this Thursday through Sunday, and as in previous years, the lineup is eclectic and impressive. The performers includes The Heavy Heavy, Spin Doctors; Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore; CJ Chenier And The Red Hot Louisiana Band; Nicholas Tremulis And The Prodigals; Michael McDermott; and Mud Morganfield. As noted in a FitzGerald’s Facebook post today, some of the events are sold out or have a low ticket warning.

Happy Birthday to Ellis Clark, a founding member of one of Chicago’s first punk bands, Epicycle. Over the years, he’s performed with Social Act; The Chamber Strings; Big Hair Big Trouble!; and The Handcuffs. He hosts the annual My Sweet George George Harrison tribute event along with vocalist Ary Paloma at the Martyrs’ venue on Lincoln Avenue, and has produced albums for several local musicians. Social Act, one of the first bands I interviewed for the Illinois Entertainer, recently regrouped and is performing again.

Also, best birthday wishes to guitarist-vocalist John Petitt, who currently performs with Big Brother’s Vinyl. The covers band has a knack for picking songs you know and like but aren’t ones that you’ve heard performed countless times by other local groups. 

   

Mickey Dolenz will celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Monkees by releasing a six-song EP titled Timeless that includes songs written by Andy Partridge; Shelby Lynne; Vicki Peterson; and Adam Schlesinger. The release date is September 4.

The Spindles, Go Time!, And Kevin Lee And The Kings—bands with years of experience of rocking the Chicago music scene—will share a triple bill on July 18 at Heroes West in Lemont, IL. Each of these acts has recorded impressive albums, so there will be a lot of original material to enjoy that night.

Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI resumes this Thursday and will run through Saturday. Acts scheduled to perform include Muse; Stephen Marley; KT Tunstall; Spoon; Gin Blossoms; DJ Jazzy Jeff; Outronaut; The Jayhawks; Soul Asylum; BoDeans; The Beths; and Jerry Harrison’s 50 Years Of Talking Heads.