Rubber Soul graphic from the official Beatles Facebook page.
Beatles fans have three versions to choose from if they pre-order the special Rubber Soul rerelease on Amazon. The Super Deluxe 4 CD set is packaged in a 12-inch slipcase, and includes a new stereo mix; sessions and demos; mono versions; and the U.S. version. Plus, there’s a hardback book; photos, album info and track notes. The Special Edition Deluxe 2CD set includes the new stereo mix; demos and sessions highlights; and a 40-page booklet with information and rare photos. The Rubber Soul (Special Edition) [Blu-ray] version includes Atmos mixes; stereo mixes; and two videos each of “Day Tripper” and “We Can Work It Out.” Vinyl fans willing to spend more cash can check out The Beatles USA Store for the Rubber Soul - Special Edition Super Deluxe: 5 LP + 7-Inch Single Box Set + Posters + Art Cards.
All the above choices are due out on October 2, so you could ask someone to buy one for you as an early holiday present. But I doubt you’d able to wait until December to open it.
Ringo Starr is offering fans an opportunity to win a trip to meet him backstage when he returns to the Forest Hills Stadium in New York for the first time since 1964. Entry for the charity event can be found on the Fandiem website, and the proceeds will go to Starr’s Lotus Foundation, which aims to support social welfare in diverse areas.
The Hometown Celebration - A Benefit for The Lin Brehmer Scholars Fund will be held this Sunday at Metro in the Wrigleyville neighborhood. The featured acts will be The Linburgers (Tributosaurus members Matt Spiegel & Curt Morrison); Dag Juhlin; Michael McDermott; and Heather Lynne Horton. Brehmer will always be remembered as one of Chicago’s best-friendliest and knowledgeable radio personalities, especially for those of us who met him in person.
WXRT’s 93XRT Record Release Show for Michael McDermott and The Arsonists’ Flowers From The Graveyard album will take place on tomorrow at GMan Tavern, which is also in Wrigleyville.
Depending on when you read this, you could still catch Clinard Dance — an ensemble based in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood — presenting a Flamenco Quartet Project at Evanston SPACE in Evanston, IL tonight at 7:30 pm.
The 9th Annual Chicago Blues Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held this Sunday at Buddy Guy’s Legends venue in the south end of downtown Chicago. A post on the official Chicago Blues Hall Of Fame notes that tickets will only be sold in advance.
Bookclub, an adventurous new addition to Chicago’s entertainment scene, and local singer-guitarist Opal Vinopal will present Foundations - A Songwriters Show In The Round from 2:00 to 4:00 pm this Sunday. Vinopal; Wild Earp; Kelsey Montanez/Channels; Ian Leith; and TAFKAV will be the participants. Bookclub is located at 2871 N. Lincoln Avenue.
LaRue DeVille, an offshoot of long-time Chicago club band Red Wigglers, along with punk rock cover band Horse And Sparrow, will share a double bill at Double Clutch Brewery in Evanston this Thursday. Both bands that night will feature vocalist Erica Loftus, whose impressive resume also includes The Right Tidys and The Collectors. There’s no cover charge.
Kevin Lee And The Kings, long-time masters of melodic, hard-edged rock, will perform at The Dock venue (200 W. Montrose Harbor Drive) on Chicago’s north side this Thursday. Singer-guitarist Scott Niekelski, who’s launched a successful solo career in addition to fronting the popular Go Time! band, will serve as the opening act.
Custard Flux, AKA musician Gregory Curvey, will weave his prog music magic when he headlines a Chicago Alternafest! event at the Underground Lounge this Saturday. Piper No; Oh My Lover; and Mystic Mulberry will also be on the Alternafest! bill.
Upcoming concerts at the 2026 Summer Concert Series at the Riverside Park venue in Aurora, IL include The Beach Boys this Friday; and Poi Dog Pondering on Saturday.
Ralph Covert, the vocalist-guitarist and chief songwriter for Chicago-based band The Bad Examples, will perform with string accompaniment at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights, IL this Saturday. Covert’s clever and catchy songs often call to mind the music of Squeeze, so it should be interesting to see how his material sounds backed by strings.
International Pop Overthrow - Los Angeles is up and running and will continue through this Sunday at the Redwood Bar and Corbin Bowl venues. The entire schedule is available on the official IPO website, and if you follow International Pop Overthrow founder David Bash on Facebook, you can catch his film clips of the various acts performing.
Big Brother’s Vinyl, a covers act that 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, has two gigs this week. The band will perform as part of the Music In The Reserve summer concert series at 899 Jay Street in Elgin, IL this Thursday night from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, and on Friday night at The Barn (303 E.Kensington Rd.) as part of the Mount Prospect Village Wide Music Fest.




