Please see Thursday’s Weekend Reminders post for events taking place this weekend.
Pravda Records, Chicago’s longest running independent label, will hold its annual PravdaFest on September 12 at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL. The impressive lineup features acts who are well known on the local club scene, such as Brian Krumm And His Barfly Friends; Jon Langford; Chris Greene Quartet; The Claudettes; Steve Dawson And The Lucid Dreams; Josh Caterer Trio; Nicholas Tremulis And The Prodigals; The Split Squad; The Imperial Sound; Nathan Graham; The Handcuffs; Nora O’Connor; and Effigies. The event opens at noon with the two hour Wax On! DJs starting with DJ Scott Tomlin.
Actually, the above mentioned Split Squad might not be very well known, but this new band comprises veteran indie rock musicians. As noted in a recent Facebook post by The Handcuffs, Split Squad includes that band’s Brad Elvis, plus Keith Streng from The Fleshtones; Kurt Bloch and Scott McCaughey from Young Fresh Fellows; and producer/musician Michael Giblin. The band just released the single “Spanish Hospital Food” and has a full-length album on the way.
The Zombies’ third annual Begin Here Festival (following ones in 2023 and 2024) will take place from October 30 through November 1 in St. Albans in the UK. It’s described on the band’s Facebook page as “a unique fan experience,” and looking over the various activities, that sounds about right. Lead vocalist Colin Blunstone will be accompanied by composer/musician Dave Bainbridge and Q Strings, as well as special guests in a candlelight concert. There will also be a record signing with Blunstone, Rod Argent, and other band members; Q and A sessions with band members; and a ‘60s-themed dance party.
Happy Birthday to Tammi Sonnen, an avid supporter of Chicago’s vibrant music scene, and someone I’ve enjoyed speaking with at International Pop Overthrow showcases. Also, belated best wishes to Phil Yates of Chicago-based power pop band/recording artists Phil Yates And The Affiliates; Dennis Diken of The Smithereens; and International Pop Overthrow founder David Bash. They all had birthdays earlier this week.
Susana Hoffs has released another single from her upcoming album The List. “Bad Case of Loneliness” is a country and western ballad that finds her sharing vocals with Rufus Wainwright, and as with the “Casablanca,” it’s available to download on various sites. The List is due out on September 18. Hoffs has a solo gig at The Old Town School Of Folk Music on September 14. It’s a co-presentation with Chicago Humanities. A week later, Hoffs has a five-night engagement at the Café Carlyle at the Carlyle Hotel in New York.
Vicki Peterson (another Bangles founding member) and John Cowsill of The Cowsills (and later The Beach Boys) have been touring in support of their Long After The Fire album, and recently announced three October dates: on the 10th in Port Arkansas, TX; the 11th in Austin, TX; and the 14th at Avenel, NJ.
Montrose Saloon has done a splendid job hosting the annual International Pop Overthrow - Chicago for a few years now, so it’s no surprise the north-side Chicago venue has come up with its own multi-act festival. The End Of Summer Music Fest will present 15 bands over the course of two nights—September 11 and 12. The participating acts include Kent Rose; Esmerelda’s Boys; Who’s This Mary?; The Bon Mots; Go Time!; The Thin Cherries; and The Spindles.
UK rockers Wolf Alice have released The Clearing B Sides, a seven-inch vinyl record of three songs that didn’t make the final cut of their latest album The Clearing. In an earlier Facebook post, the band stated the songs “are ones we love very much” and “we’re happy to have found a home for them for you to hear.”
Tony Richards, whose solo jazz guitar performances have gained a loyal following on the Chicago scene, has a gig next Thursday at the Basil Leaf Cafe from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The venue is located at 2465 N. Clark Street.
Best wishes to Pete Townshend for a full recovery from a recent injury. In a post on the official Facebook page for The Who, Townshend noted, “due to damage to my left foot, and subsequent issues with my balance, I cannot commit to travel to appear at the upcoming Crossroads Festival in Austin.” That’s sure to disappoint the festival’s organizer Eric Clapton, as well as a multitude of fans. Clapton has a solo show coming up at the United Center in Chicago on September 11.
Chicago-based prog rock band McLuhan and folk rock trio Esmerelda’s Boys will join forces at Phylliss’ Musical Inn to honor all those we lost in the 9/11attacks. The anniversary event will take place at 8:00 pm on September 11, and include a special guest joining in a rendition of Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down.”
Sleater-Kinney and Fandiem have joined forces to support Sweet Relief, the non-profit organization that helps people in the music business cope with medical, age-related, and other hardships. Fans who donate to Sweet Relief via the official Fandiem website have a chance win a trip to Chicago and see Sleater-Kinney and Liz Phair perform at The Salt Shed on September 17. The prize includes airfare and hotel accommodations, along with meeting the band backstage; having exclusive side stage viewing; and receiving a merch pack. Other stops on the tour include Los Angeles; Denver; Brooklyn; Philadelphia, and Boston.
The Hey Nonny venue in Arlington Heights, IL is holding its annual Songwriting Contest this month, with three preliminary rounds, followed by the final round on September 29. The first preliminary round takes place on September 8, with contestants Neal Alger; Josette Kacey; AJ Rosales; Mark Legac; Michael Marsden; Andrew Huber; Despina; Patrick Spiroff; Patrick Frisbie; Joe Dilillo; Karlye Lapetina; and Zahar. The theme for this year’s contest is AI, and how the contestants should not use it for their compositions.
Theater Of The Mind, the imaginative adventure crafted by David Byrne from Talking Heads and writer Mala Gaonkar, has been extended through October 25 at the Reid Murdoch Building at 333 N. LaSalle Street in downtown Chicago. Theater Of The Mind is a Goodman Theatre production.
Rattleback Records, a cool store on Chicago’s far north side, as well as its own indie label (Naked Brunch band), is also in the publishing biz. Issue #3 of its RPM magazine features articles and interviews; a glow-in-the-dark button; a sticker; and a CD compilation of the local band A.M Slingers. RPM is available at Rattleback Records, which is located at 5405 N.Clark Street.
The Smashing Pumpkins will soon embark on The Rats In A Cage Tour with a concert at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas on September 19. Billed as Two Unique Sets Celebrating Mellon Collie At 30 And Nearly Four Decades Of Unruly Hits And Dark Treasures, the tour will include an October 14 gig in Chicago at United Center. Other cities on the tour include Boston, MA; Brooklyn, NY; Hamilton, ON; Montreal, QC; Madison, WI; Nashville, TN; Austin, TX; and Denver, CO. See the official website for all the tour dates.
Trap Door Theatre, an award winning company that has performed in venues throughout Europe as well as in its hometown of Chicago, is staging Andrei Kureichik’s eccentric play The Man Who Fell with the Rain The play was translated by John Freedman, adapted and directed by Kay Martinovich; and the cast includes former Mary-Arrchie Theatre artist director Rich Cotovsky as the Old Man with Enormous Wings.
Chicago singer-songwriter Paige Kizer has released a single in advance of her upcoming new album Unconditional. Available on Spotify, “Your Voice” offers an uplifting message embellished with a three-woman choir and lush arrangement. Kizer will likely showcase more songs from Unconditional at her all-ages matinee show on Sept. 27 at the Epiphany Center for the Arts in Chicago.
This year’s YippieFest 2026, will take place October 9 – 11 at The Conservatory venue on Chicago’s north side. As in previous years, the event will offer various types of shows, There will be a few acoustic sets. Variety acts involving puppets, dance, and performance art.
Jeff Tweedy has a third outdoor solo acoustic show coming this fall at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL. He’s now scheduled to perform on September 23, with Max Subar as his special guest. The addition comes after Tweedy sold out his FitzGerald’s gigs on September 24 with special guest Official Claire and September 25 with special guest will be Henry True.
Singer-bassist Herb Eimerman will perform original songs during a solo acoustic set at 3:00 pm at the On The Rocks venue at the Waukegan Harbor in Waukegan, IL on September 13. The band Hindsight will also perform that afternoon. One of songs Eimerman performs will likely be “Designed By You,” a new single he recorded with his grandson guitarist Gavin Eimerman. It’s now available as a free download on the Egomaniac Music Bandcamp page.
Read ‘em and keep. I recently received my copy of Issue #23 of Second Scene, which includes articles on The Monochrome Set; Joan As Police Woman; The Lemon Twigs; The Dream Syndicate; The Long Ryders, and numerous other bands. If you enjoy getting rock and roll information via printed indie rock music newspapers with colorful, eye-catching layouts, this Pittsburgh, PA publication, led by editor-in-chief Tim Thomas will make you smile. Second Scene is available through its Bandcamp page.
