Published
Fri, Jun 3, 2011, 15:00
- This season will see Ron Trent, Luke Vibert and others take over the stage of Millennium Park's Pritzker Pavilion.
As summer finally gets into full swing in the Midwest, the City of Chicago will once again offer a variety of free daytime music concerts in Millennium Park.
Chicago has its first new mayor in more than 20 years, and with looming budget problems and a reorganization of the city's Cultural Affairs offices, local music fans were left to wonder if the public arts program, which has greatly expanded its music selections in recent years, was in jeopardy. Fortunately, it looks like there's plenty of fun to be had now that the city has revealed the season's concert schedule.
The music will take place under the arches of Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Admission is always free (aside from the rare special ticketed event) and the pavilion's huge lawn space lets guests bring picnic gear and alcohol (but no smoking is allowed). While there are plenty of evening events-mostly classical and world music performances, as well as an Independence Day event with ambient/post-rock band Seefeel and local psych-rockers Cave-most of the electronic music bookings will take place on Fridays and Saturdays at noon as part of the Lunchbreak Music Series.
The city's own house music scene will be celebrated on Fridays at lunchtime throughout the summer, with Ron Trent spinning a set later today and Frankie Knuckles and Farley Jackmaster Funk slated to appear in the coming months. Saturday's Electric Picnic series will host more experimental-leaning sounds, including an event with Spacetime Continuum, AKA Reagenz member Jonah Sharp, and Cheap And Deep Productions next weekend. Other artists include the UK's eccentric Luke Vibert (AKA Wagon Christ), Ghostly International's Tycho and local Hefty Records artist John Hughes, and the season finale will take the form of a Rephlex Records' 20 year anniversary party (lineup TBA) in early September.
Fri, Jun 3, 2011Ron Trent
Fri, Jun 10, 2011DJ Heather
Sat, Jun 11, 2011Spacetime Continuum
Sat, Jun 18, 2011Luke Vibert
Fri, Jul 1, 2011Frankie Knuckles
Sat, Jul 23, 2011Christopher Willits
Fri, Aug 26, 2011DJ Lady D
Fri, Sep 2, 2011Farley Jackmaster Funk
