Dancin in the moonlight
– Whether you believe you can dance, there’s something reassuring about being surrounded by people who might be worse than you. And like it or not, that’s a lot of the charm of Chicago Summerdance, which kicks off another season of outdoor shimmying. The first night, which is Thursday, will feature African dance, to the sounds of the Chicago Afrobeat Orchestra.
Yep, that’s right … tourists, young, old, anybody who happens by, shakin’ their moneymakers Afro-style.
Over the season, 43 bands will be featured, from funk to klezmer, with a dance style for each. What’s not to like? Also new this year are dance contests and trips to four neighborhoods.
If you’re feeling really confident, you can take lessons on June 16 from Jesse DeSoto and Jackie Josephs, of ABC’s hit show “Dancing With the Stars.”
So ask yourself … are you feeling plucky?
CHICAGO SUMMERDANCE
When: Thursday through Aug. 26
Where: Locations vary
Price: Free; 312-742-4007 or chicagosummerdance.org
Sweet blues to turn tourists into purists
– It’s Blues Fest time again, when you and more than 500,000 of your closest friends can gather, drink and hear free blues. Chicago isn’t the blues town it used to be, when you could hear the real deal everywhere. But that doesn’t mean Blues Fest can’t rock the house.
We kicked it off in last week’s On the Town with an enthusiastic recommendation of Thursday’s headliner, Koko Taylor. Here are our choices for the rest of the fest:
More Top Picks Drones
FRIDAY
If Chicago blues has a for-real iconography, Johnnie Mae Dunson (above) is part of it. If the gutbucket voice doesn’t grab you, know that she’s also written songs for Muddy Waters. Now in her mid-80s, we hear she’s still bringing the noise.
SATURDAY
Commercialized, tourist blues is the sickness, and Magic Slim is the antidote. His fingers fly and the fun is always abundant as this performer’s sets that feel more like parties than concerts.
SUNDAY
Bow down in the face of greatness. Tribune to Wolf (as in Howlin’ Wolf) will feature killers such as Hubert Sumlin and James Cotton as part of a 10-man tribute. They aren’t billing this as a cutting contest, but come on … you know better.
CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL
When: Through Sunday
Where: Petrillo Music Shell, Grant Park, Columbus Drive and Jackson Boulevard
Price: Free; 312-744-3315