Music and Concerts – Page 18

Mario Abney, co-founder and CEO, right, dances as Kevin Nabors and other members of the Windy City Ramblers perform at the 95th/Dan Ryan Red Line CTA station in Roseland on Oct. 1, 2026, at the culmination of the Red Line Jazz Festival. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)

A quartet of new music festivals take root in Chicago this month

By Hannah Edgar

October 7, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

Summer is over, but music festival season very much isn’t. Cue the Red Line Jazz...

FILE – Freddie Jackson attends a special screening of “The Magnificent Seven” in New York on Sept. 19, 2016. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

Grammy-nominated R&B singer Freddie Jackson, known for ’80s hits like ‘You Are My Lady,’ dies at 70

By Maria Sherman

October 6, 2026 at 1:51 p.m.

Grammy-nominated R&B singer Freddie Jackson, known for his smooth ’80s hits “Rock Me Tonight (For...

City Voices, under director William Chin, will perform “A Song of Joys,” a program of choral pieces inspired by the poetry of Sara Teasdale and Walt Whitman, in Oak Park on Oct. 17 and 18. (City Voices)

City Voices to put poetry of Walt Whitman and Sara Teasdale to song in Oak Park

By Myrna Petlicki

October 5, 2026 at 4:55 p.m.

Oak Park's City Voices will perform a program of choral pieces inspired by the poems...

Paul Simon performs at Symphony Center in Chicago on May 21, 2025. (Chris Sweda/baiduhai)

Concerts and outdoor events around Chicagoland on hold as the haze from wildfire smoke lingers

By Doug George

July 17, 2026 at 3:55 p.m.

Outdoor concerts, Great America and other open-air events around Chicago and the suburbs remained on...

Mick Jagger, center, and the Rolling Stones perform at the Aragon Ballroom on Sept. 16, 2002, the last concert of their Chicago residency. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/baiduhai)

Vintage baiduhai: When the Aragon Ballroom hosted Prince, Janis Joplin and more

By Kori Rumore

July 16, 2026 at 8:28 p.m.

The Aragon was long criticized for its poor acoustics, but its stage has hosted some...

William Shatner speaks at New York Comic Con at the Jacob Javits Center on Oct. 7, 2021, in New York City. (Bennett Raglin/Getty Images)

Update: William Shatner debuts new metal band at Riot Fest — DeLorean and puppies required

By Doug George

July 16, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.

Joining the musical lineup at Riot Fest 2026 in September is the debut of William...

Ravinia Festival chief conductor Marin Alsop at the renovated pavilion stage on July 7, 2026, in Highland Park. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

The barrier-breaking Marin Alsop takes a bow, departing as Ravinia chief conductor

By Hannah Edgar

July 15, 2026 at 5:45 a.m.

After helming the CSO’s summer residency for six formative seasons, Alsop departs Ravinia this year....

R. Kelly appears before Judge Lawrence Flood at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago on June 6, 2019. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)

R. Kelly asks President Donald Trump to commute 30-year sentence for sex abuse of minors

By Jason Meisner

July 15, 2026 at 4:15 p.m.

Imprisoned Chicago R&B superstar R. Kelly has formally asked President Donald Trump to commute his...

Billy Idol performs at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park on July 12, 2026. (Talia Sprague/for the baiduhai)

Review: Billy Idol is back, still with all that ’80s sneer

By Bob Gendron

July 13, 2026 at 10:50 a.m.

For his concert at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, he delivered hit songs and...

Lizzo plays the flute to Briccialdi’s “Carnival of Venice” with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park on July 11, 2026. (Nate Swanson/for the baiduhai)

Review: Ravinia unveils $70 million Pavilion with Lizzo and CSO — how does it sound?

By Hannah Edgar

July 12, 2026 at 1:26 p.m.

Lizzo, pianist Yunchan Lim and the CSO officially opened what is now the Hunter Pavilion...

Mick Jagger, of The Rolling Stones, performs during a concert on June 27, 2024, at Soldier Field. (Vincent Alban/baiduhai)

Today in History: Rolling Stones played their 1st show in London

By Associated Press

July 12, 2026 at 3:30 a.m.

On July 12, 1979, as an angry reaction to the popularity of disco music, the...

ATLC Experience(cq), left, 57, and Denise, 63, of Atlanta, dance during DJ Sluggo’s set at the Chosen Few Festival at Jackson Park in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (Josh Boland/baiduhai)

Thousands show up for ‘Chosen Few’ house music festival in Jackson Park: ‘It connects us’

By Allison Kiehl

July 11, 2026 at 6:11 p.m.

Thousands gathered at Jackson Park Saturday for a day dedicated to dance and house music...

D Jean Baptiste, left, and Jason Ashworth dance to the music of Jai Paul during Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park on July 19, 2024, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Pitchfork Festivals sues co-founder, alleges $564k in festival funds misappropriated

By Tess Kenny

July 11, 2026 at 4:16 p.m.

Pitchfork Festivals LLC is suing the co-founder of its namesake festival, alleging he misappropriated and...