FEST ALERT: North By North on The North Stage And More At Milwaukee Arts Fest 6/28

Chi, IL Live Shows on Our Radar:

*North by North playing the North Stage at 5:15PM on June 28.

Click here for our original past North by North photo features/coverage.

 

More of our top picks:

FRI, JUNE 27TH South Stage 5:30pm Damn Choir  (Click here for our original past photo features/coverage)

SAT, JUNE 28TH
North Stage
2:30pm	Black Bear Combo (Click here for our original past photo features/coverage) **5:15pm North By North

SUN, JUNE 29TH

North Stage

**6:45pm  Baliff 

**7:00pm  Archie Powell and the Exports 

Click here for the full Milwaukee Arts Fest lineup.

Great Additions: Funktion Tonight at Schubas and The Damn Choir on 1-16

Funktion's been added as 8pm openers for Midwest Hype tonight.   So if you're 18+, come on out to Schubas and get funked up!   Show details are here.

along with your chance to win a pair of tickets to Schubas for any/all of the next 4 Mondays--Clip Art residency & Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Fest at Congress Theater!

Speaking of sweet additions, The Damn Choir has been added to Clip Art's line up for  1-16!   Check out ChiIL Mama/ChiIL Live Shows photo coverage of their recent show at The Burlington.

Briar Rabbit, Damn Choir and Crane Wives at The Burlington 12-16-11 (photo filled feature)

It was sweet to finally hear all of these guys live, as their reputation preceded them.  Check out our prior coverage here.   It was also our first look at The Burlington's relatively new "back room" concert space in Logan Square (3425 W. Fullerton).   The lights and sound were nothing to write home about, but the intimate space is reminiscent of a basement party at someone's home, in an entirely good way.   They also have a respectable beer selection.   There did seem to be a force field beyond gravity at work in the center of the room, as multiple beer filled glasses hit the floor and shattered in about the same spot, hours apart. 

The Damn Choir 
The band has a unique sound and good chemistry.   Katy Myers on cello was a particular stand out. 
 

Here's the scoop from their site:  
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Genres: Folk / pop / Alternative
Members: Gordon Robertson, Katy Myers, Steve Stokes, Ryan Farnham, Jack McClain

The Damn Choir's use of guitar, cello, keyboards, vocals and drums, along with Gordon Robertson's introspective lyrics, create songs that range from meandering and melancholic to pulsing and vengeful.

The Damn Choir began in January of 2009 on a freezing and fated night in Chicago. Gordon Robertson sat slumped at the bar, drowning his post-horrific-break-up dejected self in whiskey and happened to meet cellist Katy Myers. Although at first Myers rejected Robertson's musical advances, eventually she gave in and agreed to give him a chance.

Within weeks the two were musically inseparable and involved in an (arguably unhealthy) co-dependant friendship. After playing for months under the name, “Gordon and Katy,” the two recorded an album, re-named the band, and began the journey that would lead them to eventually recruiting Sherri Stouffer on keyboards and vocals, and Ryan Farnham on Percussion. The four-piece creates a sound that rises and falls in harmony with the spirit of Robertson’s angst-filled lyrics.   Check 'em out here on Facebook.

This was Briar Rabbit's music video release party and when audio issues prevented the sound from playing on the grand unveiling, the audience prevailed upon the band to play it live.   So what could have been a disastrous derailment turned into serendipity.   His sound is described as folk/indie/pop and you can check it out by clicking on the link above.

You'll have a chance to see Briar Rabbit live again in the near future at one of our fav. local venues, Schubas, along with more great musicians.


Starting on Monday, January 9 2012, Clip Art will headline a weekly residency at Schuba’s Tavern. Each week will feature unique sets, special guests and the finest opening acts Chicago has to offer. Clip Art is led by Andy Rosenstein, keyboard player for JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound.

All shows are 8PM/$6/18+

1/9 - w/ Algebro + Any Kind
1/16 - w/ Dick Prall + Paper Thick Walls
1/23 - w/ Briar Rabbit + The Sometimes Family
1/30 - w/ Baby Teeth + Jennifer Hall

 Photo Credit:  Brad Meese

Play Locally: Winter Circus, Photo Exhibit, Music, and More

Wednesday

 Winter Magic Trunk Show

Thursday

Join us for the Opening Reception of
Snapshot: Inventing the Everyday
Tomorrow night- Dec. 15th

Within the history of photography, snapshots have existed as an amateur sub-genre of fine art photography. But today the age of sophisticated camera phones and social media, when families and friends gather around a computer rather than a photo album, some are reconsidering the snapshots artistic value.                                                                                                                       
We invite you to join us for the opening reception of IALS's first photography exhibition, curated by two of our wonderful contributors, Brooke Herbert Hayes and W. Tanner Young! Stop by and check-out our new storefront, and enjoy some seasonal Revolution Brewing beer and delicious snacks by Ciao & Paper Moon.
 
What: Snapshot: Inventing the Everyday Opening Reception
When: Thursday, December 15, 6-8:30 pm
Where: I Am Logan Square Gallery, 2644 N. Milwaukee Ave

*Be part of the show with Magnolia Booth! Photos taken during the opening reception will be on display for the duration of the exhibition.
**Drinks and treats by Revolution Brewing, Paper Moon Pastry and Ciao Pizzeria

I Am Logan Square is a local, non-profit organization that promotes and increases awareness of the arts while enhancing cultural development in Chicago's vibrant Logan Square neighborhood.

Follow on Facebook and Twitter to find out what arts events are happening in Logan Square!
 

Friday

The Damn Choir/Briar Rabbit/The Crane Wives (21+) at The Burlington

Saturday & Sunday
 Kid Friendly:

Join CircEsteem for a show with villains, damsels in distress, tourists in Hawaiian shirts and...

Super Heroes.

Over 70  kids (including ChiIL Mama's own Sagezilla & Du-Jay) from the Chicago Youth Circus, CircusTeam, HomeWork & CircusWork and our outreach programs will take the stage and dazzle audiences with amazing circus acts including: trapeze, tight wire, gym wheel, unicycle and for the first time in CircEsteem history: Chinese Pole!
 
Tickets are $13 for adults and $8 for kids under 13.

Reserved seats are $35 and reserved parking is $20.  Buy your spots now!!!

Performance tickets and reserved parking can all be purchased through CircEsteem's website.

Can't make it to the show but still want to support CircEsteem? Make a tax-deductible gift online. 

 

**CircEsteem also sells funky, fun circus skills toys--perfect for unique holiday gifts.   They sell diablos, spinning plates, juggling balls & handmade rolla bollas!   They also have stylin' t-shirts & can hook you up with vendors for larger items like silks, trapeezes & even lyra hoops.   Proceeds go to their awesome circus arts programs which unite kids from diverse backgrounds, and are offered on a sliding scale.

 

**Clutter Buster Gift Idea:   Classes are available for adults and kids at CircEsteem.   Give the gift with class--clown, gym wheel, aerials, Chinese Pole, unicycle, stilts, tight wire, acro class...that is.

Sunday

Kid Friendly:    Shayna Sings at Beat Kitchen-holiday show for the 8 & under set.    After Sunday, Concerts for Kids is taking a holiday break, but we'll be back again in January.   ChiIL Mama is happy to sponsor this family friendly fun.   The littles get to rock out and their happy parents can get outta the house and drink some of the seriously best bloody marys in town!   We'll continue to give away free family 4 packs of tickets to all the shows and we'll be at Winter Fest with an instrument "petting zoo" and ChiIL Mama's "Rock Star Photo Booth", so stop by and rock out!

Save the dates:

(All Shows $6 unless stated otherwise)

Dec 18: Shana Sings! Special holiday show
Holiday Break
Jan 8: Ice Cream Vendors
Jan 15: Little Miss Ann Band
Jan 22: The Boogers

Jan 29: Winter Fest, 11am-2pm, $8
Featuring Mary Macaroni, Sarah Parker, The Storybook Mom and Istvan & His Imaginary Band