In Chicago, when the warm weather comes, seemingly every nook, niche, and neighborhood throws its own street fair. In the old days, you could expect cover bands and locals only playing to the fried-cheese crowd, but increasingly neighborhood fests are partnering with actual music biz types to draw top-notch bookings. Add to these the bigger spectacles of Blues Fest or Pitchfork and you could practically have the majority of your weekends planned through September. Below are our picks. —Kevin Warwick
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Chicago Blues Fest Featured artists include James Cotton, Otis Taylor, Bobby Parker, Hubert Sumlin, and Guitar Shorty. The Petrillo Music Shell hosts an homage to Chicago blues each night, including a Zora Young tribute to Howlin’ Wolf on Friday, a living history of Chicago blues with Billy Boy Arnold, Billy Branch, and John Primer on Saturday, and a “Chicago Blues Reunion” featuring Barry Goldberg, Corky Siegel, and Nick Gravenites on Sunday. 6/11-6/13, 11:30 AM-9:30 PM, Grant Park, Columbus and Jackson, 312-744-3315, chicagobluesfestival.us.
Ribfest Chicago The rib spectacular offers an impressive cast of headliners on two stages, including Califone, the Whigs, Bottle Rockets, and Langhorne Slim. Those Darlins, Generationals, These United States, and Robbie Fulks also perform. 6/11-6/13, Fri 5-10 PM, Sat noon-10 PM, Sun noon-5 PM, Lincoln between Irving Park and Warner, ribfest-chicago.com, $5 suggested donation.
Green Music Fest Eco-friendly weekend with music by the Wailers, the Aggrolites, David Bazan, Cloud Cult, Maps & Atlases, and Fang Island. 6/26-6/27, noon-10 PM, Chicago between Ashland and Noble, greenmusicfestchicago.com, $5 suggested donation.
West Fest In addition to a music lineup programmed by the Empty Bottle with Fucked Up, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Small Black, Class Actress, and Bloodiest, the West Town festival also incorporates PUPfest (Protecting Urban Pets), with educational materials on pet training and health, free product samples, and a charity dog wash. 7/10-7/11, noon-10 PM, 312-850-9390, Chicago between Damen and Wood, westfestchicago.com, $5 suggested donation.
Neon Marshmallow Fest The experimental/noise fest’s inaugural edition features performances by Government Alpha, Astral Social Club, Noveller, Unfact, Emeralds, Keith Fullerton Whitman, Carlos Giffoni, and U.S. Girls. 8/19-8/22, Viaduct Theater, 3111 N. Western, 773-296-6024, neonmarshmallowfest.com, four-day pass $75, single-day passes on sale June 5.
