Sep 6, 2012
Today is the last day to get pre-sale tickets for the 2012 edition of Shoe Fest. The concept behind this local festival is a simple one: build the lineup like an invite to a family reunion. Bring together friends and like minded musical spirits from around the Chicago area and Midwest. These are the bands and...
Jul 12, 2012
Words & Photos: Dave WecksteinThe best Super Jams are representative of what can be achieved on a whim when you mix together the right ingredients -- classic songs performed by some of your favorite musicians in a truly collaborative setting. While the concept was just getting its legs for its first installment this past winter,...
Jun 19, 2012
Words and Photos: Dave WecksteinI have arrived at two certainties today. One: I have some new favorite grub -- I write this review after having experienced for the first time the splendor that is Kitschn Diners chicken and waffles. Two: I think my breakfast choice was influenced by hearing the debut of Shoe Groove, a...
Jun 15, 2012
Both Old Shoe and Family Groove Company will both be playing next weekend's Stranger Danger Festival, which means you won't be seeing the in Chicago this week. But when a good friend of the bands has a birthday that falls a week before the fest, what can they do?Super Group!Performing live for the...
Jun 6, 2012
North Coast Music Festival, the Labor Day weekend event entering its third year in Chicago's Union Park has staked its reputation on eclectic lineups and an outside-the-mainstream sensibility. But while the inaugural festival in 2010 seemed to carve out a spot for edgier and crossover jambands, last year's lineup seemed heavily tilted towards EDM. It seemed...
May 4, 2012
We are so very pleased to be able to feature this incredible photo set, courtesy of Norman Sands, that has totally captured the spirit and energy of this Chicago event.For more on this show, see Dave Weckstein's thoughtful review on jambands.com or view the full setlists and listen some audio from this show...
Apr 24, 2012
It was a FULL night of music as this traveling roadshow hit the Vic -- with the bands hitting the right notes, from FGC's opening song tip-of-the-cap to Levon Helm to a collaborative encore; with cover nods to Steely Dan, U2, Grateful Dead, The Beatles and Paul Simon along the way. Here's a summary of...
Mar 16, 2012
One of the best parts of running a blog like The Barn Presents is that occasionally you get turned on to music in some of the most interesting ways. A few months ago when Danny Van Deurm left a short message on The Barn's facebook wall, advising me to check out his band, Bonzo Terks,...
Feb 8, 2012
If you thought Matt Butler and the Everyone Orchestra had cornered the market on large-band improvisational experiments, clear a spot on the calendar for Thursday, February 9th at the Abbey Pub.That marks the debut of Full Court Press, an improvisational experiment, drawing from an all star lineup of jam-friendly musicians sourced from right here...
Feb 1, 2012
Dedication. Hard work. Vision. Networking. All words often associated with success in business, but they equally apply to the way that Jim Boukas has built up a Chicagoland jamband empire of sorts over the last seven years. By constantly tweaking the formula, breaking new ground, trying his hand at new things and fostering relationships with...