The curated weekend is here and it's a big one! So big in fact that there are quite a few events in the calendar that just couldn't fit into this list. So after you peruse these carefully selected events including concerts, comedy, art, and craft shows, check out the rest of the calendar for more things to do this weekend!
Let's get on with your curated weekend!
THURSDAY, MAY 10th
Eric B & Rakim The Technique Tour @ The Patio Theatre, 6008 W Irving Park Rd., 7:00pm, 18+
WHAT: The ultimate hip hop reunion tour
SO WHAT: Eric B and Rakim‘s
Paid in Full has become synonymous with”one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time”. It’s staying power and influence is enormous and this reunion tour will see them perform the seminal album and the rest of their amazing catalog!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $35 for general admission, $65 for VIP
MISSION: Elbo Room: Fay Ray, Flow Tone, Fiona Kimble, Stephen James @ The Elbo Room, 2871 N Lincoln Ave., 7:00pm, 21+
WHAT: A mission to discover otherworldly local(ish) tunes
SO WHAT: Join Elbo room on the sonic exploration of the local music scene. You’ll get to see the likes of
Fay Ray and their jazzy and funky soul music, the progress pop rock of
Flowtone, singer songwriter
Fiona Kimble‘s amazing voice, and
Stephen James‘ blend of rock, jazz and punk!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $10 for this stacked lineup!
FRIDAY, MAY 11th
Funny Ha Ha: Oh, Mother @ The Hideout, 1354 W Wabansia Ave, 6:30pm, 21+
WHAT: A motherly installment of this literary humor reading series
SO WHAT: This edition of Funny Ha Ha, h
osted by Claire Zulkey, will feature a bevy of local writers including Stoop Storytelling series producer and host Lily Be Actress, storyteller and comedian Julia Sweeney, Blum Chicago journalist Cassie Walker Burke, Windy City Rollers founder Elizabeth Gomez, writer, editor, & dance party enthusiast Jennon Bell Hoffman, “The Wrong Way To Save Your Life” author Megan Stielstra, and Official Steve Martin acquaintance Steve Delahoyde.
NOW WHAT:
There is a $10 donation and proceeds will benefit Sit Stay Read
Flora Fauna Group Art Show @ Sideshow Gallery, 2219 N Western Ave, 7:00pm -11:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: Awaken you from the winter slumber! The annual spring emergence will be upon us.
SO WHAT: Come celebrate everything that is blossoming and new with Sideshow Gallery’s Flora Fauna group art show. 25 artists will be showcasing everything from jewelry, fiber arts, floral installations and mixed media as you will be transported to an ethereal garden.
NOW WHAT: The show is free!
Kitten Forever / OvefOw / Vacuum @ Happy Gallery, 902 N California Ave., 7:00pm
WHAT: Sharp sounds from some bad ass bands
SO WHAT: Minneapolis based group
Kitten Forever will be stopping by Humboldt Park’s Happy Gallery for an unforgettable evening tunes rooted in a riot grrrl legacy. Joining Kitten Forever will be Chicago’s
Ovef-ow with their formidable post punk new wave surf sounds and Chicago’s premium silky smooth punk trio
Vacuum adding even more
NOW WHAT: Bring $5 donation for the artists and have a fantastic time!
Harold Green Presents: Flowers for the Living 2018 @ The Promontory, 311 S Lake Park Ave, 7:00pm- 10:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: An evening of amazing local talent at the
Promontory!
SO WHAT: Harold Green and his FFTL (Flowers for the Living) Collective are back for another great show. This dynamic will feature the best musicians/poets/artists that Chicago has to offer doing something a little special.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $25 for GA and $30 for table seats for this interesting and eclectic night.
Sunflower Bean & Dream Wife @ Lincoln Hall, 2424 N Lincoln Ave., 9:00pm, 18+
WHAT: Excellent bands for your Friday night
SO WHAT: New York trio
Sunflower Bean just released their sophomore record
Twentytwo in Blue, which stays true to their guitar band core and classic rock-inspired roots, but also branches out toward new sonic textures with more direct and progressive themes. Joining them will be
Dream Wife and their indie pop gems.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $15 for this excellent night!
Midwest Connect Residency: Esso Afrojam Funkbeat / Immigré / Puerko Yakaa Yayauhqui Pitzotl @ Emporium Arcade Bar Wicker Park, 1366 N Milwaukee Ave., 9:00pm, 21+
WHAT: Once a month “El Sonido Sonic Octopus” invites their favorite bands and brethren from around the Midwest to come to
Emporium Chicago and get down to rep their cities
SO WHAT: Esso Afrojam Funkbeat takes elements of world music and brings them into a local preservative, adding in beautiful urban poetry and glorious group singing. Joining them will be the big afropunk band
Immigré and Puerkoplooza playing along with members of Los Vicios de Papá, Doum Sound, and Ecos Del Pacifico Afrocolombia
NOW WHAT: The show is free! Plus,
RSVP here for 10 free game tokens!
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, MAY 12th & 13th
Renegade Craft Fair @ Halsted St. in Pilsen, 18th Street & Halsted, 11:00am - 6:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: A craft fair focused on independent makers.
SO WHAT: Well over 150 independent crafters and makers will be at this
Renegade Craft Fair celebrating DIY spirit for two amazing days
celebrating Mother’s Day. There will be DJ sets by Lumpen Radio and Reckless Records, art installations by Avrocomy and Polly Yates of numbskullduggery, spruce up with plants from Welltended, play games with Chicago Public Library, and more!
NOW WHAT: The event is free and open to the public. The fair will be on Halsted St. in Pilsen Between W 18th St. and S Canalport Ave., giving you a great spot to shop and support DIY crafters.
Pilsen Murals Walking Tour @ Mexican Fine Arts Museum, 1852 W 19th St., 2:00pm - 4:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: Explore your surrounding in this historic neighborhood
SO WHAT: Walk through Pilsen with guide Luis Tubens and get the larger meaning behind the artwork in Chicago’s capital of Mexican culture. You’ll begin to see the street art in the area with a new perspective, one rooted in more than fifteen years of experience in the neighborhood art and sociopolitical world. The tour weaves the history of Pilsen with vibrant large-scale murals and truly lived personal experiences.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $20 and the tour features about a mil of walking, so get you comfiest shows and discover what street art Pilsen has to offer!
SATURDAY, MAY 12th
Andrew W.K. & The Kickback @ The Vic, 3145 N Sheffield Ave., 7:00pm, 18+
WHAT: "ON SATURDAY, WE PARTY." - Andrew W.K.
SO WHAT: Seriously? I have to ask that every so often because some show just speak for themselves. This is
Andrew W.K. It's going to be a party. You like to party. Go and party.
The Kickback will be there too. Party with them, too.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $25! PARTY!
Praise + Punk - Mucca Pazza vs. Chicago Sinfonietta @ Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E Chicago Ave., Naperville, IL, 8:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: A (musical) war to the (musical) death!
SO WHAT: Chicago Sinfonietta is ending their 30th anniversary season with a concert mashup that puts gospel, classical, and a nonconformist marching band in one epic program that turns the love-themed concert on its head.They will team up with Apostolic Church of God Sanctuary Choir during the first half and then have a rematch against Mucca Pazza to the tune of Prokofiev’s
Romeo and Juliet Suite with Prokofiev’s original, rarely-performed, censored-by-Stalin happy ending!in the second half. It will also feature the premiere of a brand new orchestral arrangement of Mucca tune
War of Amusements!
NOW WHAT: Tickets start at range from $49-62 for this unique event!
Speedy Ortiz / Nnamdi Ogbonnaya / Didi @ Subterranean, 2011 W North Ave., 9:00pm, 21+,
WHAT: The best way to spend your Saturday night
SO WHAT:
Speedy Ortiz is back with a new album of angry rock songs. After scrapping what Sadie Dupuis (the band’s formidable leader) called the “personal/lovey dovey” songs that what would have been their third album, Speedy Ortiz crafted an entirely new set of songs over the span of four months. The results are a witty, social conscious rock song that you’ll want to experience live. They will be joined by the genre melting
Nnamdi Ogbonnaya and the noisy pop goodness from
Didi!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $15 for this amazing lineup
SUNDAY, MAY 13th
Third Coast Percussion @ Thalia Hall, 1807 S Allport St, 7:30pm, All Ages
WHAT: A local award winning outfit doing their thing at the beautiful Thalia Hall
SO WHAT: Grammy award winners Third Coast Percussion to perform works by Philip Glass, Jacob Druckman, and a traditional Shona song.
Check out our feature of the amazing performers before you head to the show!
NOW WHAT: Tickets start at $23 for this wonderful show
Spaceface / Faux Furrs / The Voluptuals @ Schubas, 3159 N Southport Ave., 8:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: Three awesome bands giving you a taste of psychedelia
SO WHAT: Spaceface,
led by Jake Ingalls who also plays guitar and synthesizer in The Flaming Lips, are the kind of psych rock band you need to experience. A nice throwback to 70s rock mixed with modern day pop sensibilities, Spaceface’s tunes will get stuck in your head and you’ll be happy they did. Joining them will be a pair of local psych purveyors
Faux Furrs &
The Voluptuals!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door!
