The Pritzker Pavillion in Millennium Park is truly a beautiful space with unparalleled sound for an outdoor arena. Now, don't get me started on how much the entire park cost the future of Chicago or that it was ultimately a prestige project leveraged by our Mayor-for-life King Daley in a unprecedented half-assed bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Now that I got that off my chest...Since I, my children and their children's children are paying for it, I may as well enjoy it. In the past, the Pritzker Pavillion has featured critic darlings such as The Dirty Projectors and The Decemberists. After looking at this year's list, I think the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs may have set a new benchmark in cool and launched what may become a Chicago summertime tradition.
They are calling it New Music Monday. Covering sounds from punk, pop, alt-country, gospel, electronica, neo-tropical, space-rock, Afrobeat and hip-hop, this is a unparalleled collection of quality and variety this side of your $150 summer festival set. I think my Monday nights from late May to July are pretty much set.
Check out the Millennium Park website for details.
May 24 6:30pm The Besnard Lakes with The Ponys
May 31 6:30pm Hum with Volcano!
June 7 6:30pm She & Him with The Hollows
June 14 6:30pm Tony Allen with Great Lake Swimmers
June 21 7:30pm The Books with Via Tania
June 28 7:30pm Huntsville with On Fillmore featuring Nels Cline
July 5 6:30pm The Thermals with Disappears
July 12 6:30pm Caribou with The Budos Band
July 19 6:30pm Kid Sister with Konono N°1
July 26 6:30pm Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens with Bomba Estéreo
