RIOT FEST SECOND WAVE ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENTS

  
ANDREW W.K., MINUS THE BEAR, NEON TREES, HOT WATER MUSIC, THE ADICTS, PEGBOY, IMAGINE DRAGONS, DEAD SARA AND MORE JOIN

OVER 40 ACTS INCLUDING:

RISE AGAINST, IGGY AND THE STOOGES, ELVIS COSTELLO, DESCENDENTS, JESUS AND MARY CHAIN, THE OFFSPRING, A DAY TO REMEMBER, DROPKICK MURPHYS MORE ARTISTS AND AFTER-PARTIES TO BE ANNOUNCED

 
Here at ChiIL Live Shows/ ChiIL Mama, Riot Fest is one of our all time, annual favorites!!   ChiIL Live Shows has been there every year since Riot Fest started!  Check out our live show shots from some of last years' best below.   This year looks to be even better, with an expanded outdoor fest component for the first time.   As always, the outdoor and Congress Shows are all ages.   Click here for our prior 2012 coverage.

Check out ChiIL Live Shows (free downloads, original pit photos, band video interviews and live show footage) and ChiIL Mama (alt punk parenting) for loads of coverage from Riot Fest 2010 & 2011.  Bring your punk kin & banger babies.   All Riot Fest shows are all ages unless stated otherwise.  If we can walk together why can't we rock together!  


Riot Fest 2011-ChiIL Live Shows original live show shots-click the links below:

Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg-AAA
Suicide Machines-AAA
X-Bottom Lounge
Social Distortion-Congress 
Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band-Congress 
7 Seconds-Bottom Lounge

http://www.chiilmama.com/2011/10/mellow-yellow-monday-chiilin-at-riot.html

http://www.chiilmama.com/2011/06/riot-fest-with-danzig-legacy-reunion.html







DAY-BY –DAY LINE UP ANNOUNCED FOR EIGHTH ANNUAL

RIOT FEST & CARNIVAL IN CHICAGO

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 AT CONGRESS THEATER,

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 AND SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 AT HUMBOLDT PARK

**SINGLE DAY TICKETS ON SALE TODAY (WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20) AT 10:00 AM**


The day-by-day line-up for the RIOT FEST & CARNIVAL in Chicago is now revealed. Rise Against, Descendents, Coheed and Cambria, Dropkick Murphys, The Gaslight Anthem, Andrew W.K. (full band), Minus The Bear, Frank Turner and more lead the Saturday bill, while Iggy and the Stooges, Elvis Costello, A Day To Remember, Gogol Bordello, NOFX, Alkaline Trio, Jesus and Mary Chain and more close out Sunday night. The previously announced 30 acts will now be joined by Andrew W.K., Minus The Bear, Neon Trees, Hot Water Music, The Adicts, Pegboy, Imagine Dragons, Dead Sara, Fireworks, Henry Clay People, The Infected and many more to come (full line-up by day listed below).

Single-day tickets are on sale today at 10:00 AM at: www.riotfest.com/chicago.   2-day passes and 3-day passes which include all shows at Humboldt Park and Congress Theater as well as after-parties are now nearly sold-out. VIP passes, which include private stage-viewing areas, drinks and more options, are available at: www.riotfest.org/chicago.

 

Last month RIOT FEST & CARNIVAL announced it will expand for the first-time ever into an outdoor music event and carnival in 2012 in its hometown of Chicago. The festival is set for Friday, September 14 at Congress Theater and Saturday, September 15 and Sunday, September 16 on the beautiful grounds of Humboldt Park which boasts rolling fields, pavilions, tall trees, picturesque gardens a lake and lagoons with a majestic view of the Chicago skyline. 

Flanked by a handful of hip neighborhoods including Wicker Park and the Division Street corridor, Humboldt Park will accommodate the large carnival atmosphere featuring three main music stages, thrilling rides, games, vendors and gourmet food trucks on the park grounds with stunning views of downtown Chicago. With temperatures averaging around a perfect 75°F/24°C, September is one of Chicago’s most popular months for travelers from all over the world.

The day-to day breakdown for RIOT FEST & CARNIVAL in Chicago is as follows:

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 at Congress Theater: The Offspring; Neon Trees; Pegboy; Dead Sara.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 in Humboldt Park: Rise Against, Descendents, Coheed and Cambria, Dropkick Murphys, The Gaslight Anthem, Slapstick, Hot Water Music, Andrew W.K., Minus The Bear, Less Than Jake, GWAR, August Burns Red, Frank Turner, The Adicts, Nobunny, A Whilhelm Scream, Teenage Bottlerocket, Screaming Females, Off With Their Heads, Deals Gone Bad, Larry and His Flask, The Story So Far, Environmental Encroachment, Fireworks and more to be announced.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 in Humboldt Park: Iggy and the Stooges, Elvis Costello, A Day To Remember, Gogol Bordello, NOFX, Alkaline Trio, The Jesus and Mary Chain, AWOLNATION, The Promise Ring, Chiodos, Built To Spill, Imagine Dragons, Reverend Horton Heat, Fishbone, Screaming Females, White Mystery, The Henry Clay People, Sister Crayon, Japanther, The Infected, Environmental Encroachment and more to be announced.

Now in its eighth year RIOT FEST–the music festival which celebrates rock, indie, punk and underground artists from every era--recently announced the festival will head to multiple cities including next month’s Philadelphia, PA show July 19 at Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing, Brooklyn, NY on September 8 at Williamsburg Park, Toronto, ON on September 9 at Fort York: Garrison Common and Dallas, TX on September 22 at Gexa Energy Pavilion. Previously announced Riot Fest 2012 shows include next and the flagship the 3-day RIOT FEST & CARNIVAL in Chicago, IL on September 14, 15 and 16 at Humboldt Park and Congress Theater. A wide array of confirmed talent is on tap for the RIOT FEST events in every city. For full lineups, visit: www.riotfest.org.

 

Follow ChiIL Live Shows, for original live show shots, original band video interviews, free tickets, downloads, and tour info for Chi, IL and beyond:

http://chiilliveshows.com/ subscribe by RSS or see us in your in box (sign up on the right side bar) 

ChiIL Live Shows Facebook Page

ChiIL Live Shows Twitter

For up to date information regarding all RIOT FEST events, follow online at:

www.riotfest.org

https://www.facebook.com/RiotFest1

http://twitter.com/#!/riotfest


About Riot Fest:

RIOT FEST is the brainchild of promoters Michael Petryshyn and Sean McKeough who launched the first Riot Fest in fall of 2005 throughout multiple music venues in Chicago, IL.  

Riot Fest brings fans of all ages together to celebrate rock, indie and punk from every era. The fest has become well-known for reuniting influential underground artists and has quickly become one of the top music destination festivals in the U.S. for fans.

Cubs Priceless Adventure-Mastercard #photo & video filled recap

When people ask me Cubs or Sox, I always say Blackhawks.   

So, even though hockey's on ice (or rather off ice) for the season, my heart still belongs to The Blackhawks.   I was surprised and happy to hear the old school Hawks theme song and see their iconic indian head represented on the screens between innings, when I went to see The Cubs play on 5/29 and 6/13.   



I even saw Hawks fans proudly showing their true colors among all the Cubbies red white & blue.   Maybe these hybrid Hawks/Cubs fans are "hubs", eh?  Better than the alternate.   Hee hee.

 

That said, when we were invited to a special Cubs day ON Wrigley Field with other members of the press, bloggers and Mastercard Priceless Cubs Pledge winners, we said an emphatic, YES!  




 


We were invited to:

*bat and catch with the coaches

*take a few swings in the batting cage behind the ivy, then keep a ball and get it signed by the coaches

  
 

*dine in style at the Stadium Club

*AND catch a free night game--Cubs V. Tigers

My kids tease me for saying WOO HOO and awesomely awesome......but even as a writer, I can't think of anything else that better sums up our day ON Wrigley Field.    It was indeed awesomely awesome!   Woo Hoo!!

Check out Du-Jay tossing a few balls and getting some great pointers from the pros!!






Then see him passing along his new found wisdom to little sister...priceless!

My Dad was born and raised in Rogers Park and has remained a life long Cubs fan since 1938.
  
 
       Here's my dad, Richard Rosene, as a child in the 40's


Even though he lives two states away now, he still fervently follows The Cubs.  He also fondly tells stories of taking the el down to games as a child in the 40's.  He remembers sitting in the bleacher seats and his dad buying the kids lemonade, but he never saw a game from anywhere but the cheap seats.  

His art work from April 1947--entitled "Ballgame" 

So, it was especially thrilling for him to see his grandson and granddaughter have a rockin' opportunity like this! 





 The kids dug being on the flipside of the infamous ivy....







 
 


And walking in the footsteps of the pros... 





They also enjoyed getting to keep a ball and get it signed by the coaches! 

It was a highlight getting photographs in "the circle" and hanging out with old and new blogger and press friends. 




 

Dinner was a huge hit....especially the carry out cups full of gummy bears and M & M's for the game. 
 

   

Sagezilla even got a chef's hat from the writer of "Reading Between the Vines".

   

You too can enter to win a priceless experience by submitting your own Cubs pledge & then proof, by clicking the link right here, but do it now.   The contest closes on June 24th!!    

 

It can be silly, embarrassing, humanitarian or hard to do.
  


Be creative.

I pledged to donate 1 bag of kids clothes and toys to a womens' shelter or soup kitchen for every Cubs win to date as of 6/13 (21).  We're filling 'em up and sharing our stuff.   I figure that good karma's a win win situation.   My husband's just thrilled we're clearing the clutter.

My kids are more likely to juggle a ball than hit one with a bat.    They're becoming accomplished circus performers with CircEsteem, Chicago's premier youth circus.  They offer sliding scale classes in circus arts to kids from all income levels and neighborhoods across Chicago.  The team kids have even done circus exchange programs with kids in Africa and Germany, trading off hosting and traveling abroad! 

When I asked Sagezilla (9) and Du-Jay (11) what they would pledge to do in support of The Cubs, they eagerly and excitedly planned a few circus tricks to do ON Wrigley Field.    That way their kid energy and enthusiasm will infuse the field and linger there, boosting the Cubs players' stamina, flexibility, and enthusiasm!!

Du-Jay (11) pledged to juggle 3 balls 20 times while Sagezilla (9) did back walkovers ON Wrigley Field.  See ChiIL Mama's kids fulfill their pledge right here!

*Disclosure:   Thanks a million to Mastercard for providing this opportunity for us.   The memories we made and the photos and video we shot that day are truly priceless!

Mucca Pazza-A Vodka Infused Woolly Good Time! #album review #live show shots

Mucca Pazza blew the roof off The Hideout last Tuesday, June 12th, in a sold out, sneak peek/album release party for Safety Fifth, now out on Electric Cowbell.   Check out their main site for more of a taste of Chi-Town's punk rock marching band.

ChiIL Mama has caught their head muckety muck, Mark Messing, for video interviews twice at Chicago Children's Theatre--once in a duo with Brian Selznick, author/illustrator of Hugo Cabret.  (Brian's book was the basis for Oscar Award winning hit movie, Hugo, and The Houdini Box play.)  

The other Mark Messing/ ChiIL Mama interview is in a duo with genius director, David Kersnar, in an amusingly Ernie and Bert-like bed interview on the set of Goodnight Moon!   Check them both out by clicking the links above.

Mark is the mad maestro and musical mastermind behind Mucca Pazza and the scores to numerous musicals and plays including the critically acclaimed Hunchback Variations.




Freaky Facts:

We shot the heck out of their live show, but didn't try to do anything as formal as an interview at The Hideout.   But I did have a few burning questions that Mark Messing and one of the girls were happy to enlighten me on.

ChiIL Live Shows:   Does anyone have their old uniforms from school bands they actually used to BE in back in the day?  

Mucca Girl:   Yeah, one guy does, but he has to remain anonymous because technically he stole it....  

CLS:  Where do the others all come from?   

Mucca Girl:   We've had good luck finding cheap ones on Ebay.   Sometimes when a band is doing new uniforms they'll contact us and ask if we want their old ones.   Or sometimes thrift stores.   The wool hats are handmade, new for us, though.  

CLS:  You must be roasting!  

Mucca Girl:   Yeah, I'm ready to change outta this!  Most of the costumes are wool and really hot.   I dry cleaned mine recently and it was still a little stinky.  

Mark Messing:   We spray all the costumes with Vodka, to keep down the funk.  

CLS:   Wow!   Vodka, huh.   Does that work?!  

Mucca Girl:   Not always, but it definitely helps.  

CLS:   Maybe with all that vodka soaked wool seeping into your pores, the costumes are still ripe, but you just don't notice or mind so much anymore, eh?  

 

There was plenty of funk (of the good kind) to go around at Hideout, and Mucca Pazza certainly didn't stink up the joint.


Space was at a premium and the band created some serious heat with their hot new material, but no one was complaining.   Mucca Pazza worked the space well--splitting the sizable (30 member) band to border three sides of the rectangular room, encompassing their captive audience and narrowly missing a few noggins with their brass trombones.  They even managed to "march" around a bit in the friendly confines....swapping sides and wending through the crowd.   I think I got goosed a couple of times by caution tape pom pom flinging cheerleaders.  Fun fun!   Been there...shot that...bought the t-shirt.

We snagged a press preview of their new album, Safety Fifth (Electric Cowbell), and have been thoroughly enjoying it!     

Mucca Pazza--Italian for crazy cow or mad cow--is always high energy, wabi sabi, and entirely endearing.   Over the years, we've seen them play to a zombie cast, rock out on top of a paper mache elephant?! and even march into a port-a-let with a sousaphone!!   They're a must see live, but they can't play every night.   And when you're jonesing for more Mucca, Safety Fifth can fill the void!

Their third disc can't help but make listeners grin ear to ear.   The drums and all the horns make the band, but we also dig all the eclectics like mandolin, glockenspiel, violin, and of course, the accordion.   Mucca Pazza defies easy classification with whiffs of New Orleans brass carousing around with Balkan folk, surf, reggae, marching band, gypsy, jazz, and the kitchen sink.   Mucca Pazza is....seriously talented musicians, being seriously funny, while having some serious fun.   Highly recommended.   Just don't lick the uniforms......

**Check them out SOON.   They're playing a FREE ALL AGES SHOW at Garfield Park Conservatory at 6:40 on 6/20.  Go already!!**

Dying Fetus Reign Supreme Album Out Tomorrow-Streaming Link, Contest & Tour Dates

DYING FETUS' new album Reign Supreme will receive its long awaited release tomorrow June 19th via Relapse Records. Today Metal Sucks is hosting an exclusive full album stream of Reign Supreme. Check out the entire record HERE  and be sure to order your copy HERE.


Reign Supreme should find its place in any avid fan of technical/brutal death metal fan's collection
-Metal Injection-

The originators of deathcore are clearly here to stay.
-Stereo Killer-

ChiIL Live Shows was set to do a video interview with Dying Fetus, when they played Reggies' in Chicago last week, but a 9 year with the stomach flu put a wrench in the works at the final hour.   Things were pretty sick around here, and not in the good way.....We'll make it up to you next time you swing through Chi-Town.   We do have a sweet video interview and live show shots with their openers, Revocation, from their Ultra Lounge & Bottom Lounge gigs a few months back.

Reign Supreme features nine tracks and is a "return to roots" with production focused slightly more on slam than in the band's last few works.  Thematically, the album is set to be a good old-fashioned piece of social and political commentary in the style of DYING FETUS as we have come to know.

The band recently completed work on a video for the song "From Womb to Waste". The video features 12 camera angles from a recent live show at Maryland Deathfest held at Sonar in Baltimore, MD. The video was filmed and directed by Scott Hansen (Animals as Leaders, A Day to Remember).   Check it out.




Alternative Press Magazine is hosting an exclusive giveaway of a DYING FETUS ESP LTD guitar. The grand prize also includes a deluxe copy of Reign Supreme and a DYING FETUS t-shirt. Two additional winners will be chosen to receive a copy of Reign Supreme. To enter the contest, visit the giveaway page HERE.

DYING FETUS are currently on tour supporting Reign Supreme. Currently they are taking part in the "18 Nights of Blood Tour" with label mates REVOCATION and Six Feet Under. Immediately following those tour dates the band will head to back to Europe for a headlining run as well as additional festival dates including the "With Full Force" festival in Roitzschjora, Germany, "Sevilla Rock Festival" in Sevilla, Spain and the "Getaway Rock Fest" in Gävle, Sweden.

In More DYING FETUS tour news the band has just confirmed the dates for "The Womb to Waste" headlining European tour. The tour will kick off September 14th in Lindau, Germany and runs through October 14th in Aarschot, Belgium. Support on the tour will come from label mates REVOCATION, Job For a Cowboy and Cerebral Bore. A complete list of dates can be found below.

For updates on DYING FETUS visit their Facebook page.

DYING FETUS on Tour With REVOCATION and Six Feet Under
6/20: Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
6/21: Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
6/22: Oakland, CA @ Oakland Metro Operahouse
6/24: West Hollywood, CA @ The Whisky
6/26: El Paso, TX @ House of Rock
6/27: Houston, TX @ Scout Bar
 
EUROPEAN TOUR
6/29: Roitzschjora, Germany @ With Full Force*
7/1: Badalona, Spain @ Estraperlo Club
7/2: Madrid, Spain @ Ritmo Y Compas 
7/3: Almería, Spain @ Sala Jala Jala 
7/4: Sevilla, Spain @ Sevilla Rock*
7/6: Gävle, Sweden @ Getaway Rock Fest*   
 
"The Womb to Waste" European Tour
9/14: Lindau, Germany @ Club Vaudeville
9/15: Genève, Switzerland @ L'Usine
9/16: Brighton, UK @ Concorde2
9/17: Norwich, UK @ Waterfront
9/18: Birmingham, UK @ O2 Academy 2
9/19: Reading, UK @ Sub89
9/20: Manchester, UK @ Club Academy
9/21: Glasgow, UK @ Cathouse
9/22: Dublin, Ireland @ The Pint
9/23: London, UK @ Underworld
9/24: Paris, France @ Divan Du Monde
9/25: Nijmegen, Holland @ Doornroosje
9/26: Hamburg, Germany @ Markthalle
9/27: Malmö, Sweden @ KB
9/28: Gothenburg, Sweden @ Sticky Fingers
9/29: Stockholm, Sweden @ Klubben
10/1: Helsinki, Finland @ Tavastia
10/3: Copenhagen, Denmark @ Vega
10/4: Berlin, Germany @ C-Club
10/5: Würzburg, Germany @ Posthalle, Hell Inside Fest
10/6: Jena, Germany @ F-Haus
10/7: Prague, Czech Republic @ Hoodoo club
10/8: München, Germany @ Backstage
10/9: Wien, Austria @ Arena
10/10: Ljubljana, Slovenia @ Gala Hala / Kino Siska
10/11: Legnano (Milano), Italy @ Land Of Live Club
10/12: Aarau, Switzerland @ Kiff
10/13: Essen, Germany @ Turock
10/14: Aarschot, Belgium @ De Klinker
 
*Denotes Festival Appearance

APOCALYPTIC NIGHTMARE JOURNEY-book release kick off in Chicago 6/19

M. SHAWN CRAHAN VISIONARY AND PERCUSSIONIST FOR THE GRAMMY-WINNING, MULTI-PLATINUM GROUP SLIPKNOT, ANNOUNCES

‘THE APOCALYPTIC NIGHTMARE JOURNEY’

BOOK TOUR FIRST-EVER ART BOOK COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHY

RELEASED EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH MTV BOOKS

STARTING JUNE 19

Step inside the APOCALYPTIC NIGHTMARE JOURNEY…
 
From the mind of M. SHAWN CRAHAN aka clown--the founder and visionary behind one of the biggest hard rock bands in the world, the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning Slipknot--comes APOCALYPTIC NIGHTMARE JOURNEY. His first-ever art book collection of photography, the APOCALYPTIC NIGHTMARE JOURNEY will be released exclusively through MTV Books beginning June 19 worldwide. As M. Shawn Crahan prepares to hit the road with Slipknot on June 30 as the headlining act on the Rockstar Mayhem Festival and the newly announced Knotfest, August 17 and 18, he’ll launch a series of book signings/Q&A’s in select cities; see list below.

The book tour will kick off in Chicago, IL (6.19 The Abbey) and visit the following U.S. cities including Madison, WI (6.21 Barnes & Noble), W. Des Moines, IA (6.23 Barnes & Noble), Overland Park, KS (Kansas City-6.24 Barnes & Noble), Omaha, NE (6.25 Barnes & Noble), Los Angeles, CA (6.29 Book Soup), Tempe, AZ (7.5 Changing Hands Bookstore) and Ridgewood, NJ (7.26 Bookends), with more to be announced.

APOCALYPTIC NIGHTMARE JOURNEY is an art book collection with over eleven years of manipulated medium format Polaroids, each an exploration in darkness and light and a representation of Crahan’s second and equally powerful artistic outlet. Weird, wired, paranoid, and endlessly imaginative,  ANJ is Shawn’s hand-picked collection of over 187 giant, never-before-seen images in numerous styles.

Lars Ulrich of Metallica penned the forward for Apocalyptic Nightmare Journey after seeing M. Shawn Crahan’s photography at a gallery show. From Ulrich’s forward:

“Let go of the bungee cord, do away with the safety net. Just go for it, and let the journey take you wherever the journey’s going to take you. And as you’re going on that trip through this book, occasionally imagine clown next to you. Imagine hearing his voice in your head talking about what these images and experiences have meant to him and where he was going with it. And you will end up on one fuck of a ride, that I can guarantee you will be unique, spellbinding, and potentially life altering. This book is everything that art should be.”

www.apocalypticnightmare.com/photobooks

http://www.facebook.com/MShawnCrahan
Check out a digital preview of the first 25 pages of the book on Facebook

http://twitter.com/#!/MShawnCrahan

 

Current dates for M. Shawn Crahan’s  APOCALYPTIC NIGHTMARE JOURNEY book tour:

DATE             CITY                           BOOK STORE                                 TIME

Jun 19            Chicago, IL                The Abbey                                         6:00 pm, Free         

Jun 21            Madison, WI              Barnes & Noble                                  7:00pm, Free          

Jun 23            W. Des Moines, IA   Barnes & Noble                                    5:00pm, Free          

Jun 24            Overland Park, KS   Barnes & Noble                                   5:00pm, Free          

Jun 25            Omaha, NE               Barnes & Noble                                  7:00pm, Free          

Jun 29            Los Angeles, CA      Book Soup on Sunset                         7:00pm, Free          

Jul 05             Tempe, AZ                Changing Hands Bookstore                7:00pm, Free          

Jul 26             Ridgewood, NJ         Bookends                                            7:00pm, Free

Play Locally--We Want Uke-Ukefest 7/7

Chicago Ukulele Cabaret Presents: 

The 3rd Annual Great Midwest Ukefest!

   Four String Fireworks to Benefit Local Music Education
.          

From Traditional to Extreme and Everything In-Between


*Lanialoha Lee*

* Bone and Bell*

*Harrison Street Ukulele Players*

*Heavy Boxes*

*Jeffrey Weisfeld Combo*

*Hee Haw*
         

*Discarded Pearls*

*Vic Miguel*

*Troy Martin*

*Uke Skywalker & Tuba The Hutt (all the way from PA!)* 
                                                              

Plus 5 hour afternoon Open-Mic and morning Power Strums 101 Workshop
 
Saturday, July 7, 2012



11 AM-11:00 PM



Chief O’Neill’s Pub and Restaurant



3471 North Elston Avenue



Admission: $10 Adults, $7 Kids  

Under 5 FREE

   

                                                                            

Power Strums 101 Workshop with Lanialoha Lee:  $10 
 

proceeds to benefit The Intonation Music Workshop-a local non-profit organization providing band-based music education to children in Chicago’s under-served neighborhoods.


 


The Chicago Ukulele Cabaret will once again kick off post-July 4th weekend with a 4-string bang at its 3rd Annual Festival. Part curated showcase and part open-mic, this all day fest allows everyone to participate while showcasing several featured performers in full sets. 

As always, the show will offer something for everyone, from traditional players, to classical virtuosos, to full band and indie rock interpretations. Building on the success of last year's outing, organizers this year are adding an 11:00 AM Powerstrums 101 workshop with The Old Town School of Folk Music's Lanialoha Lee.  

The afternoon will include a 5-hour open mic session, and the curated evening show will feature full sets from perennial cabaret favorites such as Lanialoha Lee, Bone and Bell, Heavy Boxes, Harrison Street Ukulele Players, Jeffrey Weisfeld Combo, Hee Haw, Discarded Pearls, Vic Miguel, Troy Martin, and many more!




All are welcome to perform during our five hour open mic segment from 1:00-6:00 PM.



  Interested acts for the open-mic should RSVP to ukechicago@gmail.com

.  Click here to 
Buy Tickets in Advance.

Dralion Video Interview-ChiIL Live Shows Chats With Cirque du Soleil

We thoroughly enjoyed catching up with Vanessa Napoli, Senior PR Spokesperson for Cirque du Soleil's Touring Shows.    She gave us the scoop on Dralion, opening at Allstate Arena this Wednesday, June 20th, then playing at United Center the following week.   Check out our original interview above, interspersed with Dralion live show clips, courtesy of Cirque du Soleil.   We'll be there for opening night and will have a full show review up shortly thereafter.    

  

If you missed it earlier, we also had the opportunity to interview Dralion's talented and charming young acro-juggler, Vladik.   Click here to check out our original interview with him.

One of the questions I asked Vanessa was about Cirque du Soleil's history of philanthropic partnerships in the cities they visit.  She told us they do usually try to partner up with local circus arts organizations, especially deserving non profits, but she didn't have specific details at the time.  We just got word that Dralion has indeed donated tickets to Chicago's CircEsteeem, so their young team and pre-team performers can catch the show.  They will also be running some special workshops with the CircEsteem kids!   Unfortunately, we'll be out of town shooting a travel piece, but if we can find another shooter, and if Dralion green lights it, we'll share stills and video from the workshop here as well.

Make 2012--The Chinese Year of the Dragon one to remember for your family! 

Catch Dralion performances in Rosemont at Allstate Arena (June 20-24) and Chicago at United Center (June 27-July 1).   Click here for tickets and more information.