PHOTO RECAP: March Fourth LIVE at Lincoln Hall Chicago 6/10/14 #OriginalPhotos

Hey March Fourth--You've played my little sister's March 4th birthday party in Portland for years. Thanks for hitting Chicago on my 14th wedding anniversary. You rock! Can't think of a better way to celebrate.

Once you catch these guys LIVE, you'll be addicted! We've been seeing them & shooting stills/videos at their shows for years, and we're super stoked they were not only playing our anniversary, but double headlining with another of our favs, Liquid Soul! Also, they moved to bigger digs at Lincoln Hall, so the stilt walkers weren't hunched over on the ceiling like they've been at Martyrs.




For now, here's ChiIL Live Shows' full set of photos in the slide show below. We've embedded our favorites under that. Check them out! We'll have our original video clips from the 6/10 show up shortly too.

I first heard about March Fourth from my sister who lives in Portland, OR, where they hail from. They play a lot out there, but their big trademark bash is always a March 4th show, where they let anyone in for free who was born that day, (like my sister). She played me some of their YouTube clips and I was hooked. Since then we've caught them every time their tour bus rolls in to Chicago.

**CLICK HERE for loads of our past March Fourth coverage including original HD video show footage & stills & current 2014 tour dates.**

Check back with ChiIL Mama, ChiIL Travel Kids & ChiIL Live Shows like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often.

We have photo & video filled features, loads of great reviews and interviews, and lots of weekly giveaways--nationwide toys/games/products and Chicago based music and theatre tickets. We know what rocks in Chi, IL and beyond... so come travel vicariously with us all summer long. ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama, then get out and go places.

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More M4 Photo Favorites 6/10/14:

INCOMING: June Shows & Fests on Our Radar

Chi, IL LIVE Shows 

Recommended This Week

This Thursday:

Ryan Anderson (Go Long Mule, Julie Meckler, Rambos) live. SPACE in Evanston on Thursday, June 19 &b Schubas July 7th. Click HERE for current tour dates, song samples and more.

Fest Alerts:

It's fest season again and this is a tiny but mighty one and one of the BIG ones.

Lawrence Peters is presenting the 7th Annual “A Day in the Country” at The Hideout on Sunday, June 22.  Click here for all the details. 

The full line-up is below and the food and drink vendors this year will be County BBQ, Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits and Lagunitas.

Front porch stage:

2:00- 2:30- Dogtown Ramblers

2:45- 3:15pm- Sanctified Grumblers 

3:30- 4:00pm- Chandelier Swingers 

Backroom stage:

4:15- 4:45pm-  Honky Tonk Parade

5:00- 5:45pm- Nora O’Connor 

6:00- 6:30pm- The Lawrence Peters Outfit 

6:45- 7:15pm- Gin Palace Jesters 

7:30- 8:00pm- Golden Horse Ranch Band 

8:15- 8:45pm- Kory Quinn 

9:00- 9:30pm- The Harrow 

9:45- 10:15pm- Dan Whitaker & The Shinebenders 

10:30- 11:00pm- The Lantern Kickers 

For the seventh consecutive year, country singer, songwriter, drummer and America’s preeminent electric washboard player Lawrence Peters will be presenting A Day in the Country at Chicago’s most beloved venue, The Hideout.

This year, Peters has assembled a line-up of musicians from the entire spectrum of country music, from bluegrass and honky tonk to western swing and singer-songwriters. Performing from early in the afternoon until late in the evening on two stages (the “front porch” and the “backroom”), artists include Nora O’Connor, known for her collaborations with Iron & Wine, Andrew Bird and Neko Case, Sanctified Grumblers, Kory Quinn and Peters’ own group, The Lawrence Peters Outfit.

In addition to a dozen musical acts, concertgoers will be able to purchase BBQ (provided by County Barbeque) and homemade pie from Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits. The Lagunitas Brewing Company will provide this year’s featured beers.

A Day in the Country #7 will take place on Sunday, June 22nd. Doors will open at 1PM CST and the scheduled performances will run from 2-4PM on the front porch stage and from 4-11PM on the backroom stage. Tickets are $10 and The Hideout is located at 1354 W. Wabansia.

Old St. Pat's World's Largest Block Party. 

Heading there? Check out Vintage Blue playing the South Stage on Saturday, June 28.

Click here to book your one or 2 day tickets in advance, see the full lineup and more.

PHOTO RECAP: Liquid Soul 6/10/14 Lincoln Hall With March Fourth #OriginalPhotos

We had the great pleasure of catching a mind blowing lineup last week at Lincoln Hall, Liquid Soul AND March Fourth. Video clips are coming soon, (including a wicked human beat box) so check back like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often. 



For now, here's ChiIL Live Shows' full set of photos in the slide show below. We've embedded our favorites under that.



The show was fantastic, with the the stellar horns we've come to expect, and an entirely unique melding of musical styles. They were captivating, whether the guys were throwing down amazing jams in the zone or throwing Roshambo (Rock-Paper-Scissors) to see who would lead on the vocals...

Here's the deal about Liquid Soul from their site: 
But there's really no substitute for catching them LIVE!

Liquid Soul is the Chicago-based band nominated for a 2000 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Founded in 1994, Liquid Soul has performed in 42 states and throughout Canada and Japan, plus shows in Germany, Turkey and Mexico. 

At the heart of Liquid Soul's sound, as always, is the fierce musicianship of the band itself. There's the renowned Liquid Soul horn section consisting of: Mars Williams - Sax Tommy Klein - Guitar Josh Ramos - Bass (Phil Ajjarapu was bass on CD) Tony "Kickdrum" Taylor - Drums Doug Corcoran - Trumpet & Keyboards Mr.Greenweedz - MC (Vocals) David "Boy Elroy" Arredondo - Beatbox & Turntables LIQUID SOUL HISTORY Having exploded from a small underground street-jazz sound in Chicago, The Liquid Soul universe has been expanding at a dizzying pace. The Chicagoensemble's trademark mixture of jazz and urban dance music has virtually outgrown the term "acid jazz," incorporating everything from hard-bop to hip-hop in their celebrated sound. Down Beat magazine says Liquid Soul "sweeps the mold and mildew out of jazz-funk and breathes it back to glorious life." With a marathon touring schedule that has included everything from performing at the Presidential Inaugural Parade to headlining the first acid-jazz performance at the Newport Jazz Festival, Liquid Soul has evolved into an intuitively tight outfit that knows no stylistic limitations. The amalgamation of genres created by the 8-piece collective is a blend of pure musicianship, a fiercely passionate fire and the inherent fun of a pure dance groove. The result is a unique live music experience that draws a diverse legion of fans, spanning across multiple age and ethnic groups. At long last, Liquid Soul is back with the follow-up to its 2000 Grammy-nominated CD,Here's the Deal (Shanachie). Evolution, the band's fourth recording, gives evidence that the dynamic unit has continued to develop its infectious trademark sound and take it to new heights. Liquid Soul called on the help of Grammy-nominated producer Maurice Joshua (N'Sync and Destiny's Child) and Frayne P. Lewis, the son of Ramsey Lews, this time around. The result is a fresh mix of butt-kicking jams, driving jazz-inspired tracks and hot dance numbers. Fans of Liquid Soul will be thrilled by the album's extra live tracks which capture the sheer magnetic energy of the band. Highlights include "Action Jackson," the rambunctious opener with the killer horn intro and thumping bass; "Sun Ra," the smooth and ethereal tribute to the celestial king; "Nina's in Jail," the funky spoken-word track reminiscent of Deborah Harry's "Rapture"; and the overpowering and live dance track "Rage Experiment." The story of Liquid Soul goes back to 1994, when the band was at the forefront of a surging acid-jazz movement in the greater Midwest. Evolving from free-form hip-hop jams, the band coalesced spontaneously and soon found a home every Sunday night atChicago's Elbo Room. Word spread fast, attracting like-minded individuals to the small stage from far and wide. Thanks to these auspicious midnight marathons, Liquid Soul soon solidified into a steady working unit. The group quickly morphed well beyond their improv-oriented acid jazz beginnings, and their do-it-yourself debut ("Liquid Soul")  was quickly picked up and distributed by Ark 21 Records.  The band was thrust further into the limelight after a much publicized gig at Dennis Rodman's birthday party. They relocated their perennial Sunday night show to the Double Door in Wicker Park and held it for almost four years (Feb. 1996 to Dec. 1999), rarely missing a Sunday even while playing nearly 200 gigs a year throughout the United States and Canada, plus performances in Germany, Turkey and Japan. Along the way, the band has gone on to both critical and national acclaim. They have opened for Sting, played at the Inaugural Parade and 21st Century Ball, and twice rocked the South By Southwest Music Festival, heralded by the Austin American-Statesman as "the single hottest showcase of the festival." And they recorded two more critically acclaimed CDs, "Make Some Noise" (Ark 21, 1998) and the Grammy-nominated "Here's the Deal" (Shanachie, 2000). Live or in the studio, playing it hard or smooth, Liquid Soul is a fiery concoction of classy soloists, heavy rhythm merchants and hip-hop cognoscenti. They are in a group that thrives on contact with their audience. One cannot help being moved by Liquid Soul's ongoing party philosophy. The band's in-the-tradition repertoire extends from classic compositions by Ornette Coleman and Miles Davis to excursions on the latest breakbeats and mad samples. They continue to bridge the musical gap between standard jazz improvisation and urban rhythm. And as always, the band stays true to its roots with a continued philosophy of bringing jazz back to the dance floor. Mars Williams - Saxophones Mars Williams has studied with Anthony Braxton and Roscoe Mitchell, and has worked as an arranger and orchestrator. An open-minded musician who commutes easily between free jazz and rock, Mars has played and recorded with The Psychedelic Furs, Massacre (the Fred Frith/Bill Laswell group), Ministry, Billy Idol, Power Station, Die Warzau, The Waitresses, Pete Cosey, Billy Squier and virtually every leading figure of New York City's "downtown" scene. John Zorn credits Mars as "one of the true saxophone players--someone who takes pleasure in the sheer act of blowing the horn. This tremendous enthusiasm is an essential part of his sound, and it comes through each note every time he plays. Whatever the situation, Mars plays exciting music. In many ways he has succeeded in redefining what versatility means to the modern saxophone player." Despite his busy touring schedule with Liquid Soul, Mars manages to stay active on the Chicago underground improvising scene. In recent years he has toured and recorded with the Peter Brotzman Tentet, the Vandermark 5 and Cinghiale, teaming him with such musicians as Ken Vandermark, Hamid Drake and William Parker. And as a bandleader, he has continued to perform and record CDs with his own free-jazz groups such as the NRG Ensemble, Witches & Devils, Slam and, currently, X Mars X.

Best of:

INCOMING: Motoblot

MOTOBLOT IS HERE We're getting ready to let 'er RIP! So grab your gear, top-off the tank and hit the highway... You're not going to want to miss this one!!  Motoblot is Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 13-15 Tickets and Registration at: Motoblot.com

TRAFFIC ALERT: Inbound KENNEDY Expressway Construction We Highly Recommend trying to avoid the Inbound Kennedy Expressway (I-94 East) due to lane closures near the Ohio Street exit <.  Using surface streets are recommended ( Ashland or Western or other alternate North / South Streets). If you are coming from North of Chicago we recommend I-294 to 1-290 as an Alternate. Enjoy the bikes, hot rods, pin-up contest and entertainment from the Magic Hat stage all weekend, including Detroit Cobras, Wicker Man and the Chicago School of Rock, while you sip on a few beers that will be on tap: Genesee Cream Ale, Labatt’s Blue, Magic No.9, and a special brew only available on tap at MOTOBLOT, Magic Hat Dream Machine. Check out our Agenda and be sure to Register Early and Purchase Your Tickets NOW at motoblot.com

FREE Shakespeare in The Parks Schedule #Theatre #Travel #Chicago

ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Picks List: Free Fam Friendly Fun in Chi, IL

Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

FREE FOR ALL

by William Shakespeare

directed and adapted by David H. Bell

July 18–August 17, 2014

Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows we ADORE Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. They have high caliber, professional, world class productions.  And if that's not enough to get you out to a show, every summer they take it to the parks for FREE.  Yes, outside... for free. Bring a picnic and chiIL out in Chi, IL this summer with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's fabulous fantasy, A Midsummer Night's Dream.  All ages welcome.

Click here for our Midsummer Night's Dream review & photo filled recap.

Here were our prior predictions on this production when it was performed in schools across the city & publicly in a sold out run at Chicago Shakespeare's Navy Pier home:

• A new generation is realizing Shakespeare wasn't as snooty as they thought and he wrote about wacky, cross dressing, unfaithful, confused, hilarious, murderous, magical characters.

• A zillion jr high and high school students are crushing on the charismatic cutie, Puck (Steven Lee Johnson)! It was already starting with the tweens as early as opening day-- "No... you go talk to him..." "No, YOU. Giggle giggle."

• More than a few students are inspired to see more theatre and/or try their hand at writing plays and poetry.

• More than a few students are inspired to check out more circus arts, thanks to the best. wall. ever. and his uber creative block juggling work. Kudos to you!

The complete performance listing for the Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, touring FREE FOR ALL to 18 neighborhood parks across Chicago is below.  Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks A Midsummer Night’s Dream Back by citywide demand! Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks returns this summer and brings William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, FREE FOR ALL, to 18 neighborhood parks across Chicago. A specially equipped truck rolls into each park, a stage unfolds and a company of professional actors shares the delight of Shakespeare with families and neighbors of all ages.  In this popular Shakespearean comedy, a quartet of mismatched lovers, a gaggle of hapless actors and mischievous sprites cross paths with the king and queen of the fairies, entangled in their own domestic dispute. Audiences will be transported to a wondrous wood brimming with paramours and possibilities where the inexplicable magic of falling in love—and the marvel of waking up from the sweetest of dreams—is discovered. Director David H. Bell has adapted this Shakespeare favorite into an acrobatic and riotously entertaining version of the play. PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE  Gateway Park South Lawn, Front of Navy Pier Friday, July 18, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 19, 6:30 p.m. 600 E. Grand Ave. Garfield Park Conservatory Sunday, July 20, 3:00 p.m. 300 N. Central Park Ave. Tuley Park Tuesday, July 22, 6:30 p.m. 501 E. 90th Pl. Dvorak Park Wednesday, July 23, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 24, 6:30 p.m. 1119 W. Cullerton St. Loyola Park At the Farwell Avenue Entrance Friday, July 25, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 26, 6:30 p.m. 1230 W. Greenleaf Ave. Washington Park East of the Pool, 5531 S. Russell Dr. Sunday, July 27, 4:00 p.m. 5531 S. Martin Luther King Jr Dr. Riis Park Uphill Near the Picnic Groves Tuesday, July 29, 6:30 p.m. 6100 W. Fullerton Ave. Piotrowski Park Wednesday, July 30, 6:30 p.m. 4247 W. 31st St. Gage Park Thursday, July 31, 6:30 p.m. 2411 W. 55th St. Hamilton Park Friday, August 1, 6:30 p.m. 513 W. 72nd St. Frank J. Wilson Park Saturday, August 2, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, August 3, 4:00 p.m. 4630 N. Milwaukee Ave. Humboldt Park Near the Boathouse Wednesday, August 6, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, August 7, 6:30 p.m. 1440 N. Sacramento Ave. Welles Park Friday, August 8, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, August 9, 6:30 p.m. 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave. Columbus Park Sunday, August 10, 4:00 p.m. 500 S. Central Ave. Marquette Park Adjacent to Rose Garden and Tarkington School Tuesday, August 12, 6:30 p.m. 6743 S. Kedzie Ave. Ridge Park Wednesday, August 13, 6:30 p.m. 1817 W. 96th St. South Shore Cultural Center Thursday, August 14, 6:30 p.m. Friday, August 15, 6:30 p.m. 7059 S. South Shore Dr. Eckhart Park Saturday, August 16, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, August 17, 4:00 p.m. 1330 W. Chicago Ave.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater 800 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 Box Office: 312.595.5600 • chicagoshakes.com

INCOMING: Quinn Tsan Headlines Hideout This Thursday 6/12

Chi, IL Live Shows on Our Radar:

Quinn Tsan will be headlining The Hideout THIS Thursday.  Click here for all the details and to reserve your tickets. 

Quinn, who has collaborated with Joe Pug and co-leads the group Medicine Women, has released a debut single entitled “Love of a Painter” and is recording her debut EP, Good Winter, which is set to release this summer. 

https://www.facebook.com/quinntsanmusic/

http://quinntsan.bandcamp.com/

Quinn Tsan

Jones, Johnny Lewis, Female Basic

Thu, June 12, 2014

9:00 pm

The Hideout

Chicago, IL

$8.00

Quinn Tsan

• Links

Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, singer/songwriter Quinn Tsan began playing music in 2008 after relocating to Chicago, IL to sing back-up for Joe Pug. Classically trained in dance though always having an affinity for music, Tsan quickly immersed herself in the local scene, going on to sing for Sarah Holtschlag, Rachele Eve, Johnny Lewis, and Sima Cunningham, among others.

It wasn't until 2013, when Tsan began playing guitar and writing her

own songs, that she defined herself as someone to listen to carefully.

The vulnerable and sometimes devastating quality of her voice combined with acoustic guitar offers a unique invitation to the audience, often leaving listeners spellbound by her melodic inflections and heartbreaking delivery. Tsan is currently recording her debut EP which is set to release late 2014.

Jones

• Links

Clay Hagen grew up in the Twin Cities. He’s been a singer since he was a kid and took up the guitar in high school to start a band with friends. A Night in the Box burst on the Minneapolis music scene in 2005 showcasing Clay’s powerful bluesy vocals and commanding stage presence. The soul and bluegrass band enjoyed a loyal following as a stage act and released two albums; “The Hustle, The Prayer, The Thief” (2006) and “Write a Letter” (2008). After a whirlwind five years, A Night in the Box split up to the disappointment of fans across the country. Clay went solo for a short time but missed band life. In 2011 he called on a few old friends - Nick Rush and Ian Tsan (Rambos, MPLS Henrys). The trio formed a new group called “JONES” and began a long distance collaboration between the Minneapolis and Chicago-based musicians. Clay would travel to Chicago for a weekend every few months and leave with a couple more songs. After 2 years of this, the band headed into Chicago’s Minbal Studios to record a six song EP. JONES is a hard-driving, electric blues/rock band and a perfect vehicle for Clay’s passionate performing style. The debut album will be released in late 2014.

Johnny Lewis

• Links

Johnny Lewis' musical background is not that of the ordinary new-age Folk Artist. Stemming from Minneapolis, MN, Lewis moved to Colorado in 2008 to pursuit electronic production for a number of touring acts including The Larva Ink, The Chalice, Bokonon and many more. Accepted into the festival community, Lewis opened extensively for national acts ranging fromThe Flaming Lips to Trampled by Turtles. After much success with touring electronic acts, Lewis came to terms with his obsession for acoustic music, which in turn, drove him away from production and into his passion - writing songs. Johnny Lewis melds the timeless north-country sound of acoustic guitar with sophisticated, colorful lyrics; attempting to the replant the poetic verse into a timeless songwriting style for a new generation of listeners. Johnny Lewis now resides in New York City.

Female Basic

• Links

"Where tall trees grow there strong roots be

Like songs set sail from women three.

Female Basic, as candid as their name depicts, sing songs straight to the point and straight to your heart.

Comprised of Rachel Landrum, Bekah Miller and Anna Phalen, 3 voices lift songs of old out of the dirt and shine them up with spit and glitter. 

Veterans to the music scene and fresh on a new idea Female Basic blend harmony and attitude perfectly on stage and off."