Big Freedia, The Dick Eater, The Late Night Creeper, et al, ad nauseum will be heading out on tour throughout North America later this month. She'll hit Chicago on that tour, on February 1, for a performance at the Empty Bottle. Advance tickets are still available, and support for that show is TBA.

All known 2012 // 2013 tour dates and a couple of videos are below...

Continue reading "Big Freedia going on tour, playing the Empty Bottle"

Big Freedia @ Santos Party House in NYC (more by Chris La Putt)

Bounce favorite Big Freedia is currently on tour throughout North America and has tacked on a Chicago show at the Empty Bottle, taking place on July 27. Tickets go on sale this Friday (6/29) at 10AM CST.

The Queen Diva will be sort of nearby this weekend, in Rothbury, Michigan, for the Electric Forest Festival. Santigold (who recently played Chicago), Reggie Watts, Das Racist, Glass Candy, Chromatics, Pictureplane, and others are also included on the lineup.

Big Freedia is also playing the Pygmalion Music Festival in September. Tickets for each individual show happening during the fest are now on sale. Three-day passes are still available.

All Big Freedia tour dates are listed below, along with some videos.

Continue reading "Big Freedia is returning to the Empty Bottle in July"

Sleigh Bells @ Terminal 5 in February (NYC) (more by Chris La Putt)

Pygmalion Music Festival, set to take place at various venues throughout Champaign-Urbana from September 27-29, have just added a ton of new acts to the lineup. These additions include Sleigh Bells, Best Coast, Laetitia Sadier, Eternal Summers, Hundred Waters, Night Beds, and more. An updated version can be found below.

Some of these acts have already been assigned to venues, like Sleigh Bells, who will kick off the festival with a performance at The Canopy Club on September 27. Dirty Projectors play the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on September 28, and later that night you can catch Best Coast at The Canopy Club. On September 29, Grizzly Bear and Dinosaur Jr. will headline a full day of music on two stages in Downtown Champaign. Many more shows are TBA.

Laetitia Sadier, one of the fest's many headliners, is set to release her second solo LP, Silencio, on July 24 via Drag City. The Stereolab member recently shared the album's first single "Find Me the Pulse of the Universe," which you can check out HERE. Before hitting Pygmalion, Sadier will play Schubas on September 15. Tickets go on sale this Friday (6/15) at noon CST. Full tour TBA.

An updated lineup for the 2012 Pygmalion Music Festival is below...

Continue reading "Sleigh Bells, Best Coast, Laetitia Sadier, Eternal Summers, Hundred Waters & more acts added to Pygmalion Music Fest"

The 2012 Pygmalion Music Festival is set to take place from September 27-29 at various venues throughout Champaign-Urbana. They've just announced their initial lineup of Grizzly Bear, Dinosaur Jr., Cloud Nothings, Tennis, Frankie Rose, Owen, Willis Earl Beal, Lotus Plaza, Julia Holter, Lord Huron, Oh No Oh My, Big Freedia, Craft Spells, Zeus, My Jerusalem, and more. Current lineup below. Early Bird passes go on sale tomorrow (May 9) at 10AM CST.

Continue reading "Pygmalion Music Festival 2012 - initial lineup (Grizzly Bear, Dinosaur Jr., Cloud Nothings, Tennis, Frankie Rose, Owen, Willis Earl Beal, Lotus Plaza, Julia Holter & more)"

BBU

As announced, Big Freedia and crew are headed back to the Empty Bottle on April 13. Tickets are still available. The Chicago show is part of a larger spring tour, which kicks off in just a few days. All dates can be found below.

Chicago's own BBU, who recently dropped a new mixtape, will act as main support for the queen diva. Stream their new tape, titled bell hooks, in its entirety at the bottom of this post.

All Big Freedia dates and BBU mixtape stream, below..

Continue reading "BBU are opening for Big Freedia @ the Empty Bottle"

Big Freedia @ Brooklyn Bowl in January (more by Erik Erikson)

Big Freedia, the Queen Diva, the Night Creepa has just announced that she'll be returning to Chicago's Empty Bottle on April 13 (Friday the 13) as part of her spring North American tour. Kicking off in just a few days in San Francisco, this set of dates leaves a bunch of space for SXSW shows (though nothing has been announced) and speaking of Austin, she'll be performing at Chaos in Tejas in May. Tickets for the Chicago show go on sale tomorrow (February 24), at 10AM CST.

Freedia recently visited NYC, playing a last-minute 2AM show at the Brooklyn Bowl. Right around the same time a recent Jimmy Kimmel Live session aired, which taught viewers across America how to shake it (footage below)!

All 2012 tour dates and Kimmel videos, below..

Continue reading "Big Freedia returning to the Empty Bottle"

The Check Yo Ponytail Tour will hit Chicago's The Mid this Friday (10/28), featuring Spank Rock, Big Freedia, The Death Set, Pictureplane, and Franki Chan. Tickets are still available, though if you can perform what Pictureplane has described above, winning a pair of tickets might be in your future.

Hit the drawing board!

Big Freedia @ House of Vans this summer (more by Andrew St. Clair)

Initially, Big Freedia was not on the lineup for the Check Yo Ponytail Tour's stop at The Mid on October 28th. She has now been added, and tickets are still available. Get ready for ass everywhere!

Freedia's last Chicago shows were part of the Do Division street festival in July and at Empty Bottle that weekend. She was scheduled to play at the Hideout Block Party in September, but canceled last minute.

The Mid lineup also features: Spank Rock, Pictureplane, The Death Set, and Franki Chan.

Unfortunately, the A.V. Club Chicago has clued us in to the fact that Big Freedia has dropped off of the Hideout Block Party (Saturday, 9/24) lineup due to illness. Chances Dances (who will be performing between sets all day) will fill the slot as DJs. Tickets are still available for the event that will still feature special surprises from Andrew Bird.

Head below for the updated Block Party schedule..

Continue reading "Big Freedia drops off of Hideout Block Party lineup, replaced by Chances Dances DJs (updated schedule)"

The annual Hideout Block Party is set to take place on Saturday, September 24th from noon - 10PM. This year is extra special, as the venue are celebrating their 15th birthday!

Chicago-native Andrew Bird has been announced as the headliner, and will be joined by: Mavis Staples, Big Freedia, Booker T. Jones, and more!

Tickets are on pre-sale from now, until 10AM CST on Friday.
Password: hideout15
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, at 10AM CST.

Head below to view what's been announced of the lineup so far.

Continue reading "Hideout Block Party - initial lineup & details (tix on pre-sale)"

Oberhofer @ Bowery Ballroom in January (more by Chris Gersbeck)

today in Chicago
* Do Division Street Festival (Day 2)
* Brendan Perry, Robin Guthrie @ Metro
* Big Freedia, Javelin, Shane Shane @ Empty Bottle
* Oberhofer, Young Man, Netherfriends @ Lincoln Hall
* Shawn Rosenblatt of Netherfriends @ Reckless Records (Belmont)(Free; In-store)

Stream Brendan Perry's new LP Ark below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday?"

This weekend marks the return of Chicago's Do Division Street Festival. Taking place from noon to 10PM on both Saturday, and Sunday; most other shows will take a backseat to the festival's schedule. You can view full details, including set times here.

FRIDAY
Lauryn Hill and Mos Def will play the Aragon Ballroom.

Thao & Mirah will headline Empty Bottle; joined by BOBBY, and Led to Sea.

Brett Dennen and Dawes will play the Vic.

Raphael Saadiq, and Kids These Days will play Park West.

Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Bukue One, Serendipity Project, and Abstract Giants can be found at Abbey Pub.

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, and Chamberlin will play the House of Blues.

SATURDAY
Moxie Motive, and The Black; who consist of members of Voxtrot, and ...Trail of Dead will play the Beat Kitchen.

Bonobo will play a late DJ Set at Beauty Bar.

Dengue Fever, The Eternals, and Young Boys will play Empty Bottle.

Lincoln Hall will host Bailiff's record release, with special guests: Secret Colours, and Box Jellyfish.

SUNDAY
Big Freedia, Javelin, and Shane Shane will play Empty Bottle.

Oberhofer, Young Man, and Netherfriends can be found at Lincoln Hall.

UPDATE: Shawn Rosenblatt of Netherfriends will be playing a 4PM in-store at Reckless Records (Belmont).

Brendan Perry of Dead Can Dance, and Robin Guthrie of the Cocteau Twins will play Metro.

Do Division 2010 (via REP3)

The 2011 Do Division Street Festival has announced its initial lineup, and details. This year, it will be taking place on June 4th & 5th on Division Street between Ashland and Leavitt in Wicker Park. Admission is open, with a suggested donation of $5. That shouldn't be much of an issue, because even the initial lineup is worth more than that!

Wicker Park's Do Division Fest stretches for 10 city blocks and includes a variety of great bands, fantastic food, retailers and shopping. Sidewalk sales fill the perimeter of the area and the extra-wide side walks allow plenty of al fresco dining at the incredible area restaurants ... in addition to all of the food being served directly at the fest itself.

Each and every year this event is packed and getting bigger. Do not miss this fantastic and fun event. It's a great kick-off to Summer.

Who are the bands playing this year? New Orleans native Big Freedia, known for his work in bounce music, and Omar Souleyman, a Syrian musician, will play on the Damen stage, with a DJ set by Bonobo, a British musician and producer.

Over on the Leavitt stage, attendees can rock out to some old favorites by two tribute bands: Led Zeppelin 2 and This Must Be the Band, which plays Talking Heads tunes. [wicker park bucktown]

Stay tuned right here for more details in the coming weeks!