The Cairo Gang -- Tiny Rebels

Emmett Kelly (aka The Cairo Gang) is a longtime Bonnie 'Prince' Billy // Angel Olsen collaborator. On July 23, he'll welcome a new "mini album," titled Tiny Rebels, under the solo moniker via Empty Cellar Records. Its lead single (and title track) is reminiscent of the intricate simplicity found on Low's "Plastic Cup," and you can take a listen to the song at the bottom of this post. Preorder a copy of Tiny Rebels via Empty Cellar's webstore.

The Cairo Gang have a pair of upcoming Chicago shows. They'll open for Dawes at Downtown Sound on July 8, and then will play The Owl later on that night with Outside World. Admission is free for both shows.

Take a listen to "Tiny Rebels" below...

Continue reading "The Cairo Gang releasing new LP, playing 'Downtown Sound' & The Owl in July"

Pritzker Pavilion lawn (more by Zach Pollack)

The City of Chicago's annual, free music programs at Millenium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion, called Downtown Sound and Loops & Variations, will return this summer on Monday and Thursday evenings, respectively. The Downtown Sound lineup features Lee Ranaldo Band with Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog, Sharon Van Etten with Speck Mountain, An evening with Glen Hansard featuring Lisa Hannigan and members of the Frames, Lee Fields & the Expressions with Theo Huff & the Platinum Band, Dawes with the Cairo Gang, Dessa with Psalm One, and more. The decidedly more electronic Loops & Variations series boasts performances by Falty DL with Bill Kouligas, Matmos with Fonema Consort, ICE with Nosaj Thing, Dan Deacon, and more.

Each show for both series' will begin at 6:30PM. Check out the full Millenium Park music schedule below...

Continue reading "Downtown Sound and Loops & Variations return (Falty DL, Sharon Van Etten, Lee Ranaldo, Dan Deacon, Dessa & more)"

photos by Carmelo Espanola

Dead Can Dance @ Prizker Pavilion on 8.21.2012

Returning seven years after its previous reunion tour, and with its first new material since 1996, Dead Can Dance remains committed to the ceremonial grandeur and widescreen blending of world styles it has offered since the early 80s. If not for the group's distinctive boundary-hopping fusion and dark folk roots, its more solemn fare could be mistaken as new-age ambience designed for massage therapists. Yet in [Lisa] Gerrard, the cult-favorite band claims an inimitable voice, a singer whose operatic range and nuanced control peak on glossolalia passages that mourn, reflect and comfort. [Chicago Tribune]

In support of their first album in 16-years, Anastasis, Dead Can Dance (aka Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard) visited Chicago's Pritzker Pavilion on Tuesday, August 21 as part of a 2012 world tour. They performed Anastasis in its entirety (but not in order), as well as songs from the rest of their catalog. More pictures from the Pritzker Pavilion show, DCD's full setlist, and some videos are below...

Continue reading "Dead Can Dance played Pritzker Pavilion (pics-setlist-videos)"

by Andrew Sacher

As mentioned on BV, UK producer/musician Chris Clark aka Clark will be in North America for a mini tour next month which includes shows in Montreal, LA, Chicago, and NYC. The Chicago show is a free show happening as part of the 'Loops and Variations' series at Millenium Park on June 7. The show also includes Berlin duo Jan Jelinek and Andrew Pekler and Casino Versus Japan (aka Erik Kowalski). Stream a few songs from Clark's new album, Iradelphic, at BrooklynVegan.

The 'Loops and Variations' series at Millennium Park also includes Deerhoof and Ensemble Dal Niente on June 14 and A Winged Victory for the Sullen and ACME on July 5.

Check out the full schedule below...

Continue reading "Clark playing 'Loops and Variations' @ Millenium Park"

Kelly Hogan @ the Vic in March (more by Chase Turner)

We previously posted the partial lineup of Millennium Park's Downtown Sound series and now the full schedule has been released. The park have also unveiled all other free events that are taking place at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion throughout the summer. Check out the full schedule below...

Continue reading "Millennium Park's full summer lineup (Downtown Sound & more)"

Iron & Wine @ Jay Pritzker for Downtown Sound in June (more by Louie Abellera)

Downtown Sound - FREE new music Monday's at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion - is set to return for a 2012 edition of the series. Beginning on Memorial Day (May 28) with a performance by Chicago's own Kelly Hogan, Downtown Sound will take place each Monday at 6:30PM through July.

Other performers include Jonathan Richman on June 4, Chico Trujillo on June 25, and "The Original Black Swan" Charles Bradley on July 16.

Stay tuned for the full schedule.

As mentioned, Dead Can Dance are back in action and will reach Chicago's Jay Pritzker Pavilion on August 21 as part of their summer North American tour. Tickets are still available via a DCD artist presale (it comes with a limited edition t-shirt).

Tickets go on sale to the general public via JAM this Saturday (March 31), at 10AM CST.
A JAM-presale will be active from 10AM-10PM CST on Friday (March 30) (pass: dance).

All 2012 tour dates and some videos, below..

Continue reading "Dead Can Dance @ Jay Pritzker - JAM presale info"

Brendan Perry @ Irving Plaza in 2011 (more by Stefan Raduta)

As announced on BrooklynVegan, Dead Can Dance are back from the... well, DEAD. They've announced run of North American tour dates including a Chicago show on August 21st at Jay Pritzker Pavillion at Millenium Park. Tickets are on PRESALE now.

A new album is coming too. More info and dates at BrooklynVegan.

Millennium Park's Luminous Field (photo by Jim Watkins)

today in Chicago
* Robbie Fulks @ Hideout
* Stolen Silver, Peter Mulvey @ Schubas
* Paul Cary, These Wonderful Evils @ The Whistler
* The Big Dammit, The Gunman, The Winter Me @ Township
* Villains Company, Logan Squares, Out For Hours @ Double Door
* Unicycle Loves You, Lightfoils, The Grooks @ Empty Bottle (Free Show)
* Striking 12, Diana & the Dishes, Lincoln Squares, Birdie Wing @ Martyrs
* Lock Up, Goatwhore, Strong Intention, Black September, Austaras @ Reggie's

Luminous Field, a site-specific video and sound installation by Luftwerk, was opened up to the general public this past Friday (2/10). Check it out for yourself, from 6-9PM all week, before it closes on February 20th.

What else?

DOWNLOAD: Low - Especially Me (MP3)

Slowcore giants, Low are set to release their new LP C'mon on April 12th via Sub Pop. As a followup to 2007's Drums and Guns, this record will be slated as the band's 9th studio album.

Above, you can download the album track "Especially Me", and in the widget below you can have "Try To Sleep" in exchange for your email address. You can also stream the record in its entirety up until the release date over at NPR.

Low has two upcoming Chicago shows, one of which is free and outdoors! First, they'll play Lincoln Hall on April 21st with Gaberdine (tickets are still available), and then as part of the previously announced Downtown Sound concert series the band will play the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millenium Park on June 27th.

You can view the C'mon Tracklist, all 2011 tour dates, and a C'mon trailer below...

Continue reading "Low to release new LP, playing Lincoln Hall & Millenium Park"