Friday, April 25:

Aggrolites at Beat Kitchen

Cloud Cult w/ Mason Proper at Schubas - Eco warriors fight the good fight through haunting orchestration and deceptively simple songwriting.

MP3: Cloud Cult - The Ghost Inside Our House

The Acorn at the Empty Bottle - Sunshine + Earth + water = acorns. Throw a few tight harmonies into that recipe and you'll end up this namesake group.

MP3: The Acorn - Blankets

Ted Ansani Project w/ The Cells, the Redline, Last Days of Pompeii and more at the Abbey Pub - Material Issue founding member stands tall on his own.

Saves the Day w/ Armor for Sleep, Set Your Goals, Metro Station and Lydia at the House of Blues - Roots of emo, meet emo's sad current state.

Saturday, April 26:

Peter Moren at Schubas (early and late shows) - Sans Bjorn & John, this Swede's gorgeous pop is less cutesy but just as hook-laden. Read our interview with him.

MP3: Peter Moren - Social Competence

Foals at Subterranean - Strong electro-pop from the UK.

Mary J. Blige w/ Jay-Z at the United Center (also Sunday, April 27)

Chris Mills w/ American Mars (late show) at Schubas - Transplanted Chicagoan returns from New York to revisit his alt-country roots in Chicago.

Enon w/ Love Story in Blood Red and Dark Meat at the Empty Bottle

MP3: Enon - Mirror On You

Sunday, April 27:

The Cave Singers w/ the Dead Trees and the Bitter Tears at Schubas

Photo of Foals from their Myspace page