The Soul Collective Cruises Through Chicago

By Veronica Murtagh in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 9, 2009 4:20PM

Tapping artists, musicians, and cultural curators, Kia veers through Chicago this weekend for The Soul Collective.

We're wildly excited for tomorrow night's media launch event featuring Moneypenny's new live format and the first ever Chicago performance of Neon Indian. Stripped-down, lo-fi and sun-drenched, Neon Indian is the new project of VEGA's Alan Palomo. Already attracting the attention of all the right people, Neon Indian have just kicked off an ambitious first tour, with stops in 27 cities. While the evening's performance is invite only, Neon Indian will be back through Chicago for an official show on October 27. [Ed. note: Psssst ... don't tell anyone, but RSVP here to get in.]

Friday formally kicks off The Soul Collective for the public and you can catch live music from the Plain White T's and DJ sets throughout the day from local favorites Shala, Kid Color and Moneypenny. Saturday follows similar suit with Times New Viking performing live and DJ sets from Skyler, Kid Color and Jobot. The event wraps up Sunday with DJ sets from Willy Joy and Black Holes and a performance from The Walkmen which is sure to turn the warehouse into a madhouse. There's one catch for the final show, tickets for The Walkmen can only be secured by test driving a Kia Soul between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. The non-drivers amongst us will just have to hope the show is audible from the bike rack.

The merging of corporate entities and the Arts always attracts its fair share of naysayers, but with a weekend of free entertainment the only thing we've got to say is—see you there.

The Soul Collective runs from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, September 11 and Saturday, September 12 and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 13 with a performance by The Walkmen from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is FREE all weekend and all events take place at EnVent, 344 N. Ogden. More information can be found here.