Full Millennium Park Concert Schedule Announced

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 19, 2012 7:00PM

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events released the full schedule of summer programming for Millennium Park yesterday.

A couple weeks back I wrote that the schedule didn't have me circling dates on the calendar. This was due to a mix of not seeing the full Downtown Sound: Mew Music Mondays schedule and the loss of the Music Without Borders series of international acts.

New Music Mondays does get off on a good start with Scott Lucas and the Married Men opening for Kelly Hogan. I still wouldn't go to see Jonathan Richman alone, but seeing Joel Paterson and the Modern Sounds could convince me to head to the park. Seeing Occidental Brothers Dance Band International (June 25) and Ana Tijou and Sidi Touré (July 23) on the schedule doesn't make up for losing Music Without Borders.

I am stoked for what is replacing Music Without Borders: The Loops and Variations series of new music and electronica. With acts like Deerhoof, Third Coast Percussion and eighth blackbird on the schedule, Loops and Variations, in my opinion, may be a stronger overall lineup than New Music Mondays.

The Reader's Peter Margasak notes another loss from the schedule: the lunchtime concerts. The loss of those two series will be hard for many, but the overall schedule's programming looks to be a combination of quality with economic necessity.

Downtown Sound, Mondays, 6:30 PM

5/28: Kelly Hogan, Scott Lucas & the Married Men

6/4: Jonathan Richman, Joel Paterson & the Modern Sounds

6/11: The Eternals, Wild Belle

6/18: Cloud Cult, Judson Claiborne

6/25: Occidental Brothers Dance Band International, Chico Trujillo

7/2: Joan of Arc, Daniel Knox

7/9: The Sadies, James Vincent McMorrow

7/16: Charles Bradley & his Extraordinaires, Abigail Washburn

7/23: Ana Tijoux, Sidi Touré

7/30: SMOD, M.A.K.U. Soundsystem

Loops and Variations, Thursdays, 6:30 PM

6/7: Chris Clark, Jan Jelinek & Andrew Pekler, Casino Versus Japan

6/14: Deerhoof and Ensemble Dal Niente

6/28: Eighth Blackbird

7/5: A Winged Victory for the Sullen and ACME (American Contemporary Music Ensemble)

7/12: Third Coast Percussion

Sun 8/26: John Luther Adams's Inuksuit, at 5:30 PM

Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz, Thursdays, 6:30 PM

7/19: Blowing in From Chicago, with Edward Wilkerson Jr. and Ari Brown

7/26: Erwin Helfer: A Life in Boogie and Blues

8/2: Roots of Routes: Makaya McCraven's Global Unit

8/16: By a Little Light: Matt Ulery's Loom with special guests

8/23: Frank Rosaly's ¡Todos de Pie! (Everyone Stand Up!)

8/30: Exquisitely for Ella: A Songbook Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, with Jeff Lindberg's Chicago Jazz Orchestra (opening night of the 34th annual Chicago Jazz Festival)