A few weeks back, we told you about the pretty stellar Rock The Bells Festival tour, which kicks off here in Chicago on Saturday, July 19, sans popular local acts The Cool Kids and Kid Sister. We now have some more details, like, say, venue and ticket info, that may help you make your plans. The festival, featuring a reunited Pharcyde (pictured at left), has been set for the First Midwest Bank Amphiteatre in Tinley Park with tickets going on sale via Live Nation at 5 p.m. this Friday, May 16, and via Ticketmaster at 10 a.m. this Saturday, May 17. Still no official word on ticket prices, but judging from other dates that are already listed, we're guessing they'll range from $35 to $75. more ›

Rock The Bells, a "world-class hip hop platform" that kicks off its 2008 tour right here in Chicago on July 19th, announced their main lineup yesterday, which includes local acts The Cool Kids, Kid Sister, and Kidz in the Hall. Ironically, The Cool Kids and Kid Sister (both playing Coachella this weekend) aren't listed on the Chicago itinerary, though they are listed for subsequent shows. We don't know if it's an oversight or not, but here's hoping they're added for the hometown gig. (Ed. note: They might be excluded due to the blackout around the Lollapalooza dates.) Even without the local acts, the lineup is pretty solid already, with hip-hop legends A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, and De La Soul (returning a year after their triumphant Pitchfork set) leading the charge along with one of our personal favorites, Mos Def, and a few Wu Tang members thrown in for good measure. Additional acts will be announced in the near future. more ›