Rockin' A Little Left of Northcenter

By Lizz Kannenberg in Arts & Entertainment on May 21, 2007 6:49PM

So, is everyone getting excited to once again “taste the flavor of Northcenter” on June 9th and 10th? Area marketing firm Big Buzz Idea Group released their annual Ribfest lineup this morning, and it’s a typical street fest mix of solid local acts and some curious headlining choices.

Let’s take a gander at Saturday’s alt-country-heavy plate for a quick and dirty example. You’ve got your full on honky-tonk (Fulton County Line), your country punkers (Dollar Store), your local legend cowpunk jazz (The Blacks), and your blues/twang/rock amolgamation (Deadstring Brothers). Seems pretty well centered on the stuff you’ll find nightly just a stone’s throw up Lincoln Avenue at the Horseshoe Tavern, right? Well…your bewildered stroller shovers and casual outdoor-drinking fans will also be treated to the decidedly non-toe-tap-swingin’ stylings of Head of Femur, This is Me Smiling, Chin Up Chin Up, and, wait for it…headliners Lucky Boys Confusion. Big Buzz describes the main act providing a “hip, edgy Saturday night blowout finale.” No knocking these hard drink- uh...workers, but last we checked this may have been true if you were fifteen and living in the suburbs circa 1995. Chicagoist is betting that the real show here will be a West Side Story-like showdown between the Stetsons and the angular haircuts.

Sunday is equally schizo, featuring a few bands you’ve never heard of and, um, Bound Stems. Chicagoist is looking forward to the reunited Dolly Varden and Baby Teeth’s headlining set, but we’ll probably skip Great American Taxi (featuring the legendary Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon!) and fratastic homeboys Backyard Tire Fire.

A street festival is a street festival, we know…but all said, hit Ribfest for the ribs this year.

Ribfest Chicago claims the intersection of Irving Park, Lincoln, and Damen on June 9th and 10th from noon to 10pm. There's a $5 suggested donation to the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce.