AHHH! (Help Out) Pilsen Music Festival

By Sarah Cobarrubias in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 26, 2011 7:20PM

You’re probably tired of hearing about festivals at this point, but this one is special - especially to those of us who make our home in this often-overlooked South Side neighborhood. AHHH! Pilsen Music Festival is a community-focused, DIY music fest, and it needs your help.

Now in its second year, the 1-day fest is the creation of Yamil Rodriguez, a Pilsen resident, musician and bartender. He started it as a way to showcase local music free from corporate control. So instead of selling tickets, the festival’s funding relies on donations through Kickstarter. But there seems to be a kink in the plan - they’ve set themselves a $2000 goal, but as of today have only reached about half that. There are only four days left to hit the goal, and if they don’t, the fest goes unfunded.

Anyhow, the whole thing goes down this weekend at Simone’s on 18th Street. Performances will take place from noon-8ish on an outdoor stage with extra performances inside the pinball-themed bar. The lineup is heavily focused on rock, showcasing the experimental rock of Moonrises, the garage rock of Magic Milk, and the raucous noise rock of Lechuguillas. But there’s also a little hip-hop and electronic thrown into the mix. After the show, head inside for dual after parties in the front and back rooms of the bar - including one curated by Ghetto Division.

Check out the full lineup below and throw the festival a few dollars through Kickstarter.

AHHH! Pilsen Music Festival Lineup
12 noon- Rock Falls
12:45 pm- Dance Trance Hood Medallion
1:30 pm- The Informant
2:15 pm- Handsome Tyrants
3:00 pm- Bob Rok and DJ Mar
3:45 pm- Close Hits
4:45 pm- Natalie Grace Alford
5:45 pm- Lechuguillas
6:30 pm- Philip Morris
7:15 pm- Moonrises
8:15 pm- Magic Milk

AHHH! Pilsen Music Festival is Saturday, July 30 at Simone’s, 960 W 18th St, noon-8 p.m., $5 suggested donation