Chicago summer music: Concerts, festivals for everyone

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From big festivals to small club shows, summer is the time for music in Chicago. We preview 18 of these must-see events.

Glee Live!
June 4
The fictional McKinley High School glee club may not have placed at nationals in New York City this year, but they got a pretty good summer gig: a multi-city tour. This brand extension of the hit TV show features live performances by favorite faux-teens Lea Michele (Rachel Berry), Cory Monteith (Finn Hudson), Amber Riley (Mercedes Jones) and more. With all the outrageous costuming (remember those Lady Gaga get-ups?), intense dancing and big voices of the TV show accented by thousands of screaming fans, this fills the void until new episodes resume in the fall. Tickets from $40.
Location: Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont
For more information: http://www.gleetour.com/

Dispatch
June 7-8
The indie/folk jam band shocked fans when it announced with much fanfare on Jan. 1 that it would be putting out a new album and touring again after breaking up in 2004. Although there had been a couple reunion gigs, none were as extensive as this 10-city tour featuring new material from their Dispatch EP released May 17.  The band performed their first new single “Melon Bend” on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last month. Although tickets to their June 8 show at Millennium Park are sold out, tickets are still available to their show at the UIC Pavilion June 7 for $50.
Location: UIC Pavilion, 525 South Racine Avenue, Chicago
For more information: http://www.dispatchmusic.com/

Kenny Chesney
June 9
With the go-to country music show of every summer, this road warrior’s live chops aren’t just fan voted: He won the Billboard Touring Award for top package event for four consecutive years. This year’s Goin’ Coastal Tour will undoubtedly feature breezy favorites like “Beer in Mexico,” “When the Sun Goes Down” and “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem.” Chesney is also supporting his latest album Hemingway’s Whiskey, released in September — and if fans are lucky, maybe he’ll preview some new material from the yet-unnamed album he’s reportedly recording. If you think his tractor’s sexy, tickets are available from $46.
Location: Toyota Park, 7000 S. Harlem, Bridgeview
For more information: http://www.kennychesney.com/

Chicago Blues Fest
June 10-12
The largest free blues festival in the world is right in your backyard. Across three days and five stages, Chicagoans can see the best of the genre, including Eddie Cotton, Carl Weathersby, Billy Branch, Dave Specter Band and Shemekia Copeland (daughter of Grammy winner Johnny Copeland). The final show of the festival is a 40th anniversary tribute to Alligator Records, the Chicago label that produced such greats as Copeland and fellow Grammy winner Clifton Chenier. Admission is free.
Location: Multiple locations, Chicago
For more information: Explore Chicago

Rihanna
June 15
Her music has become decidedly more, erm, mature since her 2010 album Loud (though songs “What’s My Name” and the coyly titled “S&M” have achieved peak saturation on Top 40 radio) but her shows attract young and old alike to the mix of sing-along-worthy hits and highly choreographed dance numbers. B.o.B. and J.Cole open, making this the R&B tour of the summer.  Tickets from $30.
Location: United Center, 1901 W. Madison Street, Chicago
For more information: http://rihannanow.com/

Florence + The Machine
June 18
British phenom Florence Welch and her band are taking the nation by storm after she performed at the Oscars, Grammys and MTV’s Video Music Awards. Music from her debut album Lungs has appeared on Grey’s Anatomy and Gossip Girl. Doors open at 7 p.m. for opener Hanni El Khatib. Tickets are $36.
Location: Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago
For more information: http://florenceandthemachine.net/

Beady Eye
June 18
You may not have heard of Beady Eye, but you’ve probably heard of Oasis. And that’s basically who this band is. Formed in 2009 when Noel Gallagher left Oasis, this group still has guitarist Andy Bell and “the voice,” Liam Gallagher. Their first album Different gear, still speeding came out this spring, produced by the iconic Steve Lillywhite, the man behind much of the Dave Matthews Band’s and Peter Gabriel’s work.  An added bonus of seeing this band would be their haunting rendition of The Beatles’ “Across the Universe.” Tickets are sold out, but StubHub has them available for $65 and up.
Location: Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., Chicago
For more information: http://www.beadyeyemusic.com/

Matt & Kim
June 25-26
If you don’t think that a band can include just a drummer and a keyboardist, then you haven’t seen Matt & Kim. The Brooklyn duo produces music that is easy for dancing, driving, singing and just plain having a good time. They were at Lollapalooza last summer, but this visit to Chicago will provide a much more intimate setting at The Vic. They’ll likely play hits “Daylight” and “Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare” (both of which have appeared on several TV shows, including Entourage and Community) but they’re touring in support of their latest record Sidewalks. Instant classics “AM/FM Sound” and “Cameras” will have you bopping your head in no time. Although tickets are sold out to Saturday’s show, Sunday’s show has tickets available for $24.
Location: The Vic, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago
For more information: http://mattandkimmusic.com/

Dave Matthews Band Caravan
July 8-10
This three-day festival is only hitting a handful of U.S. cities, and Chicago is one of the lucky few. The Top 40 jam band will headline each day with other headline-worthy artists including O.A.R., Ray LaMontagne, Kid Cudi, Ben Folds, The Flaming Lips and Chicago native Liz Phair. Tickets are $85 a day or $195 for all three days.
Location: Lakeside, 8555 S. Green Bay Ave., Chicago
For more information: http://www.dmbcaravan.com

Britney Spears with Nicki Minaj
July 8
Say what you will about the aging pop star and her train wreck turn detailed ad nauseum in the gossip mags, Ms. Spears can still put on a helluva show. Her 2009 Circus tour sold out, and new album Femme Fatale released in March spawned the Billboard chart-topping auto-tuned sensation “Hold It Against Me.” This tour will be a little a different, or at least the music will. As Spears told People, “We’ve remixed each number.” She also added a girl-power vibe by adding crazy-haired rapper Minaj. Tickets from $40.
Location: United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago
For more information: http://www.britneyspears.com/

Vans Warped Tour
July 9
Approaching its 20th year, the punk extravaganza features five dozen bands, including Unwritten Law, The Devil Wears Prada, Simple Plan, Relient K, August Burns Red and local alt-electronica rockers Madina Lake, performing on 10 stages. Tickets from $45.
Location: Tinley Park
For more information: http://vanswarpedtour.com/

Josh Groban
July 13
If you’re one of the thousands who took advantage of the iTunes and Facebook free download of his song “Hidden Away” last fall, you probably couldn’t stop listening to the man who single-handedly made opera both trendy and sexy. Groban’s Straight to You Tour will play up his album Illuminations, released in November. He’s one of Oprah’s favorite things (he appeared at her farewell show), and if he’s also one of yours, you won’t want to miss this show. Tickets from $65.50.
Location: United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago
For more information: http://www.joshgroban.com/

Pitchfork Music Festival
July 15-17
This Chicago summer classic returns for its sixth year with major acts like Animal Collective, Fleet Foxes, The Dismemberment Plan and Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth. Chicago is the only city to host these three days of up-and-coming and established alternative acts. Tickets are $45 per day. While three-day passes are sold out, StubHub has them starting at $140.
Location: Union Park ,1501 W. Randolph, Chicago
For more information: http://pitchforkmusicfestival.com/

American Idols Live!
Aug. 6
Long before Glee thought to go live, there was American Idol Live! taking no-name kids with big voices and putting them in front of a ravenous reality TV-addicted audience to turn their newfound star power into profits. Season 10’s top 11 contestants will appear at this show, which usually sells out. Now that the votes are all in, this live event will let fans decide for themselves if winner Scotty McCreery and runner up Lauren Alaina are truly an item (maybe they’ll recreate that was it/wasn’t it kiss moment from the finale!), and if Pia Toscano really is the one who should have won it all. Also featured is hometown girl Haley Reinhart. Tickets from $57.
Location: Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont
For more information: American Idol Season 10 Tour

Lollapalooza
Aug. 5-7
Billed as Lolla’s 20th anniversary (though it ceased to exist for about six years in there), Chicago becomes a tourism hot-spot for this three day festival packed with super-sized artists. Headliners include Eminem, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Muse and My Morning Jacket. Other major names include Sleigh Bells and Flogging Molly. Swedish darling Lykke Li will also make a return to the city after her sold-out show at Metro in May. Three-day passes are $215.
Location: Grant Park, Chicago
For more information: http://www.lollapalooza.com/

Taylor Swift
Aug. 9-10
Admit it: You can’t turn off this golden-locked angel of pop country when she comes on the radio again and again and again. The 21-year-old’s voice may sound like that of an underaged novice, but her original music (most of it is self-written) and her message of empowerment resonate with fans of all ages. The Speak Now World Tour, in support of the album of the same name, will stop in Chicago for two days. The tour is sold out, but tickets are available on StubHub starting at $50.
Location: Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont
For more information: http://www.taylorswift.com/

The Hold Steady
Aug. 25
These indie rockers may be from New York, but they do have a Chicago connection: their song “Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night.” Although they’ve recently become a quartet after the exit of their keyboardist, their music hasn’t changed much. While they don’t have a large mainstream following, they have appeared on The Colbert Report. Doors open at 8 p.m. for opener The Donkeys. Tickets $25.
Location: Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., Chicago
For more information: http://theholdsteady.net/

Chicago Jazz Festival
Sept. 1-4
For 33 years, this event has marked the end of summer festival season in Chicago, with four days of the nation’s best jazz artists at three different locations. This year’s weekend closing acts are singer-songwriter Cassandra Wilson on Saturday ,and Grammy-winning trumpeter Roy Hargrove on Sunday. Also playing are sax players Ravi Coltrane (son of John Coltrane) and Joe Lovano. Admission is free.
Location: Multiple locations, Chicago
For more information: Chicago Jazz Festival on Explore Chicago