Arts & Entertainment
New Music Festival Sound & Gravity Leads a Packed Slate of Must-See Chicago Concerts This Week
Local Live Music Recommendations for Sept. 10-16
Jeremiah Chiu kicks off Sound & Gravity fest on Wednesday. (Credit: Scottie McNiece)
Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.
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Last year, the Chicago music community suffered a massive blow when Conde Nast announced it would no longer host the long-running and beloved Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park. But now, Mike Reed, the local jazz drummer, promoter and venue owner, who co-founded what became Pitchfork Music Fest in 2005, is back with a new festival called Sound & Gravity. For its inaugural year, the lineup is even more stacked than the last few Pitchforks.
The festival is happening Wednesday, Sept. 10, through Sunday, Sept. 14, at various venues in Roscoe Village and Avondale that are all within walking distance of each other. Over several shows, over 50 acts will be performing. Expect avant-garde and experimental artist with a focus on improvisational jams, boundary-pushing arrangements and virtuosic instrumental talent. While not as commercial as the bands who once headlined Pitchfork, this fest features far more interesting musical fare. While tickets for individual shows are not sold, day passes and festival passes are available for purchase.
Wednesday, Sept. 10:
Wand, Cory Hanson at Empty Bottle. Tickets.
Cory Hanson, the frontman of the West Coast psych-rock band Wand, opens up for Wand.
TV On the Radio at Riviera. Sold out.
One of the aughts’ best indie rock bands reunites for another tour.
Jeremiah Chiu, Mute Duo at Rockwell on the River Patio. Tickets.
Opening night of Sound & Gravity features Los Angeles composer Jeremiah Chiu, who releases music on the local label International Anthem.
Mdou Moctar, Sam Prekop at Rockwell on the River Patio. Tickets.
What might be the best show of the Sound & Gravity festival happens on its opening night.
Molly Tuttle, Town Mountain, Cecilia Castleman at Thalia Hall. Tickets.
Love bluegrass and Americana? Try this.
Thursday, Sept. 11:
Steve Gunn, Lia Kohm, Macie Stewart and Whitney Johnson, James Elkington and Nathan Salsburg at Judson and Moore. Tickets.
Expect improvisational rock, ambient and folk here. Part of Sound & Gravity festival.
William Tyler, Tara Clerkin Trio at Rockwell on the River Patio. Tickets.
Immersive Americana and ambient. Part of Sound & Gravity festival.
Helado Negro, Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore, Third Coast Percussion at Rockwell on the River. Tickets.
Prepare for sophisticated, experimental and resonant songwriting. Part of Sound & Gravity festival.
The Messthetic & James Brandon Lewis, BASIC, Hanging Hearts at Beat Kitchen. Tickets.
Get there early for the trio of Chris Forysth (guitar), Mikel Patrick Avery (percussion, drum machine, electronics) and Douglas McCombs (bass). Part of Sound & Gravity festival.
Ken Vandermark Edition Redux, Darius Jones Trio, Cooper Moore at Hungry Brain. Tickets.
A local jazz and experimental mainstay caps off this bill. Part of Sound & Gravity festival.
Saccata Quartet, Glenn Kotche, Eucademix at Constellation. Tickets.
Try to make Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche’s set. Part of Sound & Gravity festival.
Katie Pruitt, Jess Nolan at SPACE. Tickets.
Want a night of tasteful folk and Americana? Head to Evanston.
Friday, Sept. 12:
Bill Callahan, Mary Lattimore, Hannah Cohen at Rockwell on the River. Tickets.
Another contender for the best show of the Sound & Gravity festival. Get there early for Woodstock, NY, songwriter Cohen.
Irreversible Entanglements, Jeff Parker Expansion Trio, Chicago Underground Duo at Beat Kitchen. Tickets.
Three legends of adventurous jazz and a few Chicagoans. Part of Sound & Gravity festival.
Magic Tuber Stringband, Olivia Block and Lea Bertucci, Edsel Axle at Hungry Brain. Tickets.
Opener Edsel Axle is the indie rock songwriter Rosali’s other guitar-based project. Part of Sound & Gravity festival.
Mary Halvorson: Amaryllis, Ganavya, Anna Webber’s Simple Trio at Constellation. Tickets.
The headliner comes highly recommended. Part of Sound & Gravity festival.
JJJJJerome Ellis, Maria Somerville, Michael Zerang’s Puzzle House at Judson and Moore. Tickets.
The Irish songwriter Somerville might be the must-see act of the Sound & Gravity festival.
Nabihah Iqbal, Memorials at Rockwell on the River Patio. Tickets.
The press materials for this London artist says their sound “sits somewhere between the shoegaze and electronic worlds.” Part of Sound & Gravity festival.
Lifeguard, Chris Brokaw, Kinsella & Pulse LLC at Guild Row. Tickets.
The punkier side of the Sound & Gravity festival.
Prathloons, Edie McKenna, Deerest Friends at Hideout. Tickets.
Only Chicago acts on this bill.
Saturday, Sept. 13:
Body/Head, Elias Rønnenfelt, Glyders at Beat Kitchen. Tickets.
Here’s your chance to see Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon live again. Part of Sound & Gravity festival.
Melkbelly, Papa M., Helen Money at Guild Row. Tickets.
The abrasive and thrilling Chicago post-punk band returns to the stage. Part of Sound & Gravity festival.
Tarbaby, Rafiq Bhatia, Luke Stewart’s Chicago Quartet at Constellation. Tickets.
The New York jazz trio plays the city’s best jazz venue. Part of Sound & Gravity festival.
Zoh Amba Sun Ensemble, Fred Moten and Brandon Lopez, Ana Everling at Hungry Brain. Tickets.
The Tennessee composer and multi-instrumentalist headlines the Roscoe Village bar. Part of Sound & Gravity festival.
Geologist, Sleepy Doug Shaw, Sinono at Judson and Moore. Tickets.
The Animal Collective member goes solo. Part of Sound & Gravity festival.
CMAT, Tele Novella at Park West. Tickets.
Like your pop music with a bit of edge? Try this Irish songwriter.
lots of hands, Deadharrie, Josephine at Schubas. Tickets.
These U.K. songwriters make intimate and charming folk-rock.
Frankie Cosmos, fantasy of a broken heart, Moontype at Thalia Hall. Tickets.
Great indie rock lineup featuring opening locals Moontype.
Sunday, Sept. 14:
Geordie Greep at Metro. Tickets.
The former black midi frontman has a critically acclaimed solo project.
Andreas Røysum Ensemble with Marvin Tate, Eli Keszler at Constellation. Tickets.
The closing show of Sound & Gravity.
Plantasia (Suzanne Ciani, Windy & Car, Kara-Lis Coverdale, more) at Garfield Park Conservatory. Tickets.
Night 1 of a unique, ambient-heavy festival in an unlikely venue.
Monday, Sept. 15:
Plantasia (Tim Hecker, Arooj Aftab, John Carrol Kirby, Voice Actor, more) at Garfield Park Conservatory. Tickets.
Night 2 of a unique, ambient-heavy festival in an unlikely venue.
Pixies, Spoon, Fazerdaze at Salt Shed. Tickets.
This bill reads like a radio tagline: Music from the ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘00s and now!
Tuesday, Sept. 16:
Simon Joyner, Leah Senior at Hideout. Tickets.
Two stellar songwriters team up in Bucktown.
Nihilistic Easyrider at Subterranean. Tickets.
The punk solo project of Narrow Head frontman Jacob Duarte makes a stop in Wicker Park.
