Event
Midsommarfest is Andersonville’s annual summer street festival, now entering its 47th year. Midsommarfest takes place on Saturday and Sunday, June 9th & 10th from 11:00am until 10:00pm.
Each year, nearly 50,000 people throng Clark Street from Foster to Catalpa for two days of music, dancing, kids’ entertainment, and delicious food. Vendors from around the region sell their wares to passers-by, while ethnic dance troupes and cutting-edge bands keep the party going.
Midsommarfest is one of Chicago’s most unique street fairs. Born out of Andersonville’s Swedish heritage, Midsommarfest retains its quaint, international flavor. Old-world Swedish traditions, including a festive dance around the Maypole, are incorporated into an unrivaled array of entertainment for families and adults.
A special family area includes face painting, games and a family stage with entertainment such as Nordic Folk dancers, a pet parade, and much more. The other three stages are filled all day with spirited music, including nationally renowned acts, guaranteed to get the crowd dancing.
Neighborhood
The quaint little Swedish ‘village’ of Andersonville features some of Chicago’s most intriguing shops and a wonderful array of international eateries.
Entertainment
Friday Stage
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16 Candles
Established in 2003. 16 Candles makes it their personal duty and pleasure to bring all the great 80′s songs you love to life in full force. Their attention to detail and commitment to entertainment captivates audiences and inspires new ways of dancing and thinking (not to mention drinking). The members are 5 fun-loving guys with a simple love for the music of years gone by and a mission to fuse nostalgia and style to create a sight/sound spectacular unlike any other.
North Stage
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Wedding Banned
Skip the ceremony and start the party! Wedding Banned is a musical experience, a show, an event and something you will not forget. Like a bat out of hell from Gas City, In., Wedding Banned has become the hottest party in the Midwest; playing all your favorite hits from the 80′s, 90′s and beyond. Wedding Banned picks two members from the audience to become the “bride” and “groom” and turns every show into the ultimate wedding reception. Whether it’s the bride and groom on stage during the garter toss, or beautiful ladies from the audience rocking with the band, you can throw the rules of a traditional rock show out the window. If you want to have one of those, “you should have been there nights,” come and see Wedding Banned!
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Chicago Afrobeat Project
Afrobeat cannot stand still. As the genre’s tempting sounds continue a resurgence across the globe, Chicago Afrobeat Project (CAbP) remains true to its original vision of breathing the intensity of Chicago’s rich music scene into the infectious sounds of afrobeat. Rather than become caricatures of the genre, CAbP slips a reverent nod to the tradition while delivering an energized originality different from any other band on the afrobeat scene today. At each of its 100+ live performances a year, the group’s frenzied songs hit audiences with a big enough one-two punch to tirelessly knock them onto the dance floor time and time again.
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Chicago Spirit Brigade
Founded in 2003, members of Chicago Spirit Brigade (CSB) dance, twirl flags, and perform cheerleading stunts at events all around Chicago. And every time we perform, we’re raising money for non-profit organizations that provide direct care services to people faced with life-threatening challenges like breast cancer, homelessness, hunger and HIV/AIDS.
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Guy King
Vocalist/Guitarist Guy King impressed the 10 times W.C. Handy award winner Willie Kent so much that the great man made him his bandleader and right – hand man. Guy King is an exciting new artist whose star is rising. While young in age, his unique background and rich, international experiences have helped shape him into a world-traveled, world-wise musician who incorporates those elements into his art form. Born and raised in a small country town in Israel, Guy first arrived in Memphis Tennessee at the age of 16. After a short stay in Memphis and a stint in New Orleans, Guy headed north to Chicago in pursuit of greater things and a musical career.
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Windy City Cowboys
Windy City Cowboys is an all male dance ensemble. Formed in 2008, the Cowboys proudly represent the Chicagoland GLBT Communtity by performing routines which combine visual elements derived from country/western dance, ballroom, color guard and theater.
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Daphne Willis
Everything Daphne Willis has done up to now in both her music and her life has led to this moment—her new album, Because I Can (Vanguard, April 19), marks the 23-year-old writer/singer/guitarist’s artistic coming of age in thrilling—and at times heart-wrenching—fashion. This captivating LP represents an exponential leap, as she grows into her enormous talent and puts it to powerful and relatable use via her singular sensibility. Because I Can sounds very much like the defining work of a young artist who matters.
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The Henhouse Prowlers
After seven years of hard work and a relentless tour schedule, Chicago’s The Henhouse Prowlers have gained a growing reputation for their highly original, tradition-inspired bluegrass built around intricate harmonies and electrifying stage energy.In 2010, while balancing time on the road and in the studio in Colorado, the Prowlers placed third in the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition and took top honors in the RockyGrass Band Competition. During this time, the band entered the studio with visionary producer and dobro player extraordinaire, Sally Van Meter, completing its third album.
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Bumpus
Based out of Chicago, Bumpus is a collective of 8 songwriters with diverse backgrounds and diverse tastes who share a love of soulful music in any form. Bumpus has built its reputation largely on live performances, bringing high-energy drums and bass, and fluid gospel vocals to audiences all over the Midwest. Bumpus has played with some of the best jam bands around including Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe and Robert Walter’s 20th Congress, hip-hop giants such as the Roots and Jurassic 5, and funk and soul pioneers like Maceo Parker and Dr. John.
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The Right Now
The past two years saw immense growth for The Right Now, including a sold-out release party at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall; tour dates throughout the Midwest, East, and South; festival appearances at SXSW, North Coast Festival, and Summerfest; and opening stints for Fitz & The Tantrums, George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic, Bettye Lavette, Otis Clay, Orgone, Kings Go Forth, Jamie Lidell, and Tortured Soul. USA Today and mp3.com featured the band as a favorite, and live TV appearances (WGN) put the Chicago act on the national stage.
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Al Rose
Al Rose is a striking songwriter and musician with a unique and powerful vision that continues to jell and focus on his 5th and latest release (2008), “My First Posthumous Release”. His previous albums have received extensive airplay on AAA and Americana stations throughout the US along with a bevy of critical praise. He is a mesmerizing transformer when performing live as a solo or with any number of his band, The Transcendos, in any configuration. This drives the songs each night, but the songs have always been what drives the musicians in what The Chicago Tribune has called “one audaciously entertaining ride”.
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Lakeside Pride Music Ensemble
Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles is Chicago’s premier family of performance groups for members and friends of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Home to four major Lakeside Pride ensembles – Freedom Marching Band, Shhh…OUT Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Symphony Orchestra – the organization offers a diverse musical experience for both its audience and its members.
Center Stage
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Rock Candy
Rock Candy is “Sweetness for your Ears!”. Playing a mix of Dance, Hip Hop, Pop Rock and 80′s, there is definitely something for everyone in this Chicago based party band. With lead singer Molly Callinan, returning from her off broadway debut in The Dirty Dancing Musical, who brings both an incredible voice and a fun performance to the stage. Molly is backed by a band filled with talented musicians who take great pride in the quality of their sounds and the variety of the music they perform.
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Stan Champion’s Roots Rock Society
Stan Champion’s Roots Rock Society Awarded “Best Entertainer of 2003” recently by the 2004 Chicago Music Awards. Roots Rock Society, founded in December of 1986, strongly believes in keeping their heritage and culture alive with their energetic live show and innovative blend of reggae, calypso, soul, zouk and other rhythms of the African Diaspora.
Hailed as “Chicago legends” by Tribune’s Metromix TV and “Chicago’s Premier Reggae Band” by WGN Morning News with their one of a kind sound, sometimes being described as tropical soul or “root soul”. In 2003 with the release of their award winning CD “Riddim to Riddim” RRS reached one million viewers and listeners with television and radio performances, matched with articles and ads in newspapers and magazines. Critics have labeled RRS “Nation’s Best”. -
The Joans
Formed in 2007 The Joans include lead guitarist and music arranger Taylor Joans, Aaron Joans on drums, Jennifer Joans on vocals, Steve Joans on bass guitar and Ed Joans, keyboard player and trusted maid for the band. Chicago has given The Joans an enthusiastic welcome. The Joans press ranges from the Chicago Tribune to the cover of Nightspots Magazine, and The Joans The Joans have appeared at The Flesh Hungry Dog Show at Jackhammer Chicago resulting in their largest audiences ever, The Spot, Ronny’s, The Note, CAKE Chicago at the Red Line Tap, The Empty Bottle, The Acorn Theatre in Three Oaks, MI headlining their New Years Eve gala, The Music Box Theatre, the TPAN Aware Affair benefit gala, Mary’s Attic, Folsom Street Fair 2008 in San Francisco, The Chicago Pridefest and The Milwaukee Pridefest 2009, opening for Cyndi Lauper.
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Chicago Samba
For more than 21 years, Chicago Samba has performed authentic Brazilian dance music mixed with the flavor of carnaval right here in the Windy City.
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Jesse Thomas & His Electric Band
Your life and the lives of those around you could be forever enriched by the noise gospel of Jesse Thomas & His Electric Band, featuring C. Ezra Lange on bass, Dr. Aaron Brace on drums and percussion, and Peter Triolo on lead guitar. Jesse Thomas was born and grew up in Massachusetts, not that there’s anything wrong with that. His first bands played in and around his hometown of East Bridgewater and nowhere else. Statue Factor (1998-2000), guitarist; Fiesel (2000-2003) bassist, vocalist. End of the World Band (2007), Genius School (2008-2009). Jesse is presently in the bands Feedbacula with the lovely Mdme. Anna Gregoline; ONO (Chicago Noise Gospel) as guitarist, trombonist, vocalist, and percussionist; Mike Videogames, as guitarist; and 8-Bit Fatty, as guitarist and bassist.
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Maggie Speaks
Chicago’s Maggie Speaks has been changing what people think of cover bands since 1997. Drawing off a huge range of music, Maggie Speaks cranks out an incredible non-stop high-energy show that leaves people breathless. You’ll know every song, but you won’t believe how this band delivers them one after another. Think of it as your favorite mix come to life. Come see Maggie’s ever-changing show and see what cover bands should be.
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Artbeat Live
While using both hands and multiple brushes, Elliott begins an explosive performance – throwing paint, challenging the audience, sometimes carefully painting red lips on the canvas, or rapidly making a blue and purple background to finish a painting. Elliott’s paintings of famous rock icons, public figures, celebrities, and commissioned portraits are choreographed to a musical experience. The paintings are created on a 4 foot by 5 foot black canvas, taking the audience through an exciting musical journey, and finally creating a likeness of the subject in a matter of minutes.
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Liquid Soul
At long last, Liquid Soul is back with the follow-up to its 2000 Grammy-nominated CD, Here’s the Deal (Shanachie). Evolution, the band’s fourth recording, gives evidence that the dynamic unit has continued to develop its infectious trademark sound and take it to new heights. Liquid Soul called on the help of Grammy-nominated producer Maurice Joshua (N’Sync and Destiny’s Child) and Frayne P. Lewis, the son of Ramsey Lews, this time around. The result is a fresh mix of butt-kicking jams, driving jazz-inspired tracks and hot dance numbers.
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Devin & The Straights
Within their first year of performing, Devin & The Straights were applauded as one of the best new acts to come out of Chicago. High acclaim continues to match this band’s unique evolution. Along their way to this year’s full-length studio album, lead vocalist Devin and his gang of urban pickers have been praised in the Chicago Tribune, MetroMix Television, TimeOut Chicago, the RedEye, and by a diverse mix of fans across the world. Devin & The Straights are the union of soulful, nearly sentimental American country music, and the daring musical maneuvers of a band of modern pop comrades. They are a true musical hybrid in sound and identity. Spearheaded by the soothing voice of country starlit Devin, and backed by the honky-tonk rock skydivers known as The Straights, this front-page showcase act is leading the movement of colorful urban country.
South Stage
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The Del Moroccos
Started in 2006, The Del Moroccos are a powerful 8 piece Rock n’ Roll band (guitar, bass, drums, piano, tenor sax, and 3 sexy front women) who put out an awesome full-length show of dirty R’N'R, R&B material with girl group vocals. Knock the Ray-ettes, Bo Diddley and Link Wray together, with a blast of garage, a hit of late ’50s black rock n’ roll, dress ‘em up like Johnny Cash, and you get a raucous, mean mix of “‘Soulful 50s garage”. A perfect Quentin Tarantino soundtrack! The members are veteran Chicago musicians from the rockabilly, surf, ska, jazz, blues and R & B scenes.
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Dolly Varden
Chicago quintet Dolly Varden is built around the singing and songwriting of husband and wife duo Steve Dawson and Diane Christiansen, along with Mark Balletto on guitar, Matt Thobe on drums and Mike Bradburn on bass. Though the band’s name suggests a euphonious connection to a certain country singer, it is actually derived from a rare and beautiful species of trout which in turn was named after a character in Charles Dickens’ short novel ‘Barnaby Rudge‘. Strange, but true: Dawson and Christiansen both had fathers who were avid fishermen who dreamed of one day catching the elusive Dolly Varden in an icy Alaskan lake.
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Nicholas Tremulis
If you judge a man by the company he keeps, Nicholas Tremulis is a very interesting man indeed. Over the years of making music since he started in his teens in his hometown Chicago, Tremulis has worked, played and recorded with Keith Richards, Billy Corgan, Bonnie Raitt, Maceo Parker, Rick Danko, Marianne Faithfull and beat poet Gregory Corso, to name but a few.
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Get Up with the Get Downs
Since 2008, Get Up with the Get Downs have been performing hits from the Golden Age of Funk for thousands of Chicagoans. While the eight-piece band bases their set on the hits of James Brown, they often slip in more obscure tunes from the likes of Mitch Mitchell and Renaldo Domino, demonstrating their love and knowledge of the era. Concentrating solely on live performance, each show is a high energy dance party that evokes “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business.”
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Expo ’76
What do you do with more than a century of combined rock experience, including everything from playing the greasiest punk rock hellholes and sleeping on some of the saddest couches in the midwest to appearances on network television and and sold-out national tours? What do you do with a mental warehouse of music that houses the golden era of AM radio singles, roots rock chestnuts, new wave janglers, campfire classics, TV show themes, early ‘60s rave-ups, songs your parents know and love, made-up-on-the-spot idiotic jams and more? Well, in this case, you assemble four dudes of the same age and hairline and you put together a band called Expo’76.
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Planet Claire
Some of Chicago’s most respected original bands saw the beckoning light of Planet Claire and morphed into Chicago’s best, maybe only, B52′s tribute band. Taking their name from the lead off track of the B52s eponymous 1979 record, Planet Claire includes members of The Delafields, The Webstirs, B1g T1me, and many others. Altogether they bring you the best B52s concert outside of Athens, Georgia circa 1980. Spot on musicianship and and energetic show(wo)manship lift this tribute band beyond the ordinary and into a full out Love Shack experience!
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The New Invaders
The New Invaders are truly “New,” as this inspirational 60′s rock review ushers back in the fabulous era of BRITISH rock and roll with major new players! Powerfully packed with an incredible sound and theatrical touch, The New Invaders roll out the red carpet with their classic style and repertoire of classic hit songs! Each band member is a professional worthy of the stage, bringing to life an inspiring reflection of days gone by.
Summerdale Stage
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The Dirty Rooks
The Dirty Rooks have earned a reputation for being one of the best live rock n’ roll bands in Chicago. Reviews of the band regularly talk about their “bombastic party sound,” call their live shows “enthusiastic [and] blood-alcohol-raising,” and tell their readers to “pound a cheap beer (or five) and steady yourself”. They’ve packed Chicago’s finest music venues, including Lincoln Hall, The Double Door, Martyr’s, The Abbey Pub, and Beat Kitchen with fans hungry for their “party on stage” brand of rock n’ roll. They’ve also opened for national acts The Waco Brothers and Jon Langford, Steepwater Band, Lez Zeppelin, Vintage, Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights, and Tin Horse. As their reputation for raucous performances continues to grow, so does their fanbase; The Dirty Rooks have sold albums around the country and internationally.
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Lucy Smith
Lucy Smith sings! She’s been a part of Chicago’s music scene for many years. As leader/arranger for the Lucy Smith Quartet/Quintet and as singer/songwriter for the jazz-infused Passing For Normal, Lucy has led a myriad of musical combinations exploring the worlds of traditional jazz and blues and other popular music. She was lead vocalist for the Center for Black Music Research’s Stop-Time Ensemble and was producer/host for SundaySongs, an original music showcase at the HotHouse.
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The Revelettes
The Revelettes are a sometimes campy, sometimes vampy, always flirty 60’s style go-go troupe. We borrow the moves, ‘do’s, and get-ups that distinguished the go-go scene in its heyday and mix in the musical variety and contemporary sensibilities that keep us relevant and captivating to today’s audiences. The Revelettes have performed on the rock stage for drag-queen punk rock shows, on the theatrical stage for feminist cabarets, on the runway for fashion fundraisers, and on the rink for the roller derby. And we don’t forget the children: elementary-school benefit coordinators know how much children love shiny things and happy beats. The Revelettes’ smart, innovative choreography and exuberant energy can take an event like any other and make it all go-go-licious and sparkly!
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Old Town School of Folk Music Presents: The Dream Tree Shakers
Very cool indie pop for kids, awesome kindie rock for adults, great CD for the whole family. But first and foremost, check out The Dreamtree Shakers’ live show … then you’ll see what they’re all about.
Benefactor
All the proceeds benefit the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce. The money we raise at Midsommarfest goes to support programming and events in Andersonville during the rest of the year, including Andersonville Arts Weekend, holiday events, the Sidewalk Sale, and support services to keep our amazing local businesses healthy and strong. We appreciate your support!
Food & Drink
Budweiser is a proud sponsor of Midsommarfest.
We will be announcing a summer-time menu of offerings soon.
Location
Located at 5200 – 5500 N. Clark Street @ Foster. Admission to the festival is only $5. For more information – e-mail info@starevents.com or call (773)665-4682.