Still haven’t locked down your plans for the weekend? Here are some suggestions sure to fill the bill:
MUSIC MAN
Country hitmaker Dierks Bentley brings his Somewhere on a Beach tour to the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on May 21. Show time is 7 p.m. Also on the bill: Randy Hauser, Cam and Tucker Beathard. Tickets, $32.25 -$57. Visit livenation.com
MUSIC MAN II
Since his early days with the J. Geils Band, Peter Wolf has been celebrated as an iconic rock and roll frontman. He’s equally at home with a broader range of styles. Various musical loves including country, blues, R&B and even Louis Jordan-styled jump swing get time on Wolf’s eighth solo album “A Cure for Loneliness.” He brings his new songs (along with the Midnight Travelers) to Park West on May 21. Ike Reilly opens. Tickets, $30 (18 +over). Visit jamusa.com. Check out Jeff Elbel’s chat with Wolf here.
W. Kamau Bell | Scott Gries/Invision/AP
Saved by Bell
Comedian and University of Chicago Lab School grad W. Kamau Bell has been stirring buzz lately with his CNN series “United Shades of America,” which has taken him to a Klan rally and inside San Quentin. He’ll share some of his wisdom at a performance benefitting the Cook County homelessness agency Housing Forward. The show begins at 7 p.m. May 20 at DePaul’s Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 E. Balbo, and tickets ($30) are available at housingforward.org/events.
“Morris From America” director Chad Hartigan and star Craig Robinson attend the film’s premiere during 2016 SXSW Music, Film + Interactive Festival on March 14, 2016, in Austin, Texas. | Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Every one the critics’ choice
More than 25 feature films, some with considerable star power, make their local debuts at the Chicago Critics Film Festival, continuing through May 26 at the Music Box Theatre. Star Craig Robinson and director Chad Hartigan will be present for the opening-night screening of “Morris From America” at 7 p.m. Friday. For a full list of titles, go to www.musicboxtheatre.com.
START WINE-ING!
The near North Side is the place to be this weekend for the second annual Lincoln Park Wine Festival in Jonquil Park (1001 W. Wrightwood). May 21 is sold-out, but tickets as of this writing still remain for May 22. Music, tastings, food pavilions all combine for the easy-breezy feel of this open-air event. Hours: 1 to 6 p.m. each day. Tickets, $50-$75. For complete details and a list of what you’ll be sampling, visit chicagoevents.com
IT’S SUMMER!
The summer festival season gets its kick-off May 20-22 with the 21st annual Mayfest celebration in Lake View, centered at 3100 N. Ashland. The fun takes place under a Big-Top tent and includes music, food, drink and Chicago Kids Day (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday) to put special focus on health and wellness of the city’s youth. Headliners include Too White Crew, 7th Heaven and Suburban Cowboys. Admission is $10. Visit starevents.com
