The Hardest-Working Paper in America | 
Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Music

The latest music news on shows, artists, albums, concerts and more.

Kara085.jpg
Someone to Watch in ’24
Rising singer-songwriter Kara Jackson opening first U.S. tour with sold-out Chicago show
The Oak Park folk musician and former National Youth Poet Laureate who sings of love and loss is “Someone to Watch in 2024.”
By Erica Thompson
 
Columnists
Look inside the Indiana company trying to re-create the world's best trumpets
 
Entertainment and Culture
Review: Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' is great sad pop, meditative theater
 
Music
Dickey Betts, Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist, dies at 80
 
Obituaries
Jun Mhoon, producer who toured as Staple Singers' drummer in 6th grade, dies at 69
 
Eaton DC human/progress festival
Music
Chicago's 2024 House Music Festival and Conference to celebrate genre's 40th anniversary
Tony Touch, ANANÉ, Ash Lauryn and Karizma are scheduled to headline the Millennium Park concert lineup for the four-day festival. Also announced is the inaugural House Music Parade.
By Sun-Times staff
 
"Hair" (1968) by Christina Ramberg.
Things To Do
Things to do in Chicago April 4-10: The Mix
A Matthew Sweet concert, a one-man show about Chopin and exhibitions by Chicago artists Robert Earl Paige and Christina Ramberg are among the city’s entertainment highlights in the week ahead.
By Mary Houlihan - For the Sun-Times
 
Kirsten Corley and Chance the Rapper attend The 2021 Met Gala in New York City.
Celebrities
Chance the Rapper, Kirsten Corley divorcing after 5 years of marriage
“We came to this decision amicably and with gratitude for the time we spent together,” Chance wrote in a statement.
By USA TODAY
 
Chicago Orchestra Director
Music
Klaus Mäkelä, 28, named music director of Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Succeeding Riccardo Muti, the Finnish conductor will be 31 when he begins the position in September 2027 with an initial contract of five years.
By Kyle MacMillan - For the Sun-Times
 
A.J. Croce had found his own success as a musician before taking up the songs of his famous father.
Music
A.J. Croce says 'I love you' in songs from his father Jim's repertoire
Playing hits including “Operator” and “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” connect the musician to his late, “complicated” dad.
By Selena Fragassi - For the Sun-Times
 
David Doman.jpeg
Music
Chicago's D.A. Got That Dope produced Beyoncé’s ‘Tyrant,' the violin-heavy banger on ‘Cowboy Carter’
It’s the latest success in a long list of milestones for David Doman, who got his start producing artists in Chicago’s underground music scene.
By Erica Thompson
 
Beyonce performs during Super Bowl 50 between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on February 7, 2016.
Music
Beyoncé's epic 'Act ll: Cowboy Carter' defies categorization, redefines American style
If the album, five years in the making, was inspired by the racist backlash she faced after performing at the 2016 CMAs with The Chicks, as many fans have theorized, she’s eclipsed it and then some. Tell Beyoncé she isn’t welcomed in your space; she’ll carve out a bigger one.
By Maria Sherman | AP
 
BADBUNNY-032924-10.jpg
Music
Bad Bunny delivers thrilling Latin trap show full of throwbacks at United Center
The superstar opened a three-night, sold-out stand at the Chicago venue.
By Ambar Colón
 
Teresa Muta, left, and her daughter Carolina Muta, in a brown cowboy hat, wear leather jackets and scarves around their necks as they wait outside United Center for the Bad Bunny concert.
Music
'Trap meets Western': Bad Bunny inspires fans' fashions as his Most Wanted tour arrives in Chicago
Cowboy hats, bell-bottoms and boots were on full display Thursday night as fans lined up for the first of his three sold-out shows at the United Center.
By Cindy Hernandez
 
Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny performs at the Crypto.com Arena during his "Most Wanted" tour in Los Angeles, March 13, 2024. (Photo by Valerie Macon / AFP) (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)
Things To Do
Things to do in Chicago March 28-April 3: The Mix
Bad Bunny in concert at the United Center, “Churchill,” the one-man show, Percival Everett in conversation about his new book, and the return of Chicago Architecture Center River Cruises are among the highlights in the week ahead.
By Mary Houlihan
 
20240313_AyannaWoods_Taylor Glascock_313.jpeg. Chicago, IL - March 13: Composer and musician Ayanna Woods poses for a portrait in her home on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 in Chicago, Ill. Woods is the music director and composer of the new opera, “Force”, which will premiere at the Museum of Contemporary Art on March 28. (Taylor Glascock/for WBEZ)
Music
Ayanna Woods — part of a very musical Chicago family — is taking the classical world by storm
Woods will see the fruits of one of her longest-germinating projects when “FORCE! an opera in three acts” is staged at the Museum of Contemporary Art this week.
By Hannah Edgar | For WBEZ
 
image00001.jpeg
Music
Ledisi celebrates her knows-no-bounds vocal prowess on latest album, tour
The singer brings her Good Life Tour, featuring special guest BJ the Chicago Kid, to the Chicago Theatre later this week.
By Erica Thompson
 
David Marienthal, son of George Marienthal, who was Mister Kelly's co-owner, looks at items in a glass case on the opening day of “A Night at Mister Kelly’s,” an exhibit that features photos and memorabilia from the jazz and comedy club that was popular from the 1950s to the 1970s, Thursday, March 21, 2024. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Entertainment and Culture
5 items to see at the Newberry exhibition celebrating Mister Kelly's
Open through July 20, the show features memorabilia from the iconic Chicago nightclub including a Vivian Maier photo and Lenny Bruce’s bar tab.
By Erica Thompson
 
Dan Smyers (left) and Shay Mooney, set to perform Friday at the United Center, are new judges on "The Voice."
Things To Do
Things to do in Chicago March 21-27: The Mix
A Dan + Shay concert, a new take on ‘Peter Pan’ and a stand-up show by Ali Wong are among the entertainment highlights of the week ahead.
By Mary Houlihan - For the Sun-Times
 
OLIVIA-032024_016.jpg Olivia Rodrigo performs to a sold-out crowd at the United Center on Tuesday night.
Music
Olivia Rodrigo holds nothing back in supercharged set at United Center — including release date for deluxe 'GUTS'
The singer revealed the album will drop Friday. She returns to the venue Wednesday night for the second of two shows in Chicago.
By Selena Fragassi - For the Sun-Times
 
Black Oak Ensemble musicians pose for a photo
Music
Chicago string trio to bring Holocaust victims’ compositions to life at multisensory event
In a show presented by Rendezvous Arts, the Black Oak Ensemble will play works from Jewish composers who died during the Holocaust. The performance will be complemented by visual art from local painter Kevin Lahvic.
By Erica Thompson
 
66th GRAMMY Awards - Show
Lollapalooza
SZA, Tyler, the Creator, Blink 182, Stray Kids among 2024 Lollapalooza headliners
Brigitte Calls Me Baby, Deftones, Victoria Monét are among the more than 170 artists scheduled for the four-day fest. Tickets go on sale at noon Thursday.
By Miriam Di Nunzio
 
COPY Mitch Rowland - Lead Press Photo (c) Luke Atkinson.jpeg copy.jpg
Music
Mitch Rowland — Harry Styles’ go-to guitarist finds his own music direction
The singer-guitarist is making a music connection with fans through a collection of pensive indie folk compositions.
By Selena Fragassi - For the Sun-Times
 
Byron Janis
Obituaries
Byron Janis, renowned American classical pianist who overcame debilitating arthritis, dies at 95
A childhood prodigy who studied under Vladimir Horowitz, Janis emerged in the late 1940s as one of the most celebrated virtuosos of a new generation of talented American pianists.
By Associated Press
 
Sleater-Kinney - Little Rope _ Photo Credit- Chris Hornbec.jpeg
Music
Sleater-Kinney find strength and resiliency through latest album
In the midst of album sessions in the fall of 2022, the band’s singer-guitarist Carrie Brownstein learned that her mother and stepfather had died in a car accident in Italy. She and co-singer/guitarist Corin Tucker found strength afterward through creating music together.
By Joshua M. Miller — For the Sun-Times
 
12801 - 006A.9225.jpg
‘Blues Brothers’: Five things you didn’t know about the movie’s Chicago shoot
By Daniel de Visé
 
An aerial view of Millennium Park on opening day in 2004.
Entertainment and Culture
Common, Fruko y sus Tesos to headline Millennium Park 20th anniversary festival
The four-day festival in the park is only one of 80 free events scheduled for the park this summer.
By Miriam Di Nunzio
 
Michael Feinstein wears a blue suit and plays a black grand piano onstage.
Music
Ravinia 2024 lineup includes Tony Bennett tribute by Michael Feinstein
Among the summer’s newcomers to the Highland Park venue will be Ben Platt, Violent Femmes and Samara Joy.
By Darel Jevens
 
ALSOP-071522 9.jpg
Music
Marin Alsop, Gustavo Dudamel, Valentina Peleggi will be on the podium for classical music season at Ravinia
The trio of conductors join a host of artists comprising a summer of music at the Highland Park venue.
By Kyle MacMillan - For the Sun-Times
 
Olivia Rodrigo performs at the Grammy Awards in February.
Things To Do
Things to do in Chicago March 14-20: The Mix
Olivia Rodrigo in concert, the St. Patrick’s Day parade and green river celebration, and the Phylicia Rashad-directed “Purpose” at Steppenwolf are among the highlights in the week ahead.
By Mary Houlihan - For the Sun-Times
 
Obit Karl Wallinger
Music
Karl Wallinger, ex-member of The Waterboys and creative force behind World Party, dies
Waterboys founder Mike Scott called him “one of the finest musicians I’ve ever known” in a post Monday on X, formerly Twitter. “Travel on well my old friend,” he said.
By Brian Melley | Associated Press
 
Honey Dijon performs at the 2017 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival in Indio, Calif.
Music
Disclosure, Skepta, Honey Dijon among ARC Music Festival 2024 headliners
The house and techno music festival released its full lineup ahead of its return to Union Park this Labor Day Weekend.
By Matt Moore
 
Festivalgoes scream and cheer in the crowd during the 2023 festival
Pitchfork Music Festival
2024 Pitchfork Music Festival lineup features Alanis Morissette, Carly Rae Jepsen
The 2024 festival at Union Park in Chicago will also feature Jamie XX, Black Pumas, 100 Gecs, MUNA and more.
By Satchel Price
 
Eric Carmen's hit "All by Myself" came from his self-titled solo debut album.
Obituaries
Eric Carmen, Raspberries leader and 'All by Myself' singer, dies at 74
His solo hits included ‘Make Me Lose Control’ and the ‘Dirty Dancing’ smash ‘Hungry Eyes.’
By Mark Kennedy | Associated Press
 
Artistic designer Marquis Lewis, aka RETNA, brings a calligraphy motif to the sets of "Aida."
Theater
Lyric Opera's latest 'Aida' looks weird and sounds monotonous
With its baffling design and costumes, and singing that lacks nuance, production has little new to say about Verdi’s princess.
By Kyle MacMillan - For the Sun-Times
 
More Stories
Latest Stories
Astrology-themed sober bar raised $47k in Kickstarter funds, predicts late summer opening
Woman dead, 2 children critical after car crash in South Deering
Tenant convicted of murdering, dismembering 69-year-old landlord in grisly Northwest Side case
Finding early morel mushrooms is underway
House next to Obamas' Kenwood home, once linked to Tony Rezko, is nearing completion