A look ahead at shows worth seeing (and hearing) this week …
NORTH COAST MUSIC FESTIVAL
The North Coast Music Festival returns to Union Park, scheduled the way a three-day festival should be — with no work on Monday. The free-wheeling event jumbles jam bands, hip-hop and EDM into one smiley bundle, with this year’s highlight acts including Yelawolf, STS9, Paul Oakenfold, Girl Talk, Atmosphere, the Rebirth Brass Band, Pretty Lights and Big Boi. Great local artists are on board, too, like jam titans Umphrey’s McGee as well as Future Rock, Family Groove Company, the supergroup Digital Tape Machine and Van Ghost, which features North Coast co-promoter Michael Harrison Berg. Each night features a Lolla-like round of after-shows, too.
Music runs 1-10 p.m. Aug. 31-Sept. 2 in Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph. Tickets: Single-day tickets remain for Friday ($50), Saturday ($55) and Sunday ($60); regular three-day passes are sold-out, but VIP passes ($350) remain. Complete information at northcoastfestival.com.
312 URBAN BLOCK PARTY
She’ll be back in a couple of weeks to share a Chicago Theatre bill with David Byrne, but this weekend you can catch indie-rockstress St. Vincent on her own, headlining this local beer fest. The lineup is also strong with local talent, including the mighty Kelly Hogan, supporting an acclaimed new album, “I Like to Keep Myself in Pain,” and organic pop band Maps & Atlases, making a hometown stop among their current national tour.
Music runs 5-10 p.m. at this event, on Walnut St. between Wolcott and Wood, outside Goose Island’s barrel warehouse. For information, see 312chi.com.
KELLY CLARKSON
The first “American Idol” winner made a name for herself but hasn’t lost the allure of interpreting other artists’ songs. On her current tour, Clarkson has been inserting “karaoke” sets into the show, in which she takes requests from the audience. Recent selections have spanned the range of Gotye, No Doubt, Kings of Leon, Florence + the Machine and the Pretenders. She shares the bill with piano-pop hacks the Fray.
Carolina Liar opens at 7 p.m. Sept. 1 at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, 19100 S. Ridgeland in Tinley Park. Tickets: $56-$125. Call (800) 745-3000; ticketmaster.com.
CHICAGO, I LOVE YOU
This weekend launches a Chicago arts event with the wonderfully booster-ish title of Chicago, I Love You. It’s 30 days spotlighting Chicago-rooted music, film and comedy in a single venue, all organized by singer-songwriter and filmmaker Tom Schraeder. Music includes local luminaries Pat Sansone from Wilco, the Kickback, Sleepy Kitty, Gabe Lebowitz, the band Brighton, MA, and more.
The launch party is at 10 p.m. Sept. 1 featuring Tom Schraeder, Stoop Goodnoise and Natureal at Lilly’s, 2515 N. Lincoln. Admission: free. See the full schedule at tomschraeder.blogspot.com.
