BULLETIN
Politics of Hip-Hop at Socialism 2015
Socialism Conference, Hyatt Regency, 2233 S. King Drive. Friday, July 3, 11:30am-1pm. Free. All ages. socialismconference.org
As part of the city’s annual Socialism Conference, poetactivists
including Louder Than A Bomb founder Kevin
Coval and other influential writers like Nate Marshall will
be discussing the role of politics in hip-hop lyrics and the
role of hip-hop in the political sphere. (Jake Bittle)
Quilombos and the Fight for Reparations in Brazil
Uri-Eichen Gallery, 2101 S. Halsted St. Opening Friday, July 10 12, 6-10pm. (312)852-7717. uri-eichen.com.
The third in Uri-Eichen’s five-part series “40 Acres and a
Mule,” this photography exhibit highlights the history of
African descendants in Brazil. Eleven times more African
slaves were brought to Brazil than to the United States.
The works in this gallery will bring the series’ focus to this
lesser known call for reparations. (Bess Cohen)
Youth Artivism Symposium
Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. Saturday, July 11, 3pm-11pm. Free signup, registration limited. Ages 12-23. http://www.facebook.com/events/364565680419529/ (or
Google)
The Youth Task Force of Chicago-based production
company Face Theatre will be hosting a massive “Artivism”
(art + activism) symposium at the UofC’s Logan Center.
There will be workshops put on by various art ensembles as
well as an open mic and free meals. It is intended to help
socially engaged artists network and grow. (Jake Bittle)
What is Nature? Reading Group
Hyde Park Free Theater, 1448 E. 57th St. Sunday, July 12, 1pm. Meets every other week.
If you can’t retreat to Walden Pond or into the wild for the
summer, you can at least philosophize about it. This reading
group meets every other Sunday to discuss perspectives
in environmental philosophy and politics. On the list: Bill
McKibben, Naomi Klein, and Steven Vogel, among other
environmental thinkers. (Kristin Lin)
House (Music) Party for Justice and Peace
The Grand Ballroom, 6351 S. Cottage Grove Ave. Friday, July 17, 7pm-2am. $18. (847)630-5318. eventbrite.com
Join the liveliest dance party The Grand Ballroom has
seen since ‘23. Dance through decades of soul, R&B, step,
and house music and raise money for defendants facing
charges from protests against police brutality. Your moves
‘n’ grooves will also support adding staff to Violence
Interrupters. (Hannah Shea)
Small Business Center on the Road
South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Drive. Saturday, July 18, 10am-2pm. http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/bacp/sbc/smallbusinessexpos.html
Over 25 different organizations—from the IRS to the
YWCA—will put on exhibits at this event for small
business owners. Presentations will address the details of
founding and running their businesses; attorneys from the
Law Project will consult with small business owners oneon-
one. (Adam Thorp)
SLUTWALK CHICAGO 2015
SLUTWALK Chicago, Location TBA. August 22, 12pm-
3pm. Free, open, inclusive. Nudity likely. facebook.com/
slutwalkchicago
If Pride just wasn’t risqué enough for your tastes, stick it
out through the summer and keep your eyes peeled for
more details about this year’s Chicago SLUTWALK.
Now a tradition in some of the world’s more liberal (and
some of its less liberal) urban centers, SLUTWALK is a
celebration of sexual liberty and an attempt to end rape
culture. It prides itself on total diversity and inclusivity: in
other words, come all, come all. (Jake Bittle)
Black August: Black Women and State Violence
Various event locations and times. July 30-August 31. See Facebook event page.
This August, Chicago activist organizations join together
to host a series of events focused on the experiences of
black women as targets of state violence. From a Twitter
teach-in to a block party, go to learn, listen, and share.
(Hannah Shea)
LVEJO’s Annual Fundraising Dinner
Chicago Café Banquet Hall, 2600 W. 35th St., Friday, August 14, 6pm. $50. (773)762-6991. www.lvejo.org
Little Village Environmental Justice Organization
(LVEJO) has a lot to celebrate at its annual fundraising
dinner. This year marks the third anniversary of LVEJO’s
successful campaign to close the Crawford and Fisk plants
in Pilsen and ongoing triumphs in increasing public transit
access and green spaces in the community. Come out and
support this grassroots organization as it enters its third
decade. (Bess Cohen)
Mass March for CPAC
Federal Plaza, Adams St. and Dearborn St. Saturday, August 29, 12pm. (312)939-2750. naarpr.org.
Intensified public reaction to police abuses have clearly
laid out a problem; a solution would be the next step.
According to the organizers of this march, that solution
is an elected Civilian Police Accountability Council,
empowered to monitor the police. (Adam Thorp)
MUSIC
Panda Bear with Bitchin’ Bajas
Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport Ave. Thursday, July 16, doors 7:30pm. $20 GA, $30 seated balcony. 17+. (312) 526-3851. thaliahallchicago.com
Coming off of a yearlong tour with another member of
Animal Collective, Panda Bear has released a new album,
Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper. This fifth studio album
draws from ‘70s dub duos and features a sample from
none other than Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. (Emily
Lipstein)
Parquet Courts at Thalia Hall
Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport Ave. Friday, July 17, doors 8:30pm, show 9pm. $16 advance, $18 at doors. 17+. (312) 526-3851. thaliahallchicago.com
The cowpunk-by-way-of-Brooklyn quartet Parquet Courts
is coming to Thalia Hall, which is cool, but what nearby
Chicagoans might find even cooler is that the openers are
local legends The Funs, making their way slowly but surely
to the big time. (Austin Brown)
Bethany Pickens
Mo Better Jazz, 2423 E. 75th St. Friday, July 17, 7pm-11:30pm. 21+. (773)741-6254 mobetterjazzchicago.us
This jazz instrumentalist is the daughter of the late, great
Willie Pickens, a legend of Chicago jazz. She’s made the
rounds of jazz festivals in Chicago and around the country,
and also teaches music at schools around Chicago. She’ll
be hosted by South Shore’s longtime jazz hub, Mo Better.
(Jake Bittle)
Father
Reggies, 2105 S. State St. Saturday, July 18, doors 10pm. $17-$20. (312)949-0120. reggieslive.com
“Please stop making fake Versace.” It’s not the demand
itself that places Father against Migos and their brand
of ADHD rap, but rather the word “please.” Even in his
unbridled hedonism, Father is always polite—his tracks are
nervously constrained where his Atlanta contemporaries
are sprawling and bombastic. A Reggies must-see. (Austin
Brown)
Philosophy
The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. West. Monday, July 20, doors 6:30pm. $20. (312)801-2100. promontorychicago.com
A musical jack-of-all-trades, Phil (Osophy) is a Chicago
musician looking to share his most recent iteration with
the world. Currently, he’s a jazz artist/producer, although,
throughout his life, Phil has been a gospel and R&B
musician and has been a conductor for a slew of musicals.
(Emily Lipstein)
Avery*Sunshine
The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. West. Thursday, July 23, doors 7pm. $15 standing room, $22 seats. (312)801-2100. promontorychicago.com
Happy and warm like the cosmic orb, Avery*Sunshine’s
Joel Osteen-inspired “shining by sharing” music and
ministry-operative band hits Chicago during her enduring
tour. With her divorce finally in the past, Avery*Sunshine
is ready to pour light and love into listeners with sermonstyle
songs. (Alex Harrell)
Floetry
The Shrine, 2109 S. Wabash Ave. Wednesday, July 29, doors 7:30pm. $42.50 first fifty tickets, $44 thereafter. 21+. (312)753-5681. theshrinechicago.com
Fans of soul and poetry, rejoice: five-time Grammy
nominated UK neo-soul duo Floetry is back in the States
for a reunion tour this summer. Come out and see them
perform for the first time in a decade. (Emily Lipstein)
SWV
The Shrine, 2109 S. Wabash Ave. Friday, August 14, doors 8:30pm. $24 first fifty tickets, $32.50 thereafter. 21+. (312)753-5681. theshrinechicago.com
SWV, purveyors of nineties R&B, have been enjoying a
recent renaissance off the back of surprising reality show
success. Come to the Shrine this August to wallow in
nostalgia as they perform vintage hits like “Weak” and “I’m
So Into You,” this time, hopefully, without the oversized
camouflage jackets. (Christian Belanger)
Ibeyi
Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St. Wednesday, September 23, doors 7pm. $21 in advance, $24 at the door. (312)526-3851. thaliahallchicago.com
The rhythmic and melodic variety that this expert French-
Cuban sister duo brings to the table is a mix of Yoruba
and R&B culture. On top of that, are the harmonies that
at times transcend language—and it helps when you have
someone to sing with. (Austin Brown)