People in the midwest, especially northern Illinois, has plenty of chances to check out live music during the summer.
If you're a casual fan who is buying a ticket just as much for the festival food as the music, you're covered.
If you're a music nut who needs to blast your eardrums with three days of music under the hot summer sun, you better stock up on suntan lotion.
This summer's concert schedule offers everything from intimate club shows to sprawling music festivals within a short drive of McHenry County.
**********
The following concerts are taking place in the Chicago area this summer. Times, dates and locations are subject to change. A complete venue listing appears below.
MAY
David Guetta, May 25 at Congress Theater in Chicago.
Summer Camp Music Festival, May 25-27 at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe. Featuring moe., Umphrey's McGee, Jane's Addiction, Pretty Lights, Primus, Common, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, G. Love & Special Sauce, Leftover Salmon and more. www.summercampfestival.com.
LMFAO, May 26 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont.
Armin Van Buren, May 26 at Congress Theater in Chicago.
Red Hot Chili Peppers, May 28 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont.
Kelly Hogan, Scott Lucas & the Married Men, May 28 at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park in Chicago. Free. www.millenniumpark.org.
Nickelback, May 30 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont. Also featuring Bush, Seether and My Darkest Days.
JUNE
Cheap Trick, June 1 at BMO Harris Bank Center, 300 Elm St., Rockford. www,thebmoharrisbankcenter.com.
The Cult, June 1 at Congress Theater in Chicago. Also featuring Against Me!
Naughty By Nature & Digital Underground, June 2 at Congress Theatre in Chicago.
One Direction, June 2 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont.
Drake, June 2 at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park. Also featuring J. Cole, Waka Flocka Flame and more.
Matt Skiba and the Sekrets, June 7 at Metro in Chicago. Also featuring the Smoking Popes.
Roger Waters, June 8 at Wrigley Field, 1060 W. Addison St., Chicago. www.tickets.com.
Chicago Blues Festival, June 8-10 at Grant Park in Chicago. Featuring Texas Johnny Brown, Floyd Taylor, Mavis Staples and more. www.explorechicago.org.
Brad Paisley, June 9 at Wrigley Field, 1060 W. Addison St.,Chicago. Also featuring Miranda Lambert, Chris Young, the Band Perry and Jerrod Niemann. www.ticketmaster.com.
Dr. John, Iron & Wine, June 10 at Ravinia in Highland Park.
Radiohead, June 10 at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park. Also featuring Caribou.
Spring Awakening Music Festival, June 16-17 at Soldier Field in Chicago. featuring Skrillex, Afrojack, Moby, A-Trak, Benny Benassi, Flux Pavilion, Diplo and more. www.springawakeningfestival.com.
B96 Summer Bash, June 16 at Toyota Park, 7000 S. Harlem Ave., Bridgeview. Featuring Flo Rida, Big Time Rush, the Wanted and more. www.toyotapark.com.
Chicago Gospel Music Festival, June 21-24 at multiple locations in Chicago. Featuring Fred Hammond, Blind Boys of Alabama, Take 6 and more. www.chicagogosepelmusicfestival.us.
Aerosmith & Cheap Trick, June 22 at United Center in Chicago.
"Country Throwdown," June 23 at Davis Park, 320 S. Wyman St., Rockford. Featuring Gary Allan, Rodney Atkins and more. www.thebmoharrisbankcenter.com.
Sugarland, June 23 at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park. Also featuring Lauren Alaina and Canaan Smith.
Green Music Fest, June 23-24 at Damen Ave. between North and Schiller in Chicago. Featuring Dinosaur Jr. and the Raveonettes. www.greenmusicfestchicago.com.
Styx, June 24 at Charter One Pavilion in Chicago. Also featuring REO Speedwagon and Ted Nugent.
Esperanza Spalding, June 25 at Ravinia in Highland Park.
JULY
Summerfest, June 27-July 1 and July 3-8 at Marcus Amphitheater and the Summerfest grounds in Milwaukee, Wis. Featuring headliners Foo Fighters, Aerosmith, Kelly Clarkson, Neil Diamond, Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band and more. www.summerfest.com
Ministry, June 28-29 at Vic Theatre in Chicago.
Scorpions, June 29 at Charter One Pavilion in Chicago. Also featuring Tesla.
Jimmy Buffett, June 30 at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park.
Phish, June 30-July 1 at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in Elkhorn, Wis.
Wavefront Music Festival, June 30-July 1 at Montrose Beach in Chicago. Featuring Duck Sauce, Erick Morillo and James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem).
Iron Maiden & Alice Cooper, July 5 at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park.
B-52's, July 6 at Charter One Pavilion in Chicago. Also featuring Squeeze.
Neil Diamond, July 6 at United Center in Chicago.
Dave Matthews Band, July 6-7 at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in Elkhorn, Wis.
"American Idols Live," July 7 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont. Featuring finalists from this season.
Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw, July 7 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Foghat, July 7 at Rockin' Rotary Ribfest at Sunset Park in Lake in the Hills. www.lithribfest.com.
Tenacious D, July 7 at Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. Also featuring Urge Overkill.
Vans Warped Tour, July 7 at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park. Featuring Taking Back Sunday, Anti Flag, New Found Glory, Rise Against and more.
Wilco, July 8 at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark, 34W002 Cherry Lane, Geneva. Also featuring Andrew Bird and The Congregation. www.jamusa.com.
"The Last Summer on Earth," July 9 at Charter One Pavilion in Chicago. Featuring Barenaked Ladies, Blues Traveler, Big Head Todd & the Monsters and Cracker.
Santana, July 9 at Ravinia in Highland Park.
Fiona Apple, July 10 at Chicago Theatre.
Taste of Chicago, July 11-15 at Grant Park, 331 E. Randolph St., Chicago. Featuring Jennifer Hudson, Death Cab for Cutie, Chaka Khan, Dierks Bentley and more.
Barry Manilow, July 12-14 at Chicago Theatre.
Sublime With Rome, July 12 at Charter One Pavilion in Chicago. Also featuring Cypress Hill and Pepper.
Loopfest, July 13 at at Toyota Park, 7000 S. Harlem Ave., Bridgeview. Featuring Lynyrnd Skynyrd, Paul Rodgers and Loverboy. www.toyotapark.com.
Pitchfork Music Festival, July 13-15 at Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St., Chicago. Featuring Wild Flag, Sleigh Bells, A$AP Rocky, Dirty Projectors, Feist, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Beach House, Vampire Weekend and more. www.pitchfork.com.
Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, July 14 at Charter One Pavilion in Chicago. Also featuring Tank.
Tesla, July 14 at Fiesta Days in Petersen Park in McHenry. www.mchenryfiestadays.com.
Pop Evil, July 15 at Fiesta Days in Petersen Park in McHenry. www.mchenryfiestadays.com.
Diana Krall, July 17 at Ravinia in Highland.
Def Leppard & Poison, July 19 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont. Also featuring Lita Ford.
O.A.R., July 20 at Charter One Pavilion in Chicago. Also featuring Rebelution.
Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, July 21 at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park. Featuring Motorhead, Slipknot, Slayer and more.
Pitbull, July 26 at Charter One Pavilion in Chicago.
Refused July 26 at Congress Theater in Chicago. Also featuring OFF!
Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller, July 27 at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park.
Chicago and the Doobie Brothers, July 28 at Charter One Pavilion in Chicago.
Rascal Flatts, July 28 at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park.
Summerland Tour, Aug. 3 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont. Featuring Everclear, Sugar Ray, Gin Blossoms, Lit and Marcy Playground.
Lollapalooza, Aug. 3-5 at Grant Park, 331 E. Randolph St., Chicago. Featuring the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Sabbath, the Black Keys, Jack White, Florence + The Machine, the Shins, At the Drive-In, Passion Pit, Avicii, Justice and more. www.lollapalooza.com.
Jennifer Lopez & Enrique Iglesias, Aug. 3 at United Center in Chicago. Also featuring Wisin y Yandel.
Coldplay, Aug. 7-8 at United Center in Chicago.
Garbage, Aug. 7 at Metro in Chicago.
System Of A Down and Deftones, Aug. 15 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont.
311, Aug. 17 at Charter One Pavilion in Chicago. Also featuring Slightly Stoopid.
Marc Anthony, Aug. 19 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont.
My Morning Jacket, Aug. 22 at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago. SOLD OUT
The Honda Civic Tour, Aug. 24 at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park. Featuring Linkin Park and Incubus
Chicago Jazz Festival, Aug. 30-Sept. 2 at various locations throughout Chicago. Ken Vandermark will be artist in residence. www.chicagojazzfestival.us.
Billy Currington, Aug. 31 at On The Waterfront Music Festival throughout downtown Rockford. www.onthewaterfront.com.
North Coast Music Festival, Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at Union Park in Chicago. Featuring Pretty Lights, Axwell (from Swedish House Mafia), Atmosphere, Big Boi and more. www.northcoastfestival.com.
Kelly Clarkson & The Fray, Sept. 1 at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park.
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Sept. 7-8 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. SOLD OUT
KISS & Motley Crue, Sept. 7 at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park and Sept. 8 at Alpine Valley Music Theater in East Troy, Wis.
Riot Fest, Sept. 14-16 at Humbolt Park, Division and California, in Chicago. Featuring Rise Against, Iggy and The Stooges, The Offspring, Elvis Costello, NOFX, Descendents, Dropkick Murphys, The Promis Ring and more. www.riotfest.org.
Jason Mraz, Sept. 15 at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park.
Rush, Sept. 15 at United Center in Chicago.
Madonna, Sept. 19-20 at United Center in Chicago.
Allstate Arena
6920 N. Manheim Road
Rosemont, Ill. 60018
847-635-6601
www.allstatearena.com
Alpine Valley Music Theater
W2699 County Road D
Elkhorn, Wis. 53121
www.livenation.com
262-642-4400
Aragon Ballroom
1106 West Lawrence Avenue Chicago, IL 60640
773-561-9500
www.aragon.com
Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island
1300 S. Lynn White Drive,
Chicago, Ill. 60605
312-540-2668
www.charteronepavilion.com
Chicago Theater
175 N. State St.
Chicago, Ill. 60601
312-443-1130
www.thechicagotheatre.com
Congress Theater
2135 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, Ill.60647
773-276-1235
venue.congresschicago.com
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
19100 Ridgeland Ave.
Tinley Park, Ill. 60477
312-540-2000
www.firstmidwest.com/FMBA
Metro
3730 N. Clark St.
Chicago, Ill. 60613
773-549-4140
www.metrochicago.com
Ravinia
418 Sheridan Road
Highland Park, Ill. 60035
847-266-5100
www.ravinia.org
United Center
1901 West Madison St.
Chicago, Ill. 60612
312-455-4500
www.unitedcenter.com
Vic Theatre
3145 North Sheffield Ave.
Chicago, Ill. 60657
773-472-0449