It all gets a tad trippy & psychedelic this weekend folks, with some great sounds in the offing at the Chicago edition of the much-anticipated Sonar festival ( the wonderful Spanish audio-visual spectacular) taking place at Millenium Park , and various venues across the city, while electro, nudisco, hip-hop, reggae and much more dominate the city’s clubland.
Thursday, September 9th
There will be much excitement at Rumba tonight, as well-traveled Qauntic, the worldly DJ, and founder member of Qauntic Soul Orchestra, makes one of his rare appearances in Chicago to showcase his new electro sounds culled from his recent excursions to Puerto Rico, and Columbia. From 9pm. Well worth the $12 to get in, or $8 if you book in advance. Rumba is in west Hubbard Street.
Over at Millenium Park, in the Pritzker Pavilion, you will experience the start of a mega weekend of Spanish audiovisual happenings under the umbrella title of Sonar. This 4-day extravaganza features psychedelic tripzone, avant garde electronic, melodic dubstep, folk-pop experimentalists, trip-hop rock, and futuristic funk. It’s got to be a must-go! Tonight it all begins with Faraon, Bradien, Jimmy Edgar, Slew (featuring Kid Koala), and Dutch dubstepper Martyn. It starts at 5pm, and is free.
Friday, September 10th
Plenty of action tonight (and here on Saturday as well) with more from Sonar starting at 1pm at the Chicago Cultural Center. Here you can delight in movies, music, and lectures as it all gets very intergalactic, and sci-fiey. Topping the bill is German minimalist Oval, and Nosaj Thing from the West Coast. On Saturday you can catch Icelandic ambient guru Ben Frost. This is definitely the place to be if you like “psychedelic visual tapestries” (Chicago Time Out). The Cultural Center is in east Washington Street. Free. http://www.chicagoculturalcenter.org
Meanwhile over at the city’s other premier cultural venue – the Art Instititue of Chicago of course – from 9pm you can luxuriate your dance taste buds with some wicked sets from DJ Madrid, and Kid Color, as well as other local diehards Midnight Conspiracy. Glitter Guts will be capturing the occasion for you with digital panache, with the lovely Moneypenny lasses your hosting. For those that don’t know, the institute is in south Michigan Avenue. Tickets are $20-25. http://www.artic.edu/aic
And Sonar continues at Smart Bar with the Black Devil Disco Club taking to the decks to give us some obscure 70s retro disco, Italo, with a distinctly murky feel. A bit hit on the nudisco scene. Also appearing tonight is Appleblim who is on the other side of the coin, producing a very ‘now’ mix of dubstep, techno, and disco. There are also sets from Space Dimension Controller (trippy future funk), Todd Osborn (techno innovator), and Cosmin TRG. From 10pm, $5. http://www.smartbarchicago.com/
Clubbers who like their DJs female should get over to Debonair Social Club to see the wonderful Gianna Hardt spinning her much-vaunted selection of house, techno, minimal, and acid. Also sets from tribal techno master Dennis Loco, and Olin (alaias the Thunderous Olympian). Starts 10pm in north Milwaukee Avenue, free. http://www.debonairsocialclub.com
If you are into keeping things real, and pure, then jazzy rappers Typical Cats, along with producers Qwel & Maker, will be mining their aged crates for their samples at Reggie’s Rock Club to give us mixes in the vein of hip-hop’s glory days. DJ SPS also spins, with producer Meaty Ogre, and Maxilla Blue adding to the flow. From 8pm, south State Street. $12, in advance $10. 17 and over. http://www.reggieslive.com/
Saturday, September 11th
There’s more Sonar from Millenium Park (Pritzker Pavilion) from noon with Chris Widman & Colin Harris of Quadratic (heavy electro tech), with DJ sets from Widman and his crew from Abstract Science (the weekly radio show on WLUW), before the evening session of Sonar (see above). Free.
No apologies for mentioning Smart Bar again, because at the club tonight is the very special Marcel Dettmann who has been described as “one of techno’s most formidable minds.” There is a meditative quality to Dettmann’s productions which should sound absolutely out of this world on the Smart Bar rig. Not to be missed. Justin Long (techno) is supporting, with Josh Werner, and Brandon Invergo opening. From 10pm, north Clark Street.
Some more club action is on offer for the 18 and overs at Lincoln Hall with Just Desserts (alias svengali-like Clayton Hauck). The lineup to keep the young ‘uns sweet includes Hood Internet, Wallpaper, DVAS, and Kid Color. $10, from10.30pm, north Lincoln Avenue. http://www.lincolnhallchicago.com
Sunday, September 12th
To celebrate the five year anniversary of German techno label Mobilee, ex-radio-presenter-turned-golden-girl-of-the-decks Anja Schneider is at the Green Dolphin Street club to show us what she’s got, along with stable-mates And.Id. If you like the sounds of Sebo K, and Martin Landsky, then you will be in for a treat. Chicago’s own Dory, Dino G, Jason Patrick, Nique, and Nor DJs provide the supporting sets. 9pm start, north Ashland Avenue. $10. http://jazzitup.com/
If you are in a need of a break from the techno, then make an Exodus to Evil Olive this evening as there’s no better way to kickback than with reggae king Papa G keeping it all roots rock, and revolutionary. From 9pm, west Divison Street. Free.
http://www.evil-olive.com/
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