Earlier this month, the city revealed the complete calendar of free Millennium Park events this summer, packed with concerts, festivals, movie screenings, workouts and more. Today, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special events unveiled the complete lineup for the Millennium Park Summer Music Series, which brings performers from around the world to the stage at Pritzker Pavilion for a series of free concerts from June 13 through August 15.
While the Millennium Park Summer Music Series has downsized the number of concerts it presents in recent years, the 2019 lineup is actually slightly larger than last year's, with 11 concerts (the city presented 10 shows in 2018). Highlights of this year's schedule include indie rockers Car Seat Headrest (July 1), alt-country singer-songwriter Lydia Loveless (July 8) and an orchestral performance of J Dilla's instrumental hip-hop, arranged by composer Miguel Atwood-Ferguson.
The lineup also features several international acts, such as Grammy Award-winning Venezuelan dance band Los Amigos Invisibles (July 25), Congolese funk group Jupiter & Okwess (August 15), and acclaimed Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes (June 24).
According to a press release, this summer will mark the debut of Pritzker Pavilion's newly upgraded speakers and audio control systems, which will presumably make it easier to hear the performances taking place on stage if you're relaxing on the lawn.
Check out the complete Millennium Park Summer Music Series lineup below and start dreaming of warm summer nights underneath the Chicago skyline (they're just around the corner, we promise).
Thursday, June 13
Mt. Joy + Rayland Baxter
Monday, June 17
Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles + Liniker e os Caramelows
Monday, June 24
Chucho Valdes & Jazz Batá + Fareed Haque & Casseus
Thursday, June 27
Flora Cash + SUSTO
Monday, July 1
Car Seat Headrest + Naked Giants
Monday, July 8
Brent Cobb + Lydia Loveless
Thursday, July 18
Orchestral Interpretations of J Dilla, directed by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson + Kenny Keys
Thursday, July 25
Los Amigos Invisibles + City of the Sun
Monday, July 29
Rev. Sekou + Cha Wa
Monday, August 5
Chicago Celebrates the Music of Donny Hathaway
Thursday, August 15
Jupiter & Okwess + Noura Mint Seymali