Events Calendar

Music on the Esplanade Evenings

Tuesday Evenings
June 5 to August 28, 2012
6 to 8 p.m.

JUN

7

The Dang-its
Honky-Tonk, Western Swing & Americana

The Dang-Its play honky-tonk, western swing, and Americana, and incorporate many styles of American-roots music: folk, country blues, Cajun, bluegrass, rockabilly, and more. Madison magazine calls The Dang-Its "...rare jewels in the otherwise cookie-cutter world of country music…a breath of fresh air." In one moment they offer an atmospheric take on the timeless ballad "Oh Shenandoah"; in the next, a playful medley of western themes from television and cinema. Whether channeling Hank Williams and Patsy Cline, sharing their original songs, or introducing you to their favorite off-the-beaten-track gems, The Dang-Its deliver the goods with class, passion, and humor. They just might change the way you think about country music.

JUN

14

Rio Bamba
Brazilian Jazz

Rio Bamba is a Chicago-based Brazilian jazz-fusion band founded in 2005 that possesses a unique style. While all Brazilian music with its catchy dance rhythms is highly accessible to most people, Rio Bamba turns up the electricity, figuratively and literally, by ramping up tempos and bravado without ever disrespecting the source material.

Classic Brazilian jazz, samba, and bossa nova performed in the original Portuguese as well as in English may be this band’s forte, but they fearlessly “color outside the lines” and perform American jazz standards as well.

JUN

21

guy king band
Blues

A favorite and a regular at notable venues in Chicago such as Buddy Guy’s Legends, Andy’s Jazz Club, the House of Blues, and Rosa’s Lounge, Guy was featured at the Chicago Blues Festival in 2007 and 2008, and performed at the Campli Blues Festival in Abruzzo, Italy in July 2008.

Guy’s music is fresh and unique while maintaining a strong link to the masters that came before him, such as: Ray Charles, B.B. King, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Albert King, Jimmy McGriff, Albert Collins, T. Bone Walker, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Lightnin’ Hopkins etc. and blends the strong styled “gutbucket” blues with the “uptown” soul and Jazz styles.

On this evening, Music on the Esplanade will be held in McGinley Pavilion, rain or shine. Please plan accordingly.

JUN

28

Fernandez + Kimball
Spanish Guitars

Hector Fernandez and Tom Kimball have been playing Spanish guitar-based music together since 1994. This Spanish guitar duo has had a great deal of success playing instrumental guitar music. Their repertoire includes flamenco pop as played by the Gipsy Kings, Strunz & Farah, and Ottmar Liebert; Latin American standards such as "Wave," "Guantanamera,"and "Sabor a Mi," to name a few; and traditional and classical flamenco. While they play all acoustic instruments, they also incorporate the use of drum machines and prerecorded rhythm tracks to create a fuller sound if needed. In addition to corporate events and private parties, Fernandez + Kimball have performed at many public venues for a broad audience.

Hector Fernandez and Tom Kimball have studied in Spain, California, and New Mexico under recognized artists including Rafael Riqueni, Juan Serrano, Tomas de Utrera, Jacco, Norman Ruiz, and Roberto Arce — so it is no surprise that their musical interests include flamenco, classical, and Latin American styles ranging from traditional to pop.

JUL

5

Joe filisko & eric noden
Roots/Folk/Blues

Eric Noden is known as a performer, historian, and teacher of early blues music; he sings, shouts, and stomps while conjuring old spirits from the strings of his acoustic guitar. Joe Filisko gets a wide variety of sounds from his harmonica, including soaring melodies and driving percussive rhythms. He is known around the world as a player, historian, and as a customizer of this often-misunderstood instrument. Together, they put on a highly engaging show that draws from the American music of the 1920s and 30s.

JUL

12

Bopology
Swing

No other musical genres are so uniquely American as swing and jazz; this band brings them both to life. With a level of professional musicianship that offers both the appreciative listener and the avid dancer a solid swingin’ groove, Bopology prides itself on maintaining the authenticity of this music. Rather than cover a song note-for-note, the band's improvisation within a song enables individual musicians to showcase their unique talents to capitalize on Bopology’s hundred-plus years of combined musical experience.

JUL

19

The ragtops
50s and 60s Oldies Band

With over 100 years of combined experience, The Ragtops give
oldies lovers a real reason to applaud! Few groups in Chicago can
recreate the great mood and sounds of the 50's and 60's the way they do.

JUL

26

Fatum Jazz orchestra
Jazz

Chicago's own Fatum brothers are at it again, this time with their all-star quintet. John (drums) and Michael (trumpet) visit the Chicago Botanic Garden this summer after five months in Italy to perform with Chicago's freshest and most promising jazz talents. Celebrated in the community for their swingin' music and exceptional stage presence with the Fatum Brothers' Jazz Band, the Fatum brothers will be presenting a concert of originals and jazz classics with Downbeat award-winning Adam Kromelow on keyboards, Chicago's finest Rajiv Orozco on alto sax, and Chicago's best-kept secret, Dan Chmielinski, on bass. They can't wait to swing with you!

AUG

2

morry sochat & the special 20's
Blues

Morry Sochat and The Special 20's bring a fresh sound to the Chicago blues scene. They mix classic Chicago blues with swing and rock-and-roll from the 1950s. They’re influenced by the best in blues history: Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Louis Jordan, Junior Wells, and all of the Chicago greats.

AUG

9

swing gitan
Gypsy Jazz

The group plays the 1930s-style music of guitarist Django Reinhardt — foot-tappin' swing played on acoustic instruments. It's a blend of the jubilant swing of early jazz with the feisty passion of gypsy music, plus a strong dose of guitar pyrotechnics and virtuosic improvisation.

AUG

16

the special consensus
Bluegrass

Formed in the Chicago area in 1975, The Special Consensus is a four-person acoustic bluegrass band with a repertoire that features traditional bluegrass standards, original compositions by band members and professional songwriters, and songs from other musical genres performed in the bluegrass format. The band has released 15 recordings and has appeared on numerous National Public Radio programs and cable television shows, including The Nashville Network and the Grand Ole Opry at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. International tours have brought the band to Canada, Europe, South America, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. 

The Special C has appeared in concert with many symphony orchestras nationwide and has brought an informative in-school presentation, the Traditional American Music (TAM) program, to schools nationally and internationally since 1984. Band leader/banjo player Greg Cahill is the former president/board chair of the Nashville-based International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and is currently president of the Nashville-based Foundation for Bluegrass Music. Other band members include bass player David Thomas and guitarist Ryan Roberts, both of whom reside in Nashville, and mandolin player Rick Faris, who resides in Topeka, Kansas.

AUG

23

the pantastic 4
Steel Drums

The Pantastic 4 is a steel-pan combo performing original compositions in Latin/Caribbean styles by Scott Johnson, one of the founding members of the group.  With support from guitar and bass, there are four percussionists in the band who switch between steel pan, marimba, drum set, and Latin percussion throughout the performance, creating a fun and exciting atmosphere. Their unique combination of instruments and blending of musical styles has been entertaining audiences around the Chicagoland area since 2002. Among the Pantastac 4's most notable performances are two appearances at Taste of Chicago, U.S. Cellular Field, and two appearances on WGN-TV's national broadcast of the news at noon.

AUG

30

Fernandez + Kimball
Spanish Guitars

Hector Fernandez and Tom Kimball have been playing Spanish guitar-based music together since 1994. This Spanish guitar duo has had a great deal of success playing instrumental guitar music. Their repertoire includes flamenco pop as played by the Gipsy Kings, Strunz & Farah, and Ottmar Liebert; Latin American standards such as "Wave," "Guantanamera," and "Sabor a Mi," to name a few; and traditional and classical flamenco. While they play all acoustic instruments, they also incorporate the use of drum machines and prerecorded rhythm tracks to create a fuller sound if needed. In addition to corporate events and private parties, Fernandez + Kimball have performed at many public venues for a broad audience.

Hector Fernandez and Tom Kimball have studied in Spain, California, and New Mexico under recognized artists including Rafael Riqueni, Juan Serrano, Tomas de Utrera, Jacco, Norman Ruiz, and Roberto Arce — so it is no surprise that their musical interests include flamenco, classical, and Latin American styles ranging from traditional to pop.