Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
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Tuesday, March 19
The 25th annual Chosen Few Picnic, "the Woodstock of House Music," runs from 8am to 8pm in Jackson Park, at 63rd Street and Hayes Drive; park opens at 6am. Chosen Few DJs Wayne Williams, Jesse Saunders, Tony Hatchett, Alan King, Andre Hatchett, Terry Hunter and Mike Dunn spin, along with guest DJs Masters At Work duo Louie Vega and Kenny Dope Gonzalez, Derrick Carter, Stan Zeff, Keith Fobs and Greg Gray. In addition, special guest vocalists Stephanie Mills, Evelyn "Champagne" King and Cory Daye with perform, and there'll be a surprise guest, too. See the schedule for set times. General admission is $25 in advance, $35 at the gate; children 12 and under are free. Bring your tent, picnic blanket and cooler and have fun!
The 34th annual American Music Festival runs July 1-4 at FitzGerald's, 6615 W. Roosevelt Rd. in Berwyn. Hear music on three stages -- including Curtis McMurtry, Dale Watson, Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience, the Honey Island Swamp Band and the Marcia Ball Band -- from 11am to 1am tonight. Tickets for tonight's lineup are $35 (get $5 off at the door before 2pm), or buy a four-day pass for $100. Doors open at 10:30am.
If you don't have plans to hang out in someone's backyard, the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., is screening Independence Day and The Burbs today. Doors open at 11am. Free. 21+
The Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., screens James Cagney's 1942 classic Yankee Doodle Dandy today at 11:30am to get you in the mood for fireworks. Tickets are $10, $5 for kids 12 and under.
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes headline at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport Ave., tonight, with Letts opening. Tickets are 37.50. Doors open at 9pm, show's at 10pm -- which is late enough that you can watch the fireworks beforehand. 17+
The Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace St., presents Roister and the Zappa Jam Down Weekend July 3-5. The show features Ray White, Tom Fowler, Robert Martin, Ed Mann, Ike Willis, Marty Kondziolka, Mark Kondziolka, Markus Messina and Brian Swislow. Each night, the show is preceded by a big screen live stream of the Grateful Dead's "Fare Thee Well" concert at Soldier Field at 7pm, then the jam starts at 10pm. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. 21+
The Magic Beans play a late show at the Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., tonight, with Bone Jugs N Harmony opening. Doors are at 11pm, show's at 11:30pm. Tickets are $10. 17+
USA! USA! USA! The Music Box, 3733 N. Southport Ave., celebrates the holiday weekend with martial arts expert (and action film regular) Chuck Norris protecting the nation from terrorists single-handed in Invasion USA. The film screens Friday and tonight at midnight. Tickets are $9.