Our city’s Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhoods are known as being one of the hippest, most eclectic communities in Chicago. The sister neighborhoods are putting their originality on display when over 100 local musicians will pop-up gig in over 30 storefronts for ChillFest 2014.
ChillFest is back for a second year and better than ever after an explosive first year. Featuring over 100 local musicians playing live, acoustic “living-room sets” in local storefronts throughout the neighborhood, this day of music continues to celebrate the live music history and creative roots of the Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhoods while presenting emerging musical talent in unique settings throughout the neighborhood. You’ll enjoy great new music while exploring the many treasures offered in our wonderful local businesses.
Last year’s participants included local boutiques, restaurants, and other venues, each hosting four or more artists in a dedicated portion of their business space. Artists played an acoustic set of music matched to the ambiance of the host business. This free music event, featuring musicians playing live, acoustic sets in the intimacy of local storefronts, celebrates the history and creative roots of Wicker Park and Bucktown. ChillFest participants include local shops, restaurants and other venues. Each will stage musicians (or musical groups) in a dedicated portion of their business space. Each artist will play one acoustic 20 to 60-minute set, curated by the host business owner or the ChillFest Planning Committee.
In its inaugural year, ChillFest generated buzz all over the Windy City, with recognition online, in print, on radio and on television! We appeared in the Chicago Reader, the Redeye, the Sun-Times, Daily Herald, and even on the front page of the Chicago Tribune! TimeOut Chicago, DNAInfo, Crains, and many more showed us love online, and we were featured on ABC-7, FOX-TV, WGN Radio, and WXRT Radio to boot. Our event even got the attention of SXSW! Six ChillFest artists were invited down to Austin, TX to play special sets during the festival.
We hope you’re as excited as we are for another round of acoustic music, networking, exposure, and supporting local business and your fellow artists in Chicago’s coolest neighborhood!
One of Chicago’s creative epicenters lies just west of downtown Chicago in Wicker Park and Bucktown. These synonymous neighborhoods are famous for unparalleled boutique shopping, esoteric book stores and their countless art galleries — many housed within the Flat Iron Arts Building. If you have an acute knowledge of craft cocktails and an affinity for independent clothing designers, there’s no better area to sip and shop in the country.
The area has recently become a prevailing influence on Chicago’s Michelin-rated dining scene, boasting some of city’s most sought after restaurants, including Takashi and Big Star. Wicker Park and Bucktown are also known for their palate pleasing nightcaps, like renowned brewery Piece and mixology tour de force Violet Hour.
The neighborhood’s most enduring quality is its shopping. Along North, Milwaukee and Damen Avenue, you will find an unbelievable mix of vintage shops amid independently-owned boutiques touting fashions for both men and women. On the same blocks are nationally-recognized designers, fashion industry behemoths and major retailers.
