The promotional sheet for this weekend’s Ribfest Chicago boasts, “1 weekend spectacular, 2 stages of music, 25 tons of pork, and 50 thousand fans.” Those are some pretty impressive statistics for what started as a community block party in 1999. Fourteen years later, Ribfest Chicago has evolved into one of the cities most anticipated street fests, and it’s easy to see why.
Along with its BBQ competitions and sanctioned rib-eating contest, Ribfest has become a powerful music festival that hosts twenty of the best local and national acts across two stages.
Ribfest starts off strong on Friday, 6/8, with a shortened but impressive evening lineup that will culminate with a set by Maryland rockers and headliners, J. Roddy Walston & the Business. Head out early for two local openers, and Delaware indie-rockers, The Spinto Band.
Check out the headliners for Saturday and Sunday as well as the full weekend lineups below.
Friday, 6/8
J. Roddy Walston & the Business @ 9:00
The Spinto Band @ 7:45
The Wanton Looks @ 7:00
Sissy Mena @ 5:00
Saturday brings a full day of music, with the first band taking the stage at 12:00 PM. On top of some great local talent like indie-pop rockers Pet Lions, the stage will also welcome Tennessee’s The Features, and headliners Megafaun. The North Carolina psych-folk group recently released their self-titled double LP through Hometapes.
Saturday, 6/9
Megafaun @ 9:00
The Features @ 7:45
Common Loon @ 6:30
Pet Lions @ 5:15
The Lawrence Peters Outfit @ 4:00
The Van Goghs @ 2:45
Old Shoe @ 1:30
Kerosene Stars @ 12:00
Ribfest will be going out with a bang on Sunday with a killer full day lineup. TVD Chicago favorites, Stolen Silver and Gold Motel are among the multiple talented groups that will set the stage for headliners, Heartless Bastards. In February the Texas based garage rock quartet released their fourth record, Arrow, on double LP through Partisan Records.
Sunday, 6/10
Heartless Bastards @9:00
Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts @ 7:45
Gold Motel @ 6:30
Precious Blood @ 5:15
Stolen Silver @ 4:00
Sarah & the Tall Boys @ 2:45
Village @ 1:30
Band Called Catch @ 12:00
Ribfest Chicago kicks off Friday 6/8 at 5:00 PM, and Saturday/Sunday at noon, wrapping up at 10:00 PM all three nights. Ribfest is headquartered at Northcenter (4000 N. Lincoln Ave.), and admission is free, with a $5 requested donation.
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