This weekend, the annual Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival will be taking over the Logan Square neighborhood for three days and transforming it into a full-blown arts district complete with theatre, dance, and performance arts.
The festival will run from 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM on Friday, and 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday. With constant live music running across multiple stages, there will be plenty to keep your eyes busy and your ears happy. Check out our recommendations for each night as well as the full weekend lineup, below.
I’m sure that you can all see this coming from a mile away, but my major recommendation for Friday has got to be Chicago’s Mutts. Following their massive and successful Kickstarter campaign to press a new double LP, the heavy, piano-infused trio is made up of Mike Maimone on keys/vocals, Bob Buckstaff on bass, and Chris Pagnani on drums.
The first of two upcoming LPs, Separation Anxiety, will be released on August 2, and you can pre-order the the record on split color – clear/green – vinyl for just $12.
Friday, July 20
Festival Center Main Stage at Milwaukee & Logan
9:00 – Disappears
7:45 – Mutts
6:30 – This Is Cinema
5:15 – Shannon Hayden
Cole’s Stage at Milwaukee & Belden
9:00 – Yolks
8:00 – Rabble Rabble
7:00 – Big Colour
6:00 – VILLAGE
On Saturday, Cole’s Stage will be hosting an all female-fronted showcase. One group to see in particular, is Chicago indie-pop trio, Tyler Jon Tyler. Formed in 2009, the minimal nostalgia-fueled rock group is fronted by Rebecca Valeriano-Flores on guitar/vocals with Nathan Jerde and Tom Cassling on bass and drums, respectively.
In the last three years, Tyler Jon Tyler has put out a handful of 7” vinyl on Chicago labels Trouble In Mind and Slow Fizz Records. Keep your eyes open for the upcoming 7”, “Loyal Caskets”, due out on Slow Fizz in August.
Saturday, July 21
Festival Center Main Stage at Milwaukee & Logan
9:00 – NOMO
7:45 – Loyal Divide
6:30 – Cains & Abels
5:15 – Del Rey
4:00 – Unicycle Loves You
2:45 – Los Vicios De Papa
1:30 – Rambos
12:00 – Pinkalicious The Musical (Family)
Cole’s Stage at Milwaukee & Belden
All-Fronted Female Showcase
9:00 – The Runnies
8:30 – Ruby yo
7:15 – Tyler Jon Tyler
6:45 – Trinity
5:45 – Moritat
4:45 – Blizzard Babies
3:45 – Swimsuit Addition
2:45 – Charming People
2:00 – Shugga Shug
1:00 – squish
One of the local bands that you’re going to want to catch on Sunday are the indie-rock duo, My Gold Mask. Made up of Gretta Rochelle on vocals/drums, and Jack Armondo on guitar/backing vocals, the two manage to make intricate and oftentimes ethereal rock music.
Since the release of their self-titled debut in 2009, My Gold Mask has released two EPs, including the latest effort, “A Million Miles (From Where We Were Last)”. Grab the new 4-song EP, on limited edition, 45 RPM, 12” vinyl for just $10.
Sunday, July 22
Festival Center Main Stage at Milwaukee & Logan
8:00 – Ana Tijoux
6:30 – My Gold Mask
5:15 – In Tall Buildings
4:00 – Eastern Blok
2:45 – Speck Mountain
1:30 – Las Guitarras de Espana
12:00 – Rhythm Revolution (Family)
Cole’s Stage at Milwaukee & Belden
9:00 – Al Scorch
8:00 – Weepin Willows
7:00 – Lawrence Peters Outfit
6:00 – Mike Musikanto
5:00 – Deadbeat
You can grab a three-day festival wristband for just $10, and if you pick up the pass online before Thursday, with the promo code MAAFLove, you can save another $5. That’s just $5 total for a three-day pass!
The wristband also includes massive discounts at a number of local businesses, including 15% off at the incredible Saki Records – 3716 W Fullerton Ave.
