Windy City Smokeout (Thursday-Sunday)

Headliners Zach Bryan, Darius Rucker, Luke Bryan, and Zac Brown Band bring the thunder to Chicago’s premier country music festival and smokeout. This event is sold out.

Millenium Art Festival (Friday-Sunday)

Taking place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 14, 15 and 16, this top-ranked three-day show in the heart of Chicago’s vibrant downtown attracts locals and tourists alike, giving them plenty of time to enjoy the art of 140 juried artists from near and far. Located just a few blocks north of Millennium Park, guests will see an array of original artwork including paintings, ceramics, photography, furniture and more, at all price points.

Colombia Fest Chicago (Friday-Sunday)

Celebrate the anniversary of Colombian independence at this festival at Northeastern Illinois University, where you’ll find live music, food vendors, a circus, a kids’ area, games and more. Headlining acts on the music stage include singers Yeison Jimenez and Elden Dayan Diaz as well as the “Queen of Merengue” Milly Quezada.

Chicago Craft Beer Fest in Lincoln Park (Friday-Sunday)

The Chicago Craft Beer Festival moves to Lincoln Park this year for a three-day extravaganza of craft brews. There will be multiple sessions each day, limited to 600 people per session, so snag a tasting ticket to secure your spot and feel free to grab a bite to eat before you begin sampling.

Cubs host the Red Sox (Friday-Sunday) 

Fresh off the All-Star break, the Cubs are back at home, battling the Red Sox in a three-game series at the Friendly Confines.

Wheatus at Beat Kitchen (Friday)

Calling all ‘teenage dirtbags’. Wheatus heads to the Beat Kitchen on Friday for an intimate evening of 90’s tunes and good vibes. You can purchase tickets to this show here.

Bonny Doon at Thalia Hall (Friday)

Folk standouts Bonny Doon bring their sweet and sensitive tunes to Thalia Hall for a performance “in the round”. Describing themselves as a “natural music ensemble”, Doon could be the next to grab the baton that the likes of Noah Kahan and The 502s have begun running with. Get there early to catch Anna St. Louis, who is absolutely wonderful. Get tickets before they’re gone!

Hang with Kenzie and Win PIQNIQ Tickets (Friday): It’s almost time for PIQNIQ!  Get your hands on a White Claw Vodka Soda, a shot at FREE PIQNIQ tickets and the chance to hang with BadFlower in our Puppy Pit at the show! Join Kenzie on Friday, July 14th from 12pm – 2pm at Greet Street Local located at 130 South Green Street in Chicago.

Summer in Chillcago with Brian Philips (Friday): Join Brian Phillips and the Q101 Street Crew in Broadcasting LIVE with Coors Light Friday the 14th starting at 3pm at Yak-Zies , located at 3710 N Clark Street! We’ll be kicking off Summer in Chillcago with Coors Light!  Win tickets, Q101 swag, and much more!

Join Brian & Kenzie at the Bristol Renaissance Fair (Saturday): Join Brian and Kenzie as they Caravan up to the Bristol Renaissance Faire on Saturday, July 15th from 11:00 am to 1:00pm for a fun filled event of revelry!  How many turkey legs can Brian eat?  Will Kenzie be crowned the Fair Lady or Queen?  All these questions and more will be answered on July 15thth so come join Brian and Kenzie with all Q101 Crew members.

Kansas at The Chicago Theater (Saturday)

Carry on, our wayward sons. Kansas celebrates 50 years of existence on Saturday at The Chicago Theater. Limited tickets remain for what could be one of the band’s final performances in the city.

FOOTBALLHEAD at Sleeping Village (Saturday)

FOOTBALLHEAD is one of the many exciting, up-and-coming bands in Chicago. Showcasing the poppier side of 90s radio rock with huge guitars and bubblegum hooks, these nostalgia soaked songs evoke the energy of early Jimmy Eat World, Third Eye Blind, and blink-182. They head to Sleeping Village on Saturday night to celebrate the release of their new album, Overthinking Everything. You won’t want to miss this.

Join the Q101 Street Crew for the return of the BTN Big 10K (Saturday): Test your fitness, enjoy a one-of-a-kind race experience, and represent your favorite Big Ten school all while giving back to some great charities!To register and event info click here.

Yellowcard at Northerly Island (Sunday)

Pop-punk legends Yellowcard are back in Chicago for the first time since they reunited at Riot Fest 2022. Joining the fray will be Mayday Parade and Story of the Year, among others. Get a ticket here!

Cheap Trick at Metro (Sunday)

Cheap Trick, one of Chicago’s most iconic bands, heads to the Metro as a part of their 40th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday night. Unfortunately, tickets for this extraordinary event have sold out.

White Sox reliever Liam Hendriks was honored at last night’s ESPY awards and awarded the Jimmy V Award, which highlights “a deserving member of the sporting world who has overcome great obstacles through perseverance and determination”. Hendriks, of course, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in January.

We continue to wish Hendriks well in his recovery.

After the recent allegations that have rocked Northwestern’s athletic department, faculty is now putting pressure on the university to delay the renovations of Ryan Field that were planned to begin after the 2023 season and conclude in the 2026 season.

“The timing now is wrong,” said professor Susan Pearson, one of a group of Northwestern faculty members asking for a pause on the new Ryan Field proposal. “Say we care more about your well-being than we do about the notoriety, the fame of our football program.”

It’s unclear at this point what the financial fallout of this story will be, but the legacy of Northwestern’s football program will forever be changed.

Sen. Charles Schumer called on the Food and Drug Administration to investigate PRIME, a beverage brand founded by the YouTube stars Logan Paul and KSI, and to warn parents about the drink and the high amount of caffeine it contains.A 12-oz. can of PRIME Energy contains 200 milligrams of caffeine, which is equivalent to about half a dozen Coke cans or nearly two Red Bulls, and that is what terrifies lawmakers.

PRIME is primarily targeted towards people under the age of 18, thus the concern for making sure consumers know what they’re consuming.

What are you drinking and how much do you drink it? The conversation lives on Facebook!

Northwestern President Michael Schill released a statement on Monday afternoon informing the community that Pat Fitzgerald would no longer be coaching Northwestern Football going forward. He said, “This afternoon, I informed Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald that he was being relieved of his duties effective immediately.”

Schill previously said he may have made a mistake in his prior punishment directed towards Fitzgerald.

Now, reports indicate that their baseball program may also be under hot water. News surfaced yesterday that coach Jim Foster has engaged in activity that has been described as “bullying and abusive”.

The university’s report indicated that it did not find enough corroborating evidence to support those allegations, according to Parkins, but the investigation did not interview players regarding the claims.

The bizarre saga between Britney Spears and 2023 NBA #1 NBA Draft Pick Victor Wembanyama is finally over. The French-born standout is currently stationed in Las Vegas for the NBA’s Summer League, which led to an uncomfortable situation between the prodigy and the pop star.

Prior accounts of the incident claimed that Spears had been assaulted by one of Wembanyama’s security guards, but video that was obtained by TMZ shows otherwise.

We hope it gets better for Britney, because this is not a good look.

Dirty Heads w/ Lupe Fiasco at Radius (Friday) 

Laid back alt-rockers Dirty Heads for the first time since Riot Fest 2021 as they had to Cermak Hall in Radius, one of Chicago’s newest venues. They will be joined by Lupe Fiasco, one of Chicago’s finest rappers. You can snag a ticket to this here.

Carly Cosgrove at Beat Kitchen (Friday) 

Up-and-coming emo standouts Carly Cosgrove, a band inspired heavily by late 2000’s Nickelodeon, storm the Beat Kitchen on Friday night for an intimate and exciting show. If you have a hankering for Hot Topic but want a fresh take on the emo scene, look no further than a band thrives off being “nostalgiacore”. Grab a ticket here.

Jenny Lewis at The Salt Shed (Friday)

Also known for her work as a member of The Postal Service and the frontwoman of famed indie standouts Rilo Kiley, Jenny Lewis, fresh off the release of her latest solo album, Joy’All, is headed to The Salt Shed for what should be a thrilling set of songs new and old. Few tickets remain.

Dave Matthews Band at Northerly Island (Friday, Saturday) 

Fire up the Poo Poo Bus.

Dave Matthews Band comes to Northerly Island for a spectacle like none other. On Friday and Saturday, the jam band opens up the lawn at Northerly Island to play in front of tens of thousands of adoring fans. This will be DMB’s first time in Chicago since the release of their newest record, Walk Around the Moon. Get a ticket before it’s too late.

White Sox host the Cardinals (Friday-Sunday)

Fresh off of a series with the Blue Jays, the White Sox host a three-game set against another bird-themed team this weekend as the struggling Cardinals come to town.

16th Annual Roscoe Village Burger Fest (Friday-Sunday)

Dubbed the “Best Patty Party” in Chicago, The Roscoe Village Burger Fest is celebrating its 16th year of food-themed fun this weekend. This sizzling food and music extravaganza features an awesome offering from over a dozen acclaimed Chicago restaurants. It’s one of the Friday-Sunday July 7-9 at the intersection of Belmont and Damen (2000 W. Belmont). Hours are Friday 5-10 p.m.; Sat/Sunday 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Get more info here.

West Fest Chicago (Friday-Sunday)

West Fest Chicago reflects the eclectic West Town community, and is also renowned for cutting edge live music programmed by Empty Bottle Presents, plus the ever popular Bass By The Pound DJ Stage.

West Fest Chicago is unique due to its presentation of neighborhood retailers and restaurants, local fine artists and makers, as well as Kid Fest and Pet Fest. Learn all the details here.

Square Roots Festival in Lincoln Square (Friday-Sunday)

Square Roots Festival, a celebration of craft beer and live music, takes over Lincoln Square this weekend with a terrific lineup of live music. The free festivities kick off on Friday and run through the entire weekend, with each night being capped off by Momma, Superchunk, and Real Estate, respectively. Get the lowdown on this festival here.

Hang with Brian Phillips for your shot at PIQNIQ Puppy Pit Tickets! (Saturday)

It’s almost time for PIQNIQ!  Get your hands on a White Claw Vodka Soda, a shot at FREE PIQNIQ tickets and the chance to hang with BadFlower in our Puppy Pit at the show! Join Brian Phillips on Saturday, July 8th from 2pm – 4pm at Sal’s Beverage World located at 298 Roosevelt Rd in Villa Park.

NWA HP Care for Cooper Roberts Benefit Show (Saturday)

Join Brian & Kenzie at the NWA HP Care for Cooper Roberts Benefit Show this Saturday. Billy Corgan, a Highland Park resident for over 20 years and president of the National Wrestling Alliance, is promoting this wrestling show in an effort to raise funds for Cooper Roberts, the youngest victim of last year’s horrific events in Highland Park. This event is free, but donations are encouraged. Learn more about it here.

Major League Rugby 2023 Championship Game at SeatGeekStadium featuring performances by DJ Diesel and the Dropkick Murphys (Saturday)

Join Shaq, the Dropkick Murphys, and the San Diego Legion and New England Free Jacks at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday for the Major League Rugby Championship Game. None of that sounds real, but we swear it is all true.

Chicago Fire host the Nashville SC (Saturday)

Rugby not your preferred foreign sport? Fear not, the Chicago Fire are back in town and they’ll have to fend off the Nashville SC this weekend.

Less Than Jake at Concord Music Hall (Saturday)

Ska standouts Less Than Jake head to Concord Music Hall on Saturday. Get a ticket before they’re gone!

Southport Art Fest (Saturday-Sunday)

The Southport Corridor hosts its annual two-day art festival, bringing together a variety of artists and local vendors near neighborhood landmarks like the Music Box Theatre. Guests can peruse pieces, shop at Southport Avenue stores, take kids to an area packed with interactive games or sit down on a patio to enjoy food and drink specials throughout the weekend. All proceeds benefit the Southport Neighbors Association.

Edgewater Greek Fest (Saturday-Sunday)

Show up to St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church in Edgewater to experience “philoxenia” (Greek hospitality) at this annual festival, where chicken, gyros, pork souvlaki and pastitsio (Greek lasagna) is on the menu all weekend long. Stick around for live Greek music and a performance from ’80s cover band The Breakfast Club, as well as fun and games for kids

Weezer at Hard Rock Live (Sunday)

Weezer is back and they’re headed to Gary as a part of their Indie Rock Roadtrip. Join Weezer and forever underrated and under appreciated punk rockers Joyce Manor on Sunday for what should be a spectacular show. Get a ticket before it’s too late!