Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly named the bar serving cocktails at the Arts Festival. Cocktails will be served by The Whistler, rather than The Owl. The article has been corrected.
Hot tip from LoganSquarist: make sure you’re caught up on sleep before this weekend’s Logan Square Arts Festival, which is packed with an immersive arts and music experience that the whole family can enjoy for three straight days.
The festival, now in it’s ninth year, runs from Friday, June 23 to Sunday, June 25 at Logan Square Park on Logan Boulevard between Milwaukee and Kedzie Avenues.
There’s so much going on that it’s almost too difficult to sum up, but here are the highlights of the weekend: a musical line-up consisting of nearly 30 bands, more than 40 art vendors, a rotation of more than 10 animated and performing arts presentations at Comfort Station, a traveling crew of Chicago artists creating murals throughout the festival grounds, a circus show, a craft area for kids and beer from Revolution Brewery and cocktails from The Whistler. And if you’re not quite ready to go home at the end of the night, there are after parties to keep the festival life going.
To help you get ready for the weekend, we’ve compiled a list of the headliners at the festival, so you can be ready for a front row spot.
Friday
Air Credits | 8:45-10 p.m. on the Monument Stage
If you’ve ever wondered what the future sounds like, you’ll come pretty close to time traveling by checking out Friday’s headliner, Air Credits. Hailing from Chicago, this group’s infectious beats and futurist elements are sure to bring the crowd to their feet on Friday night.
Check out their album BROADCASTED in its entirety.
Saturday
METZ | 8:45-10 p.m. on the Monument Stage
Looking to get some angsty head banging in? This Canadian trio should do the trick with their “noise rock” vibe. Leave the kids at home and check out the raw sound of METZ before they leave town for their next gig (in Spain!).
Tunde Olaniran | 7-7:45 p.m. on the Monument Stage
Olaniran, a Flint, Michigan native, is like electro-pop with a conscious. His debut album Transgressor is an empowerment-fueled ode to otherness as well as societal racism. For socially-aware music with an upbeat and charismatic performance, Olaniran is worth checking out.
Check out Tunde Olaniran on Spotify.
Sunday
Strand of Oaks | 8:45-10 p.m. on the Monument Stage
Strand of Oaks is actually one guy, Tim Showalter, who was born in Indiana but currently lives in Philadelphia. Showalter looks like the guy you might not want to pick a fight with in a dive bar, but his music and lyrics tell a different story of a heart-on-sleeve grungy indie rock dude.
Check out Strand of Oaks on Spotify.
View Strand of Oaks on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert.
The Eternals Espiritu Zombi Group | 7:45-8:45 p.m. on the Milwaukee Ave Stage
Chicago group The Eternals has been around for decades, typically as a two- to three-man group, but they sometimes widen their ensemble to become the Espiritu Zombi (“zombie spirit”) Group. Their music is a mash-up of horn instruments and percussion lushly layered over reggae and funk beats. Come for the fun band name, stay for the one-of-a-kind show from this local act.
The Logan Square Arts Festival has a suggested $5 donation, a portion of which goes to the Logan Square Preservation.
There are many other great artists performing at the festival. For more information, visit logansquareartsfestival.com.
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