Photography: (1) Crackerfarm; (2) Dan Martensen; (3) Anna Isola Crolla; (4) David Michalek; (6) Toshiya Suzuki; (7) Andreas Laszlo Konrath; (8) Colin Bell; (9) Travis Shinn; (10) Shawn Brackbill; (11) Chris Salata/Chicago Tribune; (12) David McClister; (14) Phil Sharp; (15) Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune; (16) Abel Uribe/Chicago Tribune; (17) Inez van Lamsweerde and Vindooh Matadin; (18) Rex Features/AP; (19) Dustin Condren; (20) Elias Tahan; (22) John Marshall/AP; (23) A. Zaeh; (24) Claude Aline Nazaire, Essential Blueprints; (25) Peter Hönnemann; (26) Nicole Nodland; (27) Elizabeth Weinberg; (28) Scott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune; (30) Alex Lake; (31) Taylor Glascock/Chicago Tribune; (32) C Taylor Crothers; (33) Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune; (34) Cameron Wittig; (35) Patrick McMullan/AP; (36) Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune; (37) Sandrine Lee; (38) Courtesy Ravinia Festival; (40) Frank Maddocks
Click the image to view a larger version—and if any of these performers are on your can't-miss list, check our Ultimate Summer Music Calendar for a set of listings you can sync with a Google Calendar or iCal.
1. Rhiannon Giddens (of the Carolina Chocolate drops)
June 24, Pritzker Pavilion
2. Karen O
June 29, Q 87.7 Piqniq
3. Tracyanne Campbell (of Camera Obscura)
June 29, Aragon
4. Claire Chase
July 4, Pritzker Pavilion
5. Tim McGraw
July 5, Milwaukee Summerfest
6. Slash
July 5, Ribfest, Naperville
7. Lurrie Bell
July 5 and 6, Kingston Mines
8. David Byrne
July 6, Ravinia
9. Sarah Chang
July 7, Ravinia
10. Kurt Vile
July 11, Metro (see “Three Great Artists Making Music in Chicago This Summer”)
11. Robert Plant
July 12, Grant Park
12. Willie Nelson
July 14, Ravinia
13. Fatoumata Diawara
July 15, Pritzker Pavilion
14. Paul McCartney
July 16, Miller Park, Milwaukee
15. Beyoncé
July 17, United Center
16. Björk
July 19, Pitchfork
17. Harry Connick Jr.
July 19 and 20, Symphony Center
18. Jason Aldean
July 20, Wrigley Field
19. Matthew Houck (a.k.a. Phosphorescent)
July 20, Pitchfork
20. Solange
July 20, Pitchfork
21. R. Kelly
July 21, Pitchfork
22. Justin Timberlake
July 22, Soldier Field
23. Jay-Z
July 22, Soldier Field
24. Dee Alexander
July 25, Pritzker Pavilion
25. Lang Lang
July 27, Ravinia
26. Lana Del Rey
Aug. 2, Lollapalooza
27. Charles Bradley
Aug. 3, Lollapalooza
28. Kendrick Lamar
Aug. 3, Lollapalooza
29. Marcus Mumford
Aug. 3, Lollapalooza
30. Lianne La Havas
Aug. 4, Lollapalooza
31. D’Angelo
Aug. 6 and 7, House of Blues
32. Chick Corea
Aug. 8, SPACE
33. Lil Wayne
Aug. 10, First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
34. Andrew Bird
Aug. 17, Mo Pop Festival, Sterling Heights, Mich.
35. Deborah Harry
Aug. 17, Ravinia
36. Tony Bennett
Aug. 22, Ravinia
37. Shemekia Copeland
Aug. 23, Little Bear Rib Fest, Vernon Hills
38. Ramsey Lewis
Aug. 28, Ravinia
39. Hamid Drake
Aug. 29 to 31, Chicago Jazz Festival
40. Gary Clark Jr.
Set time TBD, North Coast (Aug. 30 to Sept. 1)
More summer music content:
Summer Music Calendar | Pitchfork vs. Lolla Smackdown | Talent Spotting | Jeff Tweedy at Middle Age
Chicago’s Next Big Rap Star | Our Q&A with John C. Reilly | 40 Performers Everyone’s Buzzing About