From London’s legendary pirate radio station KissFM, to residing over Bar Rhumba’s seminal house midweekly Space—alongside Luke Solomon of Freaks fame—which provided front-and-center gigs for Chicago legends like Derrick Carter, Cajmere, Mark Farina and DJ Heather (as well as the likes of Pete Heller, Francois K and Harvey), to his own productions, Kenny Hawkes has maintained a central position in dance music for more than two decades. Lately, on releases on Rekids, 2020 Vision and Brique Rogue, Hawkes has been exploring tech and electro-house influences, leaving his earlier focus on deeper house behind. His latest charts include other tech-oriented artists like Deetron and Ricardo Villalobos. But with his considerable pedigree and years of experience, Hawkes shines when mixing up all facets of house music. You can expect a lively dance floor of both classics and cutting-edge music when Hawkes keeps the Faith at Music 101’s brand new Friday night party at Religion. (Duke Shin) Friday, June 6
For “Want” of a Change: A Preview of Rufus Wainwright at Ravinia Park Rufus Wainwright isn’t the first singer-songwriter to reinterpret earlier work through an orchestral lens. And much of Wainwright’s third and fourth albums, “Want One” and “Want Two”—whose twentieth anniversaries are the prompt for this new tour—is fully scored. But when Wainwright hits the Pavilion stage at Ravinia tonight, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra will be behind him.
Cooling It: A Preview of Colleen Green at Cole’s Bar When Green strums power chords or chiming notes on top of her backing track, you might think you’re at Ramones karaoke night and Madonna is taking her turn.
Brutal Finesse: A Preview of King Crimson at Ravinia There have been few new compositions from King Crimson these past two decades, but the live arrangements of songs from its catalog are often strikingly different than the recorded versions.
