1 KENDRICK LAMAR (Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre) The Compton rapper sails into town on the wave of his Pulitzer Prize and his blockbuster soundtrack for the $1.3-billion-grossing mega-hit “Black Panther.” June 15
2 DELMARK RECORDS BLUES BASH (SPACE) This celebration of the Chicago label’s sixty-fifth year—and founder Bob Koester’s eighty-fifth—features bluesmen extraordinaire including Dave Specter and Tad Robinson. June 7
3 JANIS IAN (Ravinia Park) The festival’s June calendar is a who’s-who of classic rock and folk, but the uncompromising Ian is the act most deserving of a fresh appreciation. June 24
4 POLO & PAN (Lincoln Hall) The French electronic lounge duo is an irresistible pomo throwback to the sophisticated Gallic charm of acts like Dalida and Françoise Hardy. June 14
5 GOGO PENGUIN (Constellation) The Manchester trio’s acoustic sound is inspired by electronica, which makes for a mesmerizingly different sound world. June 13 and 14
Robert Rodi is an author, spoken-word performer and musician who has served as Newcity’s Music Editor since 2014. He’s written more than a dozen books, including the travel memoir “Seven Seasons In Siena,” and his literary and music criticism has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, Salon, The Huffington Post and many other national and regional publications. Contact: robert@newcity.com
