1 HEART BONES (Lincoln Hall) The teaming of Har Mar Superstar and Sabrina Ellis sparks the kind of pure pop exhilaration that recalls classic duos like Ashford & Simpson and Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra. July 10
2 RENEE FLEMING & EMERSON STRING QUARTET (Ravinia) The gold-standard soprano and renowned ensemble perform the Chicago premiere of the late André Previn’s “monodrama,” “Penelope.” July 28
3 “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC (Ravinia) Time to give the man his due: Al has outlasted most of the acts he’s satirized, and more than earned the full orchestra backing him on this tour. July 28
4 JOHN MAYALL (SPACE ) The venerable British bluesman, who turned eighty-five this year, hits town to promote his new and still remarkably piercing album, “Nobody Told Me.” July 31
5 SON VOLT (SPACE) Jay Farrar’s genre-bending band plays two club dates to support its politically charged new album, “Union”—and squeezes in a Square Roots festival appearance while in town. July 11 and 13
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
