Photo: Todd Hieggelke

1
Chicago Jazz Festival
(Millennium Park)
Headliner Monty Alexander eases us into the end of summer at the city’s Labor Day weekend celebration of the genre, programmed by the Jazz Institute of Chicago.
August 28-31

2
Black Moth Super Rainbow with Beau Wanzer and clubdrugs
(Metro Chicago)
The Pittsburgh outfit makes a stop on tour for their seventh album with two notable Chicago acts.
August 9

3
Thirsty Ears Festival
(1758 West Wilson)
Access Contemporary Music stages their annual street festival of classical music in Ravenswood.
August 23-24

4
Braid + Castor
(Bottom Lounge)
For those who discovered the nineties emo scene of Champaign-Urbana through American Football, Braid and Castor should be your next stop.
August 22

5
Nexus Chamber Music Festival
(Guarneri Hall)
Downtown classical venue Guarneri Hall launches their new season with a festival featuring two world premieres and “a selection of underperformed treasures from the past.”
August 8, 12, 13