North Coast Music Festival Sends Summer Off with a Bang
The North Coast Music Festival, set for Labor Day weekend in Chicago’s Union Park, is about to send summer-off with a bang. Casting a wide net over multiple genres including EDM, rap, soul, hip hop, rock, and folk, the festival’s lineup features heavy hitters from each of those worlds and an undercard that boggles the mind.
Scheduled to go off August 31 – September 02, North Coast features headliners Miguel, DJ Snake, RL Grime, Vulpeck, The Revivalists, Moon Taxi, Gramatik and (wait for it) Jamiroquai, who will close out the weekend. Jamiroquai’s appearance is one of only a handful of U.S. dates scheduled for the legendary psychedelic space funksters, whose charismatic lead singer, Jay Kay, ignites massive dance extravaganzas like few others can.
The undercard is stuffed with talent including funk powerhouse TAUK; emcee and rapper Rapsody, who was recently named one of the top female artists to know by both USA Today and Time Magazine; and alternative folk/pop dance monsters The Strumbellas. There’s a ton more from across the musical spectrum such as Nigerian-born Jacob Banks, whose African-inspired beats feed soulful grooves for a fresh sound; electronic musician The Polish Ambassador, who pours forth a jumble of analogue dreamwave, mind-altering, bass-fueled, world-infused grooves; and Porn and Chicken, whose eccentric, trend-setting dance parties featuring music, burlesque and (yes) chicken, are things of legend in Chi-Town.
The music ends at 10:00 pm each night, but the after-parties scheduled for venues around town promise fire. There will be collaborations to fit everyone’s tastes like Manic Focus on Friday night at Concord Music Hall and Breaking Biscuits with Thriftworks there on Saturday. Also appearing on Saturday at The Bottom Lounge is Vulpeck guitarist Cory Wong, who will host NCMF #RiffWars featuring Vulpeck collaborator and vocalist Antwaun Stanley as well as members of Jamiroquai, Michal Mineret Band, TAUK, RIPE and more.
This being Chicago, a foody’s paradise, there will be grub, of course: 20 vendors, to be exact, including vegan and gluten-free options. And for those who like to dance like nobody is watching or listening, there’s a full schedule of silent disco. For more information and how to purchase tickets for North Coast Music Festival, click on the links below.
