2012 Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival Music!

Alright folks, get ready... it is just about time for the 4th Annual Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival! After a great Kick-Off party (see photos here) at Revolution Brewing on June 26, we are ready to let you in on all that's happening at the 2012 MAAF! 

From July 20-22, the MAAF transforms the Logan Square neighborhood into a full-blown arts district featuring outstanding visual and performance art, live music, interactive arts activities for the whole family and yummy food and drink including craft beers by Revolution brewing, sangria by Lula Cafe and gourmet food trucks (stop drooling, there's a more detailed post about food coming soon!). 

This year, the festival will feature three main hubs of activity with two outdoor stages: the Festival Center main stage placed at the Logan Square monument and the Cole’s Bar stage at Milwaukee and Belden. And the indoor stage at Hairpin Arts Center, 2800 N Milwaukee Ave. will feature an amazing lineup of jazz, in addition to more visual and performance art . The music lineup this year is sensational and here are just some of the highlights. Put your dancin' shoes on!

Disappears

The main stage music promises to be the most exciting yet as Chicago-based alt-rockers Disappears take the stage on Friday, followed by afro-beat collective NOMO on Saturday and Latin American Hip-Hop artist Ana Tijoux on Sunday. The Chicago Mixtape showcase on Saturday will feature five Chicago favorites including Cains & Abels, Del Rey, Unicycle Loves You, Los Vicios De Papa, and Rambos.  Sunday on the Main Stage will feature an eclectic mix of tribal rhythms, space rock, Flamenco guitars, Balkan fusion, two of Chicago’s most acclaimed rock acts (In Tall Buildings and My Gold Mask) and one of the rising stars of Latin American Hip-Hop Ana Tijoux.  

The Cole's stage at the south end of the festival will feature indie acts arranged into three distinctly themed nights.  Logan Square's best garage rock bands, The Yolks and Rabble Rabble will take the stage on Friday night. On Saturday will be a showcase of ten female-fronted bands including The Runnies, Ruby Yo, Tyler Jon Tyler and Moritat.  On Sunday, a lineup of Americana music includes The Weepin' Willows, Al Scorch and The Lawrence Peters Outfit.

Ana Tijoux

The Hairpin Arts Center, presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, located at 2800 N. Milwaukee Avenue will be the festival’s official after-party location with Vocalo DJ dance parties, featuring legendary Chicago DJ Jesse de la Pena on Friday and DJ Trancid on Saturday. On Saturday and Sunday, Elastic Arts and ChicagoMusic.org will feature some of the city's best jazz and improvised musicians including Josh Berman with Matt Schneider, Guillermo Gregorio, Cameron Pfiffner, Jason Adasiewicz and David Hernandez. The jazz will close on Sunday with an energetic set by local free jazz heroes Mars Williams and Kent Kessler.

This is only a sampling! For the full line-up and schedule, check the Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival website. There you’ll find information regarding the music, featured art exhibitions (blog coming soon!), performance arts, the Threadless Make Great Market (an art market curated by Urban Folk Circuit), family activities, and the culinary delights that will all be taking place at the MAAF.

Stay tuned for blog posts all about the visual art exhibitions, performances and food!

JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound at the 2011 MAAF

Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival

Friday July 20th through Sunday July 22nd

3 Main Festival Hubs

1) Festival Center, the monument - Milwaukee & Logan

2) the North end at Hairpin Arts Center- Milwaukee, Kimball and Diversey

3) the South end at Cole's Stage- Milwaukee & Belden

                

WEBSITE: http://www.milwaukeeavenueartsfestival.org

Hope to see you there!