Chicago In Tune Kickoff Event Takes Place On May 21

With the Year of Chicago Music, the city will celebrate Chicago’s sounds and rhythms with countless shows and performances throughout the year. In addition, the city will provide Chicago’s musicians with professional support, artistic grants and career development opportunities to ensure they have the resources they need to play throughout 2020 and beyond.
With the Year of Chicago Music, the city will celebrate Chicago’s sounds and rhythms with countless shows and performances throughout the year. In addition, the city will provide Chicago’s musicians with professional support, artistic grants and career development opportunities to ensure they have the resources they need to play throughout 2020 and beyond.

Chicago In Tune Kickoff Event Takes Place On May 21

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot recently joined the Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), and members of Chicago’s music and arts and culture scene to kick-off the 2020 Year of Chicago Music.

During the event featuring live music from some of Chicago’s most talented bands and musicians, the City announced highlights for the 2020 Year of Chicago Music and details of Chicago In Tune. The NEW 18-day celebration of music at venues and organizations across the city, Chicago In Tune will include the Chicago House Music Conference & Festival (May 21–23), the Chicago Gospel Music Festival (May 26–30) and the Chicago Blues Festival (June 5–7).These music festivals will feature headline performances by artists Steve “Silk” Hurley of S&S Chicago, The Tommies Reunion Choir, Kirk Franklin, Shemekia Copeland, Candi Staton and Eric Gales.

“Our city is our music, heard and felt in every church, club, park, dance hall, bar, concert venue and sidewalk in every corner of our city,” said Lightfoot. “With the Year of Chicago Music, we will be celebrating Chicago’s sounds and rhythms with countless shows and performances throughout the year, along with an international marketing campaign showcasing Chicago’s status as a global music capital in all its forms. Just as importantly, we’ll also be providing Chicago’s musicians professional support, artistic grants and career development opportunities to ensure musicians have the resources and support they need to play throughout 2020 and beyond.”

Chicago In Tune

A signature part of the Year of Chicago Music, “Chicago In Tune” will bring music organizations and venues across the city together to celebrate music of all genres and forms from May 21 and June 7. The event is anchored by three free-admission city music festivals – the Chicago House Music Festival, the Chicago Gospel Music Festival and the Chicago Blues Festival – that spotlight three genres of music born and innovated in Chicago. The 18 days of music will stretch to every corner of the city with free and ticketed events at participants including the Lyric Opera, Chicago Sinfonietta, the People’s Music School, Little Kids Rock, Chicago Blues Revival, Blues Heaven Foundation, the Logan Center for the Arts, the Irish American Heritage Center, Refuge Live, the Old Town School of Folk Music and The Promontory. A full listing of participating events will be listed at Do312.com.

Chicago In Tune Kickoff Event

Kick off the music celebration with a free concert featuring over 5,000 singers at the Chicago Children’s Choir’s Paint the Town Red event in Millennium Park at 11am on Thursday, May 21. The program is then followed by a special Chicago In Tune program at the City Market at Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St.

For updates, visit yearofchicagomusic.org and chicago.gov/music and join the conversation on social media using #2020isYOCM, #ChicagoMusic and #ChicagoInTune.

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