Millennium Park at Home begins Memorial Day weekend with House Music, Gospel Music and Blues Music concerts to launch the new online series of music, arts and recreation programming.
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced new virtual events for everyone missing Millennium Park’s renowned cultural programming. The new online Millennium Park at Home series on YouTube (youtube.com/ChicagoDCASE) and Facebook (@MillenniumParkChicago) will bring some of City’s beloved live events straight to concertgoers featuring many of Chicago’s most popular hometown genres and artists.
Millennium Park at Home begins Memorial Day weekend, May 22 and 23 with a virtual DJ house mix on what would have been Chicago’s 5th Annual House Music Festival. This year the City would have celebrated the 35th Annual Gospel Music festival. Instead the Millennium Park at Home Series on May 29 and 30 will feature some of Chicago’s most renowned gospel artists will still bring the spirit through social media. Blues was born in Chicago and on what would have been the 37th Annual Blues Fest, June 5, 6, and 7 live Blues will still be enjoyed online.
Like many other cultural presenters, the City of Chicago and DCASE made the difficult decision to cancel these beloved music festivals out of an abundance of caution related to large public gatherings, following recommendations from the CDC and the guidance of Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, Governor JB Pritzker and City and State public health officials.
ALSO READ: Chicago’s own host the National Memorial Day Concert
The Year of Chicago Music will continue this year and throughout next year, to amplify the excitement and momentum building across the local industry. Many of the initiatives planned for 2020 will extend into 2021 — specifically, Chicago In Tune and the return of the House music, Gospel music, and Blues festivals.
Additional Millennium Park online programming:
Additional Millennium Park online programming includes the Chicago Children’s Choir’s Virtual Paint the Town Red, taking the tenth anniversary of this tradition online this Thursday, May 21, at 7pm (ccchoir.org/events). Grant Park Music Festival is also working on presenting online programming this summer, and you can follow along with the Park’s Lurie Garden on it’s website and Facebook. Currently, the Spring blubs are on display at www.luriegarden.org/about/spring-bulb-display. The Chicago Cultural Center is also offering online programming related to the exhibitions and Meet the Artists programming. More info at chicagoculturalcenter.org.
As the City continues to recognize the Year of Chicago Music, Mayor Lightfoot and DCASE are presenting livestreamed performances by local musicians on Instagram Live and other social media platforms every Sunday throughout May — benefiting the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund. DCASE is also collaborating with Do312 to collect and promote listings of virtual concerts (do312.com/yearofchicagomusic), and Choose Chicago has curated an exhaustive list of virtual events of all kinds (choosechicago.com/things-to-do/chicago-home).
For more information about the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund, and to donate or apply for funding, visit ArtsforIllinois.org.
For more information and updates on the City’s response to COVID-19, text COVID19 to 78015, email coronavirus@chicago.govor visit chicago.gov/coronavirus.
Millennium Park at Home
View all concerts at youtube.com/ChicagoDCASE.
House Music
For everyone missing the Chicago House Music Festival, check out these online concerts featuring House Music in the Key of Chicago.
Promotional support by 95.1 FM Club Steppin, 5 Magazine and the House Club Tour
Friday, May 22, 6–8pm
Hosted by 95.1 FM Club Steppin’s Dana Divine
Lady D
DJ Jes
Maurice Joshua
Saturday, May 23, 6–8pm
Hosted by 5 Magazine’s Czarina
Shannon Harris
DJ Heather
Gene Hunt
“Aftersets” at HouseClubTour.com
Gospel Music
In lieu of the Chicago Gospel Music Festival, enjoy these online concerts featuring Gospel Music in the Key of Chicago.
Promotional support by Inspiration 1390
Friday, May 29, 6–8pm
Hosted by Inspiration 1390’s Sonya Blakey, Marcella Jones and Deandra Patterson
Keya Trammell
Tammi Vega – 2020 ChicagoMade Gospel Music A&R Audition
Donishisa Ballard
DJ Wyldchyld
Bridgette Hurt
The Tommies Reunion Choir
Saturday, May 30, 6–8pm
Hosted by Inspiration 1390’s Sonya Blakey, Marcella Jones and Deandra Patterson
Rashada Dawan
Lawrence Haynes
DJ Galaxie
LeNasia Tyson – 2020 ChicagoMade Gospel Music A&R Audition
RAII and Whitney
Ms. Anita Wilson
Blues Music
For everyone missing the Chicago Blues Festival, check out these online concerts featuring Blues Music in the Key of Chicago.
Promotional support by 93XRT
Friday, June 5, 6–8pm
Hosted by WDCB and 93XRT’s Tom Marker
Mike Wheeler
Guy King
Saturday, June 6, 6–8pm
Hosted by WDCB and 93XRT’s Tom Marker
Melody Angel
John Primer
Sunday, June 7, 6–8pm
Hosted by WDCB and 93XRT’s Tom Marker
Ivy Ford
Toronzo Cannon
Year of Chicago Music
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) have designated 2020 and 2021 as the Year of Chicago Music. This citywide, year-long focus on music is one of the first of its kind in the U.S. The City of Chicago and its partners working with the local music industry will launch a marketing campaign for Chicago music; provide additional financial grants for musicians and music projects; encourage dialog around inclusion and equity; and call on civic, philanthropic, arts and business leaders to support the music industry.
Recognizing that in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the music industry has moved to #dostuffathome, DCASE is partnering with Do312 to highlight local music venues and musicians who are now sharing “Music in the Key of Chicago” on virtual platforms. Start exploring music in the key of Chicago at yearofchicagomusic.org and do312.com/yearofchicagomusic, and join the conversation on social media using #YearofChicagoMusic and #ChicagoMusic.
