Millennium Park Summer Concerts Announced

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events released Millennium Park's full summer concert schedule today, opening with the indie-centric Downtown Sound on May 28. The free Monday series lasts ten weeks and includes headlining sets from hometown fave Kelly Hogan and soul man Charles Bradley. The Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz weekly returns on Thursdays throughout July and August, featuring inventive programs from local improvisers like bassist Matt Ulery and drummer Frank Rosaly. Last year's Dusk Variations has been rebranded Loops and Variations, showcasing collaborations between contemporary music and electronic-leaning acts, including the promising pairing of Deerhoof and Ensemble Dal Niente. Unfortunately, the world music survey Music Without Borders has been cut, but the annual World Music Festival is back in September. Find the complete schedule for all three Millennium Park concert series after the jump.

All concerts are free and take place at Millennium Park's Pritzker Pavilion at 6:30pm with the exception of John Luther Adams, whose August 26 performance starts at 5:30pm.

Downtown Sound:

MAY
28 Kelly Hogan + Scott Lucas & The Married Men

JUNE
4 Jonathan Richman + Joel Paterson & The Modern Sounds
11 The Eternals + Wild Belle
18 Cloud Cult + Judson Claiborne
25 Occidental Brothers Dance Band International 

JULY
2  Joan of Arc + Daniel Knox
9 The Sadies + James Vicent McMorrow
16 Charles Bradley & His Extraordinares + Abigail Washburn
23 Ana Tijoux + Sidi Touré
30 SMOD + M.A.K.U. SoundSystem

Loops and Variations:

JUNE
7 Chris Clark + Jan Jelinek & Andrew Pekler + Casino Versus Japan
14 Deerhoof & Ensemble Dal Niente
28 eighth blackbird

JULY
5 A Winged Victory for the Sullen & ACME (American Contemporary Music Ensemble)
12 Third Coast Percussion

AUGUST
26 John Luther Adams's Inuksuit

Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz:

JULY
19 Blowing in from Chicago
26 Erwin Helfer: A Life in Boogie and Blues

AUGUST
2 Root of Routes: Makaya McCraven's Global Unit
16 By a Little Light: Matt Ulery's Loom with special guests
23 Frank Rosaly's ¡Todos De Pie!
30 Exquisitely for Ella: A Songbook Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald with Jeff Lindberg's Chicago Jazz Orchestra