Booking Ahead | Nicki Minaj, My Morning Jacket, Rufus Wainwright and Explosions in the Sky

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj hasn't played Chicago much since her career took off; the last time was April 2011 on a package tour sandwiched between Lil Wayne and Rick Ross. However the madcap rapper has set off on her own in support of sophomore set Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, showing off her cockney accent and more at the Chicago Theatre July 16; tickets go on sale Saturday at 10am. The Chicago Theatre also opens its doors to indie success story Explosions in the Sky, whose Friday Night Lights–endorsed instrumental soundscapes fill the filigreed hall June 26; tickets go on sale Saturday at 11am. Beard-rock juggernaut My Morning Jacket is back, following up its headlining set at last year's Lollapalooza with an August 22 stop at Millennium Park featuring support from kindred spirit Band of Horses; tickets go on sale Saturday at noon. Also returning in August is neo-operatic pop savant Rufus Wainwright, who plays to the Bank of America Theatre on the 8th. Other gigs of note include a Cubby Bear date with funk icon Bootsy Collins, a Bottom Lounge double bill featuring El-P and Killer Mike and the inevitable alliance of Enrique Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez, which arrives at United Center August 3. Find those dates and more after the jump or visit timeoutchicago.com/bookingahead for a more extensive list of upcoming shows.

MAY
14 Autumn Owls Martyrs'. $7.
18 Elsinore + On Again Off Again + Caught in Your Pockets + Renaissance Sound The Ace Bar. $10.
18 FREE Ikebe Shakedown Double Door.
19 The Keane Machine with Howard Levy Irish American Heritage Center. Advance $25, day of show $30.
19 Johnny T Joe's Bar. $8.
23 Rebecca Ferguson DuSable Museum of African American History. $20.
23 Tanya Morgan + Koncept + Playdough + Bodega Brovas The Shrine. $20.
24 SOLD OUT Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros + He's My Brother She's My Sister Riviera Theatre.
25 Blood Red Boots + Black Light Saints + Dozens + The Addies Metro. Free before 9:30pm, $9 after. 18+
25 Ryan Broshear Abbey Pub. Advance $7, day of show $10.
25 Sich Mang + Andy Ortmann + Johnny Young Public Works Gallery. $5.
29 Solvent + Svengalisghost + Mike Broers Empty Bottle. $8.
30 N.O.R.E. + Black Eye Plaga + B-Ea$y The Shrine. $10.
31 Kenny y Los Eléctricos  + Castellano Cubby Bear. Advance $20, day of show $25.

JUNE
1 Dokken Cubby Bear. Advance $22, day of show $25.
2 Danilo Montero y Su Banda Congress Theater. $20. AA
2 UPDATED The Soft Pack + Grass Widow Beat Kitchen. $10. 17+
6 Doug Paisley Hideout. $7.
8 Chance the Rapper + Show You Suck + St. Millie + Manny Muscles Lincoln Hall. Advance $10, day of show $12. AA
8 Lisa Hannigan + Joe Henry Park West. $20. AA
9 Pound of Flesh + Naivian + Chris Connelly Double Door. $8.
11 Gospel Music + Wintersleep Schubas. Advance $8, day of show $10.
12 Man Forever The Burlington. $TBA.
14 Automata + Audiences Lincoln Hall. $10. 18+
15 Jason & The Haymakers + Matt Poss Band Abbey Pub. Advance $8, day of show $10.
15, 16 Gladys Knight + D.L. Hughley Country Club Hills Theater. $15–$85.
16 Clayton Anderson Joe's Bar. $8.
19 Mount Carmel Empty Bottle. $8.
20 Valient Thorr + Holy Grail + Royal Thunder + The Kickass Double Door. Advance $10, day of show $12.
21 Bootsy Collins Cubby Bear. Advance $27.50, day of show $30.
21 The Life and Times + Pinebender + The Beta Capsule The Burlington. $TBA.
25 Kate Miller-Heidke Schubas. Advance $10, day of show $12.
26 Explosions in the Sky + Zammuto Chicago Theatre. $35.
27 Parlovr Empty Bottle. $TBA.
29 Ryan Shaw Martyrs'. Advance $12, day of show $15.
30 Dame-Nation IV: Analog Digital Disorder + Last Red Ransom + Deadmanswake + Persistence of Memory + Schoolcraft + Burning Eve + 4WITHOUT + Virulence Factor Abbey Pub. Advance $14, day of show $18.
30 Michael McDermott Lincoln Hall. $20.

JULY
1 The Sometimes Family + Lindsay Weinberg Double Door. $5.
6 El-P + Killer Mike + Despot + Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire Bottom Lounge. $21. 17+
6 Fountains of Wayne SPACE. $28–$40.
7 The Bright White + Rockit Girl + The Jetbirds Double Door. $8.
7 The Young + Judson Claiborne Hideout. $10.
8 Young Magic + Quilt Schubas. $10. 18+
13–15 Irish American Heritage Festival: The Tossers + Young Dubliners + The Dublin City Ramblers + The Kreellers + The Mickey Finns + Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones Irish American Heritage Center. Advance $8, day of show $15.
15 The Ragbirds + Chicago Farmer SPACE. $8–$16.
16 Iceage Subterranean. $10. AA
16 Nicki Minaj Chicago Theatre. $45–$75.
24 Los Perros Cubanos SPACE. $12–$22.
20 BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet SPACE. $20–$40.
22 Callaghan SPACE. $15.
25 Mickey Hart Band House of Blues. Advance $30, day of show $35. 17+
27 Cursive Subterranean. $15. 17+
27 Randy Houser + Rick Monroe Joe's Bar. $10.
28 Linda Eder Viper Alley. Two shows. $30–$600.
28 Whitey Morgan & The 78's Joe's Bar. $10.
29 The Bouncing Souls + The Menzingers + Luther Metro. Advance $21, day of show $23. AA

AUGUST
3 Enrique Iglesias + Jennifer Lopez + Wisin & Yandel United Center.
8 Rufus Wainwright + Adam Cohen Bank of America Theatre. $39–$69.
11 56 Hope Road Abbey Pub. Advance $8, day of show $10.
22 My Morning Jacket + Band of Horses Millennium Park, Pritzker Pavilion. $59.50–$64.50.
25 Gipsy Kings Star Plaza Theatre. $65.

SEPTEMBER
18 Dragonette Metro. Advance $16, day of show $19. 18+

OCTOBER
2, 3 Dispatch + Good Old War Aragon. $46. AA
5 Firewater Lincoln Hall. $15.
21 Vicente Fernández + Vicente Fernández Jr. Allstate Arena. $65–$250.

JULY 2013
13, 14 UPDATED One Direction First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre. Jul 14 added. $20–$89.50.