Booking Ahead | World Music Festival, Aimee Mann, GZA, Ben Folds Five and Waka Flocka Flame

Fatoumata Diawara

Photo: Youri Lenquette

Ex-programmer Michael Orlove's expertise is sorely missed, but a few gems can be found in next month's World Music Fest, including sets from Malian songbird Fatoumata Diawara, Tuareg desert-rockers Terakaft and Sierra Leone bubu master Janka Nabay. At least all 70-plus shows are free, spread across several venues including regular international music hosts Martyrs' and Mayne Stage in addition to WMF standbys Millennium Park, Navy Pier and the Chicago Cultural Center. See the entire schedule below in addition to newly announced concerts from GZA and Killer Mike, Aimee Mann and Ted Leo, Ben Folds Five and Waka Flocka Flame. For a more extensive list of upcoming shows visit timeoutchicago.com/bookingahead.

AUGUST
21 FREE Chicago Westside Music Festival: Musiq Soulchild + Carl Thomas + Syleena Johnson + Alex Boyd + Zzaje Garfield Park.
23 SOLD OUT Howie Day City Winery Chicago.
25, 26 Bash on Wabash: Jessica Lea Mayfield + Bloodiest + JD McPherson + Flatfoot 56 Wabash Ave between 13th and 14th Sts. Donation $5.
25 Cumberland River American Legion Music Hall. $20.
25, 26 Food Truck Social: Scott Lucas & The Married Men + Thin Hymns + Pedal Steel Transmission Chicago Ave between Wood St and Wolcott Ave. Donation $5.
26, 27 UPDATED Lindsey Buckingham City Winery Chicago. Aug 26 sold out.
31 Arc in Round + Invisible Things + Speakerdust Quenchers Saloon. Donation $5.
31 Eliot Lipp + Thibault + The Coop Bottom Lounge. $15. 17+

SEPTEMBER
1 Doctor P + EOTO + LoBounce Congress Theater. $25. 17+
1, 2 Kem Country Club Hills Theater. Sept 2 added. $25–$85.
6 Judson Claiborne + Sonoi + Panoramic & True The Burlington. $TBA.
7 Lou Reid & Carolina American Legion Music Hall. $20.
8 Scream Tour Next Generation Pt. 2: Diggy Simmons + OMG Girlz + Jawan Harris + TK-N-Ca$h + Torion + Jungle Boogie Arie Crown Theater. $29.50–$39.50.
11 Mike Keneally with Rick Musallam Reggie's Music Joint. $20.
12 Caspian Subterranean. $10. 17+
13 SOLD OUT Kishi Bashi + The Last Bison Schubas.
14 Shreya Ghoshal Akoo Theatre at Rosemont. $37–$97.
14 Mac Powell + Brushfire Joe's Bar. $8.
19 Dinosaur Feathers + Shark? Empty Bottle. $8.
19 GZA + Killer Mike + Sweet Valley + Bear Hands Metro. Advance $21, day of show $24. 18+
19, 20 Richard Thompson City Winery Chicago. $40–$55. Sept 20 at SPACE. $38–$88.
20 The Hood Internet + Body Language + My Gold Mask + Oscillator Bug Metro. $16. 18+
21 FREE Maria de Barros + Jazz con Amala Mayne Stage.
22 Barely Bloodshot: Lydia Loveless + Jon Langford & Skull Orchard + Dex Romweber Duo + Deadstring Brothers Mayne Stage. $12. 18+
22 FREE Maria de Barros + AfriCaribe Millennium Park, Pritzker Pavilion.
22 Stephen Marley Vic Theatre. $30. 18+
22 FREE Matuto + De Temps Antan + Balkano Austin Town Hall.
22 FREE Slavic Soul Party! + Unidos do Quilombo + Seneke + Delhi 2 Dublin Navy Pier.
23 FREE Rana Santacruz + Son del Viento National Museum of Mexican Art.
23 FREE Terakaft + Fatoumata Diawara Mayne Stage.
23 Vagando + Multivitamins + Ultrasound Bottom Lounge. $20.
24 FREE Canteca de Macao Instituto Cervantes Chicago.
24 FREE Fatoumata Diawara + Magic Carpet Chicago Cultural Center.
24 FREE Fishtank Ensemble + Rana Santacruz Mayne Stage.
24 FREE Hanggai + Terakaft Ping Tom Memorial Park.
25 Casey Crescenzo Beat Kitchen. $12. AA
25 FREE Hector Del Curto's Eternal Tango Trio Instituto Cervantes Chicago.
25 FREE Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto + Tarima Son National Museum of Mexican Art.
25 FREE Hanggai + Las Guitarras de España Reggie's Rock Club. AA
25 FREE Pedrito Martinez + Ecos del Pacifico Afrocolombia Mayne Stage.
26 FREE Rahim Alhaj & Ancient Sounds featuring Amaan & Ayaan Ali Khan + Zamin Mayne Stage.
26 FREE Celtic Connections presents Transatlantic Sessions Millennium Park, Pritzker Pavilion.
26 FREE Hector Del Curto's Eternal Tango Trio Chicago Cultural Center.
26 FREE Pedrito Martinez + BUYA! Bomba Ensemble Humboldt Park.
26 FREE Janka Nabay & The Bubu Gang + Son Peru Little Black Pearl.
26 Wooden Wand Empty Bottle. $8, free with R.S.V.P.
27 The Growlers + Florida Kilos Subterranean. $12. 17+
27 FREE One World Under One Roof: Janka Nabay & The Bubu Gang + Tamburitza Rroma + Lamajamal Chicago Cultural Center.
28 Donovan Park West. $45. 18+
28 Florida Georgia Line + The Cadillac Black Joe's Bar. $8.
28 Moon Duo Empty Bottle. $10.
29 Iration + The Expendables + Cisco Adler House of Blues. Advance $20, day of show $22. 17+
29 Newfound Road American Legion Music Hall. $20.
30 Ben Folds Five + Kate Miller-Heidke Chicago Theatre. $38–$68.

OCTOBER
3 Gossip Bottom Lounge. Advance $20, day of show $22. 17+
3 Molly Lewis SPACE. $15–$25.
4 Freelance Whales + Geographer Lincoln Hall. $18.50. 18+
4 Trapped Under Ice + Backtrack + Harm's Way + Naysayer + Born Low Beat Kitchen. Advance $13, day of show $15. 17+
5 Tift Merritt + The Pines City Winery Chicago. $18–$25.
5 North Mississippi Allstars + Missing Cats Vic Theatre. $25. 18+
6 The Go-Go's Star Plaza Theatre. $30–$50.
6 Nikki Hill + L'Assassins + The Phantom Shakers Martyrs'. $10.
6 Taking Back Sunday + Bayside Riviera Theatre. $25. AA
8 Taking Back Sunday (acoustic) + Mansions Beat Kitchen. $27.50. AA
9 Chad & Jeremy SPACE. $17–$30.
11, 12 UPDATED Social Distortion + Lindi Ortega + Biters Vic Theatre. Oct 12 added. $35. 18+
12 Neil Halstead Schubas. $15.
13 Freddy Jones Band Joe's Bar. $25.
13 Lindstrøm + Volta Bureau + Only Children Smart Bar. $7–$15.
13 Monster Blues II: Buddy Guy + Jonny Lang + Shemekia Copeland Star Plaza Theatre. $40–$60.
13 The Octopus Project Subterranean. $12. 17+
13 Paper Diamond House of Blues. Advance $20, day of show $25. 17+
14 Balmorhea Schubas. $10.
14 Blue October House of Blues. Advance $32.50, day of show $35. 17+
14 The Jezabels + Yukon Blonde Lincoln Hall. $15.
16 All Time Low + The Summer Set + The Downtown Fiction + Hit the Lights House of Blues. Advance $25, day of show $27.50. AA
16 Tombs + 16 Township. $10. 18+
17 Cadence Weapon Schubas. $10.
17 Jovanotti Vic Theatre. $26. AA
17 White Rabbits Lincoln Hall. $15.
18 Ivan & Alyosha + Chamberlin Schubas. $12.
18 Septicflesh + Krisiun + Melechesh + Ex Deo + Inquisition Reggie's Rock Club. $25, VIP $75. 18+
19 The Early November + Cartel Bottom Lounge. Advance $17, day of show $20. AA
20 Brandi Carlile + Blitzen Trapper Chicago Theatre. $35–$49.50.
20 Charlie Sizemore Band American Legion Music Hall. $20.
21 Mayday Parade + The Maine + The Postelles Metro. $21. AA
21 Riverboat Gamblers + Cobra Skulls + Wild Roses + Anger. Cobra Lounge. Advance $10, day of show $13.
21 Waka Flocka Flame Congress Theater. $25. AA
23 The English Beat + Paul Collins' Beat SPACE. $38–$68.
26 The Hush Sound + Deserters House of Blues. Advance $20, day of show $22.50. AA
26 Joshua Radin + A Fine Frenzy Vic Theatre. $25. AA
26 Barbra Streisand + Chris Botti + Il Volo United Center. $90–$500.
27 The Afghan Whigs Metro. $36. 18+
27 METZ Empty Bottle. $8.
27 The Mountain Goats + Matthew E. White Vic Theatre. $22.50. 18+

NOVEMBER
2 Jeffrey Foucault SPACE. $12–$22.
2 Will Hoge Joe's Bar. $10.
2 Charlie Hunter Duo SPACE. $18–$30.
3 Graham Colton Schubas. $15. 18+
4 Shawn Mullins SPACE. $20–$40.
6 Noah Gundersen + David Ramirez SPACE. $10–$18.
7 Lucy Wainwright Roche + Lindsay Fuller SPACE. $12–$22.
8, 9 Crooked Fingers + John Vanderslice Schubas. $18.
8 Enter the Haggis SPACE. $15–$27.
8 Grouplove + Papa Riviera Theatre. $25. AA
8 MxPx + Unwritten Law Bottom Lounge. Advance $15, day of show $17. 17+
9 The Boxcars American Legion Music Hall. $20.
9, 10 Sonny Landreth SPACE. $27–$46.
9 Pierce the Veil + Sleeping with Sirens + Tonight Alive + Hands Like Houses House of Blues. Advance $18, day of show $20. AA
9 Sons of the Never Wrong + Al Rose Mayne Stage. $15. 18+
9 Josh Thompson + Ashley Ray Joe's Bar. $12.
10 The Helio Sequence + Ramona Falls Lincoln Hall. $15.
10 Mary Mary Star Plaza Theatre. $32–$38.
13 Gallows Subterranean. $15. AA
13 Skeletonwitch + Havok + Mutilation Rites + Nucleus Reggie's Rock Club. Advance $12, day of show $14. 18+
14, 15 Aimee Mann + Ted Leo Park West. $35. 18+
15 fun. Riviera Theatre. $30.50. AA
15 Willy Porter SPACE. $18–$38.
16 The Monkees Chicago Theatre. $63–$78.
16 Randy Rogers Band Joe's Bar. $12.
17 The Fresh & Onlys Lincoln Hall. Advance $12, day of show $14. 18+
17 Miss May I + The Ghost Inside + Like Moths to Flames + The Amity Affliction + Glass Cloud House of Blues. Advance $18, day of show $20. AA
17 Red Fang + Black Tusk + Indian Handcrafts Subterranean. $12. 17+
18 Kris Delmhorst SPACE. $15–$26.
25 Tuck & Patti SPACE. $20–$40.
27 Billy Martin & Wil Blades SPACE. $15–$25.
27 Rachael Yamagata SPACE. $20–$30.
28 Simon Townshend + Dag Juhlin Martyrs'. Advance $12, day of show $15.

DECEMBER
2 A Motown Christmas Holiday Spectacular Star Plaza Theatre. $45.
2 Patrick Watson Lincoln Hall. Advance $15, day of show $18. 18+
21 Matt Ulery Northeastern Illinois University, Salme Harju Steinberg Fine Arts Center Recital. $10–$25.

JANUARY
Victor Drobysh: Hits and Stars Arie Crown Theater. $50–$150.

FEBRUARY
15 Belfry Fellows Northeastern Illinois University, Salme Harju Steinberg Fine Arts Center Recital. $10–$25.

APRIL
20 Bobby McFerrin Symphony Center. $30–$110.