Mike Vanier and Ivan Martirena , Berklee College of Music graduates, will hold an Open House at their new music school, concert venue and outreach program facility, The Music Station 1808 W. 103rd St. Chicago 60643 on Sunday, January 10 from 12:00 noon until 6:00P.M. The Music Station will have refreshments, musical acts and a puppet show courtesy of Jeannie McQueenie starting at 1:00P. Vanier and Martirena have brought together a professionally trained staff and are pleased to offer a comprehensive training program based on Berklee College of Music programs for musicians of all ages. Continue

On New Year’s Eve 2009-2010, Polo Cafe & Catering, Bridgeport, at 3322 S. Morgan in Chicago, is pleased to present a celebration destined to be remembered as the most fun, swingin’ New Year’s Eve bash of the season. Admission includes full buffet by Chef David Samber, and a complete evening of top musical entertainment provided by Firepoint Music Company. Tickets are $50 in advance until December 25th, $75 thereafter and at the door. Reservations may be made by calling 773.927.POLO(7656). Guests may also take advantage of free parking. Continue

The Music Station is pleased to announce their arrival in Beverly at the location of the former World Music Company, 1808 W. 103rd Street, just steps away from the 103rd Street Metra station. The new music school and store is a joint venture of Mike Vanier and Ivan Martirena. Both partners are Berklee School of Music graduates holding degrees in guitar performance, with roots in the Beverly neighborhood. Vanier was born and raised here, while Martirena currently resides in west Beverly. Mike Vanier has worked as a music teacher and active performer for nearly ten years. Martirena, also an active performer, additionally owns and manages the successful Dr. Fretgood Music Store on the North side in Bucktown. Continue

Beginning at 10:00 am on Saturday, October 24th, the Beverly Area Merchants of 99th and Walden Parkway will roll out the welcome mats and close off the street to traffic for a free family harvest festival featuring food, entertainment, and bargains!

Beginning at 11:00 am, Calabria Imports of 1905 W. 103rd Street offers Hot Dogs and fresh hot chips until 2pm. Loads of activities for kids and families will be available. There will be free face painting from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, cookie decorating at Cakewalk Chicago, 1741 W. 99th Street, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, a children’s musical variety show from 12:30 to 1:30 pm at Bluemoon Coffeehouse, 1742 W. 99th Street, Continue

Irish Singer Cara Dillon has, so far, released four albums to critical acclaim. Her newest album, “Hill of Thieves” is due for release on Tuesday, September 15th. On the 18th, Dillon and band come to Chicago at World Music Company, 1808 W. 103rd Street, to present a full length concert and kick off Chicago’s World Music Festival 2009. This concert will be a rare opportunity for stateside audiences to hear the live debut of the music from “Hill of Thieves” in an intimate concert setting.

Cara Dillon’s “Hill of Thieves” has been released and well received in the UK. This Friday’s concert will be the first time US audiences will be able to hear material from the new album live. It will also be the opening feature of Chicago’s World Music Festival. In the UK publication The Guardian, journalist Robin Denselow reviews the album as “a cool, relaxed treatment of almost exclusively traditional songs on which Dillon’s singing is as fine as ever”. Writing for the Belfast Telegraph, Nigel Gould says of Dillon and the album, “Blessed with the voice of an angel, Dillon gently eases the listener through a series of deliciously uplifting tunes.”

The World Music Company offers lessons, classes, family activities, a Jazz series, and the annual Concert Series. The Concert Series aims to bring a wide and varied array of entertainers and musical performances to Chicago’s south side. It is the only venue like this in the immediate area. World Music Company is located at 1808 W. 103rd Street. Their website can be found at http://www.WorldMusicCompany.org/.

This year’s World Music Festival brings to Chicago fifty seven artists, fifty five events, 21 venues, with the music of thirty two countries represented. Kicking off the fest, The World Music Company, 1808 W. 103rd Street, is pleased to present Cara Dillon in concert at 8pm on Friday, September 18th.

Dillon hails from Northern Ireland, and has been singing and performing since a very young age. She won the All Ireland Singing Trophy at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, at age 14. She has since gone on to sing and play with a number of the UK’s biggest folk bands. She met her now husband and collaborator Sam Lakeman in the band Equation in the mid-nineties. The pair formed a strong musical bond with Lakeman as Guitarist/Pianist/Producer, and Dillon as vocalist. Their original music combines traditional Celtic influences with modern sensibilities, and blends well with the Celtic traditional and standards that are a part of their performing repertoire. Dillon’s albums have been well received and have prompted comparison to another great UK vocalist, Kate Bush, along with many other critical accolades.

The World Music Company is a Not-For-Profit school of music located in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood. In addition to music classes and activities for children and adults, World Music Company presents a concert series every year from September through May. This year’s concert series is funded in part by a City Arts grant, and features Cara Dillon on September 18th in cooperation with the World Music Festival Chicago. All performances take place in the World Music Company Concert Hall, a comfortable, intimate space. Dillon and band will perform a full evening of original and traditional music from 8-10:30. More information on Dillon, including video clips, is available at www.WorldMusicCompany.org. Tickets are only $15 and may be purchased online or by calling 773.779.7059.

Sample music and buy tickets.

The Chicago Air & Water Show is the largest spectator event in the United States and the longest ongoing show of its kind in North America. This year’s event will take place on August 15 and August 16, from 10 am – 4 pm, at North Avenue Beach. The Air & Water portions are now combined into one continuous show. View a slideshow!

2009 Performers

Air Show Headliners

• U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds

• U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights

• U.S. Navy Parachute Team Leap Frogs

Civilian Aircraft

• Aeroshell Aerobatic Team

• Sean D. Tucker & Team Oracle

• Lime Lima Flight Team

• Chicago Fire Department Air/Sea Rescue

• Lima Lima Flight Crew

• Sean D. Tucker & Team Oracle

• The Firebirds Delta Team

• Ed Hamill – Air Force Reserve Bi-Plane

• Red Bull Mig

• Red Bull Helicopter

Pilot – Chuck Aaron

• P-51 Mustang

• Chicago Fire Department Air/Sea Rescue

Military

• C-130

• F-15

• F-16

• A-10 Demo

• B-1B

• Apache Helicopter

• Black Hawk Helicopter

• KC-135

• KC-10

• C-17

• U.S. Coast Guard Air/Sea Recsue

Announcer

• Herb Hunter

The Chicago Country Music Fest, one of the City’s newest fests, is pleased to announce that this year, 2009, one of Country Music’s highest flying young starts, Miranda Lambert, will headline.

Chicago Mayor Daley is a country music fan and rallied for a Chicago Country Music Festival in the city. Chicago is home to a vast number of country singers/songwriters and bands here.

the inaugural Chicago Country Music Festival was held in 1991. It was a two-day event, held on city streets, near Sheffield and Weed Street. Over 40,000 country music fans turned out in 99 degree heat to watch an extensive talent line-up, featuring everything from clog dancers and square dancers to the singing group The Texas Tornadoes, Rodney Crowell and Pam Tillis. Music critics gave it a thumbs up for the variety of country music offered. Because of the big crowds, it was decided to move the event the following year to Grant Park to accommodate the crowds.

For 16 years, the Chicago Country Music Festival took place on the first weekend of Taste of Chicago, the city’s premier culinary event. It was considered a festival within a festival. Country music was featured on two music stages and performers over the years have included Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Wynonna, Yonder Mountain String Band, Randy Travis, Loretta Lynn and the father of bluegrass music, Bill Monroe.

In 2008, the Chicago Country Music Festival moved out from the Taste of Chicago to a new location and a new date. The festival moved to Soldier Field Parkland. Large crowds turned out for Gretchen Wilson, Lady Antebellum and Taylor Swift, among others. The Best Buy Honky Tonk Stage and the Americana Stage rounded out the talent lineup. Also added was a Kids Corral and Dance Tent.

The festival is moving again – to Oct. 3 & 4, 2009 in Grant Park. Headlining this year’s fest is Miranda Lambert.

The World Music Company at 1808 West 103^rd Street is pleased to welcome to our stage Chicago’s own, The Frantic on August 6^th at 6:30 pm for an all-ages evening of punk influenced, hard rockin’ fun! Continue

Chicago is not only a great place to live and work, but to celebrate all holidays, including the fourth of July. We have put together a comprehensive listing of festivals, fairs, and fireworks displays from all around Chicagoland. Continue