Maybe you’ve been enjoying the warm weather and feeling like summer will never end, but the astronomical end of the season is approaching. However, that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop! Millennium Park is celebrating its 20th-anniversary summer season with the second year of its residency program. Vocalo, the city’s urban alternative public radio station, is one of the five cultural organizations hosting free events. Despite facing challenges and losing most of its programming earlier this year, Vocalo is still on the air and hosting a fantastic party at Pritzker Pavilion on Friday, September 20.
Vocalo’s Summer Finale features an incredible lineup of live Chicago music for free. The event kicks off at 5 PM with DJ Lady D, voted best house music DJ in the Reader’s Best of Chicago audience poll. Following that, the show starts at 6:30 PM with performances by singer-songwriter Kaina and jazz trumpeter Marquis Hill. The headlining act, Pivot Gang, a renowned west-side hip-hop collective, will take the stage at 8:15 PM. Vocalo hosts Bekoe and Nudia Hernandez will be the emcees for the evening. This event offers something for every Chicago music lover, but make sure to bring your own lawn chair or blanket. Let’s hope that Vocalo continues to thrive and bring us more summer celebrations like this one.
In other music news, Chicago artist-led organization Golden Egg has announced a pilot round of grants to support retirement savings for local professional musicians. Musicians between the ages of 20 and 65 with an average adjusted gross income of less than $80,000 over the past three years are eligible to receive grants ranging from $2,000 to $6,500. Recipients must commit to depositing the grant money into an individual retirement account and match it with their own funds. This initiative aims to address the financial insecurity faced by freelance musicians and provide them with resources for retirement planning.
Golden Egg has received funding from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events through the Chicago Arts Recovery Program. The organization has also formed a steering committee of local artists to shape the initiative and develop retirement-planning resources and workshops for working musicians. The application process is designed to be accessible, with minimal verification requirements to accommodate artists with diverse backgrounds and levels of professionalism.
As of September 10, Golden Egg has received 58 applications for grants, with the first round totaling $50,000. The deadline for applications is Friday, November 1. This initiative represents a significant step towards supporting the financial well-being of Chicago’s music community and ensuring that musicians have resources for a secure future.
Events like Vocalo’s Summer Finale and initiatives like Golden Egg’s grant program are vital for nurturing and sustaining Chicago’s vibrant music scene. By providing opportunities for artists to showcase their talent and access financial support, these initiatives contribute to the cultural richness of the city and support the livelihoods of local musicians. As summer comes to a close, let’s celebrate the resilience and creativity of Chicago’s music community and look forward to more exciting events and initiatives in the future.
