We're used to hijinks happening along the Chicago riverfront—remember those gigantic beans floating by a few weeks ago?—and one of the most joyful oddities is making its seasonal return under the Belmont Avenue bridge: the "Secret River" concert series.
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Humbly taking place on a concrete pillar in the Chicago River with audiences "seated" atop the bridge, beneath the overpass or, most excellently, in kayaks bobbing along the waterway, the yearly DIY gigs are the brainchild of local musician Ben Kinsinger—the self-proclaimed "River King"—and his band Lawrence Tome, who have been holding the performances in the unexpected "venue" since 2022.
And Kinsinger and Co. are officially back for the 2025 season, which kicked off last Saturday, May 10 with live waterfront numbers by Lawrence Tome as well as NÜDE (the Chicago-based duo of Ruby Lucinda & Luke Clohisy) and singer-songwriter Jennifer Femme.
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