Entering its third consecutive year, Red Bull Music Festival Chicago will return in November, presenting a lineup of concerts at venues throughout the city. Running from November 17 through 30, the festival's eight concerts predominantly showcase local hip-hop, jazz and house music acts, similar to the 2018 edition of Red Bull Music Festival Chicago. It's a far cry from the 30 shows that the energy drink brand threw in the city in 2017 during the 30 Days in Chicago event series, but it's a welcome addition to the typically slim concert calendar surrounding the week of Thanksgiving.
The festival kicks off on November 17 with a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Lakeview shop Gramaphone Records, taking over Metro and Smart Bar with a lineup of DJs that reflect the store's deep ties to the house music genre. Gramaphone owner Michael Serafini will be joined by the likes of Steve "Silk" Hurley, Derrick Cater, Ron Trent and a long list of Smart Bar residents a notable local selectors. Other highlights of the lineup include a collection of jazz musicians curated by Theaster Gates performing at the Garfield Park Conservatory (November 19), Lupe Fiasco performing his seminal 2006 album Food & Liquor front-to-back at the Riviera Theatre (November 21), acclaimed Philly rapper Tierra Whack headlining the Concord Music Hall (November 26) and singer-songwriter Jamila Woods performing her recent release Legacy! Legacy! at the Geraghty event space (November 27).
Red Bull Music Festival Chicago's 2019 edition will conclude with a two-night benefit at Metro on November 29 and 30, devoted to the life and legacy of the late local rapper John Walt. Entering its third year, the John Walt Day festivities bring together his frequent collaborators Saba, Joseph Chilliams, MFn Melo, Frsh Waters and other members of West Side rap crew Pivot Gang for two performances that raise money for the John Walt Foundation.
Tickets are on sale now via the Red Bull website, with prices ranging from $20 to $25 per event (the event at Garfield Park is free with an RSVP). Take a look at the complete Red Bull Music Festival Chicago lineup below.
November 17, Metro
Gramaphone 50 ft. Steve “Silk” Hurley ;+ Derrick Carter + Ron Trent + DJ Heather + Colette + JR of The Molemen + G Most + Jesse De La Pena + Justin Aulis Long + Psycho-Bitch + Hector Lopez + Michael Serafini + Garrett David + Karl Meier
November 19, Garfield Park Conservatory
Black Monastic ft. Yaw Agyeman + Kiara Lanier + Ben LaMar Gay + Joshua Abrams + ADaD + Charles "Rick" Heath IV + Chris Paquette + The JuJu Exchange + Ron Poindexter + Jay Arnold
November 21, The Riviera Theatre
Lupe Fiasco performing Food & Liquor
November 23, Thalia Hall
Zero Fatigue ft. Smino + Monte Booker
November 26, Concord Music Hall
Tierra Whack
November 27, The Geraghty
Jamila Woods performing Legacy! Legacy!
November 29, 30, Metro
John Walt Day ft. Saba + Joseph Chilliams + MFnMelo + Frsh Waters