As usual for the summer, there are a ton of great shows going on which also happen to be free. Trek on down to Millennium Park or Navy Pier to check out some cost-free tunes.

As for me, I’m hoping to make it to the Hideout tonight, and then on Friday I’ll be at the Langhorne Slim/Ha Ha Tonka show, and Saturday is Heartless Bastards/Peter Wolf Crier.

Monday, July 19
Kid Sister, Konono No. 1; Millennium Park. 6:30 pm, free
Robbie Fulks, Nora O’Connor; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation

Tuesday, July 20
Patrick Park, Heather Styka; Schubas. 8 pm, $10

Wednesday, July 21
Nathaniel Rateliff, JBM; Schubas. 9 pm, $10

Thursday, July 22
Josh and the Empty Pockets, Juniper Mays; Park Grill. 4 pm, free
Natalie Merchant, Chicago Theatre. 8 pm, $38.50-48.50
Nick Tremulis, Deanna Devore; SPACE. 8 pm, $12-15
Derek Nelson and the Musicians, Ceiling Stars, Zach Pietrini and the Broken Bones; Martyrs. 9 pm, $7
Scott H. Biram, Lasers and Fast and Shit, Roses Pawn Shop; Double Door. 9 pm, $10

Friday, July 23
Juana Molina, Jim Elkington; Old Town School of Folk Music. 8 pm, $18-22
Langhorne Slim, Ha Ha Tonka, Young Man; Lincoln Hall. 10 pm, $14

Saturday, July 24
The Right Now; Navy Pier. 5 pm, free
Heartless Bastards, The Builders and the Butchers, Peter Wolf Crier; Bottom Lounge. 8 pm, $16
Jane and The Steadfast Acrobats, The Future Laureates, Mike Mangione and The Union, Sarah Holtschlag and The Crosscuts, The Sunken Ship; Lincoln Hall. 8:30 pm, $7
Danny Chaimson, Facing Winter; Schubas. 10 pm, $10

Sunday, July 25
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Millennium Park. 12 pm, free

Related posts:

1. This Week in Great Music: 7/25 – 7/31
2. This Week in Great Music: 4/5 – 4/11
3. This Week in Great Music: 10/11 – 10/17

I suppose the holiday weekend makes for a slow concert week.  The most exciting stuff is happening over at the Taste of Chicago, really.  On Saturday, I’ll be heading to a super-secret location for a teeny-tiny show by Rocky Votolato, who is doing a series of living room concerts over the summer.   There are only a handful of tickets still available (7, at the time I’m writing this post), so if you’re interested, you should act fast.  He was fantastic when I saw him at Schubas, so I’m super excited to see him in a much smaller setting.

Monday, June 28
Robbie Fulks, Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation
Huntsville; On Fillmore ft. Nels Cline; Millennium Park. 7:30 pm, free
Thao and Mirah with the Most of All, These United States; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, $14

Tuesday, June 29
Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys; Grant Park (Taste of Chicago).  5:30 pm, free
Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, Hacienda; Lincoln Hall. 10 pm, $12-14

Wednesday, June 30
Matt Kearney, Brett Dennen; Grant Park (Taste of Chicago).  5:30 pm, free
Eisley, The Lion and The Sail, Christie DuPree; Lincoln Hall. 7 pm, $15

Thursday, July 1
Todd Kessler, A Band Called Catch; Park Grill. 4 pm, free
Sons of the Never Wrong; Grant Park (Taste of Chicago).  5:20 pm, free
Sara Bareilles, A Rocket to the Moon; Hard Rock Cafe. 6 pm, free
Occidental Brothers Dance Band International, ft. Samba Mapangala; Grant Park (Taste of Chicago).  6:40 pm, free

Friday, July 2
Derek Nelson and the Musicians; Empty Bottle. 10 pm, $7

Saturday, July 3
JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound; Grant Park (Taste of Chicago).  12 pm, free
Brooke Waggoner, Dignan; Schubas. 10 pm, $10
Rocky Votolato; A living room in Chicago. 8 pm, $20

Sunday, July 4
Passion Pit; Grant Park (Taste of Chicago).  12 pm, free

Related posts:

1. This Week in Great Music: 6/14 – 6/20
2. This Week in Great Music: 6/21 – 6/27
3. This Week in Great Music: 7/19 – 7/25

Is this week making up for the relative slowness of last week?  Yes, I think so.

Monday, June 7
She & Him, Hollows; Pritzker Pavillion, Millennium Park.  6:30 pm, free
Judson Claiborne, The Mynabirds, A Tundra; Empty Bottle.  9:30 pm, free

Tuesday, June 8
Matt Pond PA, Wintersleep, Hudson Branch; Lincoln Hall.  8 pm, $14

Wednesday, June 9
Damien Jurado, Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, Santah; Schubas.  7 pm, $14
Stars, Dead Child Star; Lincoln Hall.  7 pm, sold out

Thursday, June 10
Otis Taylor; Pritzker Pavillion, Millennium Park.  12 pm, free
How Far to Austin, Chris Petlak; Park Grill (11 N. Michigan).  4 pm, free
Rachid Taha; Empty Bottle.  9:30 pm, $15-18

Friday, June 11
Gold Motel, Secret Colours, Mini Mansions; Lincoln Hall.  6 pm, $10
Melody Gardot, Phil Roy; Park West.  7:30 pm, $25
John Butler Trio, State Radio; Riviera Theatre.  8 pm, sold out
Landon Pigg, Madi Diaz; SPACE.  8 pm, $12-20
The Dutchess and the Duke, Mazes, Black Nag; Empty Bottle.  10 pm, $12
Melissa Ferrick; Lincoln Hall.  10 pm, $25
Freelance Whales, Peter Wolf Crier; Schubas.  10:30 pm, $12

Saturday, June 12
Sarah and the Tall Boys; Pritzker Pavillion, Millennium Park.  12 pm, free
Shawn Colvin, Nicholas Barron; Old Town School of Folk Music.  7 pm and 10 pm, $36-40
Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers, The Punch Brothers; Ravinia.  7:30 pm, $22-50
Great Lake Swimmers; SPACE.  7:30 pm, $12-22
Blue Rodeo, Cuff the Duke; Martyrs.  9 pm, $18-20
Otis Taylor, Chuck Campbell; SPACE.  10 pm, $20-34
Split Lip Rayfield; Empty Bottle.  10 pm, $12

Sunday, June 13
Sheryl Crow, Colbie Caillat; Ravinia.  7 pm, $27-90
The Handsome Family, the Thin Man; Old Town School of Folk Music.  7 pm, $16-20

Related posts:

1. This Week in Great Music: 6/6 – 6/12
2. This Week in Great Music: 6/14 – 6/20
3. This Week in Great Music: 5/30 – 6/5