Things to love about Midsommarfest 2012: Local music

Preparations for Midsommarfest are in full swing and we’re looking forward to seeing you in Andersonville next weekend! Until then, we thought we’d share some of the things that have us excited about this year’s festival:

First, let’s talk about music: When people talk about Midsommarfest’s music line-up, they usually fall into two categories – the people who return each year to see the acts Midsommarfest has become known for, awesome cover bands like Sixteen Candles and Maggie Speaks, and those who come for unique acts with a local flavor that you won’t see at every other festival. This year’s festival is a great reflection of both camps, and stronger than ever!

The South Stage, sponsored by Simon’s Tavern, is really getting in to the Chicago music scene. Most of the bands were hand-picked by Scott Martin, owner of Simon’s, who wanted to “do something different.” Some of these bands, like The Webstirs, Expo 76, and The New Invaders, have played at Simon’s at one time or another. Check out the links below to learn more about these great bands!

SOUTH STAGE: Clark & Foster

Sponsored by Simon's Tavern

Saturday, June 9
2:00 PM    The Webstirs “Hog-butchering pop to melt your jaded hipster heart”
4:00 PM    Nicholas Tremulis
6:00 PM    Dolly Varden  Chicago quintet Dolly Varden is built around the singing and songwriting of husband and wife duo Steve Dawson and Diane Christiansen, along with Mark Balletto on guitar, Matt Thobe on drums and Mike Bradburn on bass.
8:00 PM    The Del Moroccos Knock the Ray-ettes, Bo Diddley and Link Wray together, with a blast of garage, a hit of late ’50s black rock n’ roll, dress ‘em up like Johnny Cash, and you get a raucous, mean mix of “Soulful 50s garage”.   

Expo 76

Sunday, June 10
2:00 PM    The New Invaders The New Invaders are truly “New,” as this inspirational 60′s rock review ushers back in the fabulous era of BRITISH rock and roll with major new players!
4:00 PM    Planet Claire Chicago’s best, maybe only, B52′s tribute band. Some of Chicago’s most respected original bands saw the beckoning light of B52s amazing music and put together a group that would celebrate the best party band in the world and beyond. 
6:00 PM    Expo 76 A 70’s-themed cover band that covers the golden era of AM radio singles, roots rock chestnuts, new wave janglers, campfire classics, TV show themes, early ‘60s rave-ups, songs your parents know and love, made-up-on-the-spot idiotic jams and more.
8:00 PM    Get Up With The Get Downs An 8-piece band that bases their  sets on the music of James Brown and others from the Golden Age of Funk. Concentrating solely on live performance, each show is a high energy dance party that evokes “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business.”

And speaking of great local music, we are also pleased to partner with Gay Chicago TV and Hamburger Mary's to present the Out Rock Stage at Balmoral & Clark, which will feature many up and coming Chicago artists in intimate acoustic sets.  As a show on Gay Chicago TV, Out Rock provides a platform for Chicago’s LGBTQ singers, songwriters, and musicians to showcase their voices, work, and talent. The stage is headlined on Saturday night by Stephen Leonard, the host of Out Rock and a Chicago-based singer-songwriter, recording artist, producer and LGBTQ advocate. Check out Out Rock’s first 3 episodes featuring Stephen Leonard, Manny Capozzi (from Fatally Cool), and Ian Wilson - all playing the Out Rock stage at Midsommarfest.

OUT ROCK STAGE:  Clark & Balmoral
Sponsored by Hamburger Mary’s & Gay Chicago TV

Saturday, June 9
12:00 PM   KAVUS
2:00 PM    Fatally Cool
4:00 PM    Ian Wilson
6:00 PM    Mindy Bartlett
7:00 PM    Stephen Leonard

Sami Grisafe

Sunday, June 10
12:00 PM   Jeff Brown
2:00 PM    Jeffrey Altergott
4:00 PM    Dawn Xiana Moon
6:00 PM    Monica Del Castillo
7:00 PM    Sami Grisafe

Want to see the complete schedule for ALL of the Midsommarfest stages? Click here! 

18th Annual Edgewater Neighborhood Garage Sale

The 18th Annual Edgewater Neighborhood Garage Sale takes place this Saturday. An annual event that invites neighbors to turn one man's junk into your own personal treasures, the Edgewater Neighborhood Garage Sale is a must for Andersonville bargain hunters. Encompassing households from Ridge to Devon, and Clark to Broadway, participating households will be opening up their garages for treasure hunters to take a peek from 9am to 4pm on June 2nd.

A collaborative effort of the BARGE Neighborhood Community Organization, Edgewater Glen Association, EPIC Block Club, and Edgewater North Neighbors, 20% of all net proceeds from registration benefit Care for Real. This year over 100 households will participate. Look for sales in local garages, front lawns and back yards throughout the neighborhood. Happy hunting!

Midsommarfest 2012 Stage Schedule Announced!

The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce and Andersonville Development Corporation are thrilled to release the entertainment lineup for the 47th annual Andersonville Midsommarfest, June 8-10, 2012!  We have a lot of exciting new developments for this year’s festival, the biggest of which is the addition of a Friday night event featuring a special performance by 16 Candles.  The rest of the weekend will feature FIVE stages of entertainment throughout Saturday and Sunday, ranging from festival favorites to performers making their Midsommarfest debut.  Also new this year is the Out Rock Stage, sponsored by Hamburger Mary’s and Gay Chicago TV, with a lineup of incredible Chicago singer-songwriters with captivating music and live energy.  Gotta kid with a lot of talent, or one who just can’t stop performing?  Channel that energy into the Toys Et Cetera Kids Talent Show on Sunday.  And did you overdo it on Saturday night?  Come find your center Sunday morning with a Hatha Yoga class at the North Stage lead by Bikram Yoga Andersonville.

There is so much more to tell you about this year’s fest in the coming weeks, but for now we will bid you a happy weekend and post the stage schedule for Midsommarfest 2012 after the jump!

And the Andersonville Honors Finalists are....

The nomination period for The Andersonville Honors is now closed. We are pleased to announce the top nominees in each category:



New Addition Award

• The Haymaker Shop
• Lady Gregory
• Urban Orchard
• Alley Cat
• Windy Knitty

Good Neighbor Award

• Hamburger Mary’s
• In Fine Spirits
• Marty’s Martini Bar
• The Haymaker Shop
• Women and Children First

Eco-Andersonville Award

• Hamburger Mary’s
• The Coffee Studio
• Green Genes
• GreenSky
• Sifu Design

Arts/Service Org. of the Year

• Holmquist Insurance
• Painted Light Photography + Framing Gallery
• Iloilo Framing
• Las Manos Gallery
• The Neo-Futurists
• Quest Theater
• Swedish American Museum

Restaurant/Bar of the Year

• Hamburger Mary’s
• Hopleaf
• Big Jones
• Lady Gregory
• Marty’s Martini Bar
• Acre

Retailer of the Year

• In Fine Spirits Shop
• Andersonville Galleria
• Mr. and Mrs. Digz
• Green Genes
• Alamo Shoes
• Windy Knitty

The Andersonville Development Corporation (ADC) is now soliciting votes from the greater Andersonville community to name the final winners in each category. Cast your vote by visiting: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/andersonvillehonors. Voting closes on April 25^th. Winners will be announced during the Andersonville Honors Gala. Event attendees will select from the six final honorees to name the Bridgeview Bank Crowd Favorite, a $250 cash prize award.

ADC will host the Andersonville Honors Gala on Thursday, April 26^th, 2012 at the Swedish American Museum, 5211 N Clark. Andersonville Honors tickets are on sale now at BrownPaperTickets.com. Tickets are $65 in advance and $75 day-of. The event will feature wine and beer, locally prepared small plates, live musical entertainment and a silent auction with high-end goods, gift certificates and services from the Andersonville commercial district.

Proceeds from the Andersonville Honors Gala will raise funds for continued support of ADC’s sustainable community and economic development initiatives. These include:

* eco-Andersonville. An initiative designed to promote sustainability—environmental, economic, and social

* Retail Attraction & Retention. Supporting and maintaining a viable, thriving local economy

* Business district mapping & research. Understanding our ever-evolving needs and tracking vacant space

* Neighborhood Events. Hosting beloved events in the neighborhood with sell-out crowds

* Facade and Green Building Incentive Programs. Offering financial assistance to new and existing businesses

* Consumer Surveying. Keeping Andersonville at the forefront of consumer economic trending

Ticket quantities are limited for this event; guests are encouraged to consider purchasing early.

A Parklet for Andersonville

As part of a greater eco-Andersonville initiative to improve pedestrian accessibility and bike infrastructure throughout Andersonville, the Andersonville Development Corporation (ADC) has partnered with the Chicago Department of Transporation (CDOT) and local business owners to build one of Chicago's very first "Parklets".  Utilizing native plants, public seating and bike parking we will create a green urban retreat in one of the densest commercial districts outside of the loop.

Plans for the first parklet will include the on-street space at the t-intersection of Clark Street and Farragut. We are currently in the process of working with Matt Nardella, AIA, LEEP AP, at Moss Design to develop designs for this space. While we are confidently composing all of the technical requirements of completing this project, including obtaining support from local aldermen, we do need assistance from the community to help fund raise for the parklet program. Please consider viewing our Kickstarter page to learn more about the parklet and support the cause.