NEWCITY Announces "Sounds of Summer" 2023 Schedule + Charity Partners

NEWCITY, Lincoln Park’s outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment district, announces the 2023 summer line up for the annual “Sounds of Summer'' outdoor music series. Scheduled to take place on select Thursdays throughout the months of July and August from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in NEWCITY’s plaza (1457 N Halsted Avenue), each event is free and will highlight and support a local non-profit who will receive 100% of sales from beverages sponsored by Constellation Brands in addition to raffles and donations.

Wayne Baker Brooks will be first to kick off the series on Thursday, July 13, from 7pm-9pm in NEWCITY’s plaza (1457 N Halsted Avenue). Considered one of today’s top guitarists, Wayne Baker Brooks combines powerful vocals with liquid fire guitar playing that honors his rich blues heritage yet effortlessly expands the boundaries of the genre. Born and raised in Chicago, IL amongst the most prolific blues legends and blues masters in the world, Brook's blues roots may run deeper and wider than the Great Lakes themselves.

Additionally, the evening’s featured charity partner is PAWS Chicago, a national leader in the No Kill animal welfare movement, committed to building No Kill communities - starting with Chicago. Founded in 1997 when 42,000 pets were killed in Chicago, PAWS's robust programs have led to the reduction of homeless pet euthanasia in Chicago by 92.5%. An industry-leading Adoption Center, a state-of-the-art Medical Center, and a high-volume Spay/Neuter Clinic work synchronously to address the needs of homeless and at-risk pets citywide. Community engagement efforts mobilizing thousands of volunteers, foster families, adopters and advocates each year to take action for animals is the foundation of all PAWS programs.

Additional dates, bands and charity partners include:

July 20th Mike & Joe / Lincoln Park Community Services

Mike & Joe is a modern rock cover band widely regarded by its peers and the industry as one of the very best sounding cover bands in the country. The bulk of the setlist includes popular rock from the 90’s through today, but occasionally they’ll throw in some tunes from the 70’s and 80’s as well.

Charity Partner: Lincoln Park Community Services brings communities together to empower individuals facing homelessness and poverty to secure stable housing and make sustainable life changes. They serve individuals 18 and older through two locations: Lincoln Park and Old Town. LPCS addresses immediate needs such as food, showers, clothing, identification, and substance use or mental health counseling. In addition, they offer interim housing, permanent supportive housing, drop-in services, and street outreach.

July 27th Wedding Banned / ALS Therapy Development Institute

After being banned from their hometown of Gas City, Indiana for being too wild, Wedding Banned relocated to Chicago and the legend began and is still going strong, 17 years later!

Dubbed the “World’s Greatest Wedding Band” this interactive group plays tons of rad 80’s music and guilty pleasures you and your friends love, whether they'll admit it or not.

Charity Partner: ALS Therapy Development Institute is a non-profit biotechnology research organization focused on finding treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. With a staff including more than 30 scientists, the organization operates a research and development program centered on ALS with 86 cents from every dollar going directly to ALS research.

August 3rd Hello Weekend / Jackson Chance Foundation

Hello Weekend is a nonstop, hit after hit, party band. They not only bring high-energy sound with Christina's heart stopping vocals, but they bring a captivating stage presence and an overall transfixing performance, the likes of which, you won't soon forget! Hello Weekend strives to keep you dancing with a wide-ranging set list that covers everything from Gaga to Guns N' Roses, Bruno Mars to The Beach Boys and performs countless festivals, weddings, private and corporate functions each year.

Charity partner: Jackson Chance Foundation enriches the lives of families with babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) by removing the financial burden of parking fees and allowing families to spend more time with their critically ill child. Through the NICU Transportation Program, they partner with hospitals to provide complimentary parking for families and since 2013 have raised more than $5.9 million and provided over 600,000 days of parking to more than 12,000 families.

August 10th Too Much Molly Band / Friends of Prentice

Too Much Molly Band is Chicago's newest, over-the-top stage experience. Molly Callinan is the ringleader of a musical circus made up of some of the most diverse, and talented musicians. Too Much Molly Band covers everything from Elton John to Xanadu, to Adele and Rocky Horror.

Charity Partner: Friends of Prentice (FOP) is a non-profit organization committed to superior healthcare spanning the full spectrum of a woman’s life at all ages and stages. We fund leading edge research initiatives at Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women's Hospital that improve the quality of health for all who self-identify as women in our immediate community and across the globe. We are committed to researching and improving women’s healthcare across all socio-economic, racial and gender identity backgrounds including funding research in basic science, patient care, education and community service.

August 17th Rod Tuffcurls & The Benchpress / Bike MS

Rod Tuffcurls and The Bench Press is a peak experience band from Chicago. With a focus on bone-crushing 3-part harmonies, laser-sharp musicianship, and a top tier light show, Rod Tuffcurls and The Bench Press is a live performance powerhouse. The band carefully curates each show from a truly eclectic and massive repertoire in order to cultivate an unclassifiable experience of joy and entertainment for everyone in attendance.

Charity Partner: Bike MS is the largest fundraising cycling series in the world. Each year, nearly 50,000 cyclists and more than 5,000 teams ride together to change the world for people with multiple sclerosis. To date, Bike MS cyclists, volunteers and donors have raised over $1 billion so people affected by MS can live their best lives as we stop MS in its tracks, restore what’s been lost and end MS forever.

While there is limited on-site seating on the plaza, there is plenty of room for blankets and chairs, so NEWCITY welcomes community friends, family, and neighbors to come out and enjoy an evening of live music! Eateries such as Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya, Earls Kitchen + Bar, Nando’s PERi PERi, Tecalitlan, KINGS and Sweetwaters Coffee & Teawill have food and select beverages available for takeout.

“Sounds of Summer has become an annual event that members of our community look forward to and we are thrilled to host a variety of bands while supporting organizations throughout the Chicagoland community,” explains Valerie Ayala-Otero, Event Coordinator for Bucksbaum Properties. “We are exceptionally grateful to Constellations Brands for partnering with us this year to offer wine and spirits from their extensive and impressive portfolio of brands.”

“Sounds of Summer” is free to attend, however registration (online or onsite) is required for all events. For more information, please visit www.ExperienceNEWCITY.com.