Special Delivery: New Music For Your Summer Playlists

Plus, hotter-than-July festivals and resources to keep our community strong.

To view this email as a web page, click here. Stream our top 25 spins of 2022 (so far), with artists like Saba & Leon Bridges... [Editor’s note: This year has been as tough as any in our memory and the last two weeks in particular felt especially bleak. In addition to the bloodshed in Highland Park, 76 people were shot in Chicago, and our sister station, WBEZ has rounded up resources for adults and children dealing with trauma, which you can find here.   Despite the darkness around us, now more than ever, we at Vocalo are committed to keeping our community connected and strong through culture. –A.C.] Is your July calendar starting to fill up as quickly as ours? It seems like there’s something new (or two, or three) going on every weekend this month. Here are a few things we’re most excited about over the next two weeks as Chicago dives deeper into the summer. First and foremost — Taste of Chicago returns for a “bite-sized” celebration in Grant Park this weekend! Friday through Sunday patrons can enjoy food and drinks from vendors like Auntie Vee’s Kitchen, La Cocinita Food Truck, Yum Dum, Whadda Jerk, Buona Beef, Don Paleta and so many more. DJ sets and live performances will also be featured throughout the weekend, with sets from artists like AMI, Pinqy Ring and Nelly, DJs like Sandra Treviño, Trqpiteca, members of the Vocalo DJ collective Lady D and Sadie Woods and Vocalo’s own Ayana Contreras. There are a couple of major festivals and fairs next weekend — arguably the biggest being Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park! It feels like we just had Pitchfork ‘21 (probably because it was pushed to September last year), but we’re ready for ‘22. From Friday, July 15 through Sunday, July 17, catch performances from artists you might have heard spinning on our airwaves like Noname, Amber Mark, Tierra Whack, Toro y Moi, cupcakKe, KAINA and others. Tickets, more information and a full lineup are available online. ​​​​​​If you’ve paid attention to Chicago’s summer festivals, you’ve probably noticed Pilsen is one of the city’s busiest street fair neighborhoods in the summertime. Not heading to Pitchfork the weekend of July 15? Make your way to 16th Street and Peoria Avenue and check out Tacos y Tamales Festival! From July 15 to 17, you can try some of the city’s best authentic tacos and tamales, plus micheladas, tortas, churros and elotes, with plant-based options. The festival will also feature Latin music and dance, art and other vendors. Admission is free with a suggested donation to benefit Pilsen community organizations. Find more information on the official Tacos y Tamales Festival  website. ​​​​​​The 17th annual Silver Room Block Party also returns July 16 through 17, now a ticketed event at Oakwood Beach off 39th Street! The block party began as a street fair but has grown so large over the years organizers decided to switch up this year’s venue. With six stages featuring dance and exercise classes, DJ sets (featuring DJ Ron Trent, Vocalo’s very own Jesse De La Peña, and members of the Vocalo DJ collective, among others), live music (big names include HXLT, Joey Purp, Mother Nature, Loona Dae, TheMIND, AMI and Isaiah Collier), kids entertainment and more, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at this family-friendly event. Tickets are available online now, with an official Block Party app coming soon. The summer is heating up, and so is our on-air rotation. Check out the songs we’ll be spinning all July below — with artists like Caleb Taylor, Brittney Carter, Teo the Artist and others. Tune in at 91.1 FM or stream on our Spotify In Rotation: July 2022 LISTEN HERE   1. The Vow (Demo Master) - Sxvxnt, produced by Dibbz Dreek 2. Victory - Pinqy Ring 3. Chemistry - Albany Park 4. Lotus (feat. A.C. the Ruler, Tan2) - Malo BRIGADE 5. Relaxation Electric - Akanimo 6. DayDreaming - Caleb Taylor 7. Deep - Teo the Artist 8. Loverboy (feat. Mayes) - Myron Laban 9. Destinations (feat. GQ) - Tone Spliff & Vic Monroe 10. Octave Waves - Dray’soul 11. Home (feat. Brittney Carter, Prive City) - Hoofy Baby 12. john’s beauty supply - Kid Breeze 13. MY LIL DANCE - Parris LeShun Killer Mike Wants You To Fight For The Rights Of Regular People Bekoe virtually sat down with rapper and activist Killer Mike of Run The Jewels in advance of his new single “Run.” The two discussed Run The Jewels’s upcoming tour with Rage Against the Machine, the use of lyrics in court against Young Thug and Gunna and the new single, which was produced by Chicago’s own No I.D. and features Young Thug and an intro from comedian Dave Chappelle. Their conversation aired on Monday, but you can still stream it on Spotify and YouTube below… READ MORE Beatrice Scescke Created A Nature Healing Haven In Chicago Beatrice Scescke is the founder of Chicago Rewilding Society, a nature sanctuary and “neighborhood dreamscape” in Garfield Park. The sanctuary is home to a family of rescued goats, chickens, a horse and a mini horse, offering animal-assisted therapy to spark a feeling of reconnection with nature. For this episode of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like,” Beatrice discusses her work at the Rewilding Society and the important healing properties of staying connected to nature in an urban setting. READ MORE Do Good Number One 826CHI is a nonprofit organization promoting creative expression in teachers and students ages 6 to 18 through building expository writing skills. They’re always looking for volunteers to help with writing workshops, tutoring, events, translation and more! Interested volunteers are required to apply, complete a background check and attend an orientation session to get involved. Find out more about volunteer duties and how to apply on their website. GET INVOLVED Number Two Help prepare for kids to return to school in the fall with Back 2 School Illinois! On July 29 they’re hosting an in-house “Build-A-Kit” event at their office in the North Center neighborhood, where volunteers can help assemble “Back 2 School” kits and holiday kits for kids in need. More information on how to help out here. GET INVOLVED Number Three Help clean up and maintain the South Shore Nature Sanctuary at their July stewardship volunteer day! On July 16, volunteers will meet at the entrance to the Nature Sanctuary at 10 a.m. and are advised to bring water bottles and weather-appropriate clothing. Tools and gloves will be provided, and the volunteer session lasts until noon. The Nature Sanctuary’s 20th Anniversary celebration will follow, with live music, a scavenger hunt and treats from 1-4 p.m. More information on the volunteer days and other events online! GET INVOLVED Have a volunteer opportunity you want to amplify? A community service project that deserves some love?  Send them our way; we’ll share some in the next edition of The Goods!    Tag Vocalo on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #VocaloIRL to let me know!  Take a moment to look at your community and find ways to support your neighbors, family, friends and your own mental health. NAMI Chicago is a good resource to find support for yourself and for others, among many additional organizations. I hope everyone can find some time this weekend to partake in self-care, however that looks for you. Talk to you next time, Morgan Ciocca Vocalo Digital Media Producer & Editor, The Goods     ©Chicago Public Media Inc 848 East Grand Ave, Navy Pier Chicago, IL 60611 Please do not reply to this email. If you need assistance, contact us here. You are receiving this email because you are a Vocalo member or signed up to receive email communications from us. You can unsubscribe from Vocalo here. WBEZ Privacy Policy