Summer Concerts, Music Fests To See In Illinois In 2021

ACROSS ILLINOIS — Few things stir up the spirit of summer like the sounds of live music being played in an outdoor venue. The lawn chairs, the drinks and the dancing conjure a certain feeling that Illinois concertgoers missed out on in 2020 due to coronavirus. This year, Illinois welcomes summer concerts back in a big way, with the return of Lollapalooza, Ravinia Festival and a host of local shows throughout the suburbs.

Here's a roundup of the concerts you can catch this summer throughout Illinois. Before you head to a festival or show, make sure to familiarize yourself with each venue's coronavirus safety precautions.

Festivals

Chicago

Lollapalooza

The Foo Fighters and Miley Cyrus are set to headline the four-day music festival, which returns to Grant Park July 29 through Aug. 1. Attendees must show proof that they are fully vaccinated for coronavirus or have received negative coronavirus test results 24 hours before each day of the festival.

Pitchfork Music Festival

Pitchfork Music Festival returns to Union Park Sept. 10 through Sept. 12, with Phoebe Bridgers, St. Vincent, Angel Olsen and Animal Collective among the featured acts. Attendees must show proof that they are fully vaccinated for coronavirus or have received negative coronavirus test results 24 hours before each day of the festival.

Riot Fest

Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins and Run the Jewels will take the stage at Douglass Park for Riot Fest 2021, which runs Sept. 17 through Sept. 19.

Highland Park

Ravinia Festival

Ravinia Festival runs July 1 through Sept. 24, featuring dozens of performers that include Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Beach Boys, Ani Difranco and Ziggy Marley.

Local Shows

Arlington Heights

Arlington Heights will once again host its Sounds of Summer shows North School Park, 410 N. Arlington Heights Rd. The series will feature shows from the Arlingtones and the Arlington Heights Community Band.

Bolingbrook

Bolingbrook's Wednesday Night Summer Concerts relaunched June 2 and run through Aug. 25, with shows from June's Got Cash, Hillbilly Rockstarz and R-Gang.

Buffalo Grove

Willow Stream Park will host Buffalo Grove's 2021 Summer Concert Series on Tuesdays starting June 22. Performers include Rosie and the Rivets, Voyage and Second Hand Soul.

Burr Ridge

Burr Ridge's popular Concerts on the Green resume Aug. 5 and will be held Thursdays at Burr Ridge Village Center. Featured acts include Chicago Experience, The Four C Notes and Libido Funk Circus.

Downers Grove

Downers Grove will host its Summer Concert Series on select Tuesday nights. Performers include Petty Cash, Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute and Rosie and the Rivets.

Evanston

The Out of Space concert series returns for a third year with shows at Canal Shores Golf Course and Temperance Beer Co. The Tuesday night Starlight Concert series takes place at various parks around town throughout the summer.

Hinsdale

Music fans can catch weekly shows and food vendors at Hinsdale's Uniquely Thursdays in Burlington Park, 30 E. Chicago Ave., Hinsdale.

La Grange

La Grange's Endless Summerfest runs Aug. 6 through 8 at Gordon Park in La Grange. The festivities include carnival rides, food from local eateries and fireworks.

Naperville

Naperville Park District will host Concerts in Your Park at parks throughout the city, starting June 13. The lineup features Johnny Russler and the Beach Bum Band, Spoken Four and Serendipity Band.

Oak Lawn

Oak Lawn's Sunday Concerts on the Green return in 2021 with shows from Five Guys Named Moe, The StingRays, Cadillac Groove and other bands.

Orland Park

Live acts at Orland Park's summer concerts include Classical Blast on June 20, The Four C Notes on July 18, Blue Öyster Cult on Aug. 14, and The Ultimate Queen Celebration, George Michael Reborn Tribute and Purple Veins - The Essential Prince Tribute Band on Sept. 3.

Romeoville

Romeoville will again present its Rockin' the Pandemic concert series, which kicks off June 3 at Deer Crossing Park. Featured performers include The Hair Band Night, Mike and Joe and Motown Nation.

Tinley Park

The lineup for Tinley Park's Music in the Plaza includes Whiskey Road, 95th Street Band and Austin Edwards Band.

Wheaton

Head to the new Memorial Park Bandshell to catch Wheaton's 2021 Summer Concert Series. The series spotlights Chicago Philharmonic, Jagged Little Pill, Landslide and other acts.

Have a local concert series we missed that you'd like us to spotlight? Email lisa.farver@patch.com.