Today, new festival The Big Weekend has announced the lineup for their 2018 event, set to take place in Chicago, Illinois, from October 4th to October 6th. The new event, presented by Silver Wrapper, Live Nation, and JAM Productions, will feature three nights of music across five Chicago venues.
Following the model of a city takeover, the inaugural festival will feature performances from Umphrey’s McGee, Lettuce, Emancipator Ensemble, Leftover Salmon, Papadosio, The Motet, Spafford, The Revolution, The Russ Liquid Test, SunSquabi, and more. Early and late performances allow for multiple-venue visits, and evening and afternoon surprises with artists are also in the works. Watch The Big Weekend announcement video below:
[Video: The Big Weekend]
Tickets are on sale this Friday, June 8th, at 10 am (CT). CID Entertainment is offering a Big Weekend VIP Experience that bundles a ticket to a Friday and Saturday night’s concerts with premium access at each show. For fans seeking a weekend getaway, travel packages including hotel reservations at Cambria Chicago. Big Weekend Experience & Travel Package details are available here.
Chicago has a long history with the jam scene, from hosting the final Grateful Dead show in ’95 to the monumental Fare Thee Well performances in 2015, on the Grateful Dead’s 50th anniversary. It’s only fitting that hometown favorites Umphrey’s McGee are anchoring the first of what will be an annual event.
As Michael Berg of Silver Wrapper Presents notes,
When the idea of bringing The Big Weekend concept to Chicago came to us, we loved it. Previously, we had used a similar concert series model on events such as the Chicago Bluegrass and Blues series, so we knew it could work. The music of the extended jam scene is at the heart of the Silver Wrapper concert community, so we’re especially excited to see this one come to life and start a new fall music tradition in Chicago.
For more information, head to The Big Weekend’s website.
