Festival Watch is a Tomorrow's Verse feature where we break down festival news into the facts you need to know.Shoe Fest - September 1-3 - Camp Shaw Waw Nas See, Manteno, ILHeadliners To Watch: Leftover Salmon!  Drew and Vince have both been at previous Shoe Fests, but the whole band...

Photos: Ashley Hamm Photography | Video: Don OlkerLots of music festival attendees claim that their experiences are "just like going away to summer camp".  Hell, there's even a long-running Illinois festival called Summer Camp, so yeah... there's some trying to capture that barefoot, worry-free magic of childhood summers.But Shoe Fest may actually have...

Joes Garage: Joe Marcineks Christmas Jam At The Wire - BerwynBy @312mrgLive music has a way of rewarding you with enchanted evenings if you're willing to make a little effort or taking a risk.Whether its following a lead, listening to a buddy, or maybe just allowing your interest to be re-kindled with an artist...

We've reached the end of another festival season here in the Midwest and with each passing year it seems like the variety, breadth and ambition of both major and micro gatherings serve to push festival culture just a little further. Music lovers know that the festival is a great place to experience new music, but...

Herbert Wiser Band lined up a few gigs in the region is support their latest EP release. For the Chicago gig on Saturday, January 26th at Cubby Bear, three HWB member teamed up with Old Shoe / MathGames drummer Greg Fundis and general man-about-town Jaik Willis for a set of Zeppelin tunes as Robert's Plant.Here's...

Chicago based Old Shoe has always been a folk-leaning rock band, but it wasn't until earlier this month that they decided to unplug completely for a set. They did just that at the scene of their former local residency, Ace Bar. The complete setlist and some fine videos are included below.Acoustic is just...

Watch this ensemble take on "Living For The City", "I Wish", "Tell Me Something Good", and "Signed Sealed Delivered, I'm Yours" at their blowout set Saturday night at the Abbey Pub. Some nice work all around. That's The Right Now's Stefanie Berecz and Jaik Willis nailing the vocals and the Genome horns for extra funk....

UPDATE (5/22/12): The location of Whippersnap Music and Arts Festival 2012 has changed to Lyran Park, 4781 S. Bend Rd. in Rockford, ILThe Whippersnap Festival is back this year with some quality headliners, an action-packed undercard and a few more surprises in store.This year's festival will be held July 19th, 20th & 21st at Lyran Park in...

If you thought Matt Butler and the Everyone Orchestra had cornered the market on large-band improvisational experiments, clear a spot on the calendar for Thursday, February 9th at the Abbey Pub.That marks the debut of Full Court Press, an improvisational experiment, drawing from an all star lineup of jam-friendly musicians sourced from right here...

Here's a taste of what to expect at the "First Thursday" residency from Jim Boukas and Eric Lambert.These shows run from 6-8 on the first thursday of every month and the cover is only $5 (you can also grab a coupon to catch a set of Phish tunes for free at Lilly's later that night)....