Saturday July 25, 2009 (noon–10pm)
Sunday July 26, 2009 (noon–10pm)
Whether Wicker Park is an edgy hipster haven or the "new Lincoln Park" is oft-disputed, but their summer festival touts the more eclectic music acts on this side of Pitchfork. Highlights include Grand Duchy (Frank Black/The Pixies), the Night Marchers (RFTC, Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes), Retribution Gospel Choir (Low), the folksy Elvis Perkins in Dearland, the New Deal's livetronica, the 80s-pop of Junior Boys, NOLA brass band Big Sam's Funky Nation, and William Elliott Whitmore's blues/folk. The festival weighs heavy on local acts, including Poison Arrows (Atombombpocketknife, Don Cabellero), Bloodiest (90 Day Men, Yakuza), Bloomington transplants Margot & the Nuclear So and So's, Life During Wartime's Bald Eagle, progressive house aces Future Rock, and the CSNY-inspired Van Ghost.
– Vincent Chung