A few hundred onlookers watched raptly as the sounds of a violin and cello from The Confluence Quartet filled a one-block stretch of the Uptown neighborhood Saturday. 

From a small stage Saturday afternoon, Davis Butner, a violinist and violist, explained they were inspired by the city of Chicago, naming the group after the Chicago River confluence. He said the group, which met through the Lakeview Orchestra, brings together its varied professional backgrounds — from development to architecture — to make music. 

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Violinist Grace Liu performs as part of the Confluence Quartet at the 10th annual Thirsty Ears Festival on Wilson Avenue in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood on Aug. 23, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

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They also brought two others onstage — a cellist and violist — for Johannes Brahms’ String Sextet, No. 2, in G major, which Butner described as the “most epic sextet ever written.” 

This live performance is one of more than a dozen throughout this weekend’s Thirsty Ears Festival. Billed as Chicago’s only classical music street festival, it also includes shopping, food and a mini film festival Saturday. It’s put on by Access Contemporary Music, a nonprofit that promotes classical music. 

“What I’ve always wanted to do is just focus on the music and forget all the nonsense around it. Forget all the mythology. Forget all the stereotypes of dead, white European men. Forget that it’s expensive or elitist,” said Seth Boustead, ACM’s executive director. “Just forget all of that, and just listen to the music.” 

“Every year, people come up to me and just say, ‘Oh, my God, what a discovery.’ I just really love this music,” Boustead added.

This year marked the festival’s 10th anniversary, Boustead said, adding that they even put on the festival during the COVID-19 pandemic in a parking lot. He said he’s not interested in growing the festival — one block is the sweet spot — but that he’s always looking for ways to improve sound quality. His favorite part of the festival is watching the musicians perform during the films.

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“It is so magical,” he said. “You have several hundred people on the street watching these (silent) films, and people need to pay attention and they do. It’s such a nice place to come out, hear some music and just relax on a beautiful stretch of street.” 

People filtered into the street Saturday afternoon, sitting on blankets and patio chairs to listen to the performances. As a duo called the Bach and Beethoven Experience took the stage, Monica Haxel sipped a drink with a friend. 

While Haxel said she’s always had an affinity for classical guitar, she started taking piano lessons as an adult at ACM. She said she’s attended the festival for years and especially appreciates the “calming” and “peaceful” atmosphere. 

“You can look up into the sky, and with the trees as a backdrop, I love it,” she said. 

While Deanna Iocco and Schuyler Longmore said they don’t consider themselves huge classical music fans — besides the occasional background “gentle classical” playlist on Spotify or Mozart on YouTube — they thought Thirsty Ears looked like a perfect pastime to enjoy the nice weather with their 5-month-old daughter. Longmore, 34, said the cello and piano music was particularly nice to listen to. 

“This has been lovely. It’s been very relaxing,” said Iocco, 39, of the West Rogers Park neighborhood. “We’re glad that these things are happening around Chicago and hope more people experience them.” 

Originally Published: August 23, 2025 at 6:30 PM CDT