Akenya will appear at MCA’s Tuesdays on the Terrace. (Photo | MCA)
Chicago may be deep into summer, but there are still a few more Tuesdays to soak up live music, art and lakefront energy at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
The MCA’s annual Tuesdays on the Terrace continues through Aug. 25, bringing free concerts to the museum’s Anne and John Kern Terrace Garden. The series celebrates Chicago’s internationally renowned music community with a lineup that stretches well beyond traditional jazz, incorporating soul, R&B, blues, house, experimental sounds and global musical traditions.
The remaining August lineup includes AKENYA on Aug. 11, Human Bloom on Aug. 18, and Chicago blues legend Billy Branch on Aug. 25. Concerts run from 5:30 to 8 p.m., with a set break.
For Aug. 18, Human Bloom makes its terrace debut. Led by guitarist Jackson Shepard and vocalist Imani Rousselle, the group blends psychedelic soul, improvisation, heavy grooves, experimental music, art rap and neo-soul.
The season wraps Aug. 25 with Billy Branch, the Emmy-winning, Grammy-nominated harmonica master who has spent nearly five decades performing and educating audiences around the world. Branch is widely recognized as an ambassador of Chicago blues.
The best part? Admission to Tuesdays on the Terrace is FREE, although capacity is limited. Advance tickets are released Wednesdays at noon for the following week and provide access to the priority line. MCA members receive priority access without booking a ticket. If advance tickets are gone, free standby tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Guests can bring their own picnic and relax on the lawn or purchase snacks and drinks while enjoying the music. And because Tuesdays are also late nights at the MCA, Illinois residents can take advantage of free museum admission from 5 to 9 p.m., making it easy to turn a concert into a full evening of art and culture.
The series takes place at 220 E. Chicago Ave. in the MCA’s Anne and John Kern Terrace and Sculpture Garden. In the event of rain, excessive heat or other inclement weather, performances move indoors to the Edlis Neeson Theater and MCA Commons, with a decision announced by 2 p.m. on the day of the event.
For Chicagoans looking for a low-key way to enjoy the final weeks of summer, Tuesdays on the Terrace offers a pretty unbeatable combination: free music, contemporary art and a beautiful outdoor setting, all on a Tuesday night.
For more information and the complete schedule: MCA Chicago’s Tuesdays on the Terrace
MCA Chicago: Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago