The multidisciplinary fest features close to 20 musicians and DJs from Chicago\u2019s eclectic jazz and experimental music scene who will perform at businesses near the intersection. The lineup includes Angel Bat Dawid, Vincent Davis, Las BomPleneras, DJ drum duo Ernie Adams and Shon Dervis and more.<\/p>\n
Mayda Del Valle, Chicago\u2019s poet laureate, is also scheduled to perform Thursday.<\/p>\n
The fest will have a gallery inside Space Time Sounds recording studio, 3419 W. Fullerton Ave., with work by six visual artists, including Browne.<\/p>\n
Browne sees the fest as a way to bring foot traffic to area businesses and showcase local talent and how \u201ca community can come together to make something special,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/artifact-reels-section-horizontal-1024x576.jpeg\")
Artifact Records at 3423 W. Fullerton Ave. in Logan Square has a section of reel-to-reel and audiophile records, seen Feb. 5, 2025. Credit: Ariel Parrella-Aureli\/Block Club Chicago<\/p>\n
In addition to Space Time Sounds, Fr\u0113 Fest shows will also be held at Artifact Records, 3423 W. Fullerton Ave.; Yodega Yoga Studio, 3409 W. Fullerton Ave.; the Double Urban Tavern, 3545 W. Fullerton Ave.; the front room of Burlington Bar, 3425 W. Fullerton Ave.; and the Latin American Motorcycle Association, 3519 W. Fullerton Ave.<\/p>\n
Concerts will kick off and end the festival Thursday and Sunday, with programs that highlight different jazz music styles and artists sandwiched in between, the organizer said. Latin, spiritual, experimental and percussion-heavy groups are all part of the lineup, Browne said.<\/p>\n
Fr\u0113 Fest \u2014 written in the International phonetic alphabet to emphasize the celebration and tradition of sound \u2014 was born out of jam sessions organized by Browne and musician and fest collaborator Tommy Carroll, which have taken place at Northwest Side bars since March.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe artists are\u00a0a great mix of this new group of ours, which tends to be skilled jazz people doing things out of the box,\u201d said Carroll, the tech director for the fest. \u201cThe Fr\u0113 Fest is bringing jazz education to people or [artists] doing cutting-edge stuff alongside Chicago legends.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Fr\u0113 Jams have popped up at Clara Chicago, The Owl and Lemon and are now regularly at the Double<\/a>. Seeing their success and popularity grow, Browne decided to make it into a four-day festival.<\/p>\n The fest is a \u201cculmination of all my relationships over the course of my life,\u201d Browne said. \u201cBuying a ticket is being part of [this] cohort having this experience. There will be time to jump around and get a little bit of everything.\u201d<\/p>\n Browne was born and raised in Logan Square and Humboldt Park and still lives on the Northwest Side. Her father, Warren Browne, was a world-class photographer<\/a> and jazz musician who died June 1<\/a>. He inspired art and music within her and raised her with events similar to the festival, so Fr\u0113 Fest is also an ode to him, his daughter said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was supposed to be a celebration of that, [but] his artwork will be in the space, too,\u201d Browne said.<\/p>\n Fest tickets are $40-$80 depending on the day, with proceeds going to pay the artists and crew organizing the event. Full lineup and ticket information can be found online<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_5237-1024x599.jpeg\")
Chandler Browne plays drums during a Fr\u0113 Jam event. The nomadic-style jam sessions inspired the The Fr\u0113 Fest. Credit: Provided<\/p>\n