Lincoln Yards' new music venue

Outset opens next month. [View this email in your browser]( [READER Logo]( Daily Reader | May 1, 2024 There’s a new midsize music venue opening in Chicago next month, and the first place I read a story about its imminent opening was . . . [Billboard](. George Clinton’s long-running Parliament Funkadelic will play the debut concert at Outset, a 750-capacity venue at 1675 N. Elston Ave. Outset sits right on the border of the Lincoln Yards megadevelopment that has changed very little since the [City Council approved Sterling Bay’s projected $6 billion development plan](. Lincoln Yards’s initial rollout included plans for [three to five venues operated by Live Nation]( while Second Ward alderperson Brian Hopkins pushed back against those initial plans, it’s still unclear what [Live Nation’s role in any potential Lincoln Yards venues may be]( . . . whenever such things would even open. Outset is run by local entertainment company Auris Presents, which has significantly expanded its footprint the past few years. Auris has an owning interest in Concord Music Hall, and runs Prysm Nightclub and Radius Chicago, the latter of which opened in [February 2020](. ([Auris also books the dance-centric ARC Music Festival in Union Park]( and has a hand in the [recently announced Taste of Randolph lineup]( In late 2019, Auris Presents owner Nick Karounos announced Radius [would sell tickets through AXS,]( a ticketing company run by AEG, the second-largest live entertainment company in the country. (Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, is the largest.) But, if you want tickets for any Outset shows, [your first option is Ticketmaster](. (AXS’s platform includes a handful of Outset shows, [with “official AXS resale” as a second option for concertgoers]( I’m a little wary of a gilded new midsize venue that sells tickets through Ticketmaster. [The Department of Justice is reportedly readying an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation]( for its role in the marketplace thanks to its big ticketing subsidiary. A new venue that relies on the infrastructure of a monolithic live entertainment company helps that multinational corporation get more of a foothold in this city, which is worth noting as many of us continue watching what’s next within the boundaries of Lincoln Yards. ◈ [“Tone Glow 143: Lync,”]( by Joshua Minsoo Kim (Tone Glow) ◈ [“Everyone Knows That: internet music mystery solved via 1986 adult movie,”]( by Ben Beaumont-Thomas (The Guardian) ◈ Bongripper, [Empty]( ◈ Machine Girl, [Super FREQ EP]( ◈ Ekko Astral, [pink balloons]( ◈ Bladee, [Cold Visions]( [Screamo blowout ZBR Fest Midwest packs Subterranean with 28 bands]( Plus: Garage-pop group Pleasant Mob play the Empty Bottle in support of their debut album, and WZRD celebrates 50 years on the air with a free Martyrs’ show. by [Leor Galil]( | [Read more]( → [Chicago pianist Erwin Helfer is celebrated by musical friends and peers]( Sat 5/4 at the Old Town School of Folk Music by [Aaron Cohen]( | [Read more]( → [a group of people playing guitar on a stage in front of a crowd]( [Satan-worshipping doomsters Bongripper celebrate the nihilistic new Empty]( Fri 5/3 at Metro by [Monica Kendrick]( | [Read more]( → [a group of people standing in a field]( [Experimental-minded locals Meth. find catharsis in bruising noise]( Fri 5/3 at Schubas by [Brad Cohan]( | [Read more]( → You’re invited: Fashion Forward at Gman Tavern! On Thursday, May 2, come mingle with the Reader community and listen to an insider's conversation on fashion and journalism at the Reader’s Fashion Forward Night! Yes, we’re taking pictures – consider it an excuse to dress up (not that you need one). Space is limited, so get tickets while you can. This event is free for Reader members. [If you’ve been thinking about investing in a membership, now is the time.]( You can become a member for as little as $5 a month, and it means you’ll directly support the arts, culture, and political reporting we do at the Reader and get exclusive discounts to events like this one. [GET TICKETS NOW! SPACE IS LIMITED]( Get the latest issue of the Chicago Reader Thursday, April 4, 2024 [READ ONLINE: VOL. 53, NO. 13]( [VIEW/DOWNLOAD ISSUE (PDF)]( [Become a member of the Chicago Reader.]( [Facebook icon]( [Instagram icon]( [Twitter icon]( [LinkedIn icon]( [YouTube icon]( [Website icon]( [Logo] You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from the Chicago Reader. Want fewer emails from us? [Click here to choose what you want us to send you](. Or, [unsubscribe from all Reader emails](. We’ll miss you! [Sign up for emails from the Chicago Reader]( | [Forward this e-mail to a friend]( © 2024 Chicago Reader. All rights reserved. Chicago Reader, 2930 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 102, Chicago, IL 60616