—Ravinia ( now through Aug.; www.ravinia.org ) : Ravinia once again will host a plethora of artists throughout the summer, including Matisyahu, Feist, Roberta Flack, James Taylor, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyle Lovett, Donna Summer and Aimee Mann.
—Chicago Blues Festival ( June 5-8; www.chicagobluesfestival.org ) : Headliners at the 25th annual Grant Park event include B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Buckwheat Zydeco and James Winter.
—Milwaukee PrideFest ( June 6-8; www.pridefest.com ) : It doesn't get much more gay than this, folks—and the musical acts include Rachael Sage ( Rachael-Sage1 ) , Natasha Bedingfield, Kevin Aviance, Dylan Rice and Indigo Girls.
—Ribfest Chicago ( June 7-8; www.northcenterchamber.com/site/epage/1050_62.htm ) : The Silos and Nada Surf bring the tunes while attendees munch, munch and munch some more—attendees will eat about 65,000 pounds of ribs. Seriously.
—Grant Park Music Festival ( June 11-Aug. 16; www.millenniumpark.org ) : The Grant Park Symphony Orchestra and various solo guests will entertain at Millennium Park.
—SummerDance ( June 12-Aug. 24; www.ChicagoSummerDance.org ) : The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs event allows people to dance to a variety of music genres, including Latin, funk and country.
—Andersonville Midsommarfest ( June 14-15; www.starevents.com/midsommarfest ) : There'll be bands—including Scandanavian singers—at this Nordic North Side event that is expecting about 50,000 people.
—Wells Street Art Festival ( June 14-15; www.chicagoevents.com/event.cfm ) : Yes, there will be hundreds of artists' wares on sale—but the music should prove to be intriguing as well, highlighted by '80s band A Flock of Seagulls.
—Scottish Festival and Highland Games ( June 20-21; www.chicago-scots.org ) : This festival, held at the Oak Brook Polo Grounds, will celebrate all things Scottish. They'll be plenty of Celtic music/dancers—and guys in kilts.
—Chicago Salsa Festival ( June 26-29; www.laboriqua.com/salsafest/ChgoSalsaFestival.htm ) : That's 'salsa' as in dance, not the sauce. Move your hips in a workshop, or watch performances as the pros show how it's done.
—Jammin' at the Zoo ( June 27-Aug. 22; www.lpzoo.com ) : Three concerts—on June 27, July 25 and Aug. 22—at the Lincoln Park Zoo will feature Blondie; Blind Melon and Fastball; and Soul Asylum, respectively. Yes, Blondie.
—Taste of Chicago ( June 27-July 6; www.tasteofchicago.us ) : Chaka Khan, Fantasia, Joss Stone, Bonnie Raitt, Estelle and Stevie Wonder are among the headliners at this huge annual Grant Park get-together—and over 3 million people are expected this year. It's going to be quite soulful.
—BAM! Belmont Arts and Music Fest ( June 28-29 ) : The second annual Roscoe Village event, at 2000 W. Belmont, will showcase over 40 artisans as well as live bands on two stages and food vendors.
—Girl Blast ( June 29; chicago.metromix.com/events/fair_festival/girl-blast-lakeview/226389/content ) : Held in the Ann Sather restaurant parking lot, 929 W. Belmont, this party features women as far as the eye can see.
—Naperville Ribfest ( July 3-6; www.ribfest.net ) : Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Ted Nugent and REO Speedwagon headline this year rib-filled outing. Enough said.
—Lake View Music Fest ( July 5-6; www.chicagoevents.com/event.cfm ) : You can count on seeing Liquid Soul at the Wrigleyville festival.
—Chicago Folk & Roots Festival ( July 12-13; www.oldtownschool.org ) : The 11th annual Old Town School of Music event will feature eclectic acts such as Unibrow and The Iguanas. In addition, there will be many other activities, ranging from a fiddling contest to an Aztec ceremonial dance.
—Celebrate Clark Street ( July 13; 773-508-5885 ) : Organized by Hothouse's David Chavez, the Rogers Park festival will spotlight several world-music acts.
—Great Performers of Illinois ( July 18-20; www.millenniumpark.org ) : Acts specializing in everything from folk music to blues to square dancing ( ! ) are among those scheduled at this Millennium Park event.
—Pitchfork Music Festival ( July 18-20; www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com ) : Over 40 of independent music's best bands and artists will perform on three stages. Vampire Weekend, Spoon and Jarvis Cocker will be among the performers—but the highlight will probably be seminal rap group Public Enemy, who's scheduled to perform July 18. The event is at Union Park, at Ashland and Lake.
—DuPage County Fair ( July 23-27; www.dupagecountyfair.org ) : Steven Curtis Chapman is scheduled to appear, along with High School Musical's Corbin Bleu. ( Cue screaming teens. ) Meanwhile, everything else from a demolition derby to a Pink Floyd laser show will be happening.
—Fiesta del Sol ( July 31-Aug. 3; www.fiestadelsol.org ) : Fiesta del Sol is an annual fundraising event organized by the Pilsen Neighbors Communty Council. This year will feature everything from food to jewelry to break-dancing and other musical performances.
—Lollapalooza ( Aug. 1-3; www.lollapalooza.com ) : Concertgoers will brave an undoubtedly hot day and deal with rubbing against thousands of others to hear the likes of Kanye West, Wilco, Rage Against the Machine and Nine Inch Nails.
—JazzFest Heritage ( Aug. 2-3; www.hydepark.org/parks or www.jazzunitesinc.org ) : This free concert at the South Shore Cultural Center is a chance to hear some of the best performers in jazz music.
—Illinois State Fair ( Aug. 8-17; www.agr.state.il.us/isf/ ) : There are tractor pulls, [ insert food item ] -on-a-stick and—oh, yeah!—singers Martina McBride, Fergie, Joan Jett, Huey Lewis, ZZ Top and Natasha Bedingfield at the Springfield event.
—Northalsted Market Days ( Aug. 9-10; www.chicagoevents.com ) : The queer party that's actually the largest two-day festival in the Midwest will feature The Kimi Hayes Band, Dylan Rice, the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus and many other acts on four stages. In addition, there'll be about 400 food and arts vendors.
—Chicago Reggae Festival ( Aug. 23; www.chicagoreggaefestival.com ) : The Union Park event—which we have a feeling will be pretty mellow—will spotlight the legendary Bunny Wailer in his first-ever Chicago performance.
—¡Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival ( Aug. 23-24 ) : According to a press release, this free Grant Park event is 'a two-day festival featuring explosive Latin music and lively cultural traditions and celebrations.' Explosive? Latin? We're so there.
—30th Annual Chicago Jazz Fest ( Aug. 28-31; www.millenniumpark.org ) : Talk about some great music: Two-time Grammy Award winner and 2004 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Sonny Rollins will start the proceedings.
