My beloved Chicago — home of the free and the brave (and totally uncorrupted politicians, mind you) — may not be home to free music much longer. Chicago has long been known for its no-cost music events: Millenium Park shows, Blues Fest, Jazz Fest, World Music Festival, Viva! Chicago Latin Music Fest, Celtic Music Fest (arguably, if you have any kind of ethnic background whatsoever, Chicago’s got a music fest to fit it). But a shrinking city budget threatens to end some of these long-held events for good, unless corporate sponsors step up or the city’s cultural planners can grow a money tree.
The city plans to move many festivals out of their current, larger locations to Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, which would lower costs (toilet rentals, street closings, security) and provide a more acoustically pleasing environment. Pritzker Pavilion, of course, is a much smaller venue and not necessarily the proper atmosphere for some of these events. As of now, Jazz Fest, the longest-running city-sponsored fest, will remain in Grant Park this year, but will be cut from three days to two, which will also cut any food and beverage revenue that came from the third day. But many of the smaller festivals could run the risk of ending entirely.
Here are a couple things that you can do to help maintain Chicago’s free music events:
1. Let the city cut security, and you and your friends can patrol the events armed with mace and nunchucks.
2. Forgo the need for Port-a-Potty rentals by agreeing to hold it, or pee in a jar, sewer, or the McDonald’s at the end of the block.
Pitchfork Music Festival »
The reason these events have always been free is that the music isn't good enough for anyone to be willing to pay.