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Guide To: West Fest

West Fest Stage 2010
(credit: WestFestChicago.com)

West Fest Music Festival
Chicago Ave between N Damen & N Wood
Kids Fest on Wolcott & Rice
Pet Fest Wolcott & Chicago
Chicago, IL 60622
July 9th & 10th
12:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
$5.00 Suggested Donation
www.westfestchicago.com

Despite the glut of summer festivals and street fairs, West Fest manages to stands apart from the pack thanks to its staggeringly good musical lineup and the range of activities that appeal to everyone from parents to pet lovers. Staged each year by the West Town Chamber of Commerce, West Fest transforms the stretch of Chicago Avenue between Damen and Wood in the city's West Town/Ukrainian Village neighborhoods into local food and indie music-filled community party.

The $5 suggested donation for each day puts you front and center to the ultra-cool music lineup, which kicks off each day at 1 p.m. Curators from the neighborhood's perennially hip venue, The Empty Bottle, have assembled a range of artists from old-school soul to of-the-minute electronica DJs. Featured at this year's fest is soul legend Syl Johnson, backed by the JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound, psychedelia-influenced garage rocker King Khan, as well as Chicago favorites Local H, Hollows and DJ sets by Vocalo music curator Jesse de la Pena and dance-punk darling Juan Maclean (see full lineup below).

Man walks dog, or dog walks man?
(credit: WestFestChicago.com)

Though music is the primary draw, two mini fests within a fest—one for kids and one for furrier members of the family—round out the events. Parents and children can putt a few rounds at the Kid Fest's mini-golf, or go to the pony rides and bounce house for more energetic fun. For those with dogs in tow, Pet Fest is dedicated to all things of the canine variety: vendors selling specialty pet items and treats, pet-friendly activities to give your dog a break from dodging a sea of humans and a "dog wash" fundraiser to benefit a Chicago no-kill shelter.

Like any good Chicago street fest, West Fest has teamed up with several local food and retail vendors to satisfy any urges to snack or shop during the day. Though there are fests all summer long, West Fest should be at the top of any "can't miss" list. A trip to the Damen or Division Blue Line will put you in the center of the action set in one of Chicago's best neighborhoods.

West Fest Music Lineup

Local H
(credit: localh.com)

Saturday, July 9th
8:30pm Local H
7:00pm Hollows
5:30pm Bare Mutants
4:00pm Liturgy
2:30pm No Joy
1:00pm The Socialists

Sunday, July 10th
8:30pm King Khan featuring Gris Gris Sound
7:00pm Syl Johnson featuring The Uptown
5:30pm Those Darlins
4:00pm A Lull
2:30pm Team Band
1:00pm Purple Apple

BP DJ Stage
Chicago Avenue at Wood Street
with the VOID sound system

Derrick Carter
(credit: derrickcarter.net)

Saturday, July 9th
Juan Maclean Dj Set 8:30-10
Drop The Lime 7-8:30
Dark Wave Disco 6-7:00
Zebo 5-6:00
Pickel & Dj Intel 4-5:00
Justin Reed 3-4:00

Sunday, July 10th
Derrick Carter 8:30-10
Diz 7:30-8:30
Jesse de la Pena 6:30-7:30
John Simmons 5:30-6:30
Shaka 23 4:30-5:30
Striz 3:30-4:30

Kim Bellware is a writer, producer and print maker living in Ukrainian Village. Her non-writerly pursuits involve soccer, perfecting Spanish tapas recipes and spending more time seemingly fixing her bike than she does actually riding it. 
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