With the X Games in town, many of the shows are hosted by them and tickets are available HERE
We will be running a more detailed preview on Wednesday
Thursday 7/19
Bora York at the Varsity – TICKETS
With songs written and produced by husband and wife Rebekah and Chris Bartels in Minneapolis, several early demos were intended to compile a folk album as Chris’ senior project for music college, but somewhere along the way, synths were experimented with, ambient textures were filled out, and the acoustic intentions were left behind for a full-on chillwave sound. Debut album Dreaming Free was born.
The first single after Dreaming Free was “Let Loose,” and took their sound to a new direction – tighter, funkier, and dancier, all while maintaining the ethereal dream-pop feel of the first album. It served as the birth of a second album, Secret Youth, which was released by Bartels’ Anthem Falls Music in 2015. After 3 years, husband-and-wife duo Bora York return with a new single in 2018. Due out July 13th, “Glowing” is a summer love anthem; an unapologetic pop experiment.
This will also be the farewell show for Luna, Luna!!
Friday 7/20
Raphael Saadiq at First Avenue – TICKETS
Photo Credit: Mel Cole
The Oscar-nominated and Grammy-winning musician is finishing his fifth solo album and taking the songs on the road with a seven-city run, including performances at Chicago’s Pitchfork Music Festival and DC’s Kennedy Center.
In the years since his last album, 2011’s Stone Rollin’, Saadiq has been keeping busy with a series of high-profile projects with Chromeo, Justin Timberlake, Rick Ross, Solange and more. This year, he also received his first Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for co-writing the song “Mighty River” from Mudbound with co-songwriters, Mary J. Blige and Taura Stinson.
Saadiq has also released critically acclaimed solo albums including his five-time Grammy-nominated debut album Instant Vintage and 2004’s Ray Ray. For the last two decades, Saadiq has also worked behind the scenes as a celebrated producer and songwriter for major artists including D’Angelo (Grammy-winner for “How Does It Feel”), John Legend, Miguel, The Roots, A Tribe Called Quest, Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, The Isley Brothers, TLC, Whitney Houston, the Bee Gees, Joss Stone, and more. He was also a founding member of the multi-platinum selling group Tony! Toni! Toné!
