Wicker Park Fest : Milwaukee Ave between Wood St and North Ave; Sat 25, Sun 26

Grand Duchy

While many neighborhood street fests suffered cutbacks this year, Wicker Park’s annual blowout has ambitiously expanded to three stages. With the Pontiac Cafe lying vacant and graffiti covering the Violet Hour across the street, it’s just as well that this fete’s moved around the corner from its former, increasingly rundown Damen Avenue digs.

As in previous years, the House Call–curated North Stage remains a reliable showcase for rising indie acts. That said, day one’s headliners aren’t exactly new on the scene. Following the recent buzz surrounding another Pixies reunion tour and a several-hundred-dollar boxed set is Black Francis, making his local debut with Grand Duchy, his quirky combo with wife, Violet Clark, supporting their new Petits Fours. Also on board are the Night Marchers, promoting last year’s merciless See You in Magic, featuring John Reis front and center for the first time since Rocket from the Crypt. Earlier in the day, Low’s Alan Sparhawk leads his Retribution Gospel Choir through drudging fuzz.

Sunday is comparatively staid, with a headlining set from Elvis Perkins in Dearland: literate pop from the son of Anthony Perkins. Rounding out the lineup is oversize Indy outfit Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s and twangy troubadour William Elliott Whitmore. The South Stage sports some star power of its own with chilly Canadian electro-pop duo Junior Boys, while revamped power-punks Smoking Popes throw down on the new Center Stage. Altogether, it’s one of Chicago’s best summer bets—at an unbeatable bargain-basement gate price of a suggested $5 donation.

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