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CHICAGO—Navy Pier’s annual Chi-Soul Fest returns with a vibrant line-up of free live music Saturday, June 11, and Sunday, June 12. The two-day music festival celebrates Chicago soul music and traditions at two lakeside, outdoor settings, the Navy Pier Beer Garden and the Polk Bros Park performance lawns.
On Saturday, DJ Lee Quentin will kick things off at noon with the Chi-Soul Fest Lawn Party, spinning top Motown classics, perfect for steppin’ at the City Stage in Polk Bros Park. Then DJ Leon Rogers takes over at 2-4 p.m. with dance music, featuring hot hip-hop hits from the 1990s. Grammy Award-winning DJ Maurice Johnson brings down the house starting at 4 p.m. with his brand of Chicago house music. Comedian Damon Williams will be delivering laughs between the sets as master of ceremonies.
Singer-songwriter Danielle Juhre, who achieves thrilling vocal runs with her 3-octave range, takes the Lake Stage at 6:30 p.m. followed by Madison McFerrin, who Questlove dubbed the queen of “Soul-capella.”
The Beer Garden stage features Chicago funk Bumpus at 2-3:30 p.m.; followed by the edgy and literary soul of Barry & The Fountains; with sought after session guitarist, Isaiah Sharkey closing the evening from 9-11:30 p.m.
Sunday’s lineup features The Corner Series, featuring LeftJones, a group of arts-community musicians; and the Beer Garden House Party with sizzling soul DJ Steve Gerard.
Saturday – 6/11
Chi-Soul Fest Lawn Party (Location: City Stage in Polk Bros Park)
Hosted by Damon Williams: 12pm-6pm
- 12 p.m. – DJ Quenton Lee
- 2 p.m. – DJ Leon Rogers
- 4 p.m. – DJ Maurice Joshua
Lake Stage in Polk Bros Park
Introduced by Damon Williams: 6:30pm-7:30pm
- 6:30 p.m. – Danielle Juhre
- 7:30 p.m. – Madison McFerrin
Navy Pier Beer Garden
- 2 – 3:30 p.m. – Bumpus
- 4:30 -5:30 p.m. – Barry & The Fountains
- 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. – Nathan Graham
- 9 -11:30 p.m. – Isaiah Sharkey
Wave Wall Platform
- 5 – 7 p.m. – DJ Celeste Alexander
Sunday – 6/12
Navy Pier Beer Garden
- 2 – 4:30 p.m. – The Corner Series, featuring Left Jones
- 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. – Beer Garden House Party with Steve Gerard
Other arts, cultural and engagement programs that weekend include free dance performances at Wave Wall Moves, local musicians performing at Wave Wall Wax, and our ongoing summer fireworks series.
Navy Pier’s free summer programming is a part of the non-profit’s ongoing commitment to offer guests one-of-a-kind arts and cultural programming. These events are designed to inspire, educate, and connect communities across the city and globe.
PHOTOS: Chi-Soul Fest | Credit: Vocalo
About Navy Pier
Located on Lake Michigan, Navy Pier is the top nonprofit tourism destination in the Midwest, stretching more than six city blocks and typically welcoming nearly 9 million annual guests. Originally opened in 1916 as a shipping and recreation facility, this Chicago landmark showcases more than 50 acres of parks, restaurants, attractions, retail shops, sightseeing and dining cruise boats, exposition facilities and more.
The Pier celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016 with the unveiling of the iconic Centennial Wheel, Polk Bros Park, Family Pavilion and Peoples Energy Welcome Pavilion. In 2021, Navy Pier continued to usher in its second century with ongoing Pier-wide redevelopment efforts—including Sable, a 223-room Hilton hotel, new restaurants and partnerships, and thrilling additions to Pier Park. The Pier is also proud to continue providing free, year-round arts and cultural programming designed to inspire, educate and connect communities across the city and globe. Click here to donate to Navy Pier, a mission-driven 501(c)(3) organization, in support of the organization’s post-pandemic revival and free public programming. For more information, visit www.navypier.org.