RIP Carl Bonafede. Wonderful obit by Dave Hoekstra. davehoekstra.com/2026/04/01/c...

April issue out now! Chicago metal legends Trouble on our cover - interview by Kelley Simms. Our Q&A with Philip Oakey of The Human League + our annual Record Store Day special section x @brigittecallsmebaby x Ratboys x Gorillaz x IE Music Calendar and more! joom.ag/WGvd

Just a reminder...today is the last day you can nominate people for the Radio Hall of Fame. My IE column last month offered 12 suggestions from Chicago radio history. illinoisentertainer.com/2026/02/medi...

It's joyous to see Michael Shannon covering @remhq.bsky.social at my favorite venue @metrochicago.com. Thank you @jasonnarducy.bsky.social and friends ❤️

March issue out now! Chicago blues legends Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials cover story + Crispian Mills from Kula Shaker x IE Music Calendar x De La Soul x Stranger Things soundtrack x Jason Sinay x Fleetwood Mac reissue x Project Hail Mary in CinemaScopes and more! joom.ag/J6vd

February issue out now! Canadian rockers Our Lady Peace spoke to Kelley Simms about their upcoming tour and 30 years of OLP for our cover story + Ashley Perez’ Q&A with Wednesday 13 x Jonathan Richman xDr. John x Stevie Nicks x Media with Deborah Norville x IE Music Calendar and more joom.ag/awed

The February issue of Illinois Entertainer is out and includes my interview with Deborah Norville. illinoisentertainer.com/2026/01/medi...

January 2026 print + digital issue out now featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd on our cover + Fine Young Cannibals’ Roland Gift + The Replacements x Split Enz x Green Day x Top albums • shows • films of 2025 + IE Music Calendar x Remembering Tony FitzPatrick viewer.joomag.com/illinois-ent...

The January issue of Illinois Entertainer is out and features my tribute to two friends we lost in 2025, Tony Fitzpatrick and Harry Teinowitz. 2026 won't be the same without them. illinoisentertainer.com/2025/12/medi...

December print + digital out now - our cover story with RNR HOF’ers Cheap Trick! Plus Naoko from Shonen Knife x The Smashing Pumpkins “Melon Collie..” 30th Anniversary edition LP reviewed + Tortoise x Stick Figure x IE Music Calendar and more…https://joom.ag/ahDd

At 83, Paul McCartney is defying the odds. There are understandable limitations to a singer's voice of McCartney's vintage. The bottom line however, Paul and his longtime band powered through a “concert that was a joyous celebration from start to finish.” illinoisentertainer.com/2025/11/live...

Can’t wait for Pixel Grip’s sold out hometown show tonight! Arrive early to get your hands on this gorgeous limited-run 4 color metallic silkscreen. Beautifully done by former Metro/smartbar/Gman Tavern Art Director and brilliant Brand Designer @danpolyak.com ❤️‍🔥

Please consider joining us in supporting Nourishing Hope's mission to help Chicagoans gain access to food, mental health services, and essential social services! Food Drive & Toy Drive donations can we dropped off at Metro’s box office & @gmantavern.com from now until 12/6 ❤️ bit.ly/NH_donate 🍎

ICYMI: November print + digital out now: John 5 + Richie Kotzen team up for for an all-star tour. Record Store Day Black Friday arrives 11/28. @DanielAsh of Bauhaus’ new band - Ashes and Diamonds. Plus @jefftweedy x @robbiefulks x IE Music Calendar joom.ag/LdDd

The Museum of Broadcast Communications is reopening at a pop-up location at the end of next week at 440 W. Randolph Street. One of the exhibits will be called "50 Years of the Loop Radio Station". They asked me to curate it, and it's been an honor. So much cool stuff to share.

(R)October issue out now. Our cover story with Chicago’s alt rock stalwarts @LocalH. Scott Lucas talks re-recording their first album. Plus Fitz & The Tantrums x @deftones x Pink Floyd x Mitch Michaels’ get inducted in the HOF x IE Music Calendar and more joom.ag/mw2d

The October issue of Illinois Entertainer is out and includes my interview with Mitch Michaels. illinoisentertainer.com/2025/09/medi...

Our 20th Year covering @riotfest.bsky.social - see Curt Baran’s gallery and recap Monday at illinoisentertaner.com

Rest in Peace Bruce Dumont. He was a big part of the Chicago media family. radioink.com/2025/09/11/b... I talked to Bruce many times over the years, including this interview. chicagoradiospotlight.blogspot.com/2009/02/bruc... He was 81 years old.

The Who limped their way into the United Center Sunday night in a show marred at times with “gaffes, squabbles, struggles, false starts, flubs and gear failures.” Despite the issues the band did have their moments. Jeff Elbel covered the show for IE Review: illinoisentertainer.com/2025/09/live...

September Print & Digital issue out now! AWOLNATION side project The Barbarians of California graces our cover and arrives at Riot Fest on 9/19. Plus Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters x @theblackkeys x Leper x Cranberries 30th Anniversary No Need to Argue x Tracy Bonham & more… joom.ag/wI2d

We were always #TeamBlur back in the day, but it’s hard to deny @oasis and their near-perfect set and performance on their reunion tour on the lakefront last night. @Jess Roti has our review from Soldier Field. illinoisentertainer.com/2025/08/69102/ #TeamBlur

ICYMI: August print and digital issues out now! Wild Belle vocalist @nataliebergman cover Q&A is enlightening and as compelling as her new album + Des Plaines Theatre celebrates 100 years x BOC + 670 The Score @DavidHaugh x @NeilYoung x @HellboundSons x IE Music Calendar and more joom.ag/4jwd

Over 270 photos from 4 days of @Lollapalooza 2025 - Curt Baran’s gallery is live at illinoisEntertainer.com (our 20th year covering Lolla on the Lakefront) Pictured: Harrison Patrick Smith from The Dare

July issue out now! Ashley Perez-Hollingsworth spoke to Chicago power-pop masters Push Puppets for our cover story. Jeff Elbel’s Q&A with Simple Minds Jim Kerr + IE Music Calendar x @EnuffZnuff x @Garbage new albums reviewed & more joom.ag/Sawd

The latest issue of Illinois Entertainer is out and includes my interview with WGN Radio newsman Steve Bertrand. illinoisentertainer.com/2025/06/medi...

Curt Baran captured @SimpleMinds penultimate show last night as they crushed it on the lakefront at HBP. See his gallery and read Jeff Elbel’s interview with their legendary co-founder and vocalist Jim Kerr. illinoisentertainer.com/2025/06/hell...

Rest in Peace, Lorna. barrettmedia.com/2025/06/19/f...

.@jeff_elbel caught up with legendary @SimpleMinds co-founder/vocalist Jim Kerr in our long form Q&A before their Friday 6/20 show on the lakefront. Simple Minds’ first Chicago gig was at the legendary Tuts - which he fondly remembers illinoisentertainer.com/2025/06/hello-…

Sly Stone, funk-rock pioneer who led the Family Stone, dies at 82 Sly Stone, the multitalented musician whose path-finding, psychedelia-laced funk enraptured Woodstock Nation in the late '60s and early '70s, has died. He was 82. Read in Variety: apple.news/Aji67sh1lQgi...

June issue out now! Our cover story features New Jersey’s legendary The Feelies + IE Music Calendar x Media: Swany leaves 101.9FM The Mix x Manic Street Preachers x Harm’s Way x Two Wolf x Issac Hayes x Rock of Pages: “The Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville” + more joom.ag/Lgsd

The June issue of Illinois Entertainer is out and includes my interview with John Swany Swanson, my old colleague and the co-author of The Radio Producer's Handbook. illinoisentertainer.com/2025/05/medi...

Ed Spinelli and Justice Petersen tag-teamed last night at Soldier Field to cover the mighty AC/DC on a cool May evening. Our gallery and review arrives soon at illinoisEntertainer.com (photo by Edward Spinelli)

@RiotFest Single-day line-up announced! Grab your tickets now mailchi.mp/riotfest.org...

Ministry arrived at The Riv last Friday doing a set of their long-disowned “With Sympathy” and “Twitch” era album cuts. As the expected, the crowd ate up the Medusa’s era catalog. Ashley Perez Hollingsworth covered it for IE illinoisentertainer.com/2025/05/live...

Happy Mother’s Day

May issue out now - Crimson Glory co- headlines @Reggies mighty Legions Of Metal Festival via @KelleySimms + @KimDeal x @FierceAtmospheres x @Rush and more including IE Music Calendar x Mission: Impossible - in print, online and digital joom.ag/1ojd

It’s Riot Fest 20th Anniversary Anniversary Line-up just dropped 👀 mailchi.mp/riotfest.org...

Roy Thomas Baker, who was among the most successful music producers of the 1970s and 1980s and who helped produce Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” has died at 78.

Countdown to RSD April 12 - IE Record Store Day Guide: Listings, Previews, Reviews Stores: Rolling Stones Music x Laurie's Planet of Sound x Scratched Vinyl x Blue Village Vinyl x Bob's Blues & Jazz x Purple Dog x Hoarders x Record Wonderland x Audiophil's viewer.joomag.com/illinois-ent...

April issue out now! Our cover story features the godfather of goth Peter Murphy + @recordstoryday section x @bobmould x @skunkanansie x vintageblonde x reissues from Steely Dan x Supertramp x IE Music Calendar: 1600 shows - 3800 bands and more joom.ag/Y4jd

The April issue of Illinois Entertainer is out and includes my media column. I interviewed a few people for the piece, including former New Colony 6 member Skip Griparis, former WCFL great Bob Dearborn and Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame CEO Ron Romero. illinoisentertainer.com/2025/03/medi...