Lot Jams 2022 Dates
Join us this summer for four shows as Lot Jams returns for 2022! Music and exact location to be announced soon. All shows will take place from 7:00pm - 9:00pm, outdoors, and as always, are free and family friendly. If needed, rain dates will be one week following the scheduled date.
Thursday, July 14th
Thursday, July 28th
Thursday, August 11th
Thursday, August 25th
Lot Jams is a summer concert series that showcases the people, businesses, and cultures that make Albany Park and the Northwest Side one of the best communities in Chicago.
Health and Safety at Lot Jams
North River Commission and the Albany Park Chamber of Commerce are committed to supporting the businesses, organizations, schools, and residents in the communities we serve. The health and safety of the community is paramount to our organization.
As public health guidelines and rules continue to change over the course of the year, NRC will plan accordingly to ensure that the health of attendees, performers, and staff is prioritized.
Lead Sponsor
The Albany Park & Irving Park Special Service Area (SSA #60), located in the most diverse neighborhood in Chicago, supports a vibrant, safe, clean, beautiful, and welcoming commercial district filled with restaurants, attractive retail and service, and entertainment and cultural options that meet the needs of local residents and attract visitors.
Sound and Lighting Provider
Sound and lighting for Lot Jams is provided by Ka@z Sound and Lighting Entertainment Inquire today about sound and lighting rental, DJ services, and more for your private, corporate, or nonprofit event!
Host
What once began as a dream to introduce authentic, nourishing Persian food to Chicagoland has become a true success story. Noon O Kabab started as a small, family-owned, 11 table restaurant in 1997 and have now tripled in size.
What hasn't changed through the years, is their philosophy that visitors to our restaurant are guests and it is their pride and joy to create an atmosphere where people keep coming back for more. Noon O Kabab creates authentic Persian food that reflects their heritage. The ingredients are always fresh, most spices come from Iran, and the menu is lovingly prepared using treasured family recipes. Noon O Kabab are committed to creating healthy and nutritious meals and have partnered with Healthydiningfinder.com as well.
Host
Surge Coffee Bar & Billiards opened in fall 2018 in Albany Park, featuring 14 professional pool tables, a 20-person U-shaped bar with wine, beer, and cocktails, a delicious menu in the evening, and on top of all of that, a full-service coffee shop open every morning through the afternoon and evening. Surge Coffee Bar & Billiards came from the owners' desire to bring a social hub and a place of community to Albany Park, similar to their other location, Pressure Billiards, in Edgewater. Centered around a recreational sport, Surge is a place where the diversity of the neighborhood is represented in the diversity of services they offer. Come work, shoot pool, have drinks with friends or sip coffee…just know you’re welcome!
Host
Heartland Health Centers is a federally qualified health center with 18 locations serving Chicago’s north side and nearby suburbs. In 2020, HHC provided 27,000 patients with a medical home where we offer affordable and comprehensive primary care, oral health care, and mental health care services. As a medical home, HHC ensures comprehensive, affordable, quality, safe, and coordinated health care that is culturally competent and orientated to addressing all the health care needs of each patient.
The Albany Park community health center provides 4,000 new individual patients with primary care medical visits, behavioral health visits, and oral health screenings for children ages 0-4.
Past Lot Jams
Lot Jams 2021
Thank you to everyone who attended our four shows in 2021 and to our sponsors and supporters, including the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. We look forward to more Lot Jams next year!
2021 Recap
Thursday, July 1st - Surge Billiards - 3241 W Montrose
Sonic Octopus performs an upbeat blend of Caribbean and Latin dance music from across the popular and sub cultural spectrum. Giving meaning to its namesake, the group is comprised of musicians from various groups including ÉSSO and Jugo de Mango, showcasing both modern and classic songs with a rhythmic twist. This special performance features Diana Mosquera (vocals), Armando Pérez (guitar), Yendrys Céspedes (piano, horns), Ryan Schoen (bass), and Dan Lieber (drums, percussion).
Thursday, July 22nd - Noon O Kabab - 4701 N Kedzie Ave
Returning to Lot Jams after a 2019 show, Madera Once is a four-piece band that pays tribute to Mexican-regional and traditional music with a contemporary spin. Madera Once's original music draws from the influences of traditional rancheras, cumbias, and Latin-Indie and pop. Madera Once's mission is to keep Mexican and Latin American music alive as it forges a new identity through the musician and audience's lived experiences within the U.S.
This program is made possible by a grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events with funding from the Walder Foundation.
Thursday, August 5th - Heartland Health - 3737 W Lawrence Ave
Mariachi Sirenas is proud to represent the genre of mariachi music in the windy city. As Chicago’s First All-Women Mariachi, we are honored to be a part of the community of strong women working together to promote the folkloric arts of Latin America.
Mariachi Sirenas was founded by members Ibet Herrera and Eréndira Izguerra, both with a dream to bring women together for the art of mariachi music in their hometown.
¡Que viva la mujer y nuestra tradición Mexicana, si señor...a!
This program is made possible by a grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, with funding from the Walder Foundation, and by Illinois State Senator Ram Villivalam
Thursday August 26th - Surge Billiards - 3241 W Montrose
The Luna Blues Machine is a Chicago based acoustic hip-hop, Latin, folk-soul band fronted by sisters Belinda and Maritza Cervantes. Founded in 2001, the LBM first started performing at Subterranean's Open Mic Night, cultivating their own unique sound. Today The Luna Blues Machine continues to be a staple in Chicago's music scene. Their timeless music is still attracting new fans and keeps old fans coming back for more.
Thursday, August 1, 2019
Rev Bob
Presented by The Residents of Irving Park (TRIP), NRC welcomed Rev Bob and his rockin' blues band to the Lot Jams stage!
Rev Bob is a Blues & Classic Rock cover band hailing from the west suburbs of Chicago. Dishing out an Chicago Blues to Eric Clapton To ZZ Top, Rev Bob brings Howling Harmonica, sizzling guitar solos, and plenty of energy to their sets.
TRIP (formerly UNITE) was founded in May of 1976 by a group of neighbors that organized to form a voice for the Irving Park community. Today, TRIP is made up of community residents that share the same concern and serves Chicago's Irving Park Neighborhood from Montrose Ave. to Irving Park Road, and Monticello to Sacramento Avenue.
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Madera Once
Presented by the People of East Albany Park (PEAP), NRC welcomed to Madera Once to the Lot Jam stage!
Madera Once is a four-piece band that pays tribute to Mexican-regional and traditional music with a contemporary spin. Madera Once's original music draws from the influences of traditional rancheras, cumbias, and Latin-Indie and pop. Madera Once's mission is to keep Mexican and Latin American music alive as it forges a new identity through the musician and audience's lived experiences within the U.S.
Check out more of Madera Once's amazing music on their YouTube page!
PEAP = People of East Albany Park! PEAP is a neighborhood block club focused on the 4400 North and 4500 North blocks of Troy/Albany/Whipple and the 3000 West and 3100 West blocks of Montrose/Wilson. PEAP represents a portion of the east side of Chicago's Albany Park. All neighbors are welcome to our events and meetings. Fun activities, litter cleanups, civic engagement, positive community development. All neighbors welcome! For more information about PEAP, contact: peapblockclub@gmail.com
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Black Bear Combo
Presented by Albany Park Neighbors (APN), NRC welcomed Black Bear Combo to the Lot Jam stage!
Black Bear Combo was formed in 2002 by Doug Abram, a noise drummer inspired to take up horns after hearing Romany musicians in Ceske Krumlov. Their travels have taken us across the country, to festivals on both coasts, Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans, the Halloween party at the White House, and every nook and corner of Chicago. Their sound is rooted in different styles from eastern Europe, played in a way that's all their own.
"a velocity and drive that would satisfy a Minutemen fan...ragged, raucous horn voices and odd-metered beats that come straight from the brass-band tradition of the Balkans, where the celebrations sometimes last for days." - Bill Meyer, Chicago Reader
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Gone Valley
Presented by the North River Commission Education Committee, NRC welcomes Gone Valley to the Lot Jams Stage!
Gone Valley writes songs with no words here in the Great North Middle West. In equal turns the music is earthy and abstract, hook-filled and meditative, intimate and cinematic -- the five piece explores an electrified amalgam of American roots, rock, ambient and jazz. Gone Valley is Jason Bennett, Tim McNulty, Tim Bennett, Oliver Horton and Bob Kessler.
Location: Parking LOT between Surge and Aspire, 3241 W Montrose
Time: 7pm - 9pm
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2683689955039335/
North River Commission supports the 25 CPS schools in our area by working with diverse education stakeholders to improve the quality of education. This collective of diverse education stakeholders, known as the NRC Education Committee, includes local teachers, civic leaders, LSC representatives, parents, community organization staff members, students and residents. After convening a series of public meetings to gather information from the community on how to improve education locally, the committee volunteers their time pursuing five initiatives; Branding and Marketing of Neighborhood Schools, Fundraising Education, Art Programming, Student Voices, and LSC Awareness.