This Weekend: Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusement

By Andrew Hertzberg

Not so fast. You thought festival season was over? Well aren’t you in for a treat. If you missed out on the AV Club fest last week, there’s still plenty to come. This weekend is the inaugural Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusement festival, taking over Eckhart Park (Chicago Ave. and Noble St.) for three days this weekend. Part music fest, part circus, the event aims at “reinventing the traditions of Vaudeville for the 21st century audience.” Which pretty much means there is going to be a whole slew of activity. Aside from musical acts like Bill Callahan, Shellac, A Lull and A Hawk and a Hacksaw, there’ll also be carnival rides, a 5K run, farmers’ markets and a pop-up Renegade Craft Fair for those who missed it last weekend.

Although you have to pay for the musical acts listed above, the general grounds are free as well as a local stage on Saturday and Sunday featuring artists like Bone and Bell, Hollows, the Lonesome Organist and mucho more. The circus performances will cost you as well for each act, but rest well knowing a portion of the proceeds go to benefit Coat Angels, CHIRP, and 826CHI. For more information, visit the Brilliant Corners website and see the full music schedule after the jump.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16:

Criss/Cross Tent ($20 ticket for night, doors at 5 PM)
Bill Callahan
Sidi Touré
Bomba Esteréo
CAVE

Magic City Tent ($15 for each separate performer, tent is cleared after each set)
El Circo Cheapo – 8:30 PM
The Ricochet Project – 7:00 PM
George Orange – 5:30 PM 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17:

Criss/Cross Tent ($20 ticket for night, doors at 5 PM)
School of Seven Bells
A Hawk and a Hacksaw
Charles Bradley
Dark Dark Dark

Magic City Tent ($15 for each separate performer, tent is cleared after each set)
El Circo Cheapo – 8:30 PM
The Ricochet Project – 7:00 PM
George Orange – 5:30 PM
The Zoppe Family Circus – 2:30 –3 PM

Birdhouse Stage (FREE)
Dolly Varden – 1:30-2:30 PM
Bone and Bell – 3:00–4:00 PM
Lonesome Organist – 4:30-5:30 PM
Squat The Condos – 6:00-7:00 PM
Albanie and her Fellas – 7:30-8:30 PM 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

Criss/Cross Tent ($20 ticket for night, doors at 5 PM)
Shellac
A Lull
Dan Deacon
Fool’s Gold

Magic City Tent ($15 for each separate performer, tent is cleared after each set)
El Circo Cheapo – 8:30 PM
The Ricochet Project – 7:00 PM
George Orange – 5:30 PM
The Zoppe Family Circus – 2:30 - 3 PM

Birdhouse Stage (FREE)
Magic Carpet – 1:30-2:30 PM
Paul Cary and the Small Scarys 3:00-4:00 PM
B.S. Brass Band – 4:30-5:30 PM
Hollows – 6:00-7:00 PM
Cloud Birds – 7:30-8:30 PM