Ribfest Begins At Noon; Fun To Be Had

Ribfest is here!  It starts at noon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and goes until 10pm the first two days, and until 9pm as it winds down on Sunday.  Come to the 4700 block of Broadway for some fine ribs, some craft beers, vendors, music on two stages, and more. In past years, the weather has been best described as sauna-esque, but it looks like we may luck out this year and have more temperate days and evenings.

First, the food!  If you're fast (purchase by midnight), grab a Groupon for $25 (a $43.85 value).  It will get you:

• Entrance donation
• Half slab of ribs from one of the five ribbers with choice of two sides of your choice
• Five 3-ounce samples of more than 10 different beers in a souvenir tasting glass
• Private seating area throughout the day
• Ability to purchase full-size craft beers
• Choose from the following dates: Friday, July 4; Saturday, July 5; Sunday, July 6

If you choose not to buy a package deal, note that there's a suggested donation of $5 to get into the festival.  Proceeds go to Business Partners, the Chamber for Uptown.

Now, as for the music!  There will be two stages, one a community stage for local talent and the other the main stage for the headliners.

Appearing on the Main Stage:

• Friday: 1pm - The Hot Sauce Committee; 3pm - Stache; 5:30pm - Cat Fight (2 sets!); 8:30pm - Who's Bad (Michael Jackson Tribute) 
• Saturday: 12:15pm - Hello Weekend; 2pm - Suénalo; 4:15pm - JT Hodges; 6:15pm - Jamie Lono & Noble Heart; 8:30pm - Cowboy Mouth
• Sunday: 12:15pm - The Rave; 2pm - Crush on Radio; 3:30pm - Vintage Blue; 5pm - The Brothers StarRace; 6:30pm - People's Choice 'Best Ribs' Winner Announced; 6:45pm - Trippin Billies

And on the Community Stage, some familiar faces and some you'll want to get to know better:

Friday:

• 1pm | Korean American Resource and Cultural Center 
• 2pm | The Pogo Ponies (two sets!).  UU Note:  One of the members of the band is Shake Rattle & Read's very own Ric Addy, pictured above. 
• 4pm | Kiss Kiss Cabaret.  UU Note:  Soon to be appearing in the Uptown Underground, in the beautiful Uptown Broadway Building
• 5pm | The Black Ensemble Review 

Saturday:

• 1pm | The Irish Music School of Chicago 
• 2pm | Sama Sama Project 
• 3pm | Ben Mercado
• 4pm | Elephant Rebellion  
• 5pm | Broadway Rocks Fashion Show

Sunday:

• 1pm | Chicago Buddhist Temple Taiko Drum Group 
• 1:45pm | Jeremiah and the Frog Hunters
• 2:15pm | The Magnifiers
• 3pm | Philippine American Cultural Foundation 
• 3:30pm | Reversion Crew
• 4pm | Sama Sama Project
• 5pm | Broadway Rocks Fashion Show