Music and the LGBTQ+ community play well outdoors. As spring shifts into summer many queer artists are debuting new songs in time to support their live shows during Pride season. Thanks to out and proud pioneers like Sam Smith, Lil Nas X and Chappell Roan, becoming mainstream success stories, more queer musicians are coming out of the closet and no longer hiding in the shadows. With strength in numbers from supporters and listeners, these musicians continue to march to the beat of their own drum and perform unapologetically.
Chicago is the birthplace for a wide variety of styles of music, including blues, jazz and house music. The city is known for a vibrant concert scene and live shows, which sometimes land outdoors. Open-air venues and festivals come with challenges in the Windy City because of unpredictable weather, overcrowding and security concerns.
Historically, performers such as Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge have cultivated a safe space for queer folks at their shows over the years. Jam Productions presents these pioneers together in Millennium Park at Jay Pritzker Pavilion on Sunday, Aug. 17 at 6 p.m.
The 24th annual Chicago Pride Fest takes over the Lake View area for two days on June 21 and 22. The festival builds excitement leading up to the massive United in Pride parade on Sunday, June 29, kicking off at 11 a.m. and marching for our rights. Later in the summer, the same chamber of commerce hosts Northhalsted Market Days on Aug. 8,9 and 10. There will be five stages of music and over 250 vendors spaced out along Halsted Street for the annual event. The talented performer Keke Palmer headlines with support from rapper Saucy Santana, RuPaul Drag Racer Monet X Change and gay comedian Joe Dombrowski. As part of the lineup, two openly queer singers, David Archuleta and Brooke Eden, from season seven of the television singing competition series American Idol, are booked sing tunes at the largest street festival in the Midwest.
Country singer Brooke Eden talked backstage about the upcoming gig recently at Charlie’s on Halsted Street. She said she is looking forward to reuniting with Archuleta at Market Days and WorldPride in DC.
David spoke to Windy City Times about these festival opportunities and said, “I like being a part of Pride festivals because everyone is celebrating. It’s a place where the LGBTQIA+ community can let their hair down and come together. People can be seen, feel supported and not hide anymore.”
More programming is planned before the Pride march with All of Us Chicago Festival for two days in Grant Park on June 27 and 28. The lineup includes queer performers Cobrah and Slayyyter, among the dance acts. Tiered ticket packages can be found at allofus.frontgatetickets.com.
Chicago’s Black Pride hits a high note on the rooftop of The Promontory on July 5 with a BLOQ Day Party and VIP options can be found at chiblackpride.com.
Out singer Kesha lets it all hang out in Tinley Park on July 12 for The Tits Out Tour. Slayyyter returns to Illinois to join the Scissor Sisters as part of her opening act. Pick up your Tits tickets at the keshaofficial.com.
After that, another concert collective lets the sunshine in on multiple stages in downtown Grant Park from July 31 through Aug 3. Lollapalooza sprinkles in queer artists throughout the lineup like Thursday headliner Tyler, The Creator, Doechii, Clairo, Remi Wolf and Rebecca Black, among others. Four-day passes are already sold out at lollapalooza.com.
Plan a picnic at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois, with queer queens such as Janelle Monae [June 7], Cynthia Erivo [Aug. 15] and Maren Morris [Aug. 22]. Follow the yellow brick road over to ravinia.com for lawn or pavilion tickets.
For more musical insight, Windy City Media Group went backstage to ask a few blossoming queer singers what LGBTQ+ performers they are listening to in 2025. At Subterranean in Bucktown before her set, Miyah Folick said Adrianne Lenker’s Grammy Award-nominated album Bright Future, and in the West Loop at Bottom Lounge after soundcheck, Chloe Moriondo stated, “Lady Gaga is always my girl. The Fame is my favorite record of all time!”
Speaking of which, bisexual identifying Lady Gaga has created Mayhem for concert ticket agencies this fall and added a third Chicago show because of high demand. The Little Monsters will invade the United Center on Sept. 15,17, and 18.
If concert tickets become scarce or possibly too expensive—then create your own concert space (how hard can that be, right?) and curate a queer singer playlist such as this:
10 Miley Cyrus “End of the World”
9 Chappell Roan “The Giver”
8 Doechii “Anxiety”
7 Lady Gaga “Zombieboy”
6 The Chainsmokers & Kim Petras “Don’t Lie”
5 Charli XCX & Billie Eillish “Guess”
4 Lil Nas X “Light Again!”
3 Kesha “Yippee-Ki-Yay.”
2 Trixie Mattel “Supermodel (You Betta Work)”
1 David Archuleta “Creme Brûlée”
Open your ears to new music, dance to the beat of your own drum and celebrate your true colors this summer with Pride in 2025.