Listens for the Road – Your Chicago Bus Trip Playlist

Born in Illinois, Andrew Bird, an American Violinist, started training at the age of four. He was originally in a band called Bowl of Fire before developing his career as a solo artist. In 2002, Bird was asked to open for a band in his hometown of Chicago, but his fellow members were unavailable for the date. He performed the gig alone, and the surprising success of this solo show suggested potential new directions for his music.

Boogie down to this beat! This funk-based band dropped their main album in 2015 and have been gaining traction ever since. In The Heard’s hometown of Chicago, the group has been performing at some of the city’s favourite venues – AliveOne, Metro Chicago, Lincoln Hall, Concord Music Hall, and Congress Theater.

This talented artist was actually a model on the cover of DNA before his music career took off, so there’s a good chance you first heard of Steve Grand in 2013 when he released the music video for his song, All-American Boy. The music video became an overnight hit and he received media attention by outlets like the Advocate, Chicago Tribune, and Billboard. One of the highlights of Steve Grand’s debut album was the LGBT equality anthem he wrote, called We Are The Night.

Tiny Fireflies began as a fun collaboration with no intentions of becoming a band. The duo, Kristine and Lisle, played their first show at New York City Popfest, and since then, their layered indie-pop songs have become favourites in the Western Hemisphere.

They might not be John Lennon, but have a listen to this group and soon you’ll be saying “Yoko and the Oh yes’s”. This trio of young Chicagoans is a blend of garage sounds and vintage soul, creating retro rock. Max, one of the band members, recorded and produced their record in his childhood basement at the age of 16. From then on, the band’s energetic live shows and well-crafted record led to a deal with Autumn Tone Records, which reissued their debut in 2015.

With good music, bus trips are easy to love – just like Patricia’s music.

This American jazz and blues singer, now 62 years of age, continuously plays gigs, releases music, and lives a life fuelled by music and art to its fullest. Catch her playing at her favourite spot, The Green Mill in Chicago, before she heads off to Paris.

Interested in seeing her live? Checkout her next gigs: http://www.patriciabarber.com/gigs

Ric Wilson is a hip-hop treasure that just release his 2018 EP called BANBA. Not only is Ric an amazing artist, but he is also a part of the We Charge Genocide Coalition. This group presented a shadow report and testified at the United Nations, charging the Chicago Police Department with genocide and torture actions on ethnic youth within the city of Chicago, helping establish a worldwide connection. Today, Ric continues to travel to the city of Chicago, performing and speaking on social issues.

C’mon, we had to include him…

We thought we’d throw in a local Chicago artist who is now selling albums off the charts. Kanye now has a total of 21 Grammy Awards and has been spoken about in almost every magazine, newspaper, and site you can think of. His song Runaway was praised by critics for its sincere subject matter, the openness of the song, and the clean, soulful production.

This 22 year old rapper grew up with a passion for music. His brother Chance the Rapper, is one of the most known and respected rappers of the 21st century. He wanted Taylor to grow as an independent rapper and build his own fan base before he began working with and promoting him. After several years of dedication and hard work, the two brothers are now working together now to create amazing content. Bennett has had an active role in his community, putting all the proceeds of a sold out show towards Kids Off The Block, a local nonprofit aimed towards ending violent crime in Chicago.

Joey Davis, known for his stage name as Joey Purp, is an American Rapper from Chicago, Illinois. Growing up, Joey bounced between Chicago neighbourhoods, building his rep and brand. Early on, he associated himself with top artists like Chance the Rapper, and began selling out live shows shortly after prematurely ending his high-school career. In order to pursue performing full-time, Joey used social media to his advantage, gaining more than 30,000 followers on SoundCloud.

Shirley is the embodiment of the blues. Her music is soulful and smooth, her lyrics warm and affectionate. She originally started out singing Gospel music, then switched to R&B after 8 years, creating a strong vocal base and merging it with urban style. The staff at one or her favourite clubs in Chicago nicknamed her the Sweetheart of the Blues.