The inaugural Chicago Open Air festival, held this July 15-17 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL is sure to be a weekend of fantastic music. Headliners Rammstein, Disturbed, and Slipknot are surrounded by a host of high quality bands that run the spectrum from hard rock to heavy metal. An in depth analysis of the lineup was previously released by The Music Pill, and can be found here.
In addition to all the great bands, there are some really awesome activities surrounding the music festival that we wanted to share with you!! These activities include unique dining and drinking activities, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, as well as opportunities to catch even more music. Check out the info below directly from the festival producers for some details on all these great opportunities!!
Onsite Experiences, Gourmet Man Food, Craft Beer, Inaugural Kickoff Dinner, Pre-Party and After-Show Events Announced For Chicago Open Air Festival At Toyota Park In Bridgeview, IL
Music
During the festival, headliners Rammstein, Disturbed And Slipknot will Be Joined By Chevelle, Korn, Five Finger Death Punch, Ministry, Breaking Benjamin, Marilyn Manson, Of Mice & Men and many more will play. In addition to the music played inside the venue, festival organizers offer even more chances to catch great bands in the Chicago area.
Chicago Open Air Pre-Party:
The official Chicago Open Air Pre-Party presented by 95 WIIL Rock and 100.7 QRock will be held at Concord Music Hall on Thursday, July 14. Otep headlines the show with Shaman’s Harvest, Islander and Through Fire supporting. Chicago Open Air ticket holders will have the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets in advance for $10. Regular tickets are $17.
www.clubtix.com/concordmusichall/chicago-open-air-pre-party-concord-tickets-459406?p=22368
Official Chicago Open Air After-Show Events:
Friday, July 15: Helmet with Tight Phantomz at Double Door (1551 N. Damen Ave., Chicago)
http://doubledoor.com/event/helmet
Saturday, July 16: Carcass with Deafheaven at Metro (3730 N. Clark Street, Chicago)
https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/8217133/carcass-deafheaven-chicago-metrochicagoil
Food and Drink
Chicago Open Air Inaugural Kickoff Dinner: In celebration of the inaugural Chicago Open Air festival and the great culinary city of Chicago, Danny Wimmer Presents will be throwing a special Chicago Open Air kickoff dinner presented by Chicago’s Goose & Fox and hosted by Jose Mangin of SiriusXM on Thursday, July 14 at 6:00 PM CDT. The BYOB dinner will feature five courses with seasonal and local ingredients from Midwestern farmers for $75.00. Limited tickets are on sale now at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2560621.
Gourmet Man Food: Chicago Open Air will feature selections from Chicago-area favorites such as: Bruges Brothers (Braised Oxtail Poutine, Currywurst, Comeback Fish and Chips) ● Chicago Doghouse(Rattlesnake and Rabbit Sausage, Smoked Alligator Sausage, The Midway Monster Hot Dog) ● Crème Of The Crop Food Truck (Grown Up Mac & Cheese, Strawberry Chicken Wrap, Tater Skins) ● Dia De Los Tamales (Cuban Tamale, Spicy Black Bean and Corn Tamale, The Chicago Beef) ● Dinky’s Donuts ● International Spud Station (The Spudnik, Apollo-Mash, Nebula Chips) ● Kuma’s Corner (Led Zeppelin Burger, Iron Maiden Burger) ● Pizano’s (Chicago deep dish) ● The Happy Lobster (Happy Lobster Roll, The Angry Lobster Roll, Fried Lobster Mac And Cheese Bites) ● Yum Dum (Kimcheesy Fries, Braised Pork Belly Baos). Additional Gourmet Man Food vendors from around the country will include: Cheeze Louise (Salmon Grilled Cheese Melt or Bowl, Meat Lover’s Grilled Cheese, Fried Chicken Mac N Cheese Bowl) ● Cravin’ Cajun (Spicy Shrimp Po-Boy, Gator Critter Fritters, The Soft Shell Crab Sandwich) ● Master of Patties (The Brekky Burger, The Muffaletta Burger, The Beef Wellington) ● Pie Baby Wood-Fired Pizza.
Headbangers Beer Hall: This unique METAL themed bar is a 100×80 dive bar experience complete with Marshall amplifiers lining the back wall, a unique jukebox playing heavy metal music, rocker pinball machines, Chicago favorite Kuma’s Corner serving their signature metal themed burgers just next door, and more that will give fans a dark, heavy metal, craft beer and cocktail experience all on site at Chicago Open Air. The Headbangers Beer Hall will feature national and regional craft beers and artist inspired beverages including: Goose Island (Chicago – 312 Urban Wheat Ale, Four Star Pils), Half Acre Beer Company (Chicago – Daisy Cutter Pale Ale, Vallejo IPA, Pony Pilsner), Iron Maiden’s TROOPER Beer, Lagunitas (Petaluma, CA – IPA, A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’), Motörhead Wine, Surly (Minneapolis – Surly Hell Lager, Surly Furious IPA), Two Brothers Brewing (Chicago – seasonals TBA), and more to be announced. Look for unique experiences throughout the weekend with members of bands at the bar, as well as former MTV Headbangers Ball host and Cathouse founder Riki Rachtman playing some of his favorite songs and guest bartending during the weekend.
Kuma’s Corner: Offering the best burgers in Chicago, Kuma’s started in 2005 with its flagship location at the corner of Belmont and Francisco avenues in Chicago’s Avondale. From their origins as a corner bar with solid American bistro fare, they’ve grown to two locations that offer the finest burgers available on this planet or any other. Kuma’s ethos is simple: Support your community. Eat beef. Bang your head. Look for the official Chicago Open Air #GourmetManFood burger at Kuma’s, and for their full menu to be announced soon.
Monster Energy Experience/Sampling: Monster Energy will be keeping all fans fueled up and ready to rock by offering free sampling on their Monster Energy viewing deck. Enjoy Monster Energy drinks from one of the best seats in the house. Make sure to check back throughout the festival for a schedule of Monster Energy’s interactive artist experiences.
Facebook: facebook.com/monsterenergy
#monsterenergy #monstermusic
Experiences
Jack Daniel’s Experience: “Taste of Tennessee” invites visitors to come out and tour the nation’s oldest registered distillery from outside the Jack Daniel’s Hollow. Visitors get to see (and smell) whiskey dripping slowly through charcoal and the new oak barrels used in maturing Tennessee’s finest whiskey. The Jack Daniel’s Experience is open to all fans, 21 years old and up, for tours free of charge. Stop by the Jack Daniel’s Experience for interactive engagements throughout the weekend.
Facebook: facebook.com/jackdaniels
Instagram: @jackdaniels_us
#jackdaniels #BornToMakeWhiskey
The Music Experience: The Music Experience features all the elements that are involved in making music in a professional band setting. The interactive exhibit features guitars, basses, amps, drums, keyboards and electronic gear that are used by today’s most popular bands. The Music Experience has autograph signings and artist interactions throughout the day. Check Facebook and Instagram for the latest info on who will be hanging out at The Music Experience.
Facebook: facebook.com/themusicexp
Instagram: @tmexp
Keep Golf Metal: Keep Golf Metal is a movement that encourages festival attendees to play a 9 hole putt putt course with PGA level golf clubs provided by Rife Putters and MasterFit Custom Golf Clubs. Keep Golf Metal also has apparel that features designs that fuse the rock and golf worlds together.
f.y.e. Fan Experience: f.y.e. will be hosting the ultimate fan and artist interactive experiences throughout the festival. f.y.e. is the only place at the festival to get all your favorite band’s music – and maybe even get to meet your favorite Chicago Open Air performers. Check back for updates on artist meet and greet and autograph signing sessions.
Facebook: facebook.com/FYE
Instagram: @officalFYEmusic
#unitedstatesofFYE
Dyin 2 Live / Fxck Cancer: The F C Cancer Foundation’s mission is to fight cancer by raising awareness and to educate about early cancer detection, ultimately putting an end to late stage cancer diagnosis. The Dyin 2 Live wish granting program looks to enrich the lives of those fighting cancer by offering them an experience that will bring joy, hope, inspiration, and courage into their lives. In doing this, the program hopes it can help give the cancer fighter a chance to forget, even if it’s only for a day, what they are battling. The hope is that it can be used as a source of inspiration to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour.
www.FxckCancer.org
www.makingdreamshappen.org
www.Dyin2Live.org
Facebook: facebook.com/Dyin2LiveDREAMS or facebook.com/FxckCancerUSA
Instagram: @FxckCancer and @Dyin2LiveDreams
Take Me Home Animal Rescue: Take Me Home is a not for profit, volunteer based foundation that has been saving the lives of homeless animals since 2001. Many families living in low-income areas cannot afford medical care, basic vaccinations, or spay/neuter surgeries for their companion animals. The donations raised help us to fund mobile veterinary hospitals to travel into these under-served areas to provide free spay and neuter, vaccinations, microchipping and administer medical care for animals in desperate need. Take Me Home also supports local animal charities. Come by the booth to help out our furry friends by buying a shirt, signed merchandise, and entering a raffle. Danny Wimmer, Founder, DWP, said, “DWP is proud to support various charities, giving them a national platform to promote their messages. We are particularly fond of Take Me Home, which advocates for animal adoption. I hope everyone stops by their booth and supports their fundraising efforts to help animals in need.” For more information, please visit: www.takemehome.tv.
Facebook: facebook.com/TakeMeHomeRescue
Instagram: @TakeMeHomeRescue
Twitter: @TMHRescue
Festival Details
Festival doors open at 11:00 AM each day and the show ends at 11:30 PM on Friday, 11:00 PM on Saturday, and 10:00 PM on Sunday.
Friday, July 15: Rammstein, Chevelle, Ministry, Of Mice & Men, Meshuggah, The Devil Wears Prada, In This Moment, Hollywood Undead, Trivium, Hatebreed, Periphery, Drowning Pool, Butcher Babies, Through Fire
Saturday, July 16: Disturbed, Korn, Breaking Benjamin, Alter Bridge, Gojira, Helmet, Deafheaven, Carcass, Pop Evil, Nothing More, Saint Asonia, Miss May I, Beartooth, Silver Snakes, City Of The Weak
Sunday, July 17: Slipknot, Five Finger Death Punch, Marilyn Manson, Bullet For My Valentine, Killswitch Engage, BABYMETAL, Asking Alexandria, Corrosion Of Conformity, All That Remains, letlive., We Came As Romans, Jim Breuer and the Loud & Rowdy, Upon A Burning Body, Gemini Syndrome
Chicago Open Air is produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, Live Nation and Toyota Park, with the support of the Village of Bridgeview and Bridgeview Mayor Steven Landek.
Chicago Open Air sponsors include: Monster Energy, Jack Daniel’s, f.y.e., Dyin 2 Live / Fxck Cancer, Take Me Home Animal Rescue, El Jimador Tequila, The Music Experience, Roadrunner Records, Century Media Records and more to be announced.
Website: www.ChicagoOpenAir.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/chiopenair
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chiopenair
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chiopenair
About Danny Wimmer Presents: Since 1993, music industry veteran Danny Wimmer has been producing concerts and festivals, both large and small. In 2011, he formed Danny Wimmer Presents, which now produces several of the largest rock and alternative festivals in the U.S. By combining A-list talent with local cuisine and culture, DWP has become recognized within the industry for delivering the highest-quality entertainment experiences to fans, artists, sponsors, partners and host cities. DWP creates memorable and all-encompassing festival experiences, leaving both consumers and partners with lasting and meaningful impressions. With 580,000 fans attending all DWP festivals in 2015, and 10 billion media impressions, DWP will continue to add new music festivals to its already stellar portfolio, which includes Rock On The Range, Monster Energy Aftershock Festival, Monster Energy Welcome To Rockville, Monster Energy Carolina Rebellion, Louder Than Life, and Monster Energy Rock Allegiance, among others. Visit www.DannyWimmerPresents.com
About Live Nation Entertainment: Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, Live Nation Media & Sponsorship and Artist Nation Management. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com.
About Toyota Park: Toyota Park is located at 7000 South Harlem Avenue in Bridgeview, IL. It’s the heart of soccer for much of the Midwest and a must-see destination for world-class concerts and other sporting events. Toyota Park is conveniently located in Bridgeview near I-294 and-I-55, within an easy drive from every corner of the Chicago area. Just 15 miles from Chicago’s Loop, Toyota Park offers ample parking and is served by PACE buses and shuttle links with the nearby CTA Midway Orange Line station. Visit www.toyotapark.com
Thanks for reading!! Hope to catch you at the festival!