BACKFestival
Aug 13th & 14th 2022
Thirsty ears 2022
Click here for the 2023 Thirsty Ears Festival
ACM is proud to present the seventh annual Thirsty Ears Festival: Chicago’s only classical music street festival!
For two days Wilson street between Hermitage and Ravenswood will be closed to feature seventeen stellar ensembles and soloists performing music from Beethoven to Shostakovich to Reich and everything in between on the main stage.
We’ll also have delicious beer, vendor booths, kid-friendly activities and food trucks on both days.
The festival is free with a $10 suggested donation. Any proceeds benefit the ACM School of Music, a non-profit organization.
Hours
Saturday, August 13th – 2pm to 10pm
Sunday, August 14th – 2pm to 9pm
Location
1758 W. Wilson Ave.
Parking is limited to nearby street parking
The first 100 people to arrive each day get a swanky swag bag so come early!
Event schedule
August 13th
main stage
2pm Chicago Chamber Music Fest
3pm Amy Gadd
4pm Wurtz-Berger Duo
5pm Rose Wollman
6pm Black Oak Ensemble
7pm Crossing Borders Music
8pm Palomar
9pm Mini Sound of Silent Film Festival
Kid Zone
2pm Jenny Viets
3pm Dawn Marie’s Toddler Jam
4pm Instrument Petting Zoo with Sadie
5pm Dinder Bros Family Circus
6pm Magic With Rob
August 14th
Main Stage
2pm Garden Unit
3pm Lakeshore Rush
4pm The Growlers
5pm Laura Strickling & Daniel Schlosberg
6pm 5th Wave Collective
7:30 pm Origin of Animal
Kid Zone
2pm Lucky Trikes
3pm Jenny Viets
4pm Instrument Petting Zoo with Traci
5pm Dinder Bros Family Circus
6pm Magic With Rob
Vendors
Food by Urban Tables
Nomadic Ant
Hija de Nada
Basic Revolution
Recycled by Robin
Peckham Media Productions
Catherine Elizabeth
Gramovox
Po Campo
Xpressive Body Butters
Andersonville Chamber of Commerce
Pockimals
Matilda Pet Fashion
Dandelion Art Therapy
Glow Superfood
Sophie Calhoun
sponsors
Meet Our sponsors
The Thirsty Ears festival is made possible in part by generous support from these sponsors:
sponsors
Meet Our CONTRIBUTORS
The Thirsty Ears festival swag bags are made possible by these generous contributors
Some Photos From Last year
2024
Thirsty Ears Festival 2024
ACM is proud to present the ninth annual Thirsty Ears Festival: Chicago’s only classical music street festival! For two days Wilson street between Hermitage and Ravenswood will be closed to feature seventeen stellar ensembles and soloists performing music from Beethoven to Shostakovich to Reich and everything in between on the main stage.
2023
Thirsty Ears Festival 2023
ACM is proud to present the eighth annual Thirsty Ears Festival: Chicago’s only classical music street festival! For two days Wilson street between Hermitage and Ravenswood will be closed to feature seventeen stellar ensembles and soloists performing music from Beethoven to Shostakovich to Reich and everything in between on the main stage.
Thirsty Ears Festival 2021
ACM is proud to present the sixth annual Thirsty Ears Festival: Chicago’s only classical music street festival!
For two days Wilson street between Hermitage and Ravenswood will be closed to feature seventeen stellar ensembles and soloists performing music from Beethoven to Shostakovich to Reich and everything in between on the main stage.
We’ll also have delicious beer from Empirical Brewing, vendor booths, kid friendly activities and food trucks on both days. Highlights include a special performance of our Sound of Silent Film Festival Saturday at sundown and, to close out the fest on Sunday, a classical remix from Origin of Animal.
Thirsty Ears Festival & Walking Tour 2020
Thirsty Ears, Chicago’s only classical music street festival is back with an all-new lineup and a new format!
We’re thrilled to present an exciting combination of a musical audio walking tour and an in-person outdoor concert. Discover Ravenswood and Lincoln Square as you’ve never seen or heard them before!
Your ticket includes entry to all live performances at VIN312 except for Sound of Silent Film which is available at the Marquee level. Click the check boxes to tell us which shows you’re going to so we can ensure social distancing.
Ticket holders are also invited to explore ten sites in Ravenswood and Lincoln Square chosen for their historical and cultural significance. At each site, you’ll hear about its history and then hear a short piece composed especially for the site.
Each time you complete a site you unlock rewards from neighborhood businesses.
Thirsty Ears Festival 2019
Thirsty Ears Festival 2018
ACM is proud to present the third annual Thirsty Ears Festival: Chicago’s only classical music street festival!
For two days Wilson street between Hermitage and Ravenswood will be closed to feature fifteen stellar ensembles and soloists performing music from Beethoven to Shostakovich to Reich and everything in between on the main stage.
We’ll also have delicious beer from Empirical Brewing, vendor booths, kid friendly activities and food trucks on both days.
$10 suggested donation, all proceeds support the ACM School of Music, a non-profit organization.
2017
Thirsty Ears Festival 2017
ACM is proud to present the third annual Thirsty Ears Festival: Chicago’s only classical music street festival!
For two days Wilson street between Hermitage and Ravenswood will be closed to feature fifteen stellar ensembles and soloists performing music from Beethoven to Shostakovich to Reich and everything in between on the main stage.
We’ll also have delicious beer from Empirical Brewing, vendor booths, kid friendly activities and food trucks on both days.
$10 suggested donation, all proceeds support the ACM School of Music, a non-profit organization.