The Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce today announced the headlining music acts for the 21st anniversary of Wicker Park Fest. As Chicago’s most anticipated summer street festival, attracting more than 75k+ visitors from Chicagoland and nationwide, the three-day festival will feature more than 50 emerging and established live acts from Chicago and across the nation, all performing original music. Wicker Park Fest 2025 will take place Friday, July 25 from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27 from 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.
The music lineup for Wicker Park Fest is curated by Subterranean, a cornerstone of the Chicago music scene known for its deep roots and discerning ear. Headliners for the 2025 festival include Minneapolis shoegaze outfit Hotline TNT, currently rolling out their latest album "Raspberry Moon” (full release June 20); their track “Candle” was recently named one of Stereogum’s Best Songs of the Week. Joining them are ‘90s Boston alt-rock favorites Letters to Cleo; Mississippi’s high-energy electronic hardcore group MSPAINT, whose single “Angel” also landed on Stereogum’s Best Songs of the Week list; Brooklyn pop sensation TimaLikesMusic; Los Angeles-based genre-bending rock duo Evening Elephants, who just inked a deal with Republic Records for their 2025 debut album, Seattle indie rock band Deep Sea Diver, who are fresh off touring with Pearl Jam in 2024, and Michigan power pop group Liquid Mike, who were called “the next great midwestern rock band” by Uproxx.
Local talent also takes center stage with Chicago’s own renowned DJ collectives Future Rootz, celebrating their 10-year anniversary with a special performance, frequent Chicago dance party hosts Lé Bump, and Earlybirds Club, who made Time Out Chicago and the Chicago Reader’s “Best of 2024” lists, in addition to LowDown Brass Band, the one-of-a-kind Chicago-based horn ensemble that weaves the genres of hip hop, reggae and soul.
Wicker Park Fest is known as an incubator for emerging talent, with past performers having soared in their careers and many moving on to perform at Pitchfork and Riot Fest. Past performers include Grammy-nominated electronic music duo ODEZSA, Billboard-charting alternative group PUP, along with Viagra Boys, Snail Mail, and NNAMDÏ. Rapper billy woods and DJ Kenny Segal headlined Wicker Park Fest in 2023 and went on to perform at Pitchfork Music Festival in 2024. billy woods was also profiled by the New York Times last month, with Pitchfork Magazine calling his most recent album a “masterpiece.”
"Wicker Park Fest has always been about discovery, giving rising artists a platform that can elevate them to the big stages," said John Ugolini, president of Kickstand Productions and talent booker at Subterranean. "We put a lot of thought into curating a lineup that reflects the diversity, energy and creativity of Chicago’s emerging music scene and beyond.”
This year, the music acts will only perform across two stages, as Wicker Park Fest has removed a stage and reduced the footprint of the 2025 fest in an attempt to cut costs. Once the longest street festival on Chicago’s North Side, the 2025 fest will span a shorter stretch from Damen to Wolcott as organizers grapple with soaring expenses and a steep decline in gate donations.
“It's Wicker Park Fests’ 21st birthday and we can’t wait to celebrate it with our incredible talent lineup this year,” said Pamela Maass, executive director of the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce. “This fest is a cherished staple in the Chicago community; and we hope to keep it that way. Let’s break record attendance again this year and meet our gate donation goals so we can bring another amazing lineup to our stages in 2026.”
Wicker Park Fest celebrates the neighborhood’s rich musical heritage, vibrant nightlife and top-notch restaurants. Alongside its stellar music performances, the fest will feature a variety of arts and culture initiatives, including art installations and international dance performances, along with a wide range of local food options from acclaimed restaurants and cafes and more than 150 brick & mortar shops, including bookstores and vintage sellers.
Additional fest programming includes a Kids Fest experience for families to relax in the shade and participate in activities like ladybug releases, mini-golf, arts and crafts and magic acts, with all proceeds benefiting Friends of Burr Elementary school. Pet Fest is also returning to the WPF pack this year, featuring activities like paw painting, pet portraits, a “musical sits” contest, a dog ice cream eating contest and more to benefit Chicago Rescue Authority, One More Dog Rescue and the Wicker Park Dog Park.
A $10 entry donation is encouraged to help support the nonprofit Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce and offset the rising costs of producing a three-day street festival featuring original talent. Across Chicago, nonprofit festival organizers are facing a troubling trend of soaring expenses and declining gate donations. In response, Executive Director Pamela Maass has formed the Save Our Street Fests Coalition, uniting a group of 23 nonprofit street fest organizers working together to raise urgent awareness about the risk of festival closures city-wide. For more information about the Save Our Street Fests coalition, visit saveourstreetfests.org.
In the interest of preventing long lines at entrances and vendor stalls stemming from card transactions, attendees are advised to bring cash.
For more information, visit WickerParkFest.com and follow Wicker Park Fest on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
About Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce
The Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce serves as a cornerstone of the Wicker Park and Bucktown commercial districts, advancing the financial goals of neighborhood businesses through the creation of a dynamic economic climate, increasing the neighborhood’s visibility and viability, and encouraging profitable relationships within the community. The Chamber administers Special Service Area (SSA) #33, guided by a volunteer Commission of SSA taxpayers who serve on active committees. For more information, please visit wickerparkbucktown.com
About the Save Our Street Fests Coalition
Formed in 2025, the Save Our Street Fests Coalition is a united effort by more than 30 Chicago-based nonprofit organizations dedicated to preserving the city’s neighborhood street festivals. These festivals are not city-funded. They are the primary fundraisers for the nonprofit chambers and organizations that produce them. For decades, these groups have created community-centered events that support small businesses, local artists, and neighborhood vibrancy. Today, this tradition is at risk. With gate donations declining dramatically, the Coalition aims to educate the public on the critical importance of contributing at entry gates to ensure these beloved cultural experiences can continue to thrive. For more information, please visit saveourstreetfests.org.