The Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce today announced the full lineup of music acts and additional programming for this year’s Wicker Park Fest, celebrating its 21st anniversary. Sponsored by Goose Island Beer Company, Wicker Park Fest is Chicago’s most anticipated summer festival, attracting more than 75k+ visitors from across Chicagoland and around the country as the longest street festival on the North Side. The three-day festival will take place July 25 – 27, running 5 – 10p.m. on Friday, and 12 – 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Of the more than 50 acclaimed live acts performing original music, newly announced artists joining the lineup include Chicago ‘90s alt-rock outfit Fig Dish, newly reunited in 2024 for the first time in over two decades, the Texas emo post-rock group GLARE, Cincinnati indie folk band Motherfolk, electronic Chicago DJ collective Lé Bump, and the also newly reunited alternative punk band Dr. Manhattan from Wauconda, IL.
Alongside the stellar lineup, the fest will celebrate the neighborhood’s rich musical heritage, vibrant nightlife and top-notch restaurants with art installations, international dance performances, a range of local food options from acclaimed restaurants and cafes, more than 150 brick & mortar shops and more.
“We’re proud to celebrate 21 years of Wicker Park Fest as a cornerstone of the neighborhood’s creative spirit,” said Pamela Maass of the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce. “The fest continues to reflect the dynamic culture and independent businesses that define Wicker Park, while playing a key role in shaping Chicago’s music scene. For over two decades, we've brought an eclectic mix of live music, local vendors and artists to Milwaukee Avenue, creating a one-of-a-kind experience for festivalgoers year after year.”
The complete 2025 music lineup includes: AFROQBANO; ANGELFUK; BOMBARGO; DEEP SEA DIVER; DJ DEZ ANDRES; DJ KINKY P; DR. MANHATTAN; EARLYBIRDS CLUB; EVENING ELEPHANTS; FIG DISH; FUTURE ROOTZ; GLARE; HOTLINE TNT; JOHNNY MANCHILD AND THE POOR BASTARDS; LETTERS TO CLEO; LÉ BUMP; LIP CRITIC; LIQUID MIKE; LOWDOWN BRASS BAND; LURK; LUSTSICKPUPPY; MEERNAA; MIDWEST BLENDER COMPANY; MOTHERFOLK; MSPAINT; MX LONELY; OCCASION DJ COLLECTIVE; SOUR WINDOWS; TIMALIKESMUSIC
This year’s previously announced headliners include Minneapolis shoegaze outfit Hotline TNT, who just released their latest album "Raspberry Moon” (their track “Candle” was 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.
Wicker Park Fest is known as an incubator for emerging talent, with past performers having soared in their careers with 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.”
Featured programming for Wicker Park Fest’s Cultural Stage this year includes demonstrations by Collective Dance Fitness and COMMIT Dance Fitness, Music House School for the Performing Arts, DivaDance Chicago, Hokula Academy of Polynesian Arts, Chicago Shakespeare Theater and a stage combat fight demo by Counterfeit Combat.
The full schedule of performances for the three-day festival is as follows:
FRIDAY, JULY 25TH
NORTH STAGE
09:00 - 10:00 Hotline TNT
07:45 - 08:30 Liquid Mike
06:45 - 07:15 MX LONELY
05:15 - 06:00 Sour Widows
SOUTH STAGE
08:30 - 10:00 Lé Bump
07:00 - 07:30 Occasion DJ Collective
SATURDAY, JULY 26TH
NORTH STAGE
08:45 - 10:00 Letters to Cleo
07:30 - 08:15 Deep Sea Diver
06:15 - 07:00 Fig Dish
05:00 - 05:45 Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards
03:45 - 04:30 Meernaa
01:45 - 03:15 Earlybirds Club
12:00 - 01:15 School of Rock Chicago West
SOUTH STAGE
08:45 - 10:00 TimaLikesMusic
06:30 - 08:15 Future Rootz
05:30 - 06:30 DJ Dez Andres
05:00 - 05:30 Afroqbano
03:00 - 04:00 Angelfuk
04:00 - 05:00 DJ Kinky P
SUNDAY, JULY 27TH
NORTH STAGE
09:00 - 10:00 GLARE
07:45 - 08:30 MSPAINT
06:30 - 07:15 Dr. Manhattan
05:15 - 06:00 LustSickPuppy
04:15 - 04:45 Lip Critic
03:15 - 03:45 Lurk
12:15 - 01:45 School of Rock Chicago
SOUTH STAGE
09:00 - 10:00 Evening Elephants
07:30 - 08:30 Lowdown Brass Band
06:15 - 07:00 Motherfolk
05:15 - 05:45 Bombargo
04:15 - 04:45 Midwest Blender Company
03:15 - 03:45 Flake Michigan
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. 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, which will benefit the first ever Gate Partner Program, as well as support the nonprofit Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce and offset the rising costs of producing a three-day street festival featuring original talent.
Gate partners include nonprofit Friends of Burr, which supports Jonathan Burr Elementary School, the Night Ministry, which provides housing support and healthcare to Chicago’s unhoused community, and Garbage Gals, an organization that spearheads trash cleanup efforts in Chicago. Gate donations also 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, non-profit 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 more than 20 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.
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.