Chicago's Secret River shows are back under the Belmont Avenue bridge this summer
We're used to hijinks happening along the Chicago riverfront—remember those gigantic beans floating by a few weeks ago?—and one of the most joyful oddities is making its seasonal return under the Belmont Avenue bridge: the "Secret River" concert series.
Humbly taking place on a concrete pillar in the Chicago River with audiences "seated" atop the bridge, beneath the overpass or, most excellently, in kayaks bobbing along the waterway, the yearly DIY gigs are the brainchild of local musician Ben Kinsinger—the self-proclaimed "River King"—and his band Lawrence Tome, who have been holding the performances in the unexpected "venue" since 2022.
And Kinsinger and Co. are officially back for the 2025 season, which kicked off last Saturday, May 10 with live waterfront numbers by Lawrence Tome as well as NÜDE (the Chicago-based duo of Ruby Lucinda & Luke Clohisy) and singer-songwriter Jennifer Femme.
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And there are more editions of the one-of-a-kind music experience coming to the riverfront, with future Secret River shows already scheduled for Sunday, May 18—the lineup will include Duck, Beauty and the Bard, Ian McKinley, Girly Pants and Kyle Paul, reports Block Club Chicago —and Monday, May 26. The performances will start a high noon and keep the music flowing (get it?) until sunset, per organizers. You can keep up to date on all future Secret River concerts via Kinsinger's Face book page.
As for why Kinsinger decided that a makeshift dock would serve as one of the city's most surprising settings for Chicagoans to discover great local music, the organizer previously told Block Club: 'I have always loved discovering something new...Creating the opportunity for other people to discover something magical is what I strive to do.'
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