Chicago needs all the entertainment it can get before this whole state goes into hibernation until next May. As soon as the weather gets somewhat manageable we all run to streets praising hallelujah and dancing til’ the morning sun. From all the major festivals to smaller performances and a summers worth of high profile concerts, Chicago is a music town despite all the anti-raving acts and promoter fiascos.

What a better way to bid adieu to not only summer but also such a festive and vibrant city Summer culture. North Coast Music festival will take place Labor Day weekend at Union Park where Pitchfork is held with a fun and unpretentious line up that has everything for everyone. Acts such as Lupe Fiasco, Benny Bennasi, Paul Van Dyke, Umphrey’s McGee, Nas and Damian Marley, De La Soul and so many great mellow and fun danceable acts are set to perform at this first year festival; which is the third of it’s kind here in the city. North Coast Music Festival will be happening September 3-5 with thirty five bands and portion of the tickets will go toward supporting Urban Initiatives; a Chicago based nonprofit  which provides health and soccer education in fourteen Chicago Public Schools. Also this festival is what I’d like to call a recession buster with one day tickets at 40 dollars and 3-day passes at a mere $85-which is way cheaper than Lolla, which most people had to either skip or sell their first born for.

URB has your exclusive first look at the schedule with my picks in bold italics.

FRIDAY

North Stage
4:30-5:30      Orchard Lounge
6:30-7:30    Paul Van Dyk
8:30-10:00  Chemical Brothers

Groupon: What’s a Music? Stage
5:30-6:30      Paul Kalkbrenner
7:30-8:30    Pretty Lights

Red Bull Local Stage
5:00-6:00      XPOSUR vs Clark Kent
6:00-7:00      Paul Universe
7:00-8:00      Wyllys
8:00-9:00      Mettle
9:00-10:00   m.sylvia & DJ Kibo

SATURDAY

North Stage
12:30-1:30    Band Winner
2:30-3:30     New Mastersounds
4:30-5:30     Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
6:30-7:30   Jay Electronica
8:30-10:00   Umphrey’s McGee

Groupon: What’s a Music? Stage
1:30-2:30     Alabaster Brown
3:30-4:30     Van Ghost
5:30-6:30     The New Deal
7:30-8:30      De La Soul

Coast Stage
1:00-2:00     MC Winner
2:30-3:30     Two Fresh
4:00-5:00      Laidback Luke
5:00-6:00      Benga
6:30-7:30      Future Rock
8:00-9:00      Boys Noize
9:00-10:00    Moby

Red Bull Local Stage
12:00-1:00    Save The Clocktower
1:00-2:00       Land of Atlantis
2:00-3:00       Great Divide
3:00-4:00       Strange Arrangement
4:00-5:00       Tima Fei & Phat!van
5:00-6:00        The Comeups
6:00-7:00        Midnight Conspiracy
7:00-7:30        Ruckus
7:30-8:30        Family Groove Company
9:00-10:00      Hey Champ

SUNDAY

North Stage:
1:00-1:45      The Coop
2:30-3:30         Phantogram
4:30-5:30         Dirty Dozen Brass Band
6:30-7:30         Flying Lotus
8:30-10:00       Nas & Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley

Groupon: What’s a Music? Stage
1:45-2:30          Loyal Divide
3:30-4:30          Holy Ghost
5:30-6:30          Mayer Hawthorne @ The County
7:30-8:30          Lupe Fiasco

Coast Stage
1:00-2:00          DJ Winner
2:00-3:00          Skeet Skeet
3:30-4:30          Maps and Atlases
5:00-6:00          Claude Von Stroke
6:00-7:00          Benny Benassi
7:00-8:00          Green Velvet (Live)
8:30-10:00        Disco Biscuits

Red Bull Local Stage
12:30-1:00        D.E.E
1:30-2:15           DJ Lips
2:15-3:00           Bobby De Maria & Tsunami
3:00-4:00           Mario Florek
4:00-5:00           The Right Now
5:00-6:00           Trew
6:00-7:00            Stephen Paul Smoke
7:00-8:00            Papa G
8:00-9:00            Gabe Real
9:00-10:00          Gemini Club

To purchase tickets go to: http://www.clubtix.net/northcoastfest
To find out more about Urban Initiatives go to: http://www.urbaninitiatives.org/

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