Celebrating their 50th anniversary, Jefferson Starship will be rocking the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan on October 24! Andrea talks to lead singer – and Chicago music legend – Cathy Richardson about leading this iconic band for the past two decades, her own band, her Chicago roots and playing Mom when the band isn’t touring!   Tickets and information: https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/ and crband.com

Next up, we’ll delve into the fascinating story behind “Sisters” currently playing at the Writers Theatre through November 8th.  Andrea talks to Director (and NWU professor) Jessica Thebus about this story that explores artificial intelligence, the power of human connection, and what it truly means to be alive.  Tickets and information:  https://www.writerstheatre.org/events/sisters

The public art installation “Rosemont in Bloom” continues to make the public feel a little rosier all across the Village. There are 20 rose sculptures on view throughout Rosemont at parks, entertainment venues, public spaces and along walking paths transforming the community into an open-air gallery!  Andrea talks to artist Shawn Smith about his installation “Deep In Their Roots” and what it means to him to participate in this “seek and find” adventure. Information: rosemontinbloom.com

Then, we visit with photographer Tom Doody about his current exhibition “Memento Mori”at Ken Saunders Gallery in Chicago. Memento Mori looks at the strange, often beautiful ways we construct meaning around mortality—through monuments, mausoleums, cemeteries, memorials, and the landscapes we leave behind. Tom talks to Andrea about growing up all across the country and how he went from the nightclub business to PR to photography!  Information: https://kensaundersgallery.com/

Finally, the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians presents the first-ever Ubuntu Festival October 22-24th. Twelve headlining concerts over three nights featuring world-renowned AACM musicians at Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies at NEIU.  Andrea talks to one of the performers, vocalist Ugochi Nwaogwugwu of the African Soul Ensemble about the shared humanity, interconnectedness, and the idea that “I am because we are.” Tickets and information: visit aacmchicago.org.