A Multidisciplinary Immersive Avant-garde jazz festival

For pass holders only. Immerse  yourself in The Frē Fest universe. The city's most detail oriented improvisers will play in small groups responding to the room, which will be completely adorned with multimedia artworks from Chicago’s finest emerging visual artists.

pass holder priority access and limited day of tickets 

A journey through Afro diasporic percussive traditions. Join us Thursday, July 23 in the Latin American Motorcycle Club for a concert featuring purveyors of ancient hand and foot percussion traditions. Trace rhythms from West African Griots as they evolve as resistance through the Caribbean, into the Americas and how the journey has lead to the development of the form of tap dance all the way through 20th century and modern jazz. These artists and cultural torch bearers will demonstrate how the music we know and love derives from the storytelling rhythms of ancient Black cultures, and has been preserved through the hands, feet and instruments of Black Americans. 

​

​

21+ free and open to the public, unwind with a beverage and bumping sonic palette cleansers provided by festival DJs. It’s like a miniature block party here.

For pass holders only. Step into the party room and experience bar bands like you’ve never experienced them before. Groove the night away to high energy music from the scenes most promising band leaders and collectives. And stick around for a jam session Saturday night showcasing the improvisational talents of all the artists on the festival coming together.

Get a front row seat to the pulse of Chicago's music community

 Free and open to the public, this stage is for all the sonic archaeologists. Enrich your ears with the sounds of Chicago’s avant-garde composers while browsing an extensive collection of records by festival artists and creative music collected from the past half century.

For pass holders only. Allow the intricate sounds of the finest sonic architects wash over you and reset your nervous system. Solo performers will deliver meditative concerts in a room with mixed seating. Sit up close to take in the details of the performances, or lay back on a yoga mat to become one with the sound.

 Free and open to the public, The Artist's Boutique at Artifact Records features an exstensive record collection that represents the artists on the festival line up along side musician's merch and artist's work. Build and expand your unique collection and bring home The Frē Fest universe

Listen while you shop!