UKRAINIAN VILLAGE — The Empty’s Bottle’s annual mid-winter music festival, Music Frozen Dancing, returns to the Ukrainian Village Concert Hall on Saturday.
The Cold Weather Block Party started in 2014 with live music outdoors at the corner of Cortez Street and Western Avenue. It is a play of the “dance to music” of Empty Bottle.
It was canceled in 2021 due to COVID-19.
“This is our best worst idea we’ve ever had,” said Brent Heyl, managing partner at Empty Bottle Presents. “Winter is this long drudgery of being stuck indoors and going crazy, and you don’t really see the sun much.
“[The event is] one thing we can do to get everyone outside and just say, “Fuck off, let’s go outside.” It’s going to be cold, but it’s going to be the best time of winter because you’ve been stuck inside the whole time.'”
Music Frozen Dancing is free, but donations at the door will go to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, as will proceeds from a raffle where contestants can win a pass to free empty-bottle shows during an entire year, among other prizes.
The festival has typically featured some of Chicago’s loudest bands and artists. This year, performers include Chicago’s own American/Colombian rock band Divino Niño, local punk band Stuck and dance group Pixel Grip.
“We try to make sure that everyone who plays there has at least something you can move to, whether it’s heavier rock or more danceable stuff. Just something to keep the energy, to keep it moving, because it’s freezing,” Heyl said.
Music Frozen Dancing is co-sponsored by Goose Island Beer Co. Doors open at 1 p.m. Saturday. Temperatures are expected to reach 38 degrees.
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