President-elect Barack Obama will not only have the full support of his city, but also of his city’s music community, as he prepares for Inauguration Day. One of our favorite local music venues, the Hideout, will co-host the “Big Shoulders Ball: Chicago Celebrates Change” in Washington D.C. on January 19th, the eve of Inauguration Day. Buses will transport musicians and participants from the Hideout early Monday morning, and will arrive in D.C. that evening. The event will be held at D.C.’s leading independent music venue, the Black Cat. Performing musicians include local hero Andrew Bird, Tortoise, the Waco Brother and many other special guests.
Teaming up with the Hideout to sponsor the “Big Shoulders Ball” is local nonpartisan volunteer group, Interchange, which aims to connect citizens with politics and democratic procedure by means of music and art. The group’s volunteers registered over 15,000 voters and hosted Obama fundraisers during the candidate’s campaign.
Tickets to the Ball are $50 and can be purchased at the Hideout (1354 W. Wabansia) or at the Black Cat website (www.blackcatdc.com). All proceeds will go to the Chicago high schools (King and Dunbar) whose marching bands are playing at the Inauguration.
If you’re not in the elite group of people who were somehow able to snag tickets to the Inauguration, head over to the Hideout for a ticket to the “Big Shoulders Ball” and help represent Chicago’s art community, that so staunchly backed our new President on his road to the White House.
