The Big Shoulders Ball January 19, 2009

The Hideout and Interchange present
The Big Shoulders Ball: Chicago Celebrates Change
Featuring Andrew Bird, Tortoise, Waco Brothers, Eleventh Dream Day, David "Honeyboy" Edwards with Michael Frank, Ken Vandermark, Jon Langford, Sally Timms, Freakwater, Icy Demons, Judson Claiborne and special guests TBA
Mon., Jan. 19
Black Cat, Washington DC
Tickets $50, a portion of proceeds benefit the Future of Music Coalition and the Chicago Public Schools marching bands program
On the Web, buy tickets via www.blackcatdc.com (direct link: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1500418FD6B0ACDD?artistid=1281972&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=60)
In Chicago, buy tickets at the Hideout (1354 W Wabansia, call 773-227-4433)
For more info see www.hideoutchicago.com and www.interchangefestival.org

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Chicago musicians unite
to celebrate inauguration in DC

The Hideout and Interchange are thrilled to announce The Big Shoulders Ball: Chicago Celebrates Change. This celebration of citizen politics, independent music and Windy City civic pride will take place on the eve of the presidential inauguration―Monday night, Jan. 19―at the Black Cat in Washington, DC.

Featured performers at the Big Shoulders Ball include Andrew Bird, Tortoise, Waco Brothers, Eleventh Dream Day, Jon Langford, Sally Timms, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Ken Vandermark, Freakwater, Icy Demons and Judson Claiborne, plus special guests to be announced.

On the Web, tickets go on sale via www.blackcatdc.com on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 4:00 p.m. CT. Cost is $50 with a portion of proceeds going to the Chicago Public Schools marching bands program and the Future of Music Coalition. In Chicago, tickets may be purchased at the Hideout (1354 W Wabansia). Ball-goers are encouraged (but not required!) to wear vintage, thrift-store, hand-me-down and ex-bridesmaid formal attire.

The Big Shoulders Ball represents a culmination of activities by the Hideout and Interchange during the 2008 election cycle. Interchange volunteers registered more than 1,500 voters at the Pitchfork Music Festival and the Hideout Block Party. The Hideout hosted fundraisers for Barack Obama and weekend GOTV carpools to Wisconsin and Indiana.

In addition to presenting the Big Shoulders Ball itself, the Hideout has chartered two buses to transport performers, staff, friends and participants in its GOTV activities to the DC area and back.

Hideout co-owner Tim Tuten is ecstatic about the ball. "Since the first Interchange Festival on the street in front of the Hideout in 2004, we have dreamed of the day that we could all celebrate a new direction for our country," Tuten says. "Of course we never dreamed that the person leading that movement would be a local guy from right here in Chicago. Our city's musicians, artists, writers and volunteers were part of the first wave of this ground-breaking campaign. They are the heart of our club's community. There was no way that we could miss this historic event."

The Hideout is a live music venue that supports cutting-edge creative artists. It has been nationally recognized as one of the best live music venues in the country, as well as one of the most politically progressive. Its staff and artists share a belief in artistic freedom and socially responsible business practices.

Interchange is a nonpartisan, all-volunteer effort to engage citizens in the democratic process through underground music and art. Interchange works with artists, performers, venues, and fans to mobilize individuals as enfranchised and informed voters who realize the value of civic participation and seize their power to organize, advocate, volunteer and vote.

Performers on the Web:
Andrew Bird http://www.andrewbird.net
Tortoise http://www.trts.com
Waco Brothers http://www.myspace.com/wacobrothers
Eleventh Dream Day http://www.thrilljockey.com/artists/?id=10015
Jon Langford http://www.bloodshotrecords.com/artist/jon-langford
Sally Timms http://www.touchandgorecords.com/bands/band.php?id=30
David "Honeyboy" Edwards http://www.davidhoneyboyedwards.com/
Ken Vandermark http://www.kenvandermark.com/
Freakwater http://www.myspace.com/freakwater
Icy Demons http://www.icydemons.com/
Judson Claiborne http://www.myspace.com/judsonclaiborne

www.blackcatdc.com
www.hideoutchicago.com
www.interchangefestival.org

All Hotels are sold out: there is plenty of room in DC with AirBed & Breakfast

Official Website: http://www.interchangefestival.org/