Listen while you Taste

Hampered by a lack of funds and a shortage of imagination in the bookings, the musical component of Taste of Chicago hasn't offered much to get excited about in recent years. But, hey, the price is right (it's free), the backdrop of Lake Michigan and Grant Park are spectacular and you can grab a corn dog or a brat while you listen.

As always, things kick off with the Chicago Country Music Festival. The gambler himself, Kenny Rogers, will perform at the Petrillo Music Shell on Saturday afternoon at 3, and Sara Evans and Craig Morgan take the stage at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

Monday evening features Broadway in Chicago with the casts of "Wicked" and "The Color Purple" at 6 p.m.; Tuesday offers the traditional Grant Park Orchestra accompaniment for the fireworks at 8 p.m., and this year, the big Fourth of July concert features vaguely bluesy, middle-of-the-road troubadour John Mayer, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, and Rodrigo Y Gabriela starting at 3 p.m.

On Thursday evening, Lyfe Jennings and Musiq Soulchild offer a soulful double bill starting at 5:30 p.m. Taste then wraps up next weekend with a jam-band fix starting at 5:30 p.m. on July 6 with the Black Crowes and Umphrey's McGee; Cheap Trick, Soul Asylum and Cracker beginning at 5 p.m. on July 7, and Los Lonely Boys and an opener yet to be announced starting at 3 p.m. on July 8.

For more information, visit egov.cityofchicago.org.