The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) today announced the summer schedule and lineup for its #ChiOnTheFly entertainment series at O’Hare and Midway International Airports.

“Chicago is a world-class destination for culture and entertainment, from our globally renowned music festivals to our thriving neighborhood music venues,” CDA Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee said. “I’m proud to showcase the sounds of our great city at Chicago’s airports for travelers from around the world to hear.”

Many of the summer’s performances, which kick off in June, have been scheduled to coincide with summer music festivals, cultural events and holidays, including the Chicago House Music Festival, the Chicago Blues Festival, Juneteenth, the Chicago Pride Fest, Independence Day, Labor Day and the Chicago Jazz Festival.

Musical acts and entertainers scheduled for #ChiOnTheFly include: 

June 3 (Chicago House Music Festival)

• First Lady (ilovefirstlady.com/about-first-lady/) at Midway’s Battle of Midway exhibitfrom 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. First Lady (Khrishna Lynese Henderson-Hutchinson) is a DJ and radio personality with over 40 years of experience. 

June 6 (Chicago Blues Festival)

• Eric Noden (ericnoden.com) at O’Hare’s Terminal 1 Bridgefrom 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eric Noden is a Chicago-bases acoustic blues and roots musician known for his virtuosic fingerpicking guitar along with his honey and whiskey-tinged voice. 

June 7 (Chicago Blues Festival)

• Smiley Tillmon Band (smileytillmonband.com)  at Midway’s Battle of Midway exhibit from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Moses ‘Smiley’ Tillmon leads one of Chicagoland’s busiest blues outfits, which has been serving up blues and soul standards for more than 55 years.
• Breezy Rodio (breezyrodio.com) at O’Hare’s Terminal 3 Rotundafrom 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Breezy Rodio has been performing in the Chicago Blues circuit since 2007 and most recently released the album “Underground Blues” in 2022.

June 14 (Juneteenth)

• ReTurn2SouL (return2soul.info)  at O’Hare’s Terminal 3 Rotunda from 9 a.m. to noon. ReTurn2SouL takes listeners back to simpler times with their renditions of old school R&B, Motown and pop, along with some jazz and blues, played by skilled and experienced musicians – some of whom have been performing together since their teens.

June 21(Juneteenth and Chicago Pride Fest weekend)

• Return2Soul (return2soul.info)  at Midway’s Battle of Midway exhibitfrom 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Windy City Performing Arts (windycitysings.org/about-wcpa/) at O’Hare’s Terminal 3 Rotunda from 2 to 5 p.m. Windy City Performing Arts presents performances by the Windy City Gay Chorus and the Windy City Treble Quire in a variety of musical styles to inspire change, celebrate diversity and honor the dignity of the LGBTQ+ community.

June 28 (Pride Parade weekend)

• Windy City Performing Arts (windycitysings.org/about-wcpa/)at O’Hare’s Terminal 3 Rotunda from 2 to 5 p.m.

July 3 (Independence Day)

• Uncle Sam throughout O’Hare’s Terminalsfrom 9 a.m. to noon. The personification and mascot of American patriotism will greet and entertain travelers to celebrate our nation’s birthday. 

July 5 (Independence Day)

• Uncle Sam at Midway’s Battle of Midway Exhibit from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

July 11

• CoverGirls Violin Show (covergirlsviolinshow.com) at Midway’s Baggage Claim from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The CoverGirls Violin Show is a colorful, high-energy musical revue of the greatest pop and rock hits from Led Zeppelin to Lady Gaga – all performed on the CoverGirls' signature purple electric violins.

July 18

• David Chiriboga (davidchiribogamusic.com),  at O’Hare’s Terminal 1 Bridgefrom 9 a.m. to noon. Chicago-based guitarist David Chiriboga offers 20 years of experience in showcasing premier artists in flamenco, Spanish guitar and dance ensembles throughout the Midwest and beyond. 

July 19

• Geordie Kelly (geordiekelly.com) at O’Hare’s Terminal 3 Baggage Claim from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Geordie Kelly is a guitarist, composer and band leader performing straight-up jazz in a guitar trio format. He has played in 56 countries and counting across North America, Europe, Asia and parts of Africa.

Aug. 14

• Emily Kuhn (emilykuhntrumpet.com)  at Midway’s Baggage Claimfrom 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Emily Kuhn is a Chicago-based jazz trumpet player, composer, arranger and music educator who leads a jazz quintet and a nine-piece chamber jazz ensemble called Helios.
• Uncle Sam at Midway’s Battle of Midway Exhibit from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• DJ Eric Martin (instagram.com/ericmartinsquad/)  at O’Hare’s Terminal 1 Baggage Claim from 9 a.m. to noon. DJ Eric Martin has been playing house, stepper, R&B and hip-hop hits since 1982.
• A Flor de Piel (aflordepielmusic.com)  at O’Hare’s Terminal 3 Rotunda from noon to 3 p.m. Formed in 2007 by Grammy and Latin Grammy nominee Renato Ceron and frontwoman Marison Ceron, A Flor de Piel weaves together the traditional sounds of Latin America with global influences and electronic elements.

 Aug. 15

• The Luna Blues Machine (thelunabluesmachine.com) at Midway’s Baggage Claimfrom 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Luna Blues Machine is a Chicago-based acoustic hip-hop, Latin and folk-soul band fronted by sisters Belinda and Maritza Cervantes since 2001.
• Return2Soul (return2soul.info)  at O’Hare’s Terminal 2 Upper Level from 9 a.m. to noon.
• Lincoln (mrlincoln.com) throughoutO’Hare’s Terminals from 9 a.m. to noon. Abraham Lincoln reenactor Kevin Wood portrays America’s 16th president as he strolls through the terminals to greet and entertain travelers.
• Gabrielle Goudard (gabriellegoudard.com)  in O’Hare’s Terminal 3 Rotundafrom noon to 3 p.m. Gabrielle Goudard is an operatic soprano and multidisciplinary artist who has also performed jazz and gospel, in addition to Balinese, Middle Eastern and Turkish music. Goudard has appeared on numerous stages around the world, including festivals in France, Italy, Norway, Spain, Lebanon, Oman, Turkey, China, Taiwan, Peru and the United States. 

Aug. 16

• Return2Soul (return2soul.info) at Midway’s Baggage Claim from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Uncle Sam at Midway’s Battle of Midway exhibit from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Lincoln (mrlincoln.com) throughoutO’Hare’s Terminals from 9 a.m. to noon. David Chiriboga (davidchiribogamusic.com), at O’Hare’s Terminal 1 Bridge from 9 a.m. to noon.
• Piraguas Y Piropos (ee/piraguasypiropos) at O’Hare’s Terminal 3 Rotundafrom noon to 3 p.m. Piraguas Y Piropos is an ensemble that performs traditional Puerto Rican Jibaro music, which has a background in classical music and offers the flavor and syncopations of the Caribbean. 

Aug. 17

• Return2Soul (info) at Midway’s Baggage Claim from 9 a.m. to noon.
• Geordie Kelly (geordiekelly.com) at O’Hare’s Terminal 1 Bridge from 9 a.m. to noon.
• Radio Free Honduras (radiofreehonduras.com) at O’Hare’s Terminal 3 Rotundafrom 1 to 4 p.m. Radio Free Honduras is a diverse collective of Chicago musicians, all united under one goal – supporting the artistry of Charlie Baran, a founding member of legendary Honduran group Banda Blanca who now works as a maintenance man at a Catholic grade school.
• DJ John Young at O’Hare’s Terminal 2 Upper Level from noon to 3 p.m.

Aug. 18

• Smiley Tillmon Band (smileytillmonband.com) at Midway’s Baggage Claim from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• DJ E at O’Hare’s Terminal 1 Baggage Claim from 9 a.m. to noon.
• Uncle Sam throughout O’Hare’s Terminalsfrom 9 a.m. to noon. 

Aug. 23

• Banjo Buddies (banjobuddies.com) at Midway’s Battle of Midway exhibitfrom 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Banjo Buddies Dixieland Jazz Band's repertoire includes classic Dixieland jazz and popular standards spanning three decades. For over 20 years, the band has played over 200 engagements, with musical styles that include swing, blues and novelty tunes.
• KAIA String Quartet (kaiastringquartet.com) at O’Hare’s Terminal 3 Rotundafrom 9 a.m. to noon. The KAIA String Quartet plays an active role in Chicago's music scene, where they are regular guests at the Chicago Latino Music Festival and the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art.
• Breezy Rodio (breezyrodio.com) at O’Hare’s Terminal 1 Bridgefrom 9 a.m. to noon.
• Gustavo Cortiñas (gustavocortinasmusic.com) at O’Hare’s Terminal 3 Baggage Claim from noon to 3 p.m. Mexican-born and Chicago-based Gustavo Cortiñas is a bandleader, drummer and lyricist who seeks to create music that celebrates differences and unites communities.

Aug. 25

• KAIA String Quartet (kaiastringquartet.com) at Midway’s Baggage Claimfrom 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Return2Soul (return2soul.info)  at O’Hare’s Terminal 3 Rotunda from 9 a.m. to noon.

Aug. 29

• Gustavo Cortiñas (gustavocortinasmusic.com) at Midway’s Baggage Claim from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Aug. 30

• Alfonso Ponticelli (gypsyjazz.us) at O’Hare’s Terminal 1 Bridgefrom 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. One-man band Alfonso Ponticelli plays a wide array of instruments from violins, bass and percussion to the mountain dulcimer, looping layers of instruments to replicate the sound of a full band. 

A full calendar of performances at O’Hare and Midway is available on FlyChicago.com. Check FlyChicago’s website regularly for updates on other artists and entertainers added to this season’s lineup. 

Interested in performing at Chicago's airports? The #ChiOnTheFly entertainment series from the CDA hosts 100+ music, dance and family-friendly performances at Midway and O’Hare each year. Performers are paid at a starting rate of $500 based on group size. Visit entertainment.flychicago.com for more information and to apply.