WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

Donna Summer, one of the most successful singers of the 1970s and perhaps the most important female artist in the history of electronic music, died this morning after a battle with cancer.

As dream teams go, the crew of Chicago club and concert veterans recently assembled to run the newish Rogers Park venue Mayne Stage rivals even Marvel Comics’ legendary Avengers.

The eighth annual Riot Fest has tapped some of the biggest names yet for its raucous stages. The first round of acts announced by promoters includes Rise Against, Iggy and the Stooges, Elvis Costello, the Offspring, Gogol Bordello and the Jesus and Mary Chain.

Promoters of the end-of-summer punk-rock blow-out Riot Fest are hoping to expand yet again by taking the festival outdoors to Humboldt Park.

Allen Toussaint, Dianne Reeves and Roy Haynes will headline this year's Chicago Jazz Festival.Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events announced the lineup on Wednesday. The free festival takes place on the Labor Day weekend, running Aug. 30 to Sept. 2.

On Wednesday's Afternoon Shift we talk with The Atlantic's David Samuels about Kanye West's place in the cultural landscape.

Chicago’s cultural minions have announced some of this summer’s musical acts.