07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Windy City Smokeout 2025 opens this week, the annual double bill of barbecue and country music
It's no secret that country music is booming, what with streaming services like Spotify reporting triple-digit increases in listenership in the last five years, Gen Z fans adding their numbers and major artists like Beyoncé jumping on the bandwagon — Beyoncé was recently in Chicago on her 'Cowboy Carter' tour. Amidst all that, traditional country still holds center stage — the legendary George Strait broke records last summer for the most tickets sold at a U.S. concert, with more than 110,000 at Texas A&M.
Country music also has long had a strong following in Chicago — and if you had to pick a flagship annual country music event, that would be Windy City Smokeout.
The annual four-day music festival is coming this week to the grounds outside the United Center, where it's been held since 2019, produced by Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants. Along with music headliners like Jon Pardi, Bailey Zimmerman and Kane Brown, the main attraction is the food by 20-plus barbecue pit masters from Chicago and around the country. Windy City Smokeout 2025 is expected to draw more than 20,000 attendees per day.
Thursday, July 10: Bailey Zimmerman, Koe Wetzel, DJ Sommer Ray, Shane Smith & The Saints, Bayker Blankenship, Angel White
Friday, July 11: Old Dominion, Dylan Gossett, Josh Meloy, Lauren Watkins, Maggie Antone
Saturday, July 12: Kane Brown, Megan Moroney, Charles Wesley Godwin, Austin Snell, Kashus Culpepper
Sunday, July 13: Jon Pardi, Riley Green, Ella Langley, Sam Barber, Josh Ross
Pitmasters and restaurants represented from Chicago include Green Street Smoked Meats, Soul & Smike, Bub City, Barry Sorkin of Smoque BBQ, Dominique Leach of Lexington Betty Smokehouse, Chicago Q and Chef Art Smith's Reunion.
Other regional barbecue includes Texas and Kansas City styles and barbecue from the Southwest. Other vendors offer alternatives such as pizza, salads and other cuisines. General admission tickets do not include the price of food.
The Sunday BBQ Brunch (11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 13; sold out) is presented by Illinois Pork Producers Association with dishes from pitmasters, a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar, bottomless mimosas and live acoustic music.
