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This summer, as always, was full of exciting adventures around the country! Here are some of the highlights:

I celebrated 5 years with Zoe by spending a romantic weekend in Milwaukee and dinner at Petite Vie Brasserie.

I saw Aurora Borealis for the first time in my life in northern Michigan, and visited Arches National Park and Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

I performed at five music festivals in three different states, and half a dozen house/block parties from Chicago to Colorado.

I presented three classical piano recitals, including an “Olympic” program featuring music from around the world, and a special performance on a dock at Torch Lake in Michigan.

I performed an original score for a live comic book reading with Snack King Comics.

I recorded new tracks for upcoming releases by Chicago artists Ricky Liontones and OPLIAM at Bricktop Recording and Shirk Studios.

I got 1.5 million views on a single Instagram reel, by far the most I’ve ever had.

In total I had shows in 10 different states this summer, including places that I’ve never visited (like Seattle), and drove through at least 10 more. Here’s a smattering of beautiful sights along the way:

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A post shared by Mike Frasier (@mikefrasiermusic)

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A post shared by Mike Frasier (@mikefrasiermusic)

Here’s a list of the venues I’ve played at this summer (excluding private events):

Beat Kitchen

Brat Shop (Kehosha, WI)

Cole’s Bar

House of Blues

The Bunker (St. Charles, IL)

Boat Drinks (x2)

Imperial Oak Brewery Festival

Midsommarfest

Good Old Days Festival (Grand Junction, MI)

Not Your Father’s Music Festival (Aurora, IL)

Yardapalooza Festival

Subterranean

Fitzgerald’s (x2)

Pux Cider (Grand Rapids, MI)

Café Mustache

The Studio (Lockport, IL)

JBJ’s (Nashville, TN)

Bootlegger’s (Alexandria, LA)

Bayview Yacht Club (Alexandria, LA)

Liar’s Club

The Washington (Burlington, IA)

The Casita (Pueblo, CO)

Silver Moon Brewing (Bend, OR)

Mississippi Pizza (Portland, OR)

Blue Moon Tavern (Seattle, WA)

Pillar Forum (Minneapolis, MN)

As you can see, I’ve had a busy summer… but I’m not finished yet! With multiple local shows over the rest of this month and more tour/festival dates and an album release coming next month, the music never stops!

It’s that time of year again, and the summer festivals are back! I’ve already played my fair share of outdoor gigs this year, including a couple of shows at Boat Drinks at Burnham Harbor right on Lake Michigan. This weekend, though, I’m kicking things up a notch with back-to-back headlining festival performances.

The first show on Saturday is a headlining set with OPLIAM on the Center Stage at the 59th Annual Midsommarfest in Andersonville. We go on at 9PM to close out the evening, and I’m also looking forward to taking in the other musicians, artists, and vendors that will populate the streets of Chicago earlier in the day.

The second show will be with Ricky Liontones at Imperial Oak Brewing in Willow Springs, where they are celebrating “10 Years of Beers” with a weekend full of festivities. We will also be closing out the musical portion of the event with music from 4-7PM. This one will be a fun hang, with the promise of good music and great beer!

I’m also excited to announce that I’ll be touring with BOTH of these groups this summer, in what will surely be a hectic but fun couple of months. While I can’t announce anything just yet, I can say that we will be traveling all over the US and Canada, including some places I’ve never been. Stay tuned for official announcements on these upcoming dates!

Summer is here in Chicago! Time to post about some fun shows coming up in the next couple weeks.

May 24 – Boat Drinks

May 25 – House Party (DM for address)

June 2 – Boat Drinks

June 8 – Andersonville Midsommarfest (Berwyn Stage Headliner)

June 9 – Imperial Oak Brewing

Come see me perform, and enjoy some beautiful weather while you’re at it!

It’s been a while since I posted here! In fact, my overall online presence has been a bit lacking these days… Smooth Tuba Tuesday has been on its longest hiatus since I first created the series in 2019 😞, and I haven’t been uploading much of anything else either. I haven’t been lacking in things to post about, though!

Last week I gave my second piano recital of the year in Evanston. This time, I recorded it! Here’s a snippet from the very end of the recital.

As for things ahead, I’ve got three shows just this week! What’s more, they’re with three different groups…

This Thursday I’m playing with OPLIAM at Subterranean for the album release show of Apocalypse Dance Party. I recorded bass and keys for the album, so you can also hear me on the release streaming everywhere!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3BHiYjOR4e/?igsh=MTRhZGFrNDh3cGVyOQ==

On Friday I’m playing bass at Liar’s Club with Ricky Liontones. We played there twice in February, and now we’re back! It’s one of the best bars in Chicago, and I’m always excited to be a part of the all-loving madness that tends to take place there.

Lastly, on Saturday, I will once again be joining the gang at Snack King Comics for a comic book reading with live music. We first collaborated a year ago to bring their series “Man Boy” to life, and now we’re adding a second series to the lineup! “Wei Station Diner” is a sci-fi workplace comedy that takes place at a diner in outer space—need I say more?

We’ll be playing at Living Water Teahouse on Taylor Street, where the fun will be getting started at 7. Come for the comics, the tea, the tuba, or just a truly unique experience!

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A post shared by Snack King Comics (@snack_king_comics)

With all this going on just this week, you’ve got no excuse not to come see me!

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A post shared by Ricky Liontones Revue 🎶🦁🎶 (@rickyliontones)

It’s going to be a great year! I’m looking forward to all kinds of new opportunities, including teaching a world music course at Saint Xavier University, giving several classical piano recitals (stay tuned for public dates!), recording tracks for some upcoming album releases, and even taking on some tour dates around the country (and beyond?)

Here’s an upcoming show that I’m especially excited about: on February 1st we’re opening up for L.A. Guns! This glam metal band has been a staple of the rock scene since 1983, and it’s an absolute honor to share the bill with them. Come to The Forge in Joliet to catch this amazing show!

It’s that time of year again, as Presidio Brass makes a triumphant return to the “Happiest Place On Earth” as featured clinicians for the 2023 Thanksgiving Day Parade of Bands! This is one of my favorite gigs all year (for obvious reasons), and luckily the whole event will be live-streamed! You’ll hear Disney classics, holiday favorites, and more, all backed up by an enormous All-Star ensemble of several hundred high school band students. You can catch all the action on Thursday through the link below, starting at 8:45 EST.

https://banddirector.com/live-events/live-thanksgiving-parade-of-bands-2023/

Tomorrow night, I’ll be playing bass with Ricky Liontones as local support for the UK alternative rock band Demob Happy. They’re a great band with an awesome sound and really fun songs, so it’s a night you won’t want to miss!

The show starts with us at 8PM, with Demob Happy going afterwards. Be there!

This weekend I’m proud to be performing as a part of Chicago’s Indigenous Peoples Day Arts & Music Festival! This event brings two nights of music, culture, and dance that will sure to have you dancing along all night long.

Rather than attempt my own take on this important cultural event, here’s what the organizers have to say about the festival:

We are excited to announce the 5th Annual Indigenous Peoples Day Chicago Arts & Music Festival, a vibrant celebration of Indigenous culture, music, and a powerful call to abolish Columbus Day. Taking place on October 8th and 9th at the renowned Chop Shop in Wicker
Park, this year’s festival promises to be a remarkable event featuring some of the biggest names in Indigenous music from Canada, the United States, and Latin America.

The Indigenous Peoples Day Chicago Arts & Music Festival serves as a platform to honor and amplify the voices and contributions of Indigenous peoples while fostering unity, resilience, and cultural pride. By reclaiming this significant day, the festival aims to challenge the historical narratives surrounding Columbus Day and shed light on the rich tapestry of Indigenous cultures throughout the Americas.

During the two-day extravaganza, attendees will be able to immerse themselves in an awe-inspiring lineup of renowned Indigenous musicians from diverse backgrounds. From captivating performances by celebrated artists from Canada, the United States, and Latin America, the festival will showcase the incredible talent and cultural diversity of Indigenous music.

In addition to the captivating musical performances, the Indigenous Peoples Day Chicago Arts & Music Festival will feature various engaging activities, traditional craft artisans, and an interactive workshop hosted at The American Indian Center. Festival-goers will have the chance to observe the vibrancy of Indigenous culture firsthand.

The festival is open to the public, and admission is free. However, due to limited capacity, attendees are encouraged to reserve their tickets in advance through the festival’s official website or other designated platforms. Individuals can secure their spot at this highly anticipated event celebrating Indigenous culture and music by booking tickets early.

“We are thrilled to host the 5th Annual Indigenous Peoples Day Chicago Arts & Music Festival and provide a platform for Indigenous voices to be heard and celebrated,” said Liam McDonald of Sky People Ent. , the festival’s organizer. “This event is an important step towards acknowledging the contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples while advocating for the abolishment of Columbus Day.”

The Indigenous Peoples Day Chicago Arts & Festival will testify to the power of community, culture, and music in driving social change and promoting understanding and appreciation of Indigenous heritage. Participants will join a growing movement dedicated to raising awareness and dismantling harmful historical narratives by attending and supporting this festival.

This year’s event will include musical performances from Digging Roots (Canada), Keith Secola (USA), Novalima (Peru), OPLIAM (USA), Raye Zaragoza (USA), One Way Sky (USA), Earth Surface People (USA), Tres Hermanos Bautista (Mexico) and Hobawea Nahish (USA).

The event’s sponsors include The American Indian Center Chicago, The International Latino Cultural Center, and DCASE.

For more information about the festival, lineup announcements, and ticket reservations, please visit the official website at https://skypeopleentertainment.com/ipdchicago/. Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #IndigenousPeoplesDayChicago.

Sky People Entertainment

On Sunday I’ll be performing with Keith Secola, and on Monday I’ll be with OPLIAM. Both are terrific acts that I’m looking forward to joining on stage. Hopefully you can make it too!