2023 Year in review! Huntington Bank Pavilion 2023 highlights.

Chicago music fans have enjoyed great entertainment for almost two decades thanks to the fan-favorite concert venue, the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island. The iconic outdoor amphitheater was supposed to be a temporary structure, but due to its popularity, it has been situated at its prime location for 18 years! This 2023, fans from across Illinois and beyond have gathered all together on Northerly Island for the chance to experience top-tier concerts and festivals. The “venue with a view” has been a crucial part of the state’s rich entertainment scene! For the past year alone, some of the biggest names in music have made their way to Huntington Bank Pavilion and delivered incredible hits and fan favorites! The 91-acre venue, which can accommodate up to a whopping 30,000 concert attendees, is the perfect location to host massive events! The venue has an ultra-active spring and summer season running from May to June all the way to September! Every year, the Huntington Bank Pavilion hosts up to 70 to 80 concerts, many of which are major tours run by major artists. Here’s a review of what went down in the year 2023!

For this year alone, the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island welcomes many of the biggest and hottest names in music – from hyperactive indie rock outfits to old-school rockers, coveted country superstars, and EDM festivals. The month of June had over 30 performers who graced the stage at the breathtaking venue with a view. The month opened with incredible energy as the veteran indie rock outfit Yeah Yeah Yeahs came in on June 1st and rocked the house like never before. It was definitely time to celebrate the sizzling hot season with ultra-energized music. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, led by the esteemed frontwoman Karen O, had the entire venue jumping up and down to their career-spanning hits. 

That same month, the venue hosted a massive EDM gathering featuring Two Friends, Matoma, Laszewo, and Sunday Scaries. This was a perfect precursor of what’s to come because June was also the period when Huntington Bank Pavilion hosted the massive annual spectacle, Heatwave Chicago! The highly popular EDM festival brought top-tier headliners, such as Tiesto, Gryffin, SLANDER, Apashe, Kai Wahi, and LSDREAM. The venue was fully packed with colorful ravers, all entering the venue with remarkable smiles and eager to bask in the sunny Chicago summer weather and great music! From June 10th to 11th, the Heatwave Music Festival 2023 conquered Huntington Bank Pavilion with a plethora of performers and tens of thousands of locals and tourists. 

After the massive gathering of ravers, the venue paved the way for pop-driven spectacles by Louis Tomlinson, Quinn CCII, and Julia Wolf. Outstanding musicians like Billy Strings and Young the Giant also made the venue their home for one night. On Tuesday, 27th June, the groundbreaking tandem of ‘90s rockers Garbage and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds closed the month with a bang by performing their iconic hits!

By July, the big hitters of the road arrived. Firstly, veteran touring powerhouse Dave Matthews Band came in to perform two nights at the Huntington Bank Pavilion. From Friday 7th to Saturday 8th July, the sensational rock band delivered their high-energy jams. The improv masters have always given audiences something entirely different each time they go on stage. So many fans have stayed for both performances like true concert warriors. 

The month of July also brought in the mighty purveyors of pop-punk as Yellowcard, Mayday Parade, Story of the Year, and more hit the venue on Sunday, 16th July, for Yellowcard’s Celebrating 20 years of Ocean Avenue. The epic rock band celebrated their career-defining effort by performing the album in its entirety, as well as delivering new hits and outstanding staples. If you thought that concert was epic, wait ‘til you learn that Huntington Bank Pavilion hosted the Sad Summer Festival a few days later. The brand new high-profile punk festival patterned after the now-defunct Warped Tour features incredible names, such as Taking Back Sunday, The Maine, Motion City Soundtrack, PVRIS, and Hot Mulligan. Emo and punk fans – most of whom were pumped to have such a great line-up again flocked to Northerly Island to celebrate the return of their favorite emo, punk, and alternative bands. Finally, the month closed with some old-school alternative, rock and roll, funk veterans, Slightly Stoopid, Incubus, Sublime with Rome, and Giovannie & The Hired Guns. 

August’s line-up was a little more diverse as the month started with a coveted gig featuring Swedish Viking king Amon Amarth on Tuesday, 15th August. The band is notorious not just for its massive moshpits but also for getting fans to line up and sit on the ground, rowing as if they’re stirring a Viking’s longboat. It sounds outrageous. But one has to be there in order to appreciate the camaraderie of heavy metal fans when their favorite bands are on stage! 

A few days after Amon Amorth, 90s rock veterans The Goo Goo Dolls came in with their special guests, O.A.R., which stands for Of A Revolution. The show, titled The Big Night Out, was part of the most anticipated rock tours of the season. Lucky for fans in Illinois, they had the chance to see iconic hits, such as “Black Balloon,” “Iris,” “Slide,” and more. Finally, the month ended with more bands and talented instrumentalists like 5 Seconds of Summer, Dominic Fike, Beck, and indie outfit Phoenix.

Lastly, before saying goodbye to summer, the Huntington Bank Pavilion went out with a bang by hosting a concert featuring timeless icons Duran Duran, Bastille, and Chic featuring Nile Rodgers. It was a thrilling retrospective trip, and fans were treated to countless hits that night on Friday, 1st September. Capping of the summer season was the soul and blues sensation Hozier who entertained thousands of fans with “Take Me to Church,” “Eat Your Young,” “Work Song,” and many more.

Fans often come to Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island to enjoy great music in an outdoor concert setting. The venue’s ample space provides great room for groups to relax. Many would set up lawn chairs or mats to enjoy the hot Chicago weather during the summer. Enjoying the season with refreshing drinks and scrumptious food is also one of the top reasons why the venue is so popular with concertgoers. An attendee raved about her experience at the venue in her review. “This is my favorite venue in all of Chicago! I go at least once every summer. This year, I give special mention to Andrew Steele, an employee that was very helpful to us in finding some earplugs for my daughter. Great guy and an asset to this venue! I will return at least once more this summer.” Meanwhile, Amy Brennan Kallner from Ohio shared her excitement after attending a concert. “AMAZING VENUE!!!!! Absolutely beautiful. All of the workers were amazing – kind, efficient, professional.”

True enough, Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island is dedicated to providing attendees with the ultimate entertainment experience. Their goals include streamlining the entry and exit process, organizing parking, and consistently improving guest services. The venue is also equipped with state-of-the-art sound and light, as well as complete facilities and easy accessibility. Most of all, the venue is proud to host many of Chicago’s most exciting concerts and festivals! Whether you were able to enjoy a concert experience here in 2023 or totally missed out, there’s no need to worry! You can still enjoy the summer season this 2024 by choosing from the myriad of confirmed acts at the venue! Hurry and secure tickets now, and come visit Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island!

Huntington Bank Pavilion 2023 Schedule