Apr 16, 2024 - Things to Do

The Hideout celebrates WLS Barn Dance centennial

Monica Eng

A band plays in a black-and-white photo. — The Cumberland Ridge Runners were a regular act on the WLS Barn Dance. Photo courtesy of Mark Guarino

The Hideout is marking 100 years since the first broadcast of the WLS Barn Dance this Saturday.

The big picture: The show once piped country music into millions of homes.

"Without Chicago and the Barn Dance a hundred years ago, there wouldn't be a Nashville and Grand Ole Opry today, " music writer Mark Guarino, who will perform at the event, tells Axios.

The lineup: "Hey, Hey, The Gang's All Here: A Chicago Barn Dance," to be broadcast on WFMT, will include musical performances, plus history, poetry, comedy, and square dancing between sets.

Performing will be Kelly Hogan, Girls of the Golden West, Tara Betts, Los Gallos, Andrew Sa and many more.

If you go: Tickets for the 8:30pm show are $20; the early shows are sold out.

Add Axios on Google

The Hideout celebrates WLS Barn Dance centennial

More Chicago stories