Axios Chicago Weekender
June 25, 2026
1 big thing: A Day In The Country back at the Hideout
A whole lot of country music is coming back to the Hideout this weekend.
The big picture: A Day In The Country returns Sunday for its 18th year, bringing Americana, bluegrass and honky-tonk back to the beloved bar where the festival began.
What they're saying: "The festival's audience is a music-loving, good-drinking crowd," founder Lawrence Peters tells Axios. "From youngsters who are just getting into country music, through Gen-Xers and grizzled veterans of the genre."
Zoom in: Headliner Split Lip Rayfield — one of local label Bloodshot Records' earliest breakout bands — blends bluegrass virtuosity with punk energy. Sunday's set will mark the Kansas band's first Chicago performance in nearly a decade.
Zoom out: The Hideout hosting the fest is appropriate as the club has been at the epicenter of Chicago's renowned alt-country music scene, once featuring acts like Robbie Fulks, The Mekons, Andrew Bird and Jeff Tweedy.
How it works: The first few sets happen outdoors before the festival moves inside for the evening, with music also piped onto the Hideout's patio.
- Babygold Barbecue will be serving food throughout the day.
The bottom line: Peters says keeping A Day In The Country alive helps sustain Chicago's Americana and alt-country community while introducing new fans to the genre.
If you go: The festival runs from 1-10pm Sunday at the Hideout.
- VIP packages ($60, including a T-shirt) are available online, while general admission tickets will be sold at the door.
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Axios Chicago Weekender
