Lincoln Square – Chicagoans are honoring the late folk‑songwriter John Prine during a five‑day Souvenirs festival that highlights his deep ties to the city. The event, held at venues including the Old Town School of Folk Music and the Chicago Theatre, offers fans a chance to celebrate Prine’s legacy close to home.
Local fans and families gather
Cam Bourne, a 29‑year‑old longtime fan from Logan Square, said Prine’s music resonated because it was “unpretentious, but also incredibly profound.” Bourne joined a steady stream of attendees at the Old Town School’s pop‑up shop, where Oh Boy Records – the label Prine founded in 1981 – showcased memorabilia.
Eileen Tilson, vice president of marketing for Oh Boy Records, noted that Chicago remains Prine’s top market and that tickets for the festival’s tribute concert at the Chicago Theatre sold out within minutes.
Events across the city
The festival includes a dozen events throughout Chicago. While many have sold out, tickets remain for Friday screenings of the documentary How Lucky Can One Man Get at the Gene Siskel Film Center (164 N. State St.) at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Maywood, Prine’s hometown, will host a day‑long celebration on Sunday, featuring trolley and walking tours beginning at 10 a.m. at 121 S. 5th Ave. Hattie B’s in Wrigleyville will offer drink and food specials with live music at 3 p.m., followed by a John Prine look‑alike contest at 6 p.m.
Foundation support and local impact
After Prine’s death from COVID‑19 in 2020, his family created The Hello in There Foundation, which supports veterans, addresses the opioid crisis, aids the unhoused, and promotes the arts. The foundation has donated roughly $1.5 million, with the Old Town School of Folk Music listed as a 2026 grantee.
Jack Prine, John’s son and event producer for the foundation, said the Chicago festival makes the celebration more accessible to local fans who cannot travel to Nashville for the annual “You Got Gold” fundraiser.
Fans travel from afar
Fans such as Henry Browning, 69, and his daughter Taylor, 36, traveled from New Hampshire and New York, while Jim Davis, 69, came from Indianapolis despite battling cancer, noting this may be his last chance to attend a Prine event.
Attendees praised Prine’s timeless songwriting, citing lyrics that still speak to today’s issues, from war to everyday life.
The Souvenirs festival continues through the weekend, offering Chicago residents and visitors a chance to honor a musician who called the city “the best city in America.”
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
