Lincoln Square and Ravenswood neighbors will hear the “soundtrack of the neighborhood” this Saturday as the inaugural My Block Mixtape music crawl rolls through the area. Co‑organized by My Block Mixtape and the Heart of Lincoln Square Neighbors Association, the day‑long event features original music from twelve local artists performing at four community venues.

Live performances across the neighborhood

Music lovers can gather at the Ainslie Arts Plaza, the Old Town School of Folk Music, Platform 47 and Borelli’s Pizzeria to catch live sets. The schedule begins at 11 a.m. with Brad Robin featuring Pamela Spann at Ainslie Arts Plaza and continues through the evening, ending with She’s So Quiet at Borelli’s Pizzeria at 8 p.m. A full lineup is provided below.

• Ainslie Arts Plaza, 4836 N. Lincoln Ave.
  • 11 a.m.: Brad Robin featuring Pamela Spann
• Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.
  • Noon: Shelley Miller
  • 1:15 p.m.: Red Star Ramblers
• Platform 47, 4709 N. Damen Ave.
  • 12:30 p.m.: Superfrye
  • 1:30 p.m.: M4TR
  • 2:30 p.m.: Far Leys
  • 3:30 p.m.: Giselle Zemira
• Borelli’s Pizzeria, 2124 W. Lawrence Ave.
  • 4 p.m.: Supernova Blackout
  • 5 p.m.: Gregg Mandel
  • 6 p.m.: The Paper Cups
  • 7 p.m.: ADHD Sad Boy
  • 8 p.m.: She’s So Quiet

Scanning the streets for hidden tracks

Beyond the stage, participants can scan QR codes posted at intersections to hear additional songs from musicians who live nearby. Those who cannot attend in person may stream the entire map of songs through My Block Mixtape’s online platform.

Creator’s vision for neighborhood soundtracks

Ravenswood resident and musician Maria Poulos launched My Block Mixtape this summer. The website invites Chicago musicians to submit an original recording along with the corner where they reside. After review, each song is pinned to a virtual map that lets listeners explore music by geography.

“Every Chicago neighborhood has a unique personality, and its music is intertwined with that identity,” Poulos said. She hopes the Lincoln Square crawl will serve as a blueprint for similar events in other neighborhoods, allowing residents to discover the cultural fabric of their own streets.

Community building through third spaces

Loren Johnson, president of the Heart of Lincoln Square Neighbors Association, emphasized the importance of third spaces where neighbors can meet face‑to‑face. As an architect, Johnson believes events like this music crawl strengthen social ties and encourage civic pride.

The association is covering the musicians’ fees for the day, and donations are accepted to support both the artists and future crawls.

What to expect

Attendees will experience a surprising variety of styles. Poulos notes a strong presence of punk rock bands in Lincoln Square, while heading east reveals more psychedelic and EDM‑based acts. She adds that many musicians draw inspiration from their surroundings, and hearing a song in the context of its “geography” can deepen the listening experience.

For families, friends, or anyone curious about the local creative scene, the My Block Mixtape crawl offers a day of live music, neighborhood exploration, and a chance to support home‑grown talent.

Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.