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Warm Love Cool Dreams Returns to Chicago’s Salt Shed on Memorial Day Weekend With Courtney Barnett and The Jesus and Mary Chain

Presented by The Empty Bottle, the festival leans into avant‑garde programming across Salt Shed spaces, with river boats expanding the experience.

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Overview

  • The second edition runs May 23–24, 2026, marking the festival’s return after its 2024 debut.
  • Lineup highlights include Courtney Barnett, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Toro y Moi, Nourished by Time, and Smerz, with Chicago acts Whitney, Tortoise, Pixel Grip, and Tobacco City confirmed.
  • Single-day and two-day general‑admission passes go on sale Feb. 6, with all tickets sold as GA.
  • Programming spans the indoor venue, outdoor Fairgrounds, rooftop and arcade spaces such as Three Top Lounge and Elston Electric, plus boat rides around Goose Island.
  • Organizers frame the event as a boundary‑pushing alternative during a reshaped Memorial Day festival slate that also features Sueños and Forever Mine, with additional on‑site markets and an available day‑by‑day schedule.