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Ryan Beatty Brings a New Bravado to House of Blues
Ryan Beatty has never been a musician in a hurry. The California native cut his teeth as an unofficial member of Brockhampton, contributing to the hip-hop boyband's chaotic sprawl before his solo debut, Boy in Jeans, in 2018. It wasn't until Calico in 2023, though, that Beatty established himself as a master songsmith, known for razor-sharp lyricism and meticulously restrained arrangements. Soon after, Beyoncé tapped him to co-write four tracks on Cowboy Carter, a collaboration that earned him a Grammy. Now, off the back of his new LP, Sweet Fortune, Beatty trades some of Calico's austerity for lusher, more classically structured songs rooted in traditional folk storytelling, without losing the intensity that's become his signature.
Role Model Brings the State Fair to The Salt Shed Fairgrounds
Hailing from coastal Maine, Role Model embodies everything a fairgrounds headliner should be. On the first of two nights at The Salt Shed, the Chicago River drifted behind the stage as riverboats and even a wedding party occasionally passed by the packed outdoor venue. In front of it all stood Tucker Pillsbury with little more than his band and a synchronized row of glowing orange lights. Despite the simple stage production, there was never a dull moment. With country-tinged instrumentation and an effortless charm, Pillsbury made the Fairgrounds feel like a state fair on the last weekend of summer.
