30 Rock's Tracy Morgan
ROCK ON: 30 Rock’s Tracy Morgan takes on Hammond, Indiana.

THE FIVE

Don’t-miss picks for Wed 08.12.09 through Tue 08.18.09:

1

farrago Tracy Morgan
Because driving to an Indiana casino on Saturday night is only slightly crazier than something 30 Rock’s Tracy Jordan would do. Hear the Emmy-nominated star perform standup on a stage management swears is an easy 20 minutes from the Loop; we say leave yourself at least double the time.
GO: Aug 15 at 7:30. $29.50-$45. The Venue at Horseshoe Casino, 777 Casino Center Dr, Hammond, IN. thevenue-chicago.com
2

concerts Green Music Fest
This inaugural eco-minded fest (biodegradable beer cups, anyone?) features a top-notch bill of indie acts—Art Brut, Tapes ‘n Tapes, Lucero—for a fraction of last weekend’s Lolla prices.
GO: Aug 15, 16: noon-10. Eckhart Park, 1330 W Chicago. $11.50 per day; $20 two-day pass. greenmusicfestchicago.com
3

farrago An Evening with BÉla Fleck
A don’t-miss for fans of the virtuosic picker. In 2008, Fleck traveled to Africa to suss out banjo’s African roots. That quest became the film Throw Down Your Heart, which screens this week, followed by a live mini set and Q & A with Fleck.
GO: Aug 15 at 8. $20-$24. Music Box, 3733 N Southport. ticketweb.com
4

farrago Bicycle Film Festival
Twee wool caps, knickers as far as the eye can see: No, it’s not an audition for Oliver. This fourth annual fest inspires a passionate following among the fixed-gear crowd. Five days of bike-themed screenings, art parties, concerts and more wrap with a street bash (bike-polo lessons, a mechanics’ bike build-off, all manner of tricks and sprints) that should rank high on the spectacle meter. 
GO: Aug 12-16. Prices vary. Full schedule: bicyclefilmfestival.com
5

concerts Susan Werner
A model of Midwestern no-nonsensibility, the rural-Iowan-turned-Chicagoan focuses her songwriting on smart ideas and strong melodies. How can you not love a woman who rhymes "Studs Terkel" with "Wieners Circle"?
GO: Aug 13 at 7:30. $50. Auditorium Theatre, 50 E Congress. ticketmaster.com

FREEBIES OF THE WEEK

Two reasons to hustle to Millennium Park, especially if you haven’t been yet this season: The Grant Park Orchestra brings its 75th anniversary season to a close with Beethoven’s imminently hummable Ninth on Aug 14. Then, on Aug 17, a poster girl for the next generation of composers takes the stage: the new-music-folkie-slash-multi-instrumentalist Emily Wells, who’s difficult to categorize but fascinating to hear. That is, if you can hear anything following the Air and Water Show.