Hideout Block Party features the New Pornographers, Drunken Spelling Bee, Michael Jackson tribute and more

Home to the out-of-place and in-between, the Hideout welcomes locals and musicians of any and all persuasions to the industrial North Branch along the Chicago River year-round. And even after a summer full of stacked festivals rolling through the city (Lollapalooza, Pitchfork Musical Festival and myriad neighborhood fests), the annual Hideout Block Party is one of the most anticipated by Chicagoans.

Now in its 12th year, the Hideout Block Party gathers a fine mix of local talent and international fair, with incredibly tasty food to boot. The festival donates a portion of the proceeds to children's charities and has raised more than $200,000 since 1996.

This year's festival lineup features alt-country singer-songwriter Neko Case, a former Hideout bartender. Saturday she leads her own band (expect oldies alongside new songs from her upcoming album, due next spring) and Sunday she plays with indie pop collective The New Pornographers. For die-hard Neko Case fans, both of these shows are unmissable: It’s the only date she will play with her band, and one of the only times she'll appear with the New Pornographers this year.

On Saturday afternoon, Chicago-based circus punk-freak marching band Mucca Pazza are a must-see. Though they're kinda hard to miss, even if you try: The sometimes 30-person band are anything but stationary, and last year they conducted an impromptu parade in the middle of the Hideout lot. Drag City artist Neil Hamburger will be hosting a Drunken Spelling Bee at the bar on Saturday (contestants spell tricky “pop culture-related words” after taking a shot of booze, with each round of spelling featuring another round of shots).

Among the scheduled performances, the genres are as diverse as Hideout's crowd of regulars. David "Honeyboy" Edwards, the Grammy award-winning and oldest-living original Delta bluesman, will perform with Devil In A Woodpile early Sunday afternoon. For attendees favoring music of the electronic persuasion, New York duo Ratatat are performing Sunday evening, with a DJ set from Hercules And Love Affair wrapping up the festival.

This year's Hideout Block Party will also celebrate the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson's Thriller, with longtime Chicago resident and alt-country singer Robbie Fulks performing his tribute to MJ for the first time on Sunday. Chicago rapper Rhymefest will also perform material from his Man In The Mirror tribute CD. The Hideout staff will be leading its own “Thriller” dance, so caked-on eyeliner and raggedy clothing are encouraged.

A few tips:
-- Parking is extremely limited, but bike racks abound, so enjoy the last warm days of summer by taking public and/or two-wheeled transportation.
-- Buy tickets ahead of time (at the Hideout or on ticketweb.com) as the festival has sold out in the past. A single-day ticket rings in at $25, the two-day pass at $45.
-- Prepare to eat great food there. Recommendations include Wishbone's watermelon lemonade and Urb Garden's sweet coconut curry.

Related Links:
Neko Case reissues on the way
New Pornographers' A. C. Newman thinks new solo album
Rhymefest remixes Michael Jackson, readies El Che