It is about time Chicago’s famed Salt Shed finally got its own music festival. Personally, I was extremely excited to hear about Warm Love Cool Dreams. A multi-day event presented by the Empty Bottle? Count me in! While Saturday’s lineup had me completely hooked, I wasn’t initially sold on Sunday’s roster. Skepticism aside, I was still highly curious to see how the weekend would hold up.
I’ve attended countless shows at The Salt Shed. But what made Warm Love Cool Dreams truly unique was how it utilized every square inch of the grounds.
The indoor and outdoor stages were in full rotation. Upstairs, the Three Top Lounge hosted intimate sets paired with scenic views of the city skyline and the Chicago River. Beyond the music, attendees could browse local vendors brought in by the Oddball Market. Whether you wanted to open your third eye, get a flash tattoo, or spoil yourself with baked goods, the festival took full advantage of its space.
Entering day one, I stopped by Elston Electric for a quick round of Skee-Ball before electronic duo Kumo 99 opened. Their deep, pulsating bass and screaming vocals started the weekend off properly. I was immediately greeted by YHWH Nailgun, casting mindbending spells upon an eager audience. Despite their avant-garde set looking a bit strange in the clear daylight hey still gave festival-goers something bizarre and fascinating to chew on.
One of the venue’s absolute strong points was the strategically placed speakers across the entire property, which perfectly relayed what was happening on stage.
If you stepped away to pee, grab a drink, or chat with the guy at the Terror Vision booth, you never missed a single note from the performing artist. The vibe was locked in. Almost everything about the festival could be experienced to the fullest without skipping a single beat.
Later, Mark William Lewis graced the rooftop patio of the Three Top Lounge with a relaxed set of light indie rock. The lovely breeze paired with Lewis’s uplifting music felt like summer had finally returned to Chicago. After catching a few songs and doing some window shopping, I headed back inside and caught the tail end of Smerz. I didn’t expect “You Got Time and I Got Money” to move me as much as it did live, but damn, what an incredible way to close out a set.
Next up, Chicago electronic outfit Pixel Grip took the Warm Love Cool Dreams crowd by the balls.
They delivered an absolutely explosive set, ripping through club bangers like “Stamina” and “Bet You Do”. Backed by lasers and a giant LED screen, they proved they were ready to party. It was pure chaos on the indoor stage. As their set wrapped, the entire crowd migrated outdoors for Saturday night’s legendary headliner: The Jesus and Mary Chain.
The iconic Scottish group opened with plenty of fanfare. By the time they hit “Cracking Up”, the brand-new moonlight played to their advantage, making everything feel right. The dark, open sky elevated hits like “Just Like Honey” and “Reverence”. Perhaps it was the edginess of the first day’s lineup that demanded a darker, moodier environment? Come Sunday, daylight was no issue at all.
Arriving at the festival grounds on Sunday, I was immediately impressed and warmed by Tobacco City opening the afternoon.
The Chicago-based folk outfit brought their simple yet beautiful music to an even more beautiful summer day. After taking in the warming duet vocals and slide guitar, I took advantage of one of the coolest amenities I’ve ever seen at a Chicago music festival: a free, half-hour boat ride. Festival-goers were taken along the Chicago River passing by swans, turtles, fellow kayakers, and plenty of gritty industrial scenery. It offers a perfect opportunity to take some time off our feet and enjoy the soothing water.
Later, I allowed myself to focus more on the art, indulging in a new record and an art print. I truly appreciated how the venue successfully translated the community experience of Chicago farmers’ markets into a music festival format.
Even though it wasn’t held at a traditional city park like other local fests, I was shocked by just how much walking I did during Warm Love Cool Dreams.
One of Sunday’s absolute highlights came from Nourished By Time, a Baltimore-based singer-producer. His masterful mix of pop and funk breathed a revitalizing energy right into the crowd. The audience was just as excited to see him as he was to perform, as evidenced by his playful stage presence. I must admit, I wasn’t familiar with his work before this weekend, but seeing audience members beaming with joy as they sang along to every lyric had me completely hooked. It is hard to deny that kind of pure energy.
Toro y Moi naturally drew a massive crowd, standing out as one of the most highly anticipated acts on the entire bill. Their signature brand of chill synth-pop captivated the audience, spreading joy and smiles across the entire fairgrounds. Following them on the indoor stage was Whitney. Admittedly, I am not a fan of their music. However, it was a pretty cool sight to watch the setting sun shine directly into the indoor venue through the wide-open doors, as if the heavens themselves were blessing the band. After catching the first few Whitney songs, I took advantage of the festival’s amenities yet again and went to improve my pinball game over at Elston Electric.
There really was always something for everyone at Warm Love Cool Dreams.
Before Courtney Barnett took the stage to close out the weekend, I sat back completely satisfied with how the festival turned out. Miraculously, the weather cooperated perfectly on both days, giving festival-goers the distinct feeling that summer had finally arrived in Chicago. Everything the event had to offer was a delight, essentially turning The Salt Shed into the weekend’s coolest farmers’ market—just with insane live music attached. Honestly, wouldn’t you want Courtney Barnett ripping through “Stay In Your Lane” and “Pedestrian At Best” while you shop for vintage art prints?
If there was ever a time to just chill, Sunday’s headlining set was definitely not it. Barnett and company absolutely demanded your full attention. Her abrasive rock sound and infectious Australian delivery completely captivated a crowd that looked noticeably larger than Saturday’s turnout. Watching the set from the back, accompanied by the now-familiar scent of cigarette smoke lingering over the fairgrounds, I couldn’t help but start thinking about next year.
It was genuinely exciting to see one of my favorite venues in Chicago finally land a festival of this caliber.
Despite not personally identifying with the clearly hipster crowd, the festival truly welcomed all. The alt-rockers were able to enjoy themselves, the industrial goths showed out in full force, and the indie heads vibed out in peace. People were free to catch beautiful views of the river, unlock their inner child at the arcade, and shop for vintage clothes from local vendors. Should Warm Love Cool Dreams continue, it will be fascinating to see how they develop future lineups and potentially expand the footprint. It felt special being a part of this iteration of the fest. Something a venue with uniquely expansive grounds like The Salt Shed should absolutely continue to take advantage of. It really was about time.
All photography by Oscar De Leon
