The Salt Shed is one of the newest concert venues in Chicago, Illinois. Websites declare the facility opened on August 3, 2022 when The Fleet Foxes played there. But the Salt Shed really opened the day before. I know because I was there!

The property was originally owned by the Morton Salt company, but was left abandoned when the company relocated its facility in 2015. A team of hospitality organizations banded together to rehabilitate the property in order to turn it into a center for the arts, based primarily on music.

The Salt Shed is actually two venues. The outdoor venue, called The Fairgrounds, hosts a standing audience of 5,000. The indoor venue (which includes seating) is slightly more intimate with a capacity of 3,000. I’ve experienced both venues (I saw both Les Claypool and Godspeed You! Black Emperor there) and I have no complaints about either one.

On that joyous August 2, Chicago jazz-based drummer Makaya McCraven (featuring bassist Junius Paul) headlined a remarkable lineup that also featured saxophonist Nubya Garcia the band Sons of Kemet which featured the immensely talented Shabaka Hutchings (tenor sax and flute) and Theon Cross (tuba).^ I was fortunate to be right up front.

I heard some amazing music that night. And thanks to my iPhone, I was able to take some pretty decent photographs.

I guess this event was considered a “soft” opening, since several of the musicians (save for Garcia, who is British) are from Chicago. Whatever the reason, this is the event that got the proverbial ball rolling, making The Salt Shed one of the better places in Chicago to enjoy a concert.

Here are a few photos, taken with my iPhone, of that marvelous evening.

^ — Unfortunately, this turned out to be the swan song for Sons of Kemet. Shabaka informed the audience that the band was breaking up after this tour. What a shame. I’m so glad I was able to catch this gig, as it’s the only time I ever got to see them.

#cirdecsongs

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