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The Beat Bank

INTERESTING SIGHTS AND SOUNDS SINCE 1998
CHICAGO
Our Mission
Sandbox Symphony III

 

OUR MISSION

Highlight Live PA, Experimental Electronic, and progressive music while activating spaces for artist to create, perform and refine their art.

We have expanded to include outreach programs that teach multiple subjects to youth audiences centered around electronic music, science and wellness. One of our ultimate goals is to unlock potential greatness within youth and artist communities in Chicago by empowering them with alternative thinking.

Upcoming Events

  • Sandbox Symphony X
    Sandbox Symphony X
    Sat, Aug 09
    Chicago
    Aug 09, 2025, 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
    Chicago, Oakwood Beach, Chicago, IL 60653, USA
    Aug 09, 2025, 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
    Chicago, Oakwood Beach, Chicago, IL 60653, USA
    Sandbox Symphony X celebrates 10 years of transforming Oakwood Beach into a vibrant, open-air gallery of music, art, wellness, and community, inviting everyone to join this unique celebration of culture and creativity.
  • Sounds Natural Creative Retreats - October
    Sounds Natural Creative Retreats - October
    Sat, Oct 12
    South Holland
    Oct 12, 2024, 4:00 PM – Oct 13, 2024, 11:30 AM
    South Holland, 15810 Torrence Ave, South Holland, IL 60473, USA
    Oct 12, 2024, 4:00 PM – Oct 13, 2024, 11:30 AM
    South Holland, 15810 Torrence Ave, South Holland, IL 60473, USA
    Join us at the Forest Preserve for a rejuvenating retreat featuring art, food, music, workshops, and nature walks, all centered around the healing power of sound.
  • Joy Ride: An Odyssey in Black
    Joy Ride: An Odyssey in Black
    Sat, Sep 28
    Chicago
    Sep 28, 2024, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
    Chicago, 2407 W 111th St, Chicago, IL 60655, USA
    Sep 28, 2024, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
    Chicago, 2407 W 111th St, Chicago, IL 60655, USA
    Join us for a Joy Ride: An Odyssey in Black at the Beverly Art Walk! Led by Cecil McDonald Jr., this dynamic four-mile journey blends Brother El's sonic collages and spontaneous compositions. Come celebrate community, creativity, and artistic labor!
  • Sounds Natural: Forrest Edition
    Sounds Natural: Forrest Edition
    Sat, Oct 14
    South Holland
    Oct 14, 2023, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    South Holland, 15810 Torrence Ave, South Holland, IL 60473, USA
    Oct 14, 2023, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    South Holland, 15810 Torrence Ave, South Holland, IL 60473, USA
    Sounds Natural & Art Therapy - Forrest Edition Retreat, a free gathering of artists to nurture creativity, strengthen networks, provide mutual support, and build collaborative teams. Our goal is to organize for the year ahead and find ways to support each other throughout the year.
  • Harris Fest:  Brother El - Live PA Performance
    Harris Fest:  Brother El - Live PA Performance
    Sat, Sep 09
    Chicago
    Sep 09, 2023, 12:00 PM – Sep 10, 2023, 1:00 PM
    Chicago, 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602, USA
    Sep 09, 2023, 12:00 PM – Sep 10, 2023, 1:00 PM
    Chicago, 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602, USA
    Prepare to embark on a musical odyssey like no other as Brother El returns to his cherished special spot on the campus of Millennium Park. This is not merely a performance; it's a sonic pilgrimage, an experience that transcends boundaries, genres, and expectations.
  • Brother El's Sandbox Symphony VIII
    Brother El's Sandbox Symphony VIII
    Sat, Aug 12
    Chicago
    Aug 12, 2023, 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM CDT
    Chicago, Oakwood Beach, Chicago, IL 60653, USA
    Aug 12, 2023, 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM CDT
    Chicago, Oakwood Beach, Chicago, IL 60653, USA
    A celebration in accessible art practice for healing and inspiration.
  • Brother El's Sandbox Symphony VII
    Brother El's Sandbox Symphony VII
    Sat, Aug 13
    Chicago
    Aug 13, 2022, 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM CDT
    Chicago, Oakwood Beach, Chicago, IL 60653, USA
    Aug 13, 2022, 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM CDT
    Chicago, Oakwood Beach, Chicago, IL 60653, USA
  • mind for time
    mind for time
    Sat, May 14
    Chicago
    May 14, 2022, 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
    Chicago, 5550 S Greenwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
    May 14, 2022, 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
    Chicago, 5550 S Greenwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
    Brother El's Sonic Abstractions II "mind for time" is two immersive Live PA electronic music pieces exploring childhood innocence, color, form, environment, and social stimuli of the time through Bob Thompson's art.
  • Elastro AV
    Elastro AV
    Fri, Nov 19
    Chicago
    Nov 19, 2021, 8:00 PM – Nov 20, 2021, 12:00 AM
    Chicago, 3429 W Diversey Ave #208, Chicago, IL 60647, USA
    Nov 19, 2021, 8:00 PM – Nov 20, 2021, 12:00 AM
    Chicago, 3429 W Diversey Ave #208, Chicago, IL 60647, USA
    Brother El is debuting a new sound piece constructed with 16.1 channels of audio in mind. The goal is to place the listener inside a matrix of immersive of healing sound.
  • Sounds Natural 2
    Sounds Natural 2
    Sat, May 29
    Chicago
    May 29, 2021, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM CDT
    Chicago, S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL, USA
    May 29, 2021, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM CDT
    Chicago, S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL, USA
    A live music, art, and nature activation featuring performances by Brother El, AQ & Binky.
  • Sounds Natural
    Sounds Natural
    Sun, Apr 18
    Chicago
    Apr 18, 2021, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    Chicago, 3900 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
    Apr 18, 2021, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    Chicago, 3900 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
    Live Electronic Music, Art, and Nature Activities At Bronzewood Gathering Space
  • Brother El's Collaborative iPad Symphony
    Brother El's Collaborative iPad Symphony
    Sat, Nov 23
    Apple Michigan Avenue
    Nov 23, 2019, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
    Apple Michigan Avenue, 401 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
    Nov 23, 2019, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
    Apple Michigan Avenue, 401 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
    Explore how to create an electronic symphony with musician and spontaneous composer Brother El.
  • Live PA Institute Day
    Live PA Institute Day
    Sat, Nov 16
    Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts
    Nov 16, 2019, 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM CST
    Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E 60th St, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
    Nov 16, 2019, 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM CST
    Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E 60th St, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
    Artists will gather at 11 am at the Logan Center for the Arts for a day of collaboration experimenting with sound. The day will feature hands-on workshops, live musician sampling sessions, marketing tutelage, a participant dinner, and evening performances that will be open to the public.
  • Sandbox Symphony IV
    Sandbox Symphony IV
    Sat, Aug 10
    Oakwood Beach
    Aug 10, 2019, 2:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Oakwood Beach, Oakwood Beach, Chicago, IL 60653, USA
    Aug 10, 2019, 2:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Oakwood Beach, Oakwood Beach, Chicago, IL 60653, USA
    This free, public spectacular features live electronic music, demonstrations by local visual artists, yoga, a mini pop-up farmers market with free nutritious snacks, jewelry making, and mobile toy creation cart.
  • Bronzeville: An Inquiry in Sound with “Brother El”
    Bronzeville: An Inquiry in Sound with “Brother El”
    Sun, Jul 21
    The Art Institute of Chicago
    Jul 21, 2019, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
    The Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603, USA
    Jul 21, 2019, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
    The Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603, USA
    Listen to the live electronic music of Lional “Brother El” Freeman along with compositions written and recorded by Dyett High School for the Arts students.
  • Sliver Room Block Party
    Sliver Room Block Party
    Sat, Jul 20
    Hyde Park
    Jul 20, 2019, 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
    Hyde Park, Hyde Park, Chicago, IL, USA
    Jul 20, 2019, 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
    Hyde Park, Hyde Park, Chicago, IL, USA
    Brother El rocking a special Live PA set for the Silver Room Block Party
  • Brother El: Sonic Abstractions (April)
    Brother El: Sonic Abstractions (April)
    Sat, Apr 27
    Smart Museum of Art, The University of C
    Apr 27, 2019, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    Smart Museum of Art, The University of C, 5550 S Greenwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
    Apr 27, 2019, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    Smart Museum of Art, The University of C, 5550 S Greenwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
    Lional "Brother El" Freeman performs a series of four Live PA electronic compositions commissioned in conjunction with the Smart Museum of Art's exhibition 'Solidary & Solitary.'
  • Brother El: Sonic Abstractions
    Brother El: Sonic Abstractions
    Sun, Mar 17
    Smart Museum of Art, The University of C
    Mar 17, 2019, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    Smart Museum of Art, The University of C, 5550 S Greenwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
    Mar 17, 2019, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    Smart Museum of Art, The University of C, 5550 S Greenwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
    Lional "Brother El" Freeman performs a series of four Live PA electronic compositions commissioned in conjunction with the Smart Museum of Art's exhibition 'Solidary & Solitary.'

Live PA Institute Day

Public Performances

NOVEMBER 16, 2019 @ 7 PM

The “Live PA Institute Day,” will be a day of building among peers, sharing process, technique, love and encouragement. The evening performances with be open to the public.

Guests and performers will be nominated from within the community.

Live PA InSTITUTE DAY ConFERENCE

WHEN

WHERE

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Conference: 11 am - 5 pm

Dinner: 5:30 pm

Logan Center (University of Chicago)

Chicago, IL 

REGISTER now for FREE

Live PA Banquet
Getting There
Partners

Let's keep in conTact

 

WE'RE SO EXCITED

TO BUILD WITH YOU

Tell us what's on your mind... Don't hold back!

Awesome... we're looking forward to your message.

PARTNERS

Additionally, The Beat Bank and Lional "Brother El" Freeman has worked with multiple Chicago institutions including but not limited to:

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