Boots, Brisket and Beats, Windy City Smokeout Sizzles and Soaks Chicago For Its 2025 Season

Jul 15, 2025 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

By Kelly Clausen

Chicago’s Windy City Smokeout 2025 was a sizzling clash of country music, finger‑licking BBQ, cowboy-chic vibes and unpredictable weather that had fans riding the roller‑coaster from heat waves to evacuation alarms and surprise guests.

Over four days at the United Center parking lots, the Smokeout served up a lineup featuring both chart-toppers and rising stars like Bailey Zimmerman & Koe Wetzel kicked things off on Thursday, delivering electrifying performances just before a severe storm hit.

Old Dominion carried the energy into Friday, performing an adjusted 7 p.m. set due to looming storms. Saturday spotlighted Kane Brown and Megan Moroney, backed by solid support acts and Sunday wrapped up with Jon Pardi and Riley Green ensuring a grand finale no one would forget.

Special note, during Old Dominion’s Friday night set, lead singer Matthew Ramsey paused the hits to announce a very special surprise: “American icons all the way from Calumet City, Illinois, the Blues Brothers!” In walked Dan Aykroyd (Elwood) and Jim Belushi (Zee Blues), decked out in signature suits, fedoras, and shades. The crowd erupted as they launched into a spirited version of “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love,” harmonica and all, before sticking around to join Old Dominion on a bluesy rendition of “Hotel Key.” The four on stage mashup country flair meets classic Chicago soul went viral and had fans on their feet, cheering a salute to the genre mashup that in the 1980 movie, didn’t quite work, just ask Country Bob Bunker.

Nearly 25 pit‑masters hauled their smokers to the Windy City. Local legends like Lexington Betty, Soul & Smoke, Green Street Smoked Meats, Bub City, and Smoque BBQ thrilled taste buds on the west plaza.

Regional stars such as Little Miss BBQ (Arizona), Meat Mitch (Kansas City), Heritage Barbecue (California), Pappy’s (St. Louis), and several Texas smokehouses made the rounds throughout the grounds.

Crowd favorites included brisket tacos, hatch‑chili mac‑n‑cheese, smoked sausage, ribs, you name it, earning rave reviews from BBQ enthusiasts.

Festival-goers pulled out all the stops in cowboy-inspired ensembles. Think rhinestone‑detailed boots, fringed vests, bolo ties, wide-brim hats, tie‑dye T‑shirts, and chaps over denim shorts. Groups coordinated poncho layers when rain threatened practical, stylish, and ready for anything.

The southwest meets Windy City fashion brought energy boots dancing in line for BBQ, outsized hats shading from the sun, and cowboy flair lighting up the crowd. Plenty of places to stop around the festival grounds for that “instagramable” moment as well.

Temperatures soared into the mid‑90s with thick humidity and Canadian wildfire still looming turning the festival into a steamy summer showdown. Attendees took advantage of shaded lounge zones and hydration stations dotted around the venue.

Vendors sold cold drinks, bottled water, and spiked ice teas like hotcakes in the nonstop heat. The empty cups laying around everywhere were proof. Music breaks doubled as moments to re‑hydrate, re‑apply sunscreen and reload on BBQ.

Mother Nature stole the spotlight Thursday evening. Just after 7 p.m., severe thunderstorm warnings triggered a full evacuation and tens of thousands were shuffled to nearby Malcolm X College parking garage.

Headliner Koe Wetzel wrapped early before the storm surged in. Staff utilized the Smokeout app, social media alerts, PA system and on-site screens to safely redirect crowds.

About an hour later, attendees later re-entered after the all-clear around 8:30 p.m. and Bailey Zimmerman closed out the evening. Friday eerily echoed Thursday, heavier earlier concert sets and an early shutdown at 8 p.m. allowed fans to escape ahead of the next storm.

Windy City Smokeout 2025 was nothing short of epic for Country music fans, competition-level BBQ, waves of cowboy charm and a dramatic dances with the weather. Despite scorching heat and electric storms, fans kept their spirits blazing, stomping boots, swinging hats, summer sweat, and BBQ bliss.

As folks filed out Sunday evening some already planning next year the festival once again proved that country, smoke, and Chicago flair are a four-day storm you never want to miss.