John Prine 80th birthday tribute to take place at Chicago Theatre this October

A tribute concert marking what would have been John Prine’s 80th birthday will take place at The Chicago Theatre on 8 October. The event, titled Souvenirs: 80 Years of John Prine, falls two days before the late singer-songwriter’s birthday on 10 October and will be held in the city where his musical career began.

The initial lineup includes John C. Reilly, Margo Price, Joy Oladokun, Hurray for the Riff Raff’s Alynda Segarra, Steve Earle, Kathleen Edwards, Amos Lee, Ratboys, The Cactus Blossoms, Briscoe, Noeline Hofmann and Shemekia Copeland, with more to be announced. They will be backed by Prine’s longtime live band.

Born in Maywood, Illinois in 1946, Prine wrote his earliest songs while working as a postal carrier in Chicago, composing lyrics on his mail routes. The city’s folk community helped nurture his early work, and in 2020 he was named Honorary Poet Laureate of Illinois. Prine died in April 2020 at the age of 73.

The concert is being organised by the Prine family and their Hello in There Foundation, with proceeds supporting the foundation’s grantmaking. The tribute will serve as the centrepiece of a weekend of events planned alongside civic and nonprofit partners.