Coming to you from Chicago, Illinois, USA, this is Urban Unrest, where we highlight new and influential work in modern R&B, jazz, club, and electronic music.
About Urban Unrest
As a volunteer DJ at CHIRP Radio (107.1 FM), I host live, locally focused programming that showcases a diverse range of independent music across genres. I curated playlists highlighting emerging, lesser-known, and Chicago-based artists, while producing engaging on-air content. My role involved contributing to storytelling that amplifies Chicago’s arts, culture, and community voices, in collaboration with a team of volunteers delivering daily broadcasts and special programming. I also support station events, fundraising efforts, and community outreach initiatives, promoting content aligned with CHIRP’s nonprofit, community-driven mission. Additionally, I contributed to advocacy and public engagement efforts aimed at advancing equitable access to community radio.
Recent Playlists
Wed 09/09 · 9PM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
9:55 PM
Rolling into One
Jordan Rakei
Origin
9:51 PM
Get Go
Arlo Parks
Ambiguous Desire
9:48 PM
Anotherloverholenyohead
Prince
Parade
9:43 PM
One Shine
RIP Cassandra Wilson
The Roots, Cassandra Wilson
Illadelph Halflife
9:36 PM
You Move Me
We're still waiting for that Love Jones sequel...
Cassandra Wilson
Love Jones Soundtrack
9:30 PM
My Oh My
Kicking off the Evanston Folk Festival will be a concert featuring Punch Brothers at Cahn Auditorium on Friday, September 11th.
Punch Brothers
The Phosphorescent Blues
9:28 PM
Smokestack
Valerie June will be playing on Saturday, September 12th, at the Evanston Folk Festival in Dawes Park, Evanston.
Valerie June
Single
9:19 PM
Don't 'Xplain
RIP Cassandra Wilson
Courtney Pine, Cassandra Wilson
Modern Day Jazz Stories
9:14 PM
Closer To You
RIP Cassandra Wilson
Cassandra Wilson
Closer To You: The Pop Side
9:10 PM
Don't Look Any Further
Synonym (Duet Album)— New Release October 2nd
Meshell Ndegeocello, Lianne La Havas
Synonym
9:04 PM
Onenon (featuring Tom Misch)
Nu Genea
People of the Moon
9:01 PM
Dreams
Fleetwood Mac cover
Dianne Reeves, Robert Glasper
Beautiful Life
9:01 PM
My Foolish Heart
Everybody Digs Bill Evans opens in U.S. theaters December 4th.
Bill Evans Trio
Waltz for Debby
9:01 PM
Moanin'
Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
The Hottest New Group in Jazz
Wed 09/09 · 8PM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
8:44 PM
St. James Infirmary
RIP Cassandra Wilson
Cassandra Wilson
Loverly
8:39 PM
Solomon Sang
RIP Cassandra Wilson
Cassandra Wilson
New Moon Daughter
8:35 PM
Gimme Shelter
The Rolling Stones, Merry Clayton
Let It Bleed
8:29 PM
Get Down
Low Cut Connie
Livin in the USA
8:29 PM
Miss Judy's Farm
Faces
A Nod Is as Good as a Wink... to a Blind Horse
8:20 PM
I'm Only Human
RIP Cassandra Wilson
Luther Vandross, Bob James, Cassandra Wilson
I Know
8:14 PM
Daydreaming
RIP Cassandra Wilson
David Sanborn, Cassandra Wilson, Eric Benét
Inside
8:08 PM
Tiny Girl
Inara George
Songs of Douglass & Littell
8:01 PM
Bonita Cuba
LOCAL
Kurt Elling will be performing at the Chicago Symphony Center on October 2nd with Freedom Riders, an international jazz collective inspired by the music and legacy of the civil rights movement, with special guest vocalist Lizz Wright.
Kurt Elling, Arturo Sandoval
Passion World
Wed 08/26 · 9PM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
9:56 PM
Good Cop Bad Cop
Everything But The Girl
Walking Wounded
9:52 PM
Mirror Test
Pigeon
OUTTANATIONAL
9:49 PM
Goodnight Lovers
Depeche Mode
Exciter
9:48 PM
Message (featuring Mr Williamz)
Nubiyan Twist
Chasing Shadows
9:38 PM
Don't You Want Me Baby
Meshelle Ndegeochello, Cat Powers
Synonym
9:38 PM
Fire in the Disco
Adrian Younge
Afro-Disco Makossa
9:29 PM
Onenon (featuring Tom Misch)
Nu Genea
People of the Moon
9:23 PM
Kiss
Originally produced for Paisley Park group Mazerati by David Z, Prince took it back and a hit was born.
Prince
Parade
9:23 PM
She Drives Me Crazy
Produced by David Z.
Fine Young Cannibals
The Raw & The Cooked
9:16 PM
Koo Koo (David Z Remix)
RIP David Z.
Shiela E., David Z.
Koo Koo David Z. Remix Single
9:08 PM
Never Knew Love Like This
Alexander O'Neal, Cherrelle
Hearsay
9:00 PM
Saturday Love
Cherrelle, Alexander O'Neal
High Priority
Wed 08/26 · 8PM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
8:56 PM
Jolene (Dolly Parton cover)
Vive Dolly!
The White Stripes / Jack White
Under The Great White Northern Lights
8:56 PM
Before The Next Tear Drop Falls
Featuring David Hildago of Los Lobos. A cover of a Freddie Fender classic. For Freddie! Love you
Dolly Parton, David Hildago
Treasures
8:52 PM
Remedy
Family Stereo
The Thread
8:52 PM
Favorite Shirt (Boy Meets Girl)
Haircut 100
Pelican West - 40th Anniversary
8:38 PM
Nothng But Love
Crackazat, Olivier St. Louis
SUN
8:37 PM
Crush
Cover of a 1998 Jennifer Paige hit.
Ben Macklin, Ami Palmate
Luna EP
8:37 PM
Never The Same
lovetempo
There Is A Light
8:26 PM
All My Love
Baby Rose
YEARNALISM
8:22 PM
If I Let You
The Womack Sisters
The Womack Sisters
8:20 PM
47th Street
LOCAL
Lalah Hathaway, J. Ivy
47th Street Single
8:12 PM
Mwela, Mwela (Here I Am) Nautilus Rework
Jazzanova, Rob Gallagher, Valerie Etienne
Inbetween Remixes
8:08 PM
Moonshine (Live) (feat. Carl Cornwell)
Brian Jackson
Now More Than Ever
8:08 PM
Keep On (Holding On)
Nice to hear from Rob and Valarie!
Galliano
Unreliable Memories of Contested Conversations
Wed 07/22 · 9PM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
9:47 PM
Love Is Like (Illa J Remix)
Omar, Illa J, India.Irie
Brighter The Days (The Remixes)
9:44 PM
Better
Baby Rose
YEARNALISM
9:40 PM
Impressions
Glenn Lewis
Overture
9:33 PM
Whirlpool
LOCAL
The Claudettes
Garage Glamour
9:30 PM
Teach Me About Love
Lyle Lovett
Step Into This House
9:26 PM
If You Wanted To You Would
LOCAL
Meg and the Wheelers
Honky Tonk Wisdom
9:19 PM
Neighbors Blues
Jack White
Frozen Charlotte
9:16 PM
Enemies
Release October 30th
Jordan Rakei
A Safe Place To Be Wild
9:13 PM
Monochrome
OOO out September 26
.multibeat, vAn
OOO
9:07 PM
Sweetest Season
Yasmin Lacey
Single
9:03 PM
The Well
Catch her on tour!
Inara George
Songs of Douglass and Littell
Wed 07/22 · 8PM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
8:59 PM
Rainbow
Gretchen Parlato, Robert Glasper
Single
8:56 PM
Lush Life
My desert island pick!
John Coltrane, Johnny Hartman
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman
8:48 PM
Non Existant Patricia
RIP Jennifer Finch, bassist for L7
L7
The Beauty Process
8:43 PM
One More Thing
L7
Bricks Are Heavy
8:40 PM
Andres
L7
Hungry For Stink
8:37 PM
Fare Thee Well
Danny Golden
The Big Blue
8:31 PM
Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)
Carl Perkins Cover
Robert Plant, Alison Krauss
Rising Sand
8:28 PM
Great Goodbye
LOCAL
Guitar teacher at Old Town School of Folk Music
Holy Joke
First Light to Fill My Eyes
8:21 PM
All The Way (Shy One Remix)
Jamie Woon, The Shy One
All The Way Single
8:18 PM
Desire
Puma Blue
Croak Dream
8:14 PM
Jasmin 17
Syd from The Internet - New Release
Syd
Beard
8:06 PM
One More Try (Live Gospel Version)
Wham! and FAITH tour films out in 2026.
George Michael
Older (Expanded Edition)
8:02 PM
I Knew You Waiting (For Me)
Release date October 2nd
Meshell Ndgeocello, Cynthia Erivo
Synonym
Wed 07/08 · 9PM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
9:50 PM
Eye to Eye
Jordan Rakei
Wallflower
9:44 PM
Take 5
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Time Out
9:41 PM
Cantaloupe Island
Herbie Hancock
Empyrean Isle
9:33 PM
Outta Sight
Täbï Yösha
Pink Moon
9:29 PM
Win You
Jordan Patterson
Songs From A Valley Girl
9:24 PM
Real Good Girl
Debo Ray
Echoes & Embers
9:20 PM
FOMO
Joe Hertz, Sam Wills
Night / Daze
9:18 PM
Threads (featuring Patrice Rushen)
Nubiyan Twist
Chasing Shadows
9:12 PM
Ice Cream In Bed
Inara George is from the duo The Bird and The Bee
Inara George, Jacob Scesney
Songs of Douglass and Littell
9:07 PM
Moonshine (Live) (feat. Carl Cornwell)
Brian Jackson
Now More Than Ever
9:02 PM
Easy
Mac Ayers
Drive Slow
Wed 07/08 · 8PM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
8:56 PM
Pullin' Back The Reins
k.d. lang, The Reclines
Absolute Torch and Twang
8:53 PM
Winter Came While You Were Gone
LOCAL
The Claudettes
Garage Glamour
8:50 PM
It Can't Be Me
LOCAL
Meg and the Wheelers
Honky Tonk Wisdom
8:45 PM
Love Is Like - Illa J Remix
Omar, Illa J, India.Arie
Brighter The Days (The Remixes)
8:38 PM
Better
Thanks to Aja and Claire from Wales!
Clara Hill, Crackazat
Single
8:30 PM
I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun
LOCAL
Featuring Phil Upchurch and Minnie Riperton. Minnie was a Chess Records receptionist.
Rotary Connection
Hey, Love
8:26 PM
Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In
Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr
The 5th Dimension
The Age of Aquarius
8:21 PM
Mirror Test
Pigeon
OUTTANATIONAL
8:17 PM
Lovers' Holiday
Durand Jones & The Indications
Flowers
8:15 PM
Cotton
Vince Staples
Cry Baby
8:02 PM
I Would Die 4 U (Extended Version)
Prince, The Revolution
Purple Rain (Deluxe Expanded Edition)
Sat 07/04 · 5PM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
5:54 PM
Take 5 - LIVE 1977
Happy and Safe 4th of July!
Al Jarreau
Look To The Rainbow - Live In Europe
5:47 PM
Jambalaya
For Greg, Enjoy that Jam!
The Meters
Kickback
5:44 PM
El Pueblo Unido (Miguel Migs Mix)
Thievery Corporation
El Pueblo Unido Remix
5:39 PM
You Are
Evanston Folk Festival Kickoff Concert, Cahn Auditorium, Evanston September 11th
Punch Brothers
Antifogmatic
5:32 PM
Waiting
Beth Orton
The Ground Above
5:28 PM
Happier Than Sunshine
Swing Out Sister
Almost Persuaded
5:23 PM
Winter Came While You Were Gone
LOCAL
The Claudettes
Garage Glamour
5:18 PM
Loretta
Alice Cohen
Cardboard Mermaids
5:16 PM
We Should Talk
Bleachers
everyone for ten minutes
5:08 PM
Is That Jazz_ (feat. Rahsaan Patterson)
Brian Jackson
Now More Than Ever
5:05 PM
A Flicker
Debo Ray
Echoes & Embers
5:01 PM
Tiny Girl
Inara George is a Los Angeles based singer songwriter. She is the daughter of Lowell George, known for his work with the band Little Feat. Her music moves gracefully between indie pop, jazz and acoustic influences.
Inara George
Songs of Douglass and Littell
Sat 07/04 · 4PM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
4:50 PM
Nubian Lady
Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble
Groove In The Face of Adversity
4:44 PM
It Can't Be Me
LOCAL
Meg and the Wheelers
Honky Tonk Wisdom
4:41 PM
White Boy Lost In The Blues
Written by Michael Franks
Lyle Lovett, Arnold McCuller
Release Me
4:38 PM
Raincoat
LOCAL
Widemouth
No Gasoline
4:31 PM
Life During Wartime
Brooklyn Funk Essentials, Desmond Foster
Black Butterfly
4:27 PM
Born Under Punches
Kenny Dope, Roisin Murphy
Naive Melodies
4:20 PM
We Don't Own It
New Release
Joan As Police Woman
Real Life Evolution
4:15 PM
Talk About Love
Olive Jones
For Mary
4:10 PM
Message (featuring Mr Williamz)
Nubiyan Twist
Chasing Shadows
4:08 PM
Cumbia De Los Muertes
Ozomatli, Charli 2na
Ozomatli
4:02 PM
So Alive
LOCAL
Chicago Soul Jazz Collective
No Wind & No Rain
Wed 06/24 · 9PM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
9:53 PM
Sure Thing
St. Germain
Tourist
9:48 PM
A Kiss To Build A Dream On
Manhattan Transfer
The Spirit of St. Louis
9:43 PM
Rainbow
Upcoming album 'The Wise Ones' out September 11th
Gretchen Parlato, Robert Glasper
The Wise Ones
9:43 PM
Is That Jazz_ (feat. Rahsaan Patterson)
Brian Jackson
Now More Than Ever
9:29 PM
So Alive
LOCAL
Chicago Soul Jazz Collective
No Wind & No Rain
9:23 PM
Found In A Frozen Fog
New Release July 24th - Cahn Auditorium Evanston Evanston Folk Festival Kick Off Friday September 11th
Punch Brothers
The Unsung Adventures of Punch Brothers
9:14 PM
Traffic Lights
Flea, Thom Yorke
Honora
9:10 PM
Nightmoves
Kurt Elling
Nightmoves
9:02 PM
Lush Life
John Coltrane, Johnny Hartman
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman
Wed 06/24 · 8PM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
8:59 PM
Tired Butterfly
Inara George is frfrom The Bird And The Bee
Inara George
Songs of Douglass & Littell
8:54 PM
Lithium
Nirvana cover
Shelby Lynne, Alison Moorer
Not Dark Yet
8:47 PM
Bleeding Gold
New Release September 18
Wasia Project
Nocturne
8:43 PM
Trial By Fire
Nora Kelly Band
So Wrong For So Long
8:40 PM
Walking On A Dream
Empire of the Sun
Walking On A Dream
8:32 PM
Take 5
Warren Wolf
Smooth Vibes
8:26 PM
Stolen Moments
Linda Woodson
Come A Little Closer
8:19 PM
Save Me
Joan As Police Woman, Iggy Pop
Real Life Evolution
8:16 PM
Stray Dogs (featuring Iron & Wine)
Hrishikesh Hirway
In the Last Hour of Light
8:15 PM
10000 Steps from the Door
Gently Tender
This Was Once Fields
8:11 PM
Trouble Man
From the 1972 film Trouble Man
Neneh Cherry
Man
8:07 PM
Wonderful World
Nine Horses, Stina Nordenstam
Nine Horses
Mon 05/25 · 8AM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
8:56 AM
Something's Going On
Kokoroko
Could We Be More
8:53 AM
Good Cop Bad Cop
Everything But The Girl
Walking Wounded
8:43 AM
Stone Soul Picnic
Can you surrey? Can you picnic? Oh whoa!
Laura Nyro
Stone Soul Picnic: The Best of Laura Nyro
8:40 AM
She's Got A Way (Live)
Live from Carnagie Hall New York New York 1977
Billy Joel
The Stranger (Legacy Edition)
8:39 AM
Life On Mars
David Bowie cover
Barbra Streisand
ButterFly
8:31 AM
The Passenger
Iggy Pop
Lust For Life
8:27 AM
Lithium
Cover of a Nirvana song
Shelby Lynne, Alison Moorer
Not Dark Yet
8:21 AM
New Bike
New Release July 23 Punch Brothers will host a kickoff concert for The Evanston Folk Festival Cahn Auditorium Friday September 11
Punch Brothers
The Unsung Adventures of Punch Brothers
8:16 AM
Mirror Test
Pigeon
OUTTANATIONAL
8:12 AM
Summer In The City
LOCAL
Cover of the 1966 The Lovin' Spoonful song
Quincy Jones
You've Got It Bad Girl
8:04 AM
El Pueblo Unido (Miguel Migs Petalpusher Dub)
Thievery Corporation Highland Park IL Thu Sep 17, Miguel Migs Sound-Bar Chicago Saturday June 6
Thievery Corporation
El Pueblo Unido Miguel Migs Remixes
8:00 AM
Superbloom
Aragon Ballroom Chicago October
Jessie Ware
Superbloom
Mon 05/25 · 7AM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
7:52 AM
Take 5 Live
Al Jarreau
Look To The Rainbow - Live In Europe
7:47 AM
Don't Explain
Don't Explain" is a song written by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr. It was Holiday's final song.
Courtney Pine, Cassandra Willson
Modern Day Jazz Stories
7:44 AM
Pink Lemon
Elder Island
Hello Baby Okay
7:39 AM
We Were Built For This
Singer/Songwriter/Actress from Originally from New York City now based in Atlanta.
Tawana Lael
Single
7:36 AM
Lucky Again
Lykke Li
The Afterparty
7:36 AM
Get Go
Arlo Parks
Ambiguous Desire
7:32 AM
Coffee and Cigarettes
Otis Willson
The Soul Album
7:23 AM
Gone With The Wind
Brother Wallace
Electric Love
7:17 AM
Can't Let Go
Lucinda Williams
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
7:15 AM
Girlfriend In A Coma
Do you really think she'll pull through?
The Smiths
The Sounds of The Smiths
7:11 AM
When You Know
Evanston Folk Festival, Dawes Park, Saturday September
Bebe Stockwell
Single
7:06 AM
Real Love Baby
Winettka Music Festival, Downtown Winettka IL, Saturday June 20
Father John Misty
Single
7:05 AM
Momma Told Me Not To Come
Three Dog Night cover
Odetta
Odetta Sings
7:05 AM
Oh, What A Beautiful Morning
From Oklahoma! The musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
James Taylor
Other Covers
Mon 05/25 · 6AM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
6:53 AM
The Old Shade Tree
Chris Thile & Brad Mehldau
Chris Thile & Brad Mehldau
6:50 AM
Automatic
LOCAL
Pointer Sisters cover
Nate Smith, Lalah Hathaway
LIVE-ACTION (Deluxe)
6:42 AM
Bleeding Gold
New Release Sept 18 - Will Gao from Heartstopper,
Wasia Project
Nocturne
6:39 AM
Raspberry Beret
Prince
Single
6:36 AM
Oganesson
LOCAL
The Salt Shed, Chicago, Saturday May 22nd
Tortoise
Touch
6:32 AM
Oysters In My Pocket
The Salt Shed, Chicago, Tuesday July 14
Royel Otis
Single
6:28 AM
Come With Me
City Winery, Chicago Thursday July 30 - Sunday August 2
Eric Roberson
Beautifully All Over The Place
6:24 AM
Rose Pink Cadillac
Request for Sue Tirey
Dope Lemon
Rose Pink Cadillac
6:18 AM
Cantaloop (Flip Out)
Cover of US3 and Herbie Hancock's Cantaloupe Island. Produced by Mervyn Warren of Take 6