A series of music concerts scheduled at Bohemian National Cemetery in August and September will go on as planned, in spite of a new investigation into the North Park property over the alleged mishandling of human remains.
As reported by the Sun-Times on Sunday, Illinois Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza announced that her office is inspecting procedures at the cemetery after a tip uncovered “multiple equipment failures and some human remains waiting to be cremated,” according to a statement. The remains have since been cremated and delivered to families.
The Bohemian National report comes on the heels of a separate investigation into the South Chicago Chapel funeral home in South Deering after the mishandled remains of more than 50 deceased individuals were uncovered on Aug. 6.
Bohemian National Cemetery, a sprawling property with historic ties, has been an occasional, if eclectic, site for music for more than a decade. Empty Bottle Presents has staged the Beyond the Gate series at Bohemian National Cemetery since 2013, bringing a range of performers from Kim Gordon to Godspeed You! Black Emperor and William Basinski over the years.
Similar events happen at cemeteries around the country, most notably Los Angeles’ Hollywood Forever Cemetery and have become a popular draw for music fans.
While the investigation into Bohemian National Cemetery remains ongoing, organizers with Empty Bottle Presents told WBEZ/Sun-Times that a previously planned slate of concerts on the grounds will move forward.
“The Beyond the Gate events in [September] are still on as planned,” said Brent Heyl, director of music at parent company 16” on Center about the upcoming concerts. The fall calendar features Welsh baroque pop artist Cate Le Bon with local indie rock band Horsegirl on Sept. 25, followed by a pair of local instrumental metal acts, Russian Circles and Pelican, on Sept. 26.
An earlier show scheduled for Aug. 29 also remains on the schedule. The memorial gathering and concert to honor late guitarist Bo Lueders of Chicago hardcore act Harms Way who passed away in April was planned as a separate event to benefit the Night Ministry, Chicago Recovery Alliance and Hope For The Day.
“We understand the cemetery has addressed all concerns with the city and is on a path to be in good standing,” Heyl said. “We are in close contact to ensure that in the case. We have cherished over 10 years of shows together celebrating life, music and community.”
Requests for comment from representatives with Bohemian National Cemetery and Mendoza’s office were not answered as of press time. While entertainment behemoth Live Nation lists the Cate Le Bon show date on its website, a representative responded that “Empty Bottle shows aren’t promoted by Live Nation.”
Alderman Samantha Nugent (39th Ward) referred requests about special event permits to the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) who did not respond to inquiries. Alderwoman Nugent called the reports coming out of Bohemian National Cemetery “deeply troubling” in a statement.
“Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect in death, and every family deserves the peace of knowing their loved one has been properly laid to rest,” the statement read. “My office is closely monitoring the investigation and will remain in contact with the appropriate officials to ensure these issues are addressed.”
Empty Bottle’s Beyond the Gate Series began more than a decade ago with local experimental artist Wrekmeister Harmonies, who wanted a unique environment to perform his 2013 album, “You’ve Always Meant So Much to Me.” He was granted access to the North Side graveyard, established in 1877 by Czech immigrants as a non-denominational final resting place.
Today, Bohemian National Cemetery is on the National Registry of Historic Places. Up to 1,500 tickets can be available for the concerts there, which are set up on a lawn in between the wings of a mausoleum, away from grave plots.
As general manager Elizabeth Raleigh previously told WBEZ in 2024 ahead of a show featuring noise rock pioneer Kim Gordon, the concert series gives a wider perspective of what the cemetery stands for and the proceeds help offset rising maintenance costs.
“It shows we appeal to different cultures. It shows we’re open to everything, I mean, every culture, every nationality,” said Raleigh. “So we have a lot of different people coming, you know, people that like string quartets, people who like rock and roll. So it’s really a diverse thing.”