MOTOBLOT Chicago 2015: Photos
MOTOBLOT Chicago has rounded the corner on its second year. Once again, it lived up to its billing as one of the Midwest’s best bike shows, featuring top-notch music, quality vendors, a hot rod show and a pin-up contest. Saturday’s outdoor festival on Fulton Street was rich in motorcycle culture; here’s our photographic summary of this vibrant scene…
Whether you’re a rocker, greaser, or gearhead, the vintage culture is alive and well here at MOTOBLOT. Lots to see and hear in this well-worn, brick-n-asphalt setting of Chicago’s biggest annual vintage motorcycle rally.
Who’s behind this unique entertainment? Chicago’s latest vintage and custom motorcycle shindig is fueled by: the moto-knowledgeable (and rocker at heart) Larry Fletcher; the creative guru Martin Cimek; and the music-minded Sean McKeough. Larry and Martin have been hosting motorcycle events around the city for a long time, orchestrating meet-ups with quality music and killer event graphics. Sean, the man behind Cobra Lounge (and many other artistic irons in the fire) rounds out the trio that drives MOTOBLOT.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the festival took place on Chicago’s historic Fulton Street, in and outside Cobra Lounge. The MOTOBLOT outdoor festivities consisted of a motorcycle & car show and the always-interesting vendor booths. The Rockabilly Rumble stage kept the live music flowing as the popular Miss MOTOBLOT Pin-Up Contest took the stage between acts. The Vendors Paddock displayed a wide range of art, apparel, bikes, parts and more.
During the event, it’s not uncommon to see families letting their kids get acclimated to the ways of motorcycle people.
We like to capture the fashion at MOTOBLOT. One of these days it’ll be fun to look back at what people were wearing or what they were doing with hairstyles at these kinds of motorcycle gatherings. Though vintage styles are accurately adhered to by some, many folks are sporting unique looks here.
The hot rod portion of MOTOBLOT brings in trucks, lowriders, street rods, rat rods and other vehicular radness.
For the second year, Julia Haltigan took the stage and commanded the audience’s complete attention for the entire set. Seriously, it’s hypnotic. (See our 2014 event video with her “My Green Heart” as the soundtrack.)
With sponsors like Progressive Motorcycle Insurance and Triumph Motorcycles, the event has garnered commercial support from the motorcycle industry while maintaining its grass-roots vibe created by attendees who’ve been around since the early days of Mods vs Rockers Chicago.
This is one motorcycle event that’s annually inked-in on our calendar. For more than a decade now, these guys have found a way to adapt and roll with the motorcycle scene and attract rockin’ entertainment for its attendees. We’ll be back for this event; maybe we’ll see you there? Learn more about MOTOBLOT and what they’re planning for 2016 at their website or follow ’em on Facebook.
Corey Wilkinson and Casey Wilkinson are the guys behind Good Spark Garage. Follow them on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter for more of their motorcycle travels.
