The Chicago installment runs from Tuesday, April 15th to Sunday, April 27th and is hosted by five clubs:
Abbey Pub, Bird's Nest, Double Door, the Elbo Room, and the Spot.

Each International Pop Overthrow features between 100-180 of the best pop bands from around the world. Everyone from the bands to the spectators has a wonderful time, and although we're all exhausted by the end, we part company with one prevailing thought: "I can't wait to do it again next year!"

The purpose of International Pop Overthrow is two-fold: one aim is to give every worthy band who'd like to play their music in a festival atmosphere the chance to do so, and the other is to bring pop music the attention it so richly deserves. We have made great strides to that end, garnering press in several noteworthy papers in each city in which we hold the festival, and creating a very positive buzz about pop music within the inner circles of major labels. We're looking forward to the very real possibility that a number of bands who have played IPO will grab the brass ring and receive major label deals.