Niko Kapetan of Friko curates local indie rock lineup for Santa for a Day benefit at SPACE
Santa for a Day, a Chicago-based nonprofit, has announced that rising indie rock star Niko Kapetan, frontman of Friko, will serve as musical ambassador for its annual Christmas in July fundraiser, taking place Thursday, July 10, at SPACE in Evanston.
Kapetan, an Evanston native now making national waves with Friko, is curating a one-night-only lineup of top emerging Chicago-area talent for the benefit concert.
Local music legend and WXRT-FM host Marty Lennartz has dubbed the event “a hometown indie rock extravaganza — for a great cause.” Tickets are now available at www.evanstonspace.com.
Kapetan, currently touring the U.S. and Europe with Friko, has called on his fellow musicians — rising indie acts that also got their start in Chicago — to join the lineup.
The evening will feature headliner Jason Narducy, as well as performances by Neptune’s Core and Chaepter, with Kapetan performing some songs in between sets.
Christmas in July raises funds to support Santa for a Day’s mission of delivering holiday gifts to children in underserved communities — gifts specifically requested in heartfelt, shoppable letters to Santa. This year, founder Rich Gentile is partnering with Kapetan to take the event to a new level.
“We’re thrilled to team up with Niko Kapetan, a homegrown talent who’s exploding on the national scene,” Gentile said. “He was looking to give back locally, and we’re honored he chose Santa for a Day. This year’s Christmas in July is going to be something really special, thanks to the incredible bands Niko is bringing to the stage.”
Tickets for Christmas in July are $50 and available at www.evanstonspace.com. A $125 VIP ticket includes a pre-show meet and greet with Niko Kapetan, as well as a vinyl or signed poster.
The event will be held at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave. in Evanston, with doors opening at 7 p.m. and Marty Lennartz welcoming the crowd and introducing the first act at 8 p.m.
“Santa for a Day is based in my hometown, and this event takes place near where I first fell in love with music,” Kapetan said. “It means a lot to be able to give back in a way that brings people together through live music, and to help expand the reach of this amazing organization.”
Friko’s breakout year in 2024 included the release of the critically acclaimed album “Where We’ve Been, Where We Go From Here,” as well as performances at major festivals, including Lollapalooza.
Kapetan is known for his dynamic stage presence and raw, emotional songwriting — traits that have helped put Chicago’s indie rock scene back in the spotlight.
Christmas in July supports Santa for a Day’s efforts to bring joy to more children in cities including Chicago, Evanston, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Kansas City, Milwaukee and Philadelphia.
Santa for a Day (SFAD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in the Chicago area that pairs the magic of the holiday season with the power of kindness. Each year, thousands of children in underserved communities write letters to Santa — many of which, before Santa for a Day, would go unanswered. They partner with local housing authorities to host letter-writing events, then shares redacted versions of those letters with donors who choose specific gifts to send — delivering exactly what each child requested. The organization has grown to serve over 10,000 children annually across eight U.S. cities. Learn more at santaforaday.org.