Sludgeworth is slated to perform two back‑to‑back shows at Chicago’s Cobra Lounge on August 29 and August 30, 2026, to celebrate the release of its new album, Second Time Around. The performances mark the band’s first live appearances since ending a 35‑year hiatus.
The album, Second Time Around, hit the market in June 2026, representing the underground punk group’s first full‑length record in decades. The release follows a career that began in the 1980s and continued through the 1990s, during which Sludgeworth cultivated a reputation among Chicago’s DIY music community.
After a prolonged period of inactivity that began in the early 1990s, the band reconvened to record the new material, ending a 35‑year break from releasing original recordings. The long pause makes the June 2026 album a notable milestone, as it is the first LP the group has issued since its early years.
Cobra Lounge, a longstanding venue in the city’s independent music scene, will host the two shows. The first night is scheduled for August 29, 2026, followed by a second performance on August 30, 2026. Both dates are intended to showcase the new material alongside selections from Sludgeworth’s earlier catalog.
The shows are significant for fans of the Chicago punk underground, offering a rare opportunity to see a band that helped shape the local scene return to the stage after more than three decades. The performances also provide a platform for the group to present Second Time Around in a live setting, reaffirming its place in the city’s musical landscape.