Sidewalk Chalk released their fourth full-length album, An Orchid Is Born, in 2017 on Ropeadope Records. Produced by Grammy Award-winner Robert “Sput” Searight, this is the album that Sidewalk Chalk has truly always been trying to make. This vibrant collection of transformative moments is a benchmark release for Sidewalk
Chalk. Split into three movements - The Hope, The Loss, and The Birth - An Orchid Is Born shows the band’s remarkable capacity for growth. They see that we cannot be reborn until we lose what we have, first treading in the well of despair that is a loss preceded by hope. In these three movements, Sidewalk Chalk has realized the best version of their band and, in the process, created their most important body of work.

"Sidewalk Chalk uphold a torch for all of today, tomorrow & yesterday’s heroes & visionaries that seek a more beautiful & just world."
- Impose Magazine

"...the band perfectly combines musicality with sincere lyricism on An Orchid is Born. You will jump for joy, cry, ...pinching yourself wondering if it’s possible for a single album to be THIS darn good."
- Ohestee

"There is some serious Native Tongues flavor injected into this well-rounded 8-piece of Mid-Western funk" - Okayplayer

"...it's easy to sample Charles Mingus, but it's far harder to make music that Mingus would have liked." - Afropunk

"While many Chicago bands strive hard for originality, it's unlikely that any of them could best Sidewalk Chalk..."
- Jessica Hopper, Chicago Tribune