Monday, June 6
Iron and Wine, The Head and the Heart; Millennium Park. 6:30, free
Robbie Fulks, Nora O’Connor; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation
Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps, Dastardly, Umma; Schubas. 8 pm, $8
The Dodos, Gauntlet Hair; Metro. 9 pm, $18

Tuesday, June 7
Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs, Brandi Carlile, The Secret Sisters; Millennium Park. 6 pm, $20-65

Wednesday, June 8
David Bazan and Band, Cotton Jones; Lincoln Hall. 9 pm, $15

Thursday, June 9
Cloudbirds; Millennium Park. 12 pm, free
Alela Diane, The Parson Redheads, The Singleman Affair; Empty Bottle. 9:30 pm, $10

Friday, June 10
Julian Velard, Rachael Sage; Schubas, 7 pm, $10

Saturday, June 11
Lucy Kaplansky; SPACE. 7 pm, $17-28
Arlo Guthrie, Vance Gilbert, Eliza Gilkyson, Chris Smither; Symphony Center. 8 pm, $25-70
Van Ghost, How Far to Austin, Great Divide, Ben Ripani Music Co., Katie Todd Band; House of Blues. 8 pm, $13-15
Bell X1, James Vincent McMorrow; Lincoln Hall, 9 pm, $15
The Antlers, Little Scream; Metro. 9 pm, $16-18
Jeremy Messersmith, The Daredevil Christopher Wright, Dinosaur Bones; Schubas. 10 pm, $10-12

Sunday, June 12
The Hoyle Brothers; Millennium Park. 12 pm, free

Related posts:

1. This Week in Great Music: 6/14 – 6/20
2. This Week in Great Music: 6/21 – 6/27
3. This Week in Great Music: 5/30 – 6/5

There are a ridiculous amount of great shows on Friday and Saturday.  I won’t be making it to any of them.  You — yes, you — should go in my place.

Monday, March 7
Menomena; Empty Bottle. 6:30 pm, free with RSVP.
Kelly Hogan & Scott Ligon; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation

Tuesday, March 8
The Chapin Sisters; Elbo Room. 8 pm, $7

Wednesday, March 9
Dan Bern, Edie Carey; SPACE. 8 pm, $18-20

Thursday, March 10
Portugal. The Man, Kellen and Me, The Soil and the Sun; Lincoln Hall. 7:30 pm, sold out
Esben and the Witch, Wise Blood, Family Band; Empty Bottle. 9:30 pm, $10

Friday, March 11
Richard Shindell; SPACE. 7 pm, $18-30
Ari Hest; Schubas. 7 pm and 10:30 pm, $10
Cold War Kids, A Lull; the Riviera. 7:30 pm, $24
The Future Laureates, Kingsley Flood, How Far to Austin, Nelken; Mayne Stage. 8:30 pm, $10
The Get Up Kids, Miniature Tigers, Brian Bonz; Bottom Lounge. 9 pm, $22
Diplo, Willy Joy; The Mid. 10 pm, $22
Dick Prall, Rachele Eve; SPACE. 10 pm, $10-14
Maps and Atlases, Light Pollution, Gypsyblood; Lincoln Hall. 10 pm, $14

Saturday, March 12
Sarah McLachlan, Butterfly Boucher, Melissa McClelland; Chicago Theatre. 7:30 pm, sold out
Loyal Divide, Derek Nelson and the Musicians, Nick Miller and the Neighbors, Bassel and the Supernaturals; Beat Kitchen. 8:30 pm, $10
The Get Up Kids, Miniature Tigers, Brian Bonz; Lincoln Hall. 9 pm, $22-26
Middle Brother, Dawes, Deer Tick; Metro. 9 pm, $19

Sunday, March 13
Orgone, The Right Now; Schubas. 8 pm, $10-12
Emilie Autumn; Metro. 8 pm, $21

Related posts:

1. This Week in Great Music: 11/29 – 12/5
2. This Week in Great Music: 10/11 – 10/17
3. This Week in Great Music: 4/5 – 4/11

A little late with this today, but that’s what happens when you are a) still sick and b) have random days off. A lot of great shows are happening this week featuring local artists. Check them out and support local music. Also, Thursday’s Empty Bottle show is CHIRP Radio’s one year anniversary shows, which you should go to.

Monday, January 17
Robbie Fulks, The Hoyle Brothers; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation
Todd Carey; Schubas. 8 pm, $6

Tuesday, January 18
Clay Cook and Levi Lowrey; Schubas. 8 pm, $8

Wednesday, January 19
Meh.

Thursday, January 20
Waco Brothers, Amanda Shires, Candy Apple & The Buddies; Mayne Stage. 8:30 pm, $15
Campfires, Black Math, Cool Memories; Empty Bottle. 9:30 pm. $8

Friday, January 21
Songwriter In The Round Showcase, featuring Todd Kessler, Rachele Eve, Mike Mangione, Matthew Santos, Patrick Gemkow; Schubas. 7 pm, $7
Cook County Fair Quintet, Jane and The Steadfast Acrobats, Matt Ryd Band, Tell Your Friends; Bottom Lounge. 8 pm, $10
Kings Go Forth, JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound, Soul Summit DJs; Double Door. 9 pm, $10
How Far to Austin, Molehill, Ben Ripani Music Co., The Wet Darlings; Beat Kitchen. 9 pm, $8

Saturday, January 22
Verbow, Jeremy David Miller; Schubas. 7 pm, $15
Liz Phair; Metro. 8 pm, $25
Lissie, Dylan LeBlanc; Lincoln Hall. 9 pm, $14

Sunday, January 23
Sad Brad Smith, Midnight Moxie; Schubas. 8 pm, $10

Related posts:

1. This Week in Great Music: 6/6 – 6/12
2. This Week in Great Music: 5/3 – 5/9
3. This Week in Great Music: 3/7 – 3/13

Welcome back to your regularly scheduled blogging! If you’re around this weekend, check out the three-day Chicago Bluegrass and Blues festival, with shows at the Double Door, the Congress Theatre, and Lincoln Hall.

Monday, November 29
Robbie Fulks, Mike Fredrickson; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation

Tuesday, November 30
Sidewalk Chalk, BBU, BXC, Rita J, Kandyce Hogan; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, $8
April Smith and the Great Picture Show, Rego; Beat Kitchen. 8 pm, $10

Wednesday, December 1
Jenny Scheinman, Nels Cline, Jim Black, Todd Sickafoose, Nora O’Connor and Friends; SPACE. 8 pm, $25-40
Jon Drake and the Shakes, Curtis Evans and Our Friend Electric; Cafeteria y Restaurante de Pancho (2200 N California). 8 pm, cover

Thursday, December 2
Hoot Night: Feast and Famine (Dag Juhlin, Justin Roberts, Nora O’Connor and Liam Davis, Ingrid Graudins, Phil Angotti, Trinkets of Joy, Tom Dunning and Your Boyfriends); Schubas. 8 pm, $10
Meg and Dia; Beat Kitchen. 8:30 pm, $10-12
Freelance Whales, Miniature Tigers; Lincoln Hall. 9 pm, $15

Friday, December 3
Maroon 5, Ingrid Michaelson, Ryan Star; Chicago Theatre. 7:30 pm, $55-75
Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival, ft. Corey Chisel and the Wandering Sons, Midwest Hype, How Far to Austin, The Right Now, Great Divide; Double Door. 8 pm, $12-15
Doomtree, ft. POS, Dessa, and others; Bottom Lounge. 9 pm, $12

Saturday, December 4
Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival, ft. Derek Nelson & the Musicians, the Future Laureates, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, the Shams Band, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and others; Congress Theatre. 1 pm, $35
Vienna Teng; SPACE. 8 pm, $18-28
Delta Spirit; Metro. 9 pm, $16

Sunday, December 5
Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival, ft. Mike Mangione & the Union, Daphne Willis, the Skatalites, & others; Lincoln Hall. 6 pm, $15
Broken Bells, Maps and Atlases; the Vic. 7:30 pm, $30

Related posts:

1. This Week in Great Music: 4/5 – 4/11
2. This Week in Great Music: 3/7 – 3/13
3. This Week in Great Music: 5/3 – 5/9

If you’ve been paying attention around here, you know that I’ve got a particular love for all things folk/roots/Americana, and that one of my favorite things about Chicago is its rich and vibrant local music scene.   S0 it’s no surprise that I’m a big fan of the Chicago Roots Collective, which is now entering its second year of life here in the city.  The Collective is made up of ten local bands, has put on 30 shows over the past year, and has a monthly showcase at one of my favorite venues, Lincoln Hall.

And now, they’re branching out into something even bigger: their own festival, two nights at the Elbo Room, featuring all of the Collective acts, as well as tons of local singer/songwriters.  They’re teaming up with the Intonation Music Workshop, a non-profit promoting music education for children; all t-shirt sales from the weekend will go directly to Intonation.

The lineup looks a little something like this:

Friday, November 5th

Downstairs Music Room

Upstairs Lounge:

• Jack Brett
• Rachele Eve
• Brendan Losch
• Katie Scrantom
• Dan Price
• Will Phalen
• Jessica Robbins
• Kevin Garvey
• Nelken
• Nathan Xander

Saturday, November 6th

Downstairs Music Room

• How Far to Austin
• Cobalt & the Hired Guns
• Todd Kessler & the New Folk
• Mike Mangione & the Union
• The Future Laureates

Upstairs Lounge:

• Andrew Francis
• Jeff Churchwell
• Jane Thatcher
• Shelley Miller
• Bassel Al-Madani
• Diana Lawrence
• Matt Campbell
• Michael Kostal
• Bobby Minelli

Both shows kick off at 8 pm at the Elbo Room.  Tickets are $10 per night, or $15 for the whole weekend, and are available from the Elbo Room, here.  For more information on the show, the Collective, and all of the bands, check out the Collective’s website.

Related posts:

1. Chicago Folk and Roots Festival: July 10 and 11
2. This Week in Great Music: 11/1 – 11/7
3. This Week in Great Music: 3/14 – 3/20

My theory is that the beginning of the week is so lackluster because Friday is full of awesome shows. I’ll be at SPACE for Anais Mitchell on Friday, and Lincoln Hall for Alice Peacock on Saturday.

Now, I’m going back to watching Dirty Jobs. Happy Labor Day.

Monday, September 6
Meh

Tuesday, September 7
Meh

Wednesday, September 8
Reggie’s 3 Year Anniversary Party, ft. Ha Ha Tonka, Treaty of Paris, more; Reggie’s Rock Club. 6 pm, $12-15
Carbon Leaf; SPACE. 8 pm, $17-30
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone; Subterranean. 8:30 pm, $8

Thursday, September 9
Ludo; Metro. 6 pm, $15
Marina and the Diamonds; Lincoln Hall. 9 pm, $15

Friday, September 10
Anais Mitchell; SPACE. 7 pm, $10-18
Sam Amidon, Via Tania; Old Town School of Folk Music. 8 pm, $12-16
Giving Tree, JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound, How Far To Austin, Future Laureates; House of Blues. 8:30 pm, $10-13
Heypenny, Kyle Andrews, Seafarer, A Light Sleeper; Mayne Stage. 8:30 pm, $7-10
Matt Ryd, Mike Mentzer, Little Light; Schubas. 9 pm, $10
Skybox, What Laura Says; Subterranean. 9 pm, $10

Saturday, September 11
Alice Peacock, Lincoln Hall. 7 pm, $20
Chris Smither, SPACE. 8 pm, $18-30

Sunday, September 12
Chicago Blues Harp Bash; SPACE. 6 pm, $15-25
Emily Wells, Angel Olsen; Schubas. 8 pm, $12

Related posts:

1. This Week in Great Music: 3/21 – 3/27
2. This Week in Great Music: 4/18 – 4/24
3. This Week in Great Music: 9/19 – 9/25

After three days of Lollapalooza, I kind of don’t want to think about music right now. Fortunately for those of us who are sort of burnt out at the moment, there’s not a lot going on.  I’ll be at the Rufus Wainwright show on Friday.  I’m not in love with his new album, but as a Rufus (and Martha) fangirl, I’ll go to the concert all the same.  Maybe I will love the new songs more, seeing them live.

Monday, August 9
Neon Trees; Hard Rock Cafe. 6 pm, free
Victoire; Millennium Park. 6:30 pm, free
Robbie Fulks; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation

Tuesday, August 10
Tony Lucca and Ernie Halter; SPACE. 8 pm, $12-20
The Cliks; Schubas. 8 pm, $8-10

Wednesday, August 11
Meh.

Thursday, August 12
Jeremy Messersmith, Judson Claiborne, Conrad Plymouth; Schubas. 9 pm, $8

Friday, August 13
Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright; Bank of America Theatre. 8 pm, $48.50-58.50

Saturday, August 14
Jeffrey David; Navy Pier Beer Garden. 5 pm, free
How Far to Austin; Cubby Bear Wrigleyville. 8:30 pm, $7
Katie Herzig, Andrew Belle; Schubas. 9 pm, $12-15

Sunday, August 15
Meh.

Related posts:

1. This Week in Great Music: 8/8 – 8/14
2. This Week in Great Music: 8/15 – 8/21
3. This Week in Great Music: 8/16 – 8/22

One of my favorite things about the city of Chicago is the large number of street festivals, block parties, etc., that take place all summer long.  If you can’t find something to do on a weekend here, you’re probably just not looking hard enough.  There’s a ton of stuff going on this weekend.  My two favorites are Ribfest Chicago and Metronome Celebration.

Ribfest Chicago kicks off tonight at Lincoln and Irving Park.  Tonight’s featured musical acts are Mucca Pazza (6:30) and The Ike Reilly Assassination (9:00) on the South stage, and Robbie Fulks (7:45) on the North stage.  Saturday has performances from  bands including Unicycle Loves You (2:45) and Califone (7:45) at the South stage, and Those Darlins (6:30) and Bottle Rockets (9:00) at North.  And Sunday’s got The Shams Band (2:45) and Langhorne Slim (7:45) on the North stage, and The Whigs (9:00) at South.  Ribfest runs from 5-10:00 pm today, and from noon-10:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.  Entry is a $5 suggested donation.

Metronome Celebration takes place on Saturday and Sunday, at Michigan and Armitage, with programming from Empty Bottle, the Congress Theater, MP Productions, and the Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival.  Saturday has Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s at 7 pm, and Split Lip Rayfield at 8:30 pm, and Sunday has a fantastic lineup of bands, including How Far to Austin (2:00), Kevin Flynn and the Avondale Ramblers (4:00), The Right Now (5:15), and akron/family (8:30). Admission is $5.

There are, of course, tons of other fantastic events going on this weekend:

• Chicago Blues Festival, Friday through Sunday, with five stages of blues and discussion, all for free.  Takes place at Grant Park.
• Party at St. Mike’s, Friday through Sunday, featuring local acts like the Chris Buehrle Band.  Admission is $5 on Frida and Sunday, and $10 on Saturday.  St. Mike’s is at 1633 N. Cleveland (Cleveland & North).
• Market Day on Madison Street, now in its third year, runs from noon to 8:00 pm on Saturday.  It features live music and spoken word performances.  Admission is free, and the festival is located at Madison and California.
• Andersonville Midsommarfest, taking place on Saturday and Sunday, is now in its 45th year and features a whole array of bands and activities.  Admission is a $5 suggested donation, at Clark and Foster.
• Old Town Art Fair runs on Saturday and Sunday as well.  In addition to live music from bands including Pretty Good Dance Moves (Saturday, 5:00), and Rachele Eve (Sunday, 2:00) and Via Tania (Sunday, 5:o0).  Admission is a $7 donation.  The festival’s located at Lincoln and Wisconsin.
• And if you’re at the Old Town festival, you might as well make it over to the Wells Street Art Festival, on Wells, between North and Division.  The festival is on Saturday and Sunday with a $7 suggested donation before 5:00 pm, and a $10 donation afterwards.
• And finally, the Printers Row Lit Fest, which I have missed for one reason or another every year since I moved here, is going on this weekend as well.  Events are being held at the Harold Washington Library, and various other locations along Dearborn, between Harrison and Polk.

Related posts:

1. This Weekend’s Summer Festivals
2. This Weekend’s Summer Festivals
3. This Weekend’s Summer Festivals

Is this week making up for the relative slowness of last week?  Yes, I think so.

Monday, June 7
She & Him, Hollows; Pritzker Pavillion, Millennium Park.  6:30 pm, free
Judson Claiborne, The Mynabirds, A Tundra; Empty Bottle.  9:30 pm, free

Tuesday, June 8
Matt Pond PA, Wintersleep, Hudson Branch; Lincoln Hall.  8 pm, $14

Wednesday, June 9
Damien Jurado, Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, Santah; Schubas.  7 pm, $14
Stars, Dead Child Star; Lincoln Hall.  7 pm, sold out

Thursday, June 10
Otis Taylor; Pritzker Pavillion, Millennium Park.  12 pm, free
How Far to Austin, Chris Petlak; Park Grill (11 N. Michigan).  4 pm, free
Rachid Taha; Empty Bottle.  9:30 pm, $15-18

Friday, June 11
Gold Motel, Secret Colours, Mini Mansions; Lincoln Hall.  6 pm, $10
Melody Gardot, Phil Roy; Park West.  7:30 pm, $25
John Butler Trio, State Radio; Riviera Theatre.  8 pm, sold out
Landon Pigg, Madi Diaz; SPACE.  8 pm, $12-20
The Dutchess and the Duke, Mazes, Black Nag; Empty Bottle.  10 pm, $12
Melissa Ferrick; Lincoln Hall.  10 pm, $25
Freelance Whales, Peter Wolf Crier; Schubas.  10:30 pm, $12

Saturday, June 12
Sarah and the Tall Boys; Pritzker Pavillion, Millennium Park.  12 pm, free
Shawn Colvin, Nicholas Barron; Old Town School of Folk Music.  7 pm and 10 pm, $36-40
Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers, The Punch Brothers; Ravinia.  7:30 pm, $22-50
Great Lake Swimmers; SPACE.  7:30 pm, $12-22
Blue Rodeo, Cuff the Duke; Martyrs.  9 pm, $18-20
Otis Taylor, Chuck Campbell; SPACE.  10 pm, $20-34
Split Lip Rayfield; Empty Bottle.  10 pm, $12

Sunday, June 13
Sheryl Crow, Colbie Caillat; Ravinia.  7 pm, $27-90
The Handsome Family, the Thin Man; Old Town School of Folk Music.  7 pm, $16-20

Related posts:

1. This Week in Great Music: 6/6 – 6/12
2. This Week in Great Music: 6/14 – 6/20
3. This Week in Great Music: 5/30 – 6/5

Is this week taking a vacation?  It sure looks like it.  I wish I could take a vacation.

Monday, May 31
Girls Rock! Chicago: Ladies Rock Camp; Schubas.  6 pm, $6
Hum, Volcano!; Millennium Park.  6:30, free
Broken Bells, The Morning Benders; the Vic.  7:30 pm, sold out

Tuesday, June 1
Wow, nothing.

Wednesday, June 2
Erykah Badu, N.E.R.D., Janelle Monae; Chicago Theatre.  7:30 pm, $49.50-69.50
Evelyn Evelyn (with Amanda Palmer, Jason Webley, and Sxip Shirey); Park West.  7:30 pm, $22.50

Thursday, June 3
Antibalas, The Very Best; Millennium Park.  6:30 pm, free
Erykah Badu, N.E.R.D., Janelle Monae; Chicago Theatre.  7:30 pm, $49.50-69.50
Tortoise, D. Rider; Lincoln Hall.  8 pm, $20

Friday, June 4
Jewel, Kip Moore; the Vic.  8 pm, $50.50
The Good Life, Brighton MA, Quieting Syrup; Subterranean.  9:30 pm, $12
Iris DeMent; SPACE.  10 pm, sold out

Saturday, June 5
Julia Nunes; Lincoln Hall.  7 pm, $15-18
Joe Firstman, Josh Hoge, Marianne Keith; SPACE.  8 pm, $12-22
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Corey Chisel and the Wandering Sons, Musikanto; Subterranean.  9 pm, $15
Mathien, C.A.R.M.A., Green Sugar, How Far To Austin; House of Blues.  9 pm, $10-15
Zach Pietrini and the Broken Bones, Venna, Carl Hauck, Tricia Scully; Goose Island Wrigleyville (3535 N Clark).  9 pm, $8

Sunday, June 6
Nothing

Related posts:

1. This Week in Great Music: 5/30 – 6/5
2. This Week in Great Music: 6/7 – 6/13
3. This Week in Great Music: 4/11 – 4/17