The Live Music Event List
Welcome to the vibrant musical scene of Chicago and the North Shore! The Live Music Event List is a bi-weekly list that brings you the latest and greatest in live performances across the Chicagoland Area. From the bustling streets of downtown Chicago to the serene shores of the North Shore suburbs, music lovers will find something to delight their ears at every turn.
Compiled by a team of passionate music enthusiasts, The Live Music Event List showcases a diverse array of venues, from intimate jazz clubs to sprawling concert halls. Whether you're in the mood for some indie rock vibes in Wicker Park or craving the smooth sounds of blues in Evanston, or fantastic cover bands in Highwood, our list ensures you stay in the loop with the latest happenings. Keep an eye out for regular updates as we strive to provide you with the most up-to-date information on where to catch the hottest acts in town.
Journal note:
“I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone they will be forced to deal with pain.” -James Baldwin
Our Contributors:
Shellie, Tommy, LJ, Noah, Mitch the Lip, John, Doug, Bongo Mike and Ira, Leslie M, Annette, Barbara W, Kirsten, Bongo Mike, Louie, Bobby R. Ken S, Larry M, Paul C, Gerry, Noah, Mike C, Bongo Mike, Louie, and Allison
October Events
Wednesday, October 29th
Peach Jam
Allman Brothers Tribute, 28 Mile Distillery, Highwood, $10, 7-10p
Hot Pepper Jam
Whiskey River, Glenview, 8-11:30p
Jam Night at Live Wire Lounge
(every Wednesday) 3394 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 8-12PM
On The Air
Copper Fiddle Distillery, 532 W. IL Rte. 22, Lake Zurich, 7-10p
Thursday, October 30th
Todd Kessler Band
singer/songwriter, Hey Nonny, Arlington Heights, free, 7:30p
Open Blues Jam
Wooden Nickel, Highwood, 8-11p
Open Mic Night
Copper Fiddle Distillery, 532 W. IL Rte. 22, Lake Zurich, 7-11p
Shanajam
@ Shanahan’s Food & Spirits, 1999 75th St, Woodridge, IL 7-10PM
Friday, October 31st
Roger That
Wooden Nickel, Highwood, 8-11p
Lounge Puppets
Stage 119. Elmhurst, 9-11:30p
Modern Day Romeos and Bon Journeyed
Durty Nellie’s, Palatine7-midnight
Deadfest Band
Hey Nonny, Arlington Heights, 8p
Liquid Faction
Madcats, Palatine, 9p
Dec8de
Whiskey River, Glenview, 9p-1am
Boy Band Night
Austin’s Impact Fuel Room, Libertyville, 9p
The Shagadelics
28 Mile Distillery, Highwood, $20 (includes all you can eat pizza), 7:30-11p
Marcus Rezak Band
Phish and Grateful Dead Tributes, Teddy O’Brian’s, Highwood 8-11p
Tributosaurus becomes Black Sabbath
Fitzgerald’s. www.fitzgeraldsnightclub.com 6615 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn, 8:30p
December Events
Wednesday, December 3rd
Dave Salzman and Friends
(first Wednesday’s),Toadstool Pub, Highwood, 7:30p
Hot Pepper Jam
Whiskey River, Glenview, 8-11:30p
Jam Night at Live Wire Lounge
(every Wednesday) 3394 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 8-12PM
What would Wednesday’s be without music at Highwood’s Wooden Nickel? Rotating hosts Scott and Joy make every jam special, 8p
On The Air
Copper Fiddle Distillery, 532 W. IL Rte. 22, Lake Zurich, 7-10p
Thursday, December 4th
Tributosaurus becomes Supertramp
Martyrs’ Martyrslive.com 3855 N. Lincoln Av, Chicago, 7p
1st Thursday’s-L.J. Slavin
Grandpa’s Place, 1868 Prairie Ave, Glenview, 7-9p
Open Blues Jam
Wooden Nickel, Highwood, 8-11p
Open Mic Night
Copper Fiddle Distillery, 532 W. IL Rte. 22, Lake Zurich, 7-11p
Shanajam
@ Shanahan’s Food & Spirits, 1999 75th St, Woodridge, IL 7-10PM
Friday, December 5th
Tributosaurus becomes Supertramp
Martyrs’ Martyrslive.com 3855 N. Lincoln Av, Chicago, 7p
Gandy Gumbo
Wooden Nickel, Highwood, 8-11p
Wall of Denial
Stevie Ray Vaughn Tribute (7:30p) followed by
Damon Johnson of Brother Cane
(9:30p), Sundance Saloon, Mundelein, 7:30-11p
Louie Zagoras & Rollover
Whiskey River, Glenview, 8-11:30p
Farkus
Peggy Kinnane’s, Arlington Heights, 8p-midnight
Saturday, December 6th
Mixtape Heroes
Toadstool Pub, (Elf Pub Crawl-because the party in Highwood never stops), Highwood, 7:30p
See Alice
(Elf Pub Crawl-because the party in Highwood never stops), Wooden Nickel, Highwood, 8-11p
After School Special
Mickey Finn’s Brewery, Libertyville, 9p
Lewzinit
Peggy Kinnane’s, Arlington Heights, 8p-midnight
Sunday, December 7th
40,000 HEADMEN
Traffic Tribute, celebrates 10 years at Martyrs’!!!!
Joy from Red Panda and friends
Wooden Nickel, Highwood, 3p
Kreative Minds
Sundance Saloon, Mundelein, 2p
Rosie & The Rivets
Hey Nonny, Arlington Heights, 6p
Uke Clinic with Louie Zagoras
Skokie Public Library, 3p
Tuesday, December 9th
Pierce Crask on Tuesday nights
Celtic Knot Public House, 2022 Central Street, Evanston, 5 -7p
Open Mic
Madcats, Palatine, 7:30-10:30p
Open Mic Night
Grandpa’s, Glenview, 7:30p
Open Blues Jam
Fritzy’s Tavern, hosted by Edgewater Rhythm & Blues Experience, 6156 N. Clark St, Chicago, 8-11p
Even Tuesdays Jam
hosted by Mike, Marc, and Lynette Wooden Nickel, Highwood, 7:30-10:30p
Wednesday, December 10th
Madcats Rock Jam
Madcats, Palatine, 7p
Even Wednesday’s Open Jam
hosted by Earl Rosen, PS Pub, Wheeling 8-11p
Hot Pepper Jam
Whiskey River, Glenview, 8-11:30p
Jam Night at Live Wire Lounge
(every Wednesday) 3394 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 8-12PM
What would Wednesday’s be without music at Highwood’s Wooden Nickel? Rotating hosts Scott and Joy make every jam special, 8p
On The Air
Copper Fiddle Distillery, 532 W. IL Rte. 22, Lake Zurich, 7-10p
Thursday, December 11th
Open Blues Jam
Wooden Nickel, Highwood, 8-11p
Open Mic Night
Copper Fiddle Distillery, 532 W. IL Rte. 22, Lake Zurich, 7-11p
Shanajam
@ Shanahan’s Food & Spirits, 1999 75th St, Woodridge, IL 7-10PM
Friday, December 12th
Nightburners
Broken Oar, Port Barrington, 8-11p
Odd Man Out
Underground Lounge at 952 W Newport Ave, Chicago, 10p
Gerald McClendon, Soulkeeper, https://www.ticketweb.com/event/motown-holiday-dance-party-w-fitzgeralds-nightclub-tickets/14649013
Fitzgeralds, 6615 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn, $15, 8:30p
Mr. Blotto
Grateful Dead Tribute, Teddy O’Brian’s, Highwood, 9p-midnight
Dj Versage
Holiday sing along Toadstool Pub, Highwood, 7pm
Highway J
28 Mile Distilling, Highwood, 8-11p
Nothing Personal
Madcats, Palatine, 9p
Now and Then
Peggy Kinnane’s, Arlington Heights, 8p-midnight
Brass from the Past
Sideouts, Island Lake, 8-11p
Rewind 85
Mickey Finn’s Brewery, Libertyville, 9p
Nick Psyhogios
Chicago’s Own Piano Man, Primo/Parlor Speakeasy, Gurnee, 6-9p
Saturday, December 13th
Funkadesi
reggae, funk, Bollywood, and more, https://www.ticketweb.com/event/funkadesi-29th-anniversary-concert-fitzgeralds-nightclub-tickets/14613403, Fitzgeralds, 6615 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn, $15, 8:30p
The Saratogas
yacht, classic, funky, Teddy O’Brian’s, Highwood, 8-11p
The Luxmen
Toadstool Pub, Highwood, 8pm
Drops of Soul
Wooden Nickel, Highwood, 8-11p
Tennessee Whiskey & Ultimate Eric Church
Tributes to Chris Stapleton & Eric Church, Austin’s Impact Fuel Room, Libertyville, 9p
Pina Farina Band and 7th Heaven
Sundance Saloon, Mundelein, 7p
Abby Kay Band
Mickey Finn’s Brewery, Libertyville, 9:30p
Vista Cruisers
Copper Fiddle Distillery, 532 W. IL Rte. 22, Lake Zurich, 8-11p
Liquid Faction Band
Peggy Kinnane’s, Arlington Heights, 8p-midnight
Slave Garden
Madcats, Palatine, 9p
Sunday, December 14th
Classical Blast
Fitzgeralds, 6615 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn, $30, 4p
Omi Winter Student Showcase
Madcats, Palatine, 12:30p
Randy Rock & Friends
Madcats, Palatine, 6-9p
Tuesday, December 16th
Classical Blast: Dark Side of the Yule
classical/rock, Hey Nonny, Arlington Heights, 7:30p
Pierce Crask
on Tuesday nights, Celtic Knot Public House, 2022 Central Street, Evanston, 5 -7p
Open Mic
Madcats, Palatine, 7:30-10:30p
Open Mic Night
Grandpa’s, Glenview, 7:30p
Open Blues Jam
Fritzy’s Tavern, hosted by Edgewater Rhythm & Blues Experience, 6156 N. Clark St, Chicago, 8-11p
Low-Reen Blues Jam
(3rd Tuesday), Wooden Nickel, Highwood, 7-10p
Wednesday, December 17th
David Salzman and friends
Toadstool Pub, Highwood, 7:30pm
Peach Jam
Allman Bros. Tribute, 28 Mile Distilling, Highwood,
7-10p
Hot Pepper Jam
Whiskey River, Glenview, 8-11:30p
Jam Night at Live Wire Lounge
(every Wednesday) 3394 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 8-12PM
What would Wednesday’s be without music at Highwood’s Wooden Nickel? Rotating hosts Scott and Joy make every jam special, 8p
On The Air
Copper Fiddle Distillery, 532 W. IL Rte. 22, Lake Zurich, 7-10p
Thursday, December 18th
Black Diamond Sessions
(Third Thursday’s) Wooden Nickel, Highwood, 8-11p
Open Mic Night
Copper Fiddle Distillery, 532 W. IL Rte. 22, Lake Zurich, 7-11p
Shanajam
@ Shanahan’s Food & Spirits, 1999 75th St, Woodridge, IL 7-10PM
Friday, December 19th
Chicago Vintage Vibe
(https://chicagovintagevibe.com) Fusion of jazz, pop, blues and soul, Jameson’s Charhouse, 1331 West Dundee Road, Arlington Heights, 7:30-11p
Thunderstruck
AC/DC tribute, Austin’s Impact Fuel Room, Libertyville, 9:30p
Thankful Dead
Teddy O’Brian’s, Highwood, 8-11p
Marcus Rezak Band
featuring Kris Myers formerly of Umphrey’s McGee
Madame Zuzu’s, Highland Park, 7p
Abbey Ray & The Suntones
28 Mile Distilling, Highwood, 8-11p
Six Speed Tranny
Mickey Finn’s Brewery, Libertyville, 9p
Deadfest Band, and Peach Jam
Joe’s Live, Rosemont, 8p
A Sure Thing
Peggy Kinnane’s, Arlington Heights, 8p-midnight
Into the Heart
U2 Tribute, Madcats, Palatine, 9p
Saturday, December 20th
Expo ’76
Fitzgeralds, https://www.ticketweb.com/event/expo-76-big-xmas-bash-fitzgeralds-nightclub Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn, 8p
Linkin Park Experience
Austin’s Impact Fuel Room, Libertyville, 9:30p
Duct Tape
(I sure hope they can hold it together),Wooden Nickel, Highwood, 8-11p
Red Panda Band
Copper Fiddle, Lake Zurich, 8p
Brother Tim
Peggy Kinnane’s, Arlington Heights, 8p-midnight
The Gingers
Madcats, Palatine, 9p
Sunday, December 21st
Sunday Dream
Grateful Dead Tribute, Fitzgeralds, 6615 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn, 3:30p
Wichita Jacks
Toadstool Pub, Highwood, 2pm
County Line String Band
bluegrass, 28 Mile Distilling, Highwood, 4-7p
Jazz Jam
Madcats, Palatine, 6p
Tuesday, December 23rd
Tributosaurus
Christmas Spectacular, Fitzgeralds, 6615 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn, $40, 8:30p
Moon Money
Mickey Finn’s Brewery, Libertyville, 9p
Pierce Crask
on Tuesday nights
Celtic Knot Public House, 2022 Central Street, Evanston, 5 -7p
Open Mic
Madcats, Palatine, 7:30-10:30p
Open Mic Night
Grandpa’s, Glenview, 7:30p
Open Blues Jam
Fritzy’s Tavern, hosted by Edgewater Rhythm & Blues Experience, 6156 N. Clark St, Chicago, 8-11p
Even Tuesdays Jam
hosted by Mike, Marc, and Lynette Wooden Nickel, Highwood, 7:30-10:30p
More Events Coming Soon!
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