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
September Events
Tuesday, September 1st
Vat of Chocolate
First Tuesday’s, Wooden Nickel, Highwood, 7:15-10:15p
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, (1st & 3rd Tuesday’s) hosted by Edgewater Rhythm & Blues Experience, 6156 N. Clark St, Chicago, 8-11p
Wednesday, September 2nd
The Yips
Fred’s Garage, Winnetka, 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 Joy and Frank make every jam special, 8p
On The Air
Copper Fiddle Distillery, 532 W. IL Rte. 22, Lake Zurich, 7-10p
Thursday, September 3rd
Intergalactic Honkey Tonk
with Friend Zone, 1st Thursday’s, $5 draft special, 28 Mile, Highwood, 7-10p
Roger That
Jewett Park Pavilion, HAZEL Avenue Parking Lot, Deerfield, 6-7:30p
Yacht Rock-ettes
Broken Oar, Port Barrington, 7p
Petty Kings
Wheeling Town Center, 375 W. Dundee Rd, Wheeling, 6:30p
Rhythm of the Rocketman
Elton John Tribute, Rockin In the Park, Parkway Bank Park, Rosemont, FREE fireworks after the show, 7-10p
The Jolly Ringwolds
at Village Green, Central Ave, Wilmette, 7-8:30p
Mr. Dave
( Children’s Entertainer) 5:00pm - 5:30pm followed by 5:45pm - 8:00pm
WHKW
( Featuring members of Family Groove Company & 56 Hope Road) Covering classics by CSNY & other Laurel Canyon Favorites 6- 8:30pm, Jens Jensen Park, Ravinia District, 486 Roger Wiilams Rd, Highland Park, 5:45-8p
Joe Marcinek Band
Garcia’s, Chicago, sold-out
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, September 4th
-Nashwood Days kicks-off-Nashwood in Highwood
(Note: there are over 100 live performances in Highwood, with many from the familiar: Toadstool, 28 Mile, Mojo’s and Wooden Nickel, but there are too many to list so I’ve highlighted a few. Enjoy new music and new venues including Ami, Beermiscuous, Bella Via, Billy Bricks, Broken Tee, Buffo’s, Clucker’s, Funky Boba, La Plancha Loca, The Mean Wiener, Merhchant, Mojo’s, Santi’s, Scotty’s, Silver Dollar, Tacos El Norte
Yankee Cowboy
Silver Dollar (Teddy O’Briens formerly), Highwood, 8-11p
Dave Hiltebrand
Mojo’s Vinyl, Highwood, 7:30-10p
Cecy Santana Duo
Tacos El Norte, Highwood, 6-8:30p
Johnnie Miller
Toadstool Pub, (Nashwood Days), Highwood, 5-8p
Davidson County Band
Toadstool Pub, (Nashwood Days), Highwood, 8p
Bad Motor Scooter
Broken Oar, Port Barrington, 8p
Hi Infidelity
Buffalo Grove Days, Mike Rylko Park, Buffalo Grove, 6-8p
The Brothers Gibb
Bee Gees Tribute, Buffalo Grove Days, Mike Rylko Park, Buffalo Grove, 8:30-10:30p
Louie Zagoras and Rollover
Hey Nonny, Arlington Heights, 7:30p
Victor Brown Band
Macushla (Glenview), 6:30pm, no cover
The Other Women
Whiskey River, Glenview, 8-11:30p
Funk Out
Greentown on the Rocks, Waukegan, 7:30p
Dixon Bandits
southern rock The Chill house 1pm
In Session
Roselle Cruise Nights - 6:45ish
Strata
Eaglewood Resorts, Itasca, 7:30p
Funky Enough
Village Green, Central Ave, Wilmette, 6-8p
Diamondback
country, Broken Hearts, 1009 W. Lake St, Chicago, 10p-midnight or later
Saturday, September 5th
White Saddle Band
Toadstool Pub, (Nashwood Days), Highwood, 1-3p
The Reckoning
Toadstool Pub, (Nashwood Days), Highwood, 4-7p
Kevin Purcell and the Nightburners
with Bill LeClair on keys The Toadstool Pub Nashwood Baby! 8-11
Roger That
Wooden Nickel, Highwood, 5-7p
Where’s Maggie
28 Mile, Rooftop, Highwood, 8:30p
Stevie Craig
Beermiscuous, Highwood, 6-8:30p
Mac O’Brien
Silver Dollar (Teddy O’Briens formerly), Highwood, 8-11p
Red Panda Band
Living Full Kombucha, Winthrop Harbor, 12n
7th Heaven
Buffalo Grove Days, Mike Rylko Park, Buffalo Grove, 3:30-5p
Sound of Seattle
90’s grunge rock, Buffalo Grove Days, Mike Rylko Park, Buffalo Grove, 6-8p
16 Candles
Buffalo Grove Days, Mike Rylko Park, Buffalo Grove, 8:30-10:30p
Nick Bell Band
Broken Oar, Port Barrington, 2p
Rumor Hazit
Broken Oar, Port Barrington, 8p
Brass From the Past
Lake in the Hills Sunset Fest, 4p
The Saratogas
Whiskey River, Glenview, 8-11:30p
Cheap Foreign Cars
Septemberfest, Schaumburg, 6:30p
Night Ranger
Septemberfest, Schaumburg, 8:30p
Scramble
Eaglewood Resorts, Itasca, 7:30p
Sunday, September 6th
Country Doctors
Toadstool Pub, (Nashwood Days), Highwood, 1-4p
Desperate Bastards
with Bill LeClair on keys The Toadstool Pub 5-8
Pierce Crask
La Planca Loca, Highwood, 5-7:30p
Deadfest Band
Nashwood Days, 28 Mile, Rooftop, 4:20-7p
Nashville Electric Country
Buffalo Grove Days, Mike Rylko Park, Buffalo Grove, 3:30-5p
LP Vinyl
Buffalo Grove Days, Mike Rylko Park, Buffalo Grove, 6-8p
Rod Tuffcurls and the Bench Press
Buffalo Grove Days, Mike Rylko Park, Buffalo Grove, 8:30-10:30p
Roger That
Fatman’s, Gurnee, 1-4:30p
Semple
Broken Oar, Port Barrington, 2p
Pino Farina Band
Broken Oar, Port Barrington, 8p
White Lion
Septemberfest, Schaumburg, 6:30p
Warrant
Septemberfest, Schaumburg, 8:30p
No Turn on Red
Taste of Polonia, Chicago, 3:15-4:30p
Monday, September 7th
Libido Funk Circus
Broken Oar, Port Barrington, 2p
Turning Down Today
rock covers, Buffalo Grove Days, Mike Rylko Park, Buffalo Grove, 12-3p
Krysten Knievel
Septemberfest, Schaumburg, 5:30p
Max Weinberg’s Jukebox
Septemberfest, Schaumburg, 7:30p
Tuesday, September 8th
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
Even Tuesdays Jam
hosted by Marc and Lynette Wooden Nickel, Highwood, 7:30-10:30p
Wednesday, September 9th
Roger That
California Surf, British Invasion, Americana, Jewett Park Pavilion, Deerfield, 6-7:30p
Steely Dad
Fred’s Garage, Winnetka, 7:30p
Rico Jams
Santana Tribute/R&B/Soul, Fox Pointe, 18138 Henry St, Lansing, 7-9p
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 Joy and Frank make every jam special, 8p
On The Air
Copper Fiddle Distillery, 532 W. IL Rte. 22, Lake Zurich, 7-10p
Thursday, September 10th
Big Brothers Vinyl
Wheeling Town Center, 375 W. Dundee Rd, Wheeling, 6:30p
American English
BeatlesTribute, Rockin In the Park, Parkway Bank Park, Rosemont, FREE fireworks after the show, 7-10p
Judson Brown Band
Broken Oar, Port Barrington, 7p
McHenry Music Fest
3 day festival, through Saturday 12th, Petersen Park, McHenry, www.McHenryMusicFest.com
The Yacht Rockette
Wallace Bowl, 800 Gillson Park Dr, Wilmette, NO PETS, 7-8:30p
Victor Brown Band
Double Clutch Brewery, Evanston, 8p
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, September 11th
Big Boss and The Toes
Toadstool Pub, Highwood, 8pm
Kelsey Montanez
The Shack Indoor Golf Club, just west of Waukegan Rd, Chestnut, Glenview, 5-7p
No Limits Sound Band
Eaglewood Resorts, Itasca, 7:30p
Legacy Classic Rock
Whiskey River, Glenview, 8-11:30p
Jet Set Quartet
Roselle Cruise Nights - 6:45ish
The Socially Acceptable Band
Centennial Green at Village Hall, 50 S. Emerson St, Mt Prospect, 6:30p
Made in America
Toby Keith Tribute, Broken Oar, Port Barrington, 8p
Saturday, September 12th
Off the Clock Band
Toadstool Pub, Highwood, 8pm
Evanston Folk Festival
Sep 11-12th, Dawes Park, Evanston, $166 for 2-day pass, 11:30a-8:30p
www.ticketweb.com/event/evanston-folk-festival-2026-2-dawes-park-tickets/14705043
Wise Guys
Whiskey River, Glenview, 8-11:30p
The Mosquitos
Sundance Saloon - alternating sets with Milhouse, Mundelein, 5-10 PM
American English
Broken Oar, Port Barrington, 2p
Jak Tripper
Broken Oar, Port Barrington, 8p
Dixon Bandits
southern rock ATK Diamond Jim’s 7
Bonnie N The Boy’s Band
Eaglewood Resorts, Itasca, 7:30p
Alison Krause & Union Station
with special guest Theo Lawrence, Ravinia, Highland Park
Roger That
Festival of the Vine, Geneva, 5:30-7p
Sunday, September 13th
Illegal Smiles
live at SPACE for an Evanston Folk Fest After Party featuring special guests covering the John Prine record, Bruised Orange!
Doors 7:30pm, Show: 8:30pm
Rico Jams
Santana Tribute/R&B/Soul, Old Republic, 155 S. Randall Rd, Elgin, 5-8p
Hairbangers Ball
Broken Oar, Port Barrington, 3p
More Events Coming Soon!
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