Chicago live music

Indie/Alternative Shows in Chicago

Live indie/alternative events across Chicago-area venues on RUE. Listings come from venue calendars — open a show for tickets and details.

Upcoming events

Subterranean·Wicker Park

James Ivy

BIO James Ivy is the project of the New Jersey-born, New York-based singer-songwriter and producer James Butler. His debut album, The Seams — simultaneously an ode to and critique of stagnancy — sees Butler muddle through the doldrums of life, stripped of ego or dogma. Acting as a marked moment of pause and resistance, the project works to combat his early reliance on the economy of immediate artistic satisfaction. Entering the music scene in the age of digital immediacy in 2015 via Soundcloud, Butler became accustomed to allowing his music to reach audiences nearly as soon as they had formed. This quick-footed approach to creation continued even after Butler’s project began to explore singer-songwriter territory. The creation of his early EPs, Good Grief (2021) and Everything Perfect (2023) were Butler’s initial steps toward finding his place in music and piecing together his artistic identity. When making these projects, Butler passed his sonic output through a digital filter; the drums were sampled and layered on top of each other, the guitar was played into an audio interface and brought to life through amp simulation rather than recording analog, and Butler’s voice was heavily processed and tuned, acting almost as a synth amongst the rest of the maximalist production. Riding the high of his early work, Butler was brought on to support Keshi, Porter Robinson, and Anamanaguchi on their respective North American runs, and embarked on a headline tour of his own to support Everything Perfect in 2023. Butler has received praise from Pitchfork, NYLON, FLOOD, Triple J, MTV News, Coup de Main, M Le magazine du Monde, and more. Dedicated to nurturing his artistry as both a collaborator and producer, Butler has produced for THE BLSSM, Roy Blair, Porter Robinson and Wavedash, and partnered with Roy Blair to release their joint project, American Road In New Jersey in January 2026 . Swapping his usual digital computer-reliant workflow for a more classic approach, Butler started all his ideas for The Seams on acoustic guitar, ruminating on these ideas for months before taking them to the studio to flesh out the full arrangements. Whereas his earlier work was defined by glossy pop production, The Seams is deliberately raw, brought to life with a purposefully restricted sonic palette consisting of guitars, live drums, strings, and an old DX7 synthesizer. What’s left after all this subtraction is not less, but more: Butler at his most vulnerable and earnest, standing front and center of this record rather than hiding behind a wall of sound. Within The Seams , Butler finds momentum in stagnancy. The monotony of making an album over two years subconsciously comes through in songs about immobility and frustration: loitering in your own mind, being caught in a loop, and trying your hardest to achieve something predestined to fail. “I’m not so good at writing from the perspective of someone else, making up stories or writing abstractly,” Butler shares. “ The Seams ended up being an autobiography of a very boring time in my life where I wasn’t doing a lot of living and I really had nothing to write about other than the feelings of self-doubt, guilt, fear and frustration that came from making this album. I built super high expectations in my head which created a feedback loop — negativity leading to bad, forced, uninspired music which led to more negativity. The Seams is not only a reflection of those feelings but also a testament to breaking that feedback loop and embracing human error.” TICKET EVENT INFORMATION: This event is UPSTAIRS This event is 17+ All sales final, NO refunds or exchanges, events are rain or shine. Door times are subject to change without notice. Tickets purchased at box office will be inclusive of fees. Once you’ve purchased, you will receive an order confirmation email from See Tickets on behalf of ‘Beat Kitchen’ or 'Subterranean' with your eTicket(s) attached. We accept physical IDs or official digital IDs. Photos or screenshots of an ID are not accepted. *IMPORTANT: If you do not see your order confirmation in your inbox, make sure to check your junk/spam folder. If you still do not see your order confirmation or have any other technical ticketing-related issues with your order, click here to access the See Tickets help center. We take pride in creating a space where everyone feels welcome and safe, and we strive to provide accommodations for all guests to the best of our ability. While we commit to doing everything in our power to accommodate when given advanced notice, there is no elevator or ramp available to our upstairs ballroom. Guests who require accessibility accommodations should contact us at info@subt.net . Staff can provide assistance when possible. If you have tickets to an upcoming event and require special accommodations, or have questions, please contact info@subt.net at least one week prior to the event. More information can be found here on our FAQ page.

RockElectronic
Nov 12
8:00 PM
Bookclub·Lincoln Park

HEADLINERS 001: JEFF KLEIN

18+ 🪪shoutout Gwen Rose 🎙️ Jeff Klein Florida-born comedian Jeff Klein brings personal observations about belonging and everyday life to the stage. He created Beer with a Queer and the drag-and-stand-up showcase Wigs and Wit, and has performed at Pride comedy festivals across the country. Official website · Instagram Gwen Rose Gwen Rose is a Chicago stand-up comedian whose credits include headlining Laugh Factory and Zanies and opening for Julio Torres, Bobcat Goldthwait, and River Butcher. Her comedy special Emotional Cutting is available on digital platforms. Official links · Instagram

RockFolk / Roots
Nov 12
8:00 PM
Reggie's·South Loop

CCC Presents: A Mixed Media Show

SONAL AGGARWAL Former international street performer turned emcee, Sonal Aggarwal has brought her talents to Chicago as an actor, comedian, producer and movement artist. Her one woman show The Alchemy of Bliss played for a sold out weekend at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater and you can see her on Netflix’s Easy as well as the short A Period Piece which debuted at SXSW 2020. She is a regular host of the Moth. Instagram THE BLONDE ACTORS Chicago / West Michigan Power Pop Instagram BOYNESKI Boyneski (Boy-ness-ski) SHINING OVER THE GLOBE @boyneski on everything even ig Band Website Spotify Instagram SONNY BHAT Comedian Instagram SIRÈNE DE PARADIS Sirène De Paradis (Diane Berrios) is multi-disciplinary cultural performance artist (dancer, musician, singer, circus performer, costume designer and motivational movement facilitator) born and raised in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. For over 28 years, her passion stemming from her Afro-Puerto Rican dance roots have paved a unique path of art, music and dance from her travels throughout the Caribbean, North, Central and South America. Her cultural depiction of the performing arts, dance workshops and costumes that she has designed has been showcased through her labels, Chi-Caribena Designs and Global Beauty Dance. Finally, in 2025, she became a proud recipient of the DCASE Individual Artist Award for her 28 years of work as an artist in Chicago. Band Website Facebook Instagram DJ ICHABOD Band Website

Pop
Nov 12
8:00 PM
Price TBADetails →
Empty Bottle·Ukrainian Village

Improvement Movement / Jalen Reyes

Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM / 21+Improvement Movement, the social betterment campaign/prog-rock quartet/non-denominational cult from Atlanta, GA, have made a new record just for you and your modern day malaise. Its called Your Perfect Real Life, because, well, theres a lot going right these days, right? Arriving August 21, 2026 via ATO Records, Your Perfect Real Life is prismatic, angular, jumpy, and eccentric. Its sure to inundate your ears, corporeal form, and spiritual body with equal parts unadulterated bliss and realist catharsis, or, in other words, as much good as you can reasonably feel these days. Set in a world of chaos where the news seems to be perpetually recounting stories of planes falling out of the sky, urban wildfires, the uncanny nature of a southern snowfall, and schlepping ads that feel plucked from a sci-fi movie, Your Perfect Real Life makes an earnest case for embracing lifes relentless unpredictability. Animated by the bands baroque take on the angular harmonies of grunge, the records eleven tracks sprawl and simmer, enlivened by the Improvement Movements novel employment of dynamics, sticky melodies, four-part harmony, and a treasure trove of experimental instruments. If youve ever found yourself enraptured by the lush harmonies of Fleet Foxes, the theatrics of early Genesis tracks, or the candid intimacy of Art Garfunkel, Improvement Movement may be for you. Improvement Movement is a democracy, and so they say, things move slow. That may be true for the internal machinations of the band, but their output has been quite regular. Each member of the band, who have largely been eschewing definition, are songwriters and instrumentalists who have spent the better part of a decade in the fertile DIY scene in Atlanta, GA. In that time theyve been swirling, relatively undisrupted, in their own primordial ooze and rubbing elbows with folks from the no wave, punk, improv, and free jazz scenes. Atlanta is about as DIY as it gets, they say. Weve got some of the most killing musicians in the world all spread out on these kinds of islands of urbanization. Theres always something new. That said, the band hasnt been in Atlanta much lately; they were on the road relentlessly over the last two years, supporting Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Iron It was a gauntlet, trying to live day by day. There was no room for anything with too much premeditation.

FreeRockPop
Nov 12
9:00 PM
Decibel·Lakeview

CAKE

Now featuring CAKE! At @decibelchicago. A night full of ass shaking and fun! We got @selfiadragqueen and @djgaybash on the ones and twos! We got twerk contest, we bubble butt contest, maybe even a couple of lap dances from our sexy bakery!! So if you love cake this is the place for you!! Lady get in free, fellas get in free, non-binary's have to wear deodorant but then they get in free too!!! See you all there on 11/12!!! The BAKERY:@sativadiamond@mr.mistresss@tono_gogo_@lezbianminnelli@alonzasolsade@zaytwest. No Cover All Night. 21+ w/ID.

FreeRock
Nov 12
9:00 PM

almost monday - THANK GOD IT'S ALMOST MONDAY

Doors open at 7PM. Performance begins at 8PM. This show is for ALL AGES. House of Blues Chicago is a standing room only venue, all tickets are General Admission unless otherwise stated. *All support acts are subject to change without notice.* Upgrade Your Experience: https://www.sevenrooms.com/events/hobchicago/hobwebsite

PopRock
Nov 13
7:00 PM
Price TBADetails →

Carter Faith: Cherry Valley Forever Tour

After she began writing songs at 16, Carter Faith followed the path of many aspiring young country musicians before her and left North Carolina behind for Nashville. In just a few years, Faith had caught the attention of seasoned professionals and industry tastemakers alike, soon accumulating hundreds of millions of global streams with just a pair of EPs and a series of singles. Her early career was a whirlwind of high-profile collaborations and tours with the likes of Little Big Town, Shaboozey, Ella Langley, Keith Urban, Willie Nelson, and many more, plus accolades like features on All Country News' Artists to Watch list for 2025 and CMT's Next Women of Country campaign. Billboard has lauded Faith's vocals for "exuding fragility with a smoky resonance," while The Tennessean has praised Faith's embodiment of "the center square of the puzzle that country, folk and rock synergy has timelessly inspired." After signing with MCA and Universal Music Publishing Group, Faith began recording her long-awaited debut album Cherry Valley. The result of years writing with mentor and producer Tofer Brown, Cherry Valley looks back to some of Faith's formative influences — Tammy Wynette, Nancy Sinatra, iconic '60s classic rock albums like Pet Sounds and Revolver — to realize the "cowgirl hippie and sometimes a bit trippy" aesthetic Faith's been chasing all along. Across 15 tracks, Cherry Valley is both cinematic and deeply personal, featuring a narrative rich with details as Faith documents the travails of loss and heartbreak as youth tumbles into adulthood. With singles as varied as the sly "Grudge" or the gut-wrenching "If I Had Never Lost My Mind…," Cherry Valley proves Faith is already a young master of the form, putting her own twist on classic country narratives with a sound that is both modern and timeless.

Folk / RootsRock
Nov 13
7:00 PM
Thalia Hall·Pilsen

Ethan Regan - Young Regan Tour with Lily Kershaw

$1 from every ticket sold will be donated to The Sato Project, whose mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and find loving homes for abused and abandoned dogs in Puerto Rico. Ethan Regan is just the troubadour Gen Z needs. He's had a fair share of significant viral moments, but he's also an accomplished and energetic showman on stage, giving performances I.R.L. that leave a lasting mark. As a songwriter, he's both intensely introspective and sharply self-aware, espousing the importance of self-care with sensibility. In this respect, he makes timeless music with a modern mindset. Beyond playing instruments and singing, this CharloIe native with a restless, road-worn spirit personally grabs the reins and produces, mixes, and masters his own songs. He has tallied nearly 100 million streams, received critical acclaim, and captivated sold-out rooms as a proven headliner. Creatively, he doesn't follow a formula. You're just as likely to encounter a breezy chord progression in one of his tunes as you are to hear a rowdy and boisterous horn section or big screen-size strings. Hittng the road, he shined on bills with Sam Barber and Rainbow Kitten Surprise as well as Chelsea Cutler and Jeremy Zucker. Ethan's self-produced 2025 EP, honey honey honey, saw him gain further traction with , "rdquo" -> get by "and , "rdquo" -> spaceman." In the EP's wake, he canvased the country, headlining his , "rdquo" -> I Almost Graduated" Tour and releasing the likes of , "rdquo" -> fool" and , "rdquo" -> sweet hunger." Looking forward, his artistry remains an unapologetic and unfiltered reflection of who he is. You'll feel like you know him a little better on a series of 2026 singles for Columbia Records and his forthcoming debut album, , "rdquo" -> YOUNG REGAN."

Pop
Nov 13
7:30 PM
SPACE·Evanston

Tyrone Wells w. Tony Lucca

First things first. Let's get this out-of-the-way. Tyrone Wells (I) wrote this bio. I figured, , "rdquo" -> who better to talk about myself than myself?". I'm a lot of things in no particular order... a preacher's son, a brother, a husband, a dad, a real estate lover, a major-label artist, an independent artist, an opener, a headliner, a very self-conscious dancer (think , "rdquo" -> Footloose", only without the cathartic cutting loose), a gardener, a wanna be surfer, a person who has needed therapy, a pickleball player, a barstool theologian, and this next one kind of goes without saying because you're here reading my bio.. I'm a singer-songwriter. I've written a lot of songs. Probably approaching around 1,000 songs now... to me, when I wrote them, they were all good songs. The luxury of time has informed me, some of the songs were maybe just good to me. And some of the songs, inexplicably, have millions upon millions of listeners. Meanwhile, others have tens upon tens. I don't know why, I just write them and set them free. Ultimately, I'm trying my best to be honest, and write a song that I, and you can both love. I'm gonna keep trying. I'm so grateful that you have listened. Be it once, or be it a hundred times. I've got big love for you. I'll be over here chopping away and reminding myself to be vulnerable. Peace and Love, XOXO Tyrone

Folk / RootsRockPop
Nov 13
8:00 PM

ORBSEEKER TOUR: 93FEETOFSMOKE, FATS'E, POLEARM

ORBSEEKER TOUR: 93FEETOFSMOKE, FATS'E, POLEARM Date: Friday. November 13th, 2026 Doors: 5:00PM to Venue | 7:00PM to Sanctuary Showtime: 8:00PM Tickets: Advanced - $20 (+$4.72 fees, including tax) Day of Show - $25 (+$5.13 fees, including tax) ‘Service charges apply to ALL ticket purchases (online and box office)’ - Credit card only at door About: Independent alternative/emo rapper 93feetofsmoke first made waves in the mid through late twenty-tens in emo rap, dropping projects such as "BUMMER", which have since been cemented as blueprints for the genre. Now, they return to the stage in Chicago with their first fully self written, produced, and mixed project in years, performing alongside fellow collaborators who've helped to refine and expand their continual influence on the underground. Golden Hour at Epiphany: Stop by Epiphany for our live music series concerts, and be sure to hit Golden Hour before-hand for drinks and lite-bites! Doors open at 5pm Thursday - Saturday for Golden Hour with 1/2 priced bottles of wine, BOGO cocktails, and other specials! Come early to EXPLORE and DISCOVER your own EPIPHANY… our art galleries are open and there is free entertainment before the show! Please note that outside food or beverages are not permitted in the venue.

Hip HopRockPop
Nov 13
8:00 PM
Lincoln Hall·Lincoln Park / Lakeview

Porch Light

Minneapolis five-piece Porch Light's year ahead has a collection of big, unabashed rock tunes, full of riffs that announce themselves and choruses that reach and grab. All of them are songs meant to be played on stage, by five people without bells or whistles. It's an approach that's taken them far — the five-piece have reached over a million monthly Spotify listeners and sold-out headline shows across the country before their debut project hit the market. They are all over this year's festival circuit playing Summerfest, Yacht Club, Hinterland, Lollapalooza and Shaky Knees. They also are setting out on the road this Fall for the 'Hush Tour', spanning across 30+ dates including shows at the Troubadour, Bowery Ballroom and more.

Sold OutRock
Nov 13
8:00 PM
Sold OutDetails →
Beat Kitchen·Roscoe Village

Patrick Wolf

BIO Patrick Wolf released his first E.P. at the age of 19, a groundbreaking debut of classical, folk, and electronic music that set the pace for a stellar decade, releasing seven self-produced and solely written albums and performing multiple laps around the globe on tour, amassing an ever-growing and dedicated, spellbound audience. A viola, piano, dulcimer, harp, lyre, and tenor guitar player, Patrick’s decade of critically acclaimed work, touring, joining Patti Smith's band, collaborations with Florence Welch, Marianne Faithful, Angelo Badalamenti, and rapid, stellar ascent led to a sudden retreat from the industry where a decade of personal trial ended with a renaissance and reconnection with his work and vocation, documented in a feature film biopic documentary slated for release at the end of this year, executive produced by Tilda Swinton. Last year, he released his seventh album “Crying the Neck”, an end-of-summer folkloric odyssey set in the landscape at the end of the East of England where Wolf lives and works. The album’s success brought him back to his North American audiences; for his first tour in over 13 years, he embarked on a ten-week tour driving himself from east to west coast, where he discovered not only his fanbase had been waiting all that time, but a brand new one had grown in his absence in the States. The success of last year's tour brings Patrick back to North America this year with “The Tour of the Beast”, this time an extensive East to West coast and back again routing with a coinciding 7” single and release campaign, launching two new songs to the States and ringing in the next era of Patrick Wolf. The first, a bombastic harpsichord banger and outsider anthem “The Beast”, partly inspired by conversations had in the meet-and-greets of last year’s tour and a hymn of solace, initially written as a response to Camus's "The Myth of Sisyphus”, a lyre and vocal lullaby called “The Laughing Dove”. TICKET EVENT INFORMATION: This event is 17+ All sales final, NO refunds or exchanges, events are rain or shine. Door times are subject to change without notice. Tickets purchased at box office will be inclusive of fees. Once you’ve purchased, you will receive an order confirmation email from See Tickets on behalf of ‘Beat Kitchen’ or 'Subterranean' with your eTicket(s) attached. We accept physical IDs or official digital IDs. Photos or screenshots of an ID are not accepted. *IMPORTANT: If you do not see your order confirmation in your inbox, make sure to check your junk/spam folder. If you still do not see your order confirmation or have any other technical ticketing-related issues with your order, click here to access the See Tickets help center. We take pride in creating a space where everyone feels welcome and safe, and we strive to provide accommodations for all guests to the best of our ability. While we commit to doing everything in our power to accommodate when given advanced notice, guests who require accessibility accommodations should contact us at info@subt.net or info@beatkitchen.com . Staff can provide assistance when possible. If you have tickets to an upcoming event and require special accommodations, or have questions, please contact info@subt.net or info@beatkitchen.com at least one week prior to the event.

RockPopElectronic
Nov 13
8:30 PM
Cole's Bar·Logan Square

Street Dove / Shredded Sun / Humdrum

Street Dove is celebrating the release of their debut self-titled album. They are an indie pop / art rock project out of Chicago, writing dreamy and punchy songs. Like the pop of Vampire Weekend, the hazy polish of Beach House, and the grandiose of the Flaming Lips, but with their own charm baked in. Shredded Sun play loud, short, messy, catchy songs about cities, puzzles, aging, and other concerns of our time. Sarah, Nick, and Ben have been playing music together for a while, but Rosy Overdrive called their new album Never Odd or Even "a fizzy, expert-level power pop album that stands as perhaps their best work yet." Humdrum is a Chicago based dreampop/indiepop project by Loren Vanderbilt III.

PopRockMetal
Nov 13
9:00 PM
Winter's Jazz Club·Streeterville

Thaddeus Tukes Quintet feat. Jeremy Kahn, Henry Johnson, Marlene Rosenberg, Charles Heath, Angel Spiccia, Paul Marinaro

All tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable -- please order carefully and be sure all details are correct before completing purchase. 1-Drink minimum purchase of $10 per person, per set applies to all guests and all shows. Prices below INCLUDE ticket fees, no other fees added. Please add 'info@wintersjazzclub.com' to your approved email senders list; check your spam/junk email folder if ticket confirmation is not found in your inbox a few moments after completing your order.

Sold OutJazz / BluesRock
Nov 14
7:30 PM
Sold OutDetails →
Bottom Lounge·West Loop

Emo Night Karaoke

This event is 17 and over. Any ticket holder unable to present valid identification indicating that they are at least 17 years of age will not be admitted to this event, and will not be eligible for a refund. In an effort to mitigate scalping, Bottom Lounge does not certify any secondary ticket sales via third parties and is not responsible for fraudulent ticket sales on third party websites. Please be mindful of scammers. Tickets for this event will be sent on a delay (extra time is required to process and confirm all orders), but you'll always receive your tickets in time for your event. If you have not received your tickets one day before your event, be sure to let TicketWeb know.

Rock
Nov 14
8:00 PM
Beat Kitchen·Roscoe Village

Babehoven

TICKET EVENT INFORMATION: This event is 17+ All sales final, NO refunds or exchanges, events are rain or shine. Door times are subject to change without notice. Tickets purchased at box office will be inclusive of fees. Once you’ve purchased, you will receive an order confirmation email from See Tickets on behalf of ‘Beat Kitchen’ or 'Subterranean' with your eTicket(s) attached. We accept physical IDs or official digital IDs. Photos or screenshots of an ID are not accepted. *IMPORTANT: If you do not see your order confirmation in your inbox, make sure to check your junk/spam folder. If you still do not see your order confirmation or have any other technical ticketing-related issues with your order, click here to access the See Tickets help center. We take pride in creating a space where everyone feels welcome and safe, and we strive to provide accommodations for all guests to the best of our ability. While we commit to doing everything in our power to accommodate when given advanced notice, guests who require accessibility accommodations should contact us at info@subt.net or info@beatkitchen.com . Staff can provide assistance when possible. If you have tickets to an upcoming event and require special accommodations, or have questions, please contact info@subt.net or info@beatkitchen.com at least one week prior to the event.

RockPop
Nov 14
8:30 PM
Cobra Lounge·Ukrainian Village

Nightbreakers / Lake Drive / Nick Karchner

Cobra Lounge presents... Nightbreakers Lake Drive Nick Karcher $20 ADV // $24 DOS - All Ticket prices inclusive of taxes and fees. What you see is what you pay, no surprises later. 📬Stay in touch, subscribe to our newsletter here➡️ \*\*https://cobralounge.com/email-newsletter/** ⬅️ Riot Fest says sign up for their email list, or their boss will yell at them: https://riotfest.org/newsletter

RockPop
Nov 14
9:00 PM
Garcia's Chicago·West Loop

The Breaks

Event features a General Admission Dance Pit in front of the stage! Note that CashOrTrade.org is the official reseller for Andrew McMahon. All sales are final, no refunds/exchanges permitted, but tickets may be transferred through your TM Account. Garcia's is fully ADA compliant featuring wheelchair lifts and ramps between the various levels of the venue, assisted listening devices upon request, and allows official service animals.

RockJazz / BluesPop
Nov 15
5:00 PM
Price TBADetails →
Cobra Lounge·Ukrainian Village

Spanish Love Songs: The "Cost of Living" Tour w/ Kali Masi / Tenmonthsummer

Riot Fest presents... Spanish Love Songs w/ special guests Kali Masi and Tenmonthsummer $26 ADV // $33 DOS - All Ticket prices inclusive of taxes and fees. What you see is what you pay, no surprises later. 📬Stay in touch, subscribe to our newsletter here➡️ \*\*https://cobralounge.com/email-newsletter/** ⬅️ Riot Fest says sign up for their email list, or their boss will yell at them: https://riotfest.org/newsletter

Rock
Nov 15
6:00 PM
Thalia Hall·Pilsen

Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam - The Joint Tour with Johanna Samuels

At the time I Had a Dream That You Were Mine was first released, the Hamilton Leithauser and Rostam were best known for their work in two of the most influential rock bands of the era: Hamilton as lead singer in The Walkmen and Rostam as the co-songwriter and producer behind Vampire Weekend. The inspired collaboration was born of friendship, and mutual admiration, but grew into a synergistic creative partnership that birthed a timeless album of beautifully evocative songs. I Had a Dream That You Were Mine is a delightfully immersive album, built around Rostam's meticulous, expansive production and Hamilton's distinctive, wild vocal range. Unlike anything either artist had done before, the album's stylistic flourishes include doo-wop, country-rock, baroque pop, folk, and spellbinding torch songs. Together, the lauded musicians found a unique flair for the dramatic which made their handful of live performances a thrilling experience; ten years on, these rare live shows are not to be missed!

RockPopElectronic
Nov 15
7:00 PM

Her Only Light: Songs of Connie Converse

Her Only Light: Songs of Connie Converse w/ Em Spel Date: Sunday, November 15th, 2026 Doors: 6:00PM to Venue | 6:30PM to Sanctuary Showtime: 7:00PM Tickets: Advanced - $25 (+$5.13 fees, including tax) Day of Show - $30 (+$6.57 fees, including tax) VIP Table for 2 - $100 (+$15.36 fees, including tax) VIP Table for 4 - $200 (+$18.36 fees, including tax) VIP tables include admission for 2 or 4 people and a reserved table close to the stage ‘Service charges apply to ALL ticket purchases (online and box office)’ - Credit card only at door About Her Only Light: Her Only Light features Elizabeth "Connie" Converse’s folk songs and art songs, sung by Emmy Bean and arranged by Ronnie Kuller for an ensemble of harp, violin, viola, clarinets, and sometimes accordion. Emmy Bean and Ronnie Kuller have created and played music together in Chicago for over a decade. Their work together has included crowd-sourced odes performed in parks by moonlight, settings of the poetry of Charles Baudelaire, and most recently, the arrangement and performance of the works of Connie Converse. Their collaboration is inspired by themes of darkness and light, the natural world, children and families, and the liberating power of all that is absurd, colorful, playful, and strange. “This heroine of songwriting contained multitudes—and with Her Only Light, we are finally provided Connie Converse in full, resplendent resolution.” — Doyle Armbrust “… a joyous renewal of their commitment to Converse’s legacy. Her songs are wry, weird, evocative, and beautiful, and it’s a delight to hear them done justice in a lovingly staged cabaret-style performance with violin, viola, cello, harp, and clarinets. Somewhere in space and time, Converse is smiling…” — Monica Kendrick, Chicago Reader Ronnie Kuller, conductor Emmy Bean, vocals Barbara Drapcho, clarinet Michael Tran, clarinets Lauren Hayes, harp Katie Klocke, violin Elizabeth Choi, viola Melissa Bach, cello About Em Spel: “Scintillating....Hospelhorn's pop-adjacent experimental folk features her lovely, elastic vocals, her flute, and her intricately programmed electronics.” — Chicago Reader “Beguiling” — WNYC Em Spel's intricate, flute-driven alt-folk sounds like nothing else. The solo project of Chicago-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Emma Hospelhorn, Em Spel’s sophomore album, Bird or Snake, was released to widespread praise in 2026. Hospelhorn is a flutist in avant-classical group Ensemble Dal Niente, and her discography includes work on flutes, bass guitar, and keyboards for V.V. Lightbody, Mute Duo, and others working in a diverse array of genres including folk, drone, garage rock, post-punk, and classical. In this solo endeavor, she fuses all of these influences with story-driven lyrics to create invitingly strange folk vignettes. To listen, visit emspel.bandcamp.com.

ElectronicRockFolk / Roots
Nov 15
7:00 PM