Chicago live music
Pop Shows in Chicago
Live pop events across Chicago-area venues on RUE. Listings come from venue calendars — open a show for tickets and details.
Upcoming events
Julius Tucker Trio
Julius Tucker is a pillar of Chicago's jazz and creative music community—a pianist, composer, bandleader, and producer whose expansive artistry transcends genre boundaries. With a career spanning over 15 years, Tucker has solidified his reputation for masterful keyboard fluency, harmonic sophistication, and a multifaceted voice that moves effortlessly between jazz, improvised music, electronic experimentation, and beyond. Rooted in Chicago's rich musical legacy, Tucker began his classical training at the Van Moody School of Music at age seven. He later honed his jazz sensibility at the Merit School of Music and Whitney Young Magnet High School, ultimately completing his academic journey at Northwestern University earning degrees in both Jazz Piano and Civil Engineering. Tucker is also a recipient of the Luminarts Cultrual Foundation's Jazz Improvisation Fellowship and is an Artist in Residence at The Cliff Dwellers.
CHICAGO CELLAR BOYS
Chicago Cellar Boys featuring: Andy Schumm – cornet, clarinet, saxophone John Otto – clarinet, saxophone Natalie Scharf – clarinet, saxophone Jim Barrett – banjo, guitar Paul Asaro – piano, vocals Dan Anderson – tuba, bass
Isabel Dumaa
The way she tells it, Isabel Dumaa doesn't remember finding music so much as the music finding her. Born and raised in San Francisco, Dumaa was "humming and trilling before she could talk" and pursuing a career making authentic, feminine, story-driven pop shortly thereafter. Her innate talent and desire was met with nothing but the most profound support from Dumaa's moms, who schlepped her to chorus classes, summer camps, and singing competitions all across the country. Their insistence on taking her artistic ambitions seriously was an invaluable boon to Dumaa's confidence and provided an early lesson in trusting one's gut. Moving to LA right after high school, the city represented a new frontier professionally. Everyone seemed one degree removed from the stars she idolized, and it required a lot of trial and error to find her voice. Dumaa had to learn to make herself heard as a young woman in the studio and communicate how she wanted to sound. After a few years cycling through various collaborators, she came out with her first single, "Call My Bluff", in 2022 and followed up quickly with "Quarter Life Crisis" a few months later. The guitar driven indie pop ballad about a girl on the brink of change marked a turning point in Dumaa's career. After years of making music others wanted her to make, it was the first song that felt authentically like Dumaa. Together with collaborators, Drew Polovick, Jed Jones, Brandon Shoop, and David Balshaw, Dumaa then put together an EP, Just My Nature, released in 2024. Centered on "Quarter Life Crisis", Just My Nature is a nostalgia-hued trip through the joys and anxieties of growing up and "a must-listen for anyone looking to process life as they know it while dreaming about what the future holds" (Tongue Tied Mag, 2024). Still, Dumaa felt compelled to create a project with a more coherent sonic throughline. Creatively, she drilled down on finding her singular sound. One that was influenced by the music she grew up with; the folk singers of the 70's like Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, and John Prine, the stars of Motown, like Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, and The Supremes, and, of course, The Beatles. Around this time, Dumaa connected with Sammy Witte, the type of collaborator she "felt like I'd been searching so long for." Their first session lasted ten hours and produced the seeds of the song, "You Don't Know Me", the lead single from her forthcoming EP, Reverie. In addition to understanding her vision, Witte granted Dumaa the space and time to come to her own conclusions, nurturing her point of view rather than steamrolling it with his own. Like "Quarter Life Crisis", "You Don't Know Me" struck Dumaa like a clarifying bolt of lightning. The story of a woman observing the wreckage of a failed relationship became a center pole for a collection of songs chronicling Dumaa's youthful attempts at romance. In her earlier work, Dumaa resisted the idea that she needed a man in her life to fill her notebooks. She wrote to process all sorts of feelings about friendship, coming of age, and her sense of self. But two years ago, Dumaa decided she was ready to let "a little drama in." After years of intentional singlehood, she realized she "didn't even know what (she) looked like in a relationship" and she was ready to find out. Finding out might be the core theme of Reverie. Drawing inspiration from two recent entanglements, Dumaa approaches the universal experiences of young love and heartbreak with clear eyed specificity. Rather than slip into cliche melodramatics, her lyrics contain the knowing perspective of a woman who understands these guys aren't the one but finds value in examining the pain regardless. With Reverie, Dumaa hopes fans hear their own experiences reflected. She knows "these are uncomfortable emotions…but I do want to feel them because that's a part of living". While the songs may be specific to a certain time in her life, its lessons, she hopes, are eternal. Dumaa says, "I'm not in high school, I'm not in college. But I am still just a young woman encountering the world. And I think that I'm continuing to learn that."
BOYNEXTDOOR TOUR 'KNOCK ON Vol.2' IN NORTH AMERICA
Consisting of members SUNGHO, RIWOO, JAEHYUN, TAESAN, LEEHAN and WOONHAK, BOYNEXTDOOR are the first boy group to debut under KOZ ENTERTAINMENT, founded by artist-producer ZICO. Living up to their name as K-pop?s authentic new wave, the group turns everyday experiences into honest, relatable songs that connect across generations. Their 1st EP WHY.. (September 2023) saw the group make a strong entrance, landing on the Billboard 200 and topping the Billboard Emerging Artists Chart. Their 2nd EP HOW? (April 2024) climbed to No. 93 on the Billboard 200 ? a 69-step jump from their debut. Their 3rd EP 19.99 (September 2024) peaked at No. 40, becoming their first million-seller and topping the World Albums and Emerging Artists Charts. Their digital single ?IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU? (January 2025) charted at No. 99 on the Billboard Global Excl. US and No. 188 on the Global 200, while leading Apple Music and Spotify charts across Asia.
Lime Garden
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 t o our upstairs ballroom . G uests 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.
ALFONSO PONTICELLI
Alfonso Ponticelli – guitar Steve Gibons – violin Ethan Philion – bass Bob Rummage -drums
Dent May, Fast Preacher
There’s an ecstatic melancholy in Dent May’s music, bittersweet, exuberant songs that break your heart as you sing along. On The Big One, he ditches his solo bedroom process for spontaneous sessions at Honeymoon Suite with a rotating cast of friends. Blending DIY pop with ’70s songwriter warmth, May embraces improvisation, community, and cautious optimism, finding joy, connection, and possibility even as the world feels uncertain.
Diles que no me maten
For Diles que no me maten, every note is a small step into the unknown. The five-piece Mexico City band have always operated on a first-thought, best-thought basis, drawing on a jam-based, krautrock philosophy to craft intricate constructions of wiry art rock spiked with bluesy balladry and poetic mysticism. While their fourth album Escrito en Agua (Writ in Water) is their most consciously crafted and accessible to date, their founding principle of slow, wide-eyed exploration is alive and well.
Diles que no me maten w/ Cancer House + ARDO
For Diles que no me maten, every note is a small step into the unknown. The five-piece Mexico City band have always operated on a first-thought, best-thought basis, drawing on a jam-based, krautrock philosophy to craft intricate constructions of wiry art rock spiked with bluesy balladry and poetic mysticism...
Thoughts on Bowling / Computer / Softly / HummusVacuum
Riot Fest presents... Thoughts on Bowling Computer Softly HummusVacuum $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
Tune Yards
This is an ALL AGES event. Outset is a standing room only venue, all tickets are General Admission unless otherwise stated. There is NO re-entry.
Donny Benét with OTNES
After the success of his 2022 EP Le Piano, Donny Bent returns with the next chapter in his instrumental series: Il Basso.Paying tribute to the bass this timethe foundation, the glue, and at times the undeniable boss of musicIl Basso showcases Donnys passion for the bottom end.To celebrate, Donny will be taking Il Basso on tour, performing it live alongside all your favourite Bent classics. Expect an evening overflowing with passion, heat, and virtuosity from Don and his band.
Club Flamingo
Join us every Thursday at Hydrate for Club Flamingo, Chicago's new alt-night featuring a rotating cast of DJs playing a mix of New Wave, 80's dance, 90's alternative, synth-pop, post-punk, dark wave, indie dance, underground, and dance floor classics. Club Flamingo is your new Thursday night for dark alternative dance!!
Martin
Friday Vibes is built for the moment the lights come up, the room fills in and the whole dance floor starts moving together. Get ready for a high-energy night of throwbacks, Top 40, Latin tracks, dance remixes and all your favorites with Martin behind the decks. Boy J and Sativa Diamond host the party and keep the energy going as Hydrate turns Friday night into a full dance-floor experience. Bring your friends, step into the lights and start your weekend at Hydrate.
GERALD DOWD'S Song Of The Month Club w/ Special Guest NOAH GABRIEL!
FITZGERALDS SIDEBAR PRESENTS: GERALD DOWD seen HERE w/ Special Guest NOAH GABRIEL Whether he's inhabiting a dark bar corner with his 1936 National resonator or waking the dead with his green Stratocaster, Noah Gabriel honors every note. He's made 15 records, [with a couple more in the oven] - the songs seemingly scratching & clawing to get out. He follows no road map; the songs take the wheel. Genres are defied, unusual guitar tunings prevail. And melodies to hang your filthy hat on. His latest release- Peg Leg Killer Jonez and the Pitchfork Pine- is a song cycle planted firmly in the Mississippi Delta. You can almost smell the bald cypress and sweetgum. If your movie needs a soundtrack, you'll find one here. Mr. Dowd hosts a monthly residency in FITZGERALDS SIDEBAR. It's called SONG OF THE MONTH CLUB, and for a damn good reason: each month he and his invited guest will debut one BRAND NEW SONG. among the many other cool things they will do. You'll want to be in the room when it happens. FREE SHOW! Click , "rdquo" -> Book Now" to Make a Reservation Enjoy dinner from BABYGOLD BARBECUE ***PARKING*** There is rather limited street parking in the area, we recommend arriving by rideshare, bicycle, or rickshaw. MORE ON THE DOWD: Gerald Dowd has been described as , "rdquo" -> the hardest working drummer in Chicago" (Richard Milne, WXRT), playing on over 100 albums, and averaging 150 live dates a year around the world. In recent years, he's been releasing solo albums of original material, starting with his 2012 release, Kingsize EP. In 2014, he was the recipient of an IAP arts grant from Chicago's Dept. Of Cultural Affairs/Special Events (DCASE), which led to his first full-length solo album, Home Now, produced by Grammy-nominated producer Liam Davis, and featuring, among others, Chicago legends Robbie Fulks and Nora O'Connor. To celebrate the release, he held a benefit concert (DAY OF THE DOWD) at which he played for 13 hours straight with 16 different bands, raising over $10,000 for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. __________________________________ Grab dinner before the show at BABYGOLD BARBECUE
Basement
Doors open at 6PM. Performance begins at 7PM. 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
Weatherday , Sports., Rosacade, Cable-Knit
Artist GA Presale: Thursday, April 9 @ 10:00 AM General On Sale: Friday, April 10 @ 10:00 AM 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 three days before your event, be sure to let us know.









