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

SPACE·Evanston

Songs to Light a Winter's Night ft. Katie Dahl, Anne Heaton, and Jenny Bienemann

Songwriters Katie Dahl (Door County), Anne Heaton (Milwaukee), and Jenny Bienemann (Chicago) join together to present , "rdquo" -> Songs to Light a Winter's Night," an intimate evening of original songs and songs to celebrate the winter solstice. Katie Dahl, Anne Heaton, and Jenny Bienemann are each songwriters with loyal fan bases and multiple accolades to their credit. Though they normally perform individually, in , "rdquo" -> Songs to Light a Winter's Night" they will share their songs in an intimate , "rdquo" -> in-the-round" format, commenting on and adding texture to one another's work as they illuminate and celebrate the darkest days of the year. Dahl, Heaton, and Bienemann are rooted in the folk tradition, with songs that roam freely to explore country, jazz, and rock traditions. Nationally touring songwriter Katie Dahl , "rdquo" -> combines old-fashioned populism, an abiding love of the land, and wickedly smart love songs, all delivered in a rich and expressive alto" (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel). Known for the intelligence and vulnerability of her songs and the easy humor of her live performances, Dahl also has five studio albums and two original musical plays, Victory Farm and The Fisherman's Daughters, to her credit. Wisconsin Public Radio calls Dahl , "rdquo" -> the real deal." Anne Heaton, based in Milwaukee, is a singer-songwriter and pianist who has captured audience imaginations for over fifteen years with her songs that are, by turns, , "rdquo" -> tender, barbed and spiritual" (Washington Post). She's been featured by the New York Times Music Podcast, played on NPR, at the Sundance Film Festival, and for Lilith Fair (2010). Known for the infectious energy of her live performances -- , "rdquo" -> a natural performer [with] a rich, soaring voice" (Seattle Times) -- Anne has played over 1000 headlining shows nationwide, and has shared the stage with artists such as Jewel and Sarah McLachlan. Jenny Bienemann is an award-winning poet, singer, songwriter, and visual artist with a mission to find the extraordinary in the everyday. With three critically acclaimed studio albums and two live albums, her music has underscored TV, film and theater projects. She began a daily practice of taking photos and writing haiku. What started as a lark quickly evolved into Haiku Milieu, a movement of creativity and community. Today, there are four Haiku Milieu books, and more than 350 new songs inspired by Haiku Milieu, written by artists from across the United States. She has been featured in the Chicago Tribune Arts Section, WGN Radio 720 in Chicago, Chicago Public Radio, Northern Illinois Public Radio, Naperville Magazine, and more.

FreeFolk / RootsRock
Dec 15
7:30 PM
Garcia's Chicago·West Loop

Relix Presents: An Intimate Evening with Moe. - 3-DAY GEN ADM PASS

The 3-DAY PASS is good for all 3 shows of moe at Garcia's Chicago, Friday through Sunday, December 18 through 20, all shows are at 7:00pm, doors open at 5:30pm Event features a General Admission Dance Pit in front of the stage open to all! 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.

RockPopFolk / Roots
Dec 17
6:00 PM
Price TBADetails →
Garcia's Chicago·West Loop

Dogs In A Pile

UPDATE: Those ticket holders who have Table or Booth seats -OR- the 2-Day General Admission Pass are allowed access to the Garcia's show on Thursday, December 17, at 8:00pm (doors at 5:30pm) -AND- the Thalia Hall show on Friday, December 18, at 7:30pm (doors at 6:30pm). At Thalia Hall simply give them the name used for the purchase of the Garcia's tickets. Any questions, please contact the Box Office at boxoffice@garciaschicago.live or 312-535-5001. Event features a General Admission Dance Pit in front of the stage! 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.

RockPopR&b / Soul
Dec 17
8:00 PM
Price TBADetails →

Into It. Over It.

Doors open at 530PM. Performance begins at 630PM. 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

RockMetalPop
Dec 18
5:30 PM
Price TBADetails →
Garcia's Chicago·West Loop

Relix Presents: An Intimate Evening with Moe.

Event features a General Admission Dance Pit in front of the stage open to all! 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.

RockPopFolk / Roots
Dec 18
7:00 PM
Price TBADetails →
Garcia's Chicago·West Loop

Relix Presents: An Intimate Evening with Moe.

Event features a General Admission Dance Pit in front of the stage open to all! 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.

RockPopFolk / Roots
Dec 19
7:00 PM
Price TBADetails →
Beat Kitchen·Roscoe Village

The Dog & Everyone: A Very 2003 Holiday Show

TICKET EVENT INFORMATION: This event is ALL AGES 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
Dec 19
7:00 PM
Salt Shed·Bucktown

93XRT Winter Jam Presents - Ratboys w/ special guests Friko and Florry

Despite its title, Ratboys? new album Singin? to an Empty Chair is not defined by what?s missing. Rather, it?s the beginning of an important dialogue with a close loved one vocalist Julia Steiner finds herself estranged from. The music on the band?s sixth studio album ? its first for New West Records ? fills the space that person left behind with 11 songs showcasing Ratboys at the peak of their powers ? twangy, effervescent, as confident as they?ve ever been, and perhaps more emotionally interrogative than ever before. The four-piece Chicago band followed up 2023?s highly acclaimed The Window by reconvening with co-producer Chris Walla to begin tracking at a rural Wisconsin cabin before taking the songs to Steve Albini?s famed Electrical Audio studios in Chicago and later to Rosebud Studio in Evanston, Illinois.

Folk / RootsRockPop
Dec 19
7:30 PM
Price TBADetails →
Joe's Live Rosemont·Lincoln Park

Mike and Joe

Mike & Joe is a modern rock cover band widely regarded by its audiences, and peers as one of the best sounding cover bands in the nation. The bulk of the setlist includes popular rock from the 90s through today with a solid chunk of songs from the 80s, 70's and even some 60s. Their aim is not just to entertain with infectious energy and crowd interaction, but to create a true concert experience. .. a living, breathing rock show. .. with the benefit of countless hits that audiences can dance and sing along with while feeling like they are at the original artist's show. Mike and Joe has played more than 4,000 shows for clients worldwide – From Chicago arenas, to Boston conference centers, to Florida beaches, to Hollywood movie sets, to national historic landmarks, to Super Bowl Events, to international resorts in Costa Rica and Mexico, to Lake Michigan Cruises, to private events for professional sports teams of the NFL, MLB, and NHL. .. They've seen it all! Some Artists Mike & Joe cover: Maroon 5 • Morgan Wallen • Goo Goo Dolls • U2 • Blink 182 • Fleetwood Mac • Justin Timberlake • Third Eye Blind • The Killers • Sublime • Dave Matthews Band • Eric Church • Keith Urban • The Eagles • Jimmy Eat World • Foo Fighters • The Cure • Tears For Fears • Fallout Boy • Pearl Jam • and more!

Pop
Dec 19
8:30 PM
Price TBADetails →
Garcia's Chicago·West Loop

Relix Presents: An Intimate Evening with Moe.

Event features a General Admission Dance Pit in front of the stage open to all! 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.

RockPopFolk / Roots
Dec 20
7:00 PM
Price TBADetails →
FitzGerald's·Berwyn

CLASSICAL BLAST: Dark Side of the Yule

FITZGERALDS NIGHTCLUB PRESENTS: Classical Blast: Dark Side of the Yule $35 General Admission / Reserved Tables Available Christmas Meets Classic Rock in this unique take on the holidays, combining rock hits from Metallica to Pink Floyd to Moody Blues to Evanesence and more with traditional carols, popular classical, holiday standards and beyond. Classical Blast has created one of the most unusual and enjoyable holiday shows around. It's eye and ear candy the Sugarplum Fairy herself would be proud of. Grab dinner before the show at BABYGOLD BARBECUE Or enjoy full service dining inside the club when doors open. ***PARKING*** There is rather limited street parking in the area, we recommend arriving by rideshare, bicycle, or rickshaw. ***AGE RESTRICTIONS*** 21+, minors admitted with guardian

PopRock
Dec 27
1:00 PM
SPACE·Evanston

Ben Kweller w. Case Oats

BK is back and he's not the same. Who could be after the heartbreak he's endured since the sudden passing of his 16-year old son. Instead of hiding away, the beloved indie-rocker is walking through the fire of grief with intention and purpose. This unimaginable journey has led him to his seventh album, Cover The Mirrors, and the accompanying tour which begins on April 15th. , "rdquo" -> Music has been my savior throughout my life but never before has it saved me as much as ithas this past year. My upcoming album, Cover The Mirrors, is a deep dive into my new reality. It's a collage of my good days and my bad days, my highest highs and my lowest of lows. It's the most personal, emotionally raw project I've ever worked on." Kweller has been an open book throughout his illustrious career. His songs hold a nostalgic quality that takes you to a time and a place, happy or sad. He's also one of the rare few who can translate his recordings into captivating concerts that keep his fans coming back again and again. If you've never seen BK live before, the Cover The Mirrors Tour is sure to be his most heartfelt and joyous live show yet. This is a chance for old and new fans to come together and witness one of the great songwriters at his creative peak.

FreePopRock
Dec 30
7:30 PM
SPACE·Evanston

Ben Kweller w. Case Oats - NYE Show

BK is back and he's not the same. Who could be after the heartbreak he's endured since the sudden passing of his 16-year old son. Instead of hiding away, the beloved indie-rocker is walking through the fire of grief with intention and purpose. This unimaginable journey has led him to his seventh album, Cover The Mirrors, and the accompanying tour which begins on April 15th. , "rdquo" -> Music has been my savior throughout my life but never before has it saved me as much as ithas this past year. My upcoming album, Cover The Mirrors, is a deep dive into my new reality. It's a collage of my good days and my bad days, my highest highs and my lowest of lows. It's the most personal, emotionally raw project I've ever worked on." Kweller has been an open book throughout his illustrious career. His songs hold a nostalgic quality that takes you to a time and a place, happy or sad. He's also one of the rare few who can translate his recordings into captivating concerts that keep his fans coming back again and again. If you've never seen BK live before, the Cover The Mirrors Tour is sure to be his most heartfelt and joyous live show yet. This is a chance for old and new fans to come together and witness one of the great songwriters at his creative peak.

FreePopRock
Dec 31
9:30 PM
Garcia's Chicago·West Loop

G. Love & Special Sauce

G. Love is excited to offer the Pre-Show Pop Off VIP Meet & Greet option. This is an ALL REQUEST storytellers solo acoustic performance by G. Love and a one of a kind merch package. Includes one General Admission ticket, early entry (time TBD), Q&A and photo opportunity with G. Love, a VIP laminate, an exclusive VIP poster, and early access to the merch booth. Supply of these tickets is limited! With special opener Todd Carey. Event features a General Admission Dance Pit in front of the stage! 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.

RockPop
Jan 8
8:00 PM
Price TBADetails →
SPACE·Evanston

Antje Duvekot and David Berkeley

Originally born in Germany and transplanted to the U.S. as a young teen, Antje Duvekot began honing her observational skills through a lens of biculturalism when she picked up a guitar in high school. Some years later, the confessional folk of Dar Williams and Ani DiFranco gave her license to share those observations, no matter how personal, in her first emerging songs. She has never let go of the tenet of vulnerability, building a celebrated career around songs that transform deeply personal experiences into something universal. Antje has released six studio albums, including her latest, No, produced by Seth Glier, as well as five previous albums produced by Mark Erelli, Seamus Egan of SOLAS, Richard Shindell, and Scott Petito. Her recordings feature support from Anaïs Mitchell, Dar Williams, Rose Cousins, Heather Maloney, John Gorka, Meg Hutchinson, Lucy Kaplansky, Sean Mullins, Liz Longley, and others. _________________ David Berkeley's gift as a songwriter and storyteller is that he sees the tragedy and comedy in life, writing songs capable of both breaking and healing the heart. Berkeley has been called a , "rdquo" -> musical poet," by the San Francisco Chronicle, and the New York Times praises his , "rdquo" -> lustrous, melancholy voice with shades of Tim Buckley and Nick Drake." That voice and his gift with words is what first sets Berkeley apart from all other guitar-slinging songwriters. But it is his onstage charisma and unparalleled between-song repartee that truly puts him in a class by himself. Each show is completely unique, and David's humanity shines through every note he sings and every word he speaks. Berkeley has released seven studio albums, one live album, and authored two books, each of which pairs with one of his albums. He was a guest on This American Life,telling an outrageous story of a private serenade he was once hired to perform, and he has won many songwriting awards and honors including ASCAPs Johnny Mercer Songwriting Award. His 2017 release was a never-before tried concept: a novella comprising ten intertwining stories and an album of ten accompanying songs (one for each story). His latest release is Oh Quiet World, an album written during the lockdown. It's an intimate, uplifting collection that we all should hear.

FreeRockFolk / Roots
Jan 13
7:30 PM
Thalia Hall·Pilsen

Anna von Hausswolff presented by Thalia Hall and Empty Bottle

Anna von Hausswolff is a Swedish musician and composer whose work carves out space for the celestial and the transcendent to enter into the modern world. Following her breakthrough album, Ceremony (2012), von Hausswolffs subsequent releases quickly cemented her as an artist of unpredictable and vast creativity, always moving forward, always melding tradition with experimentation in unimaginable ways. Taking the pipe organ, with its ancient whirring character, as her instrument of choice, von Hausswolfs sound has long played with the ethereal qualities of breath: of taking in, holding, and releasing it. This sometimes takes the form of colossal, doom-laden rock songs, and at other times, as intimate organpieces. On ICONOCLASTS, her sound evolves again, bringing a poppier and more vibrant element to her moving songs. ICONOCLASTS is von Hausswolfs sixth LP, and her debut release on Swedish record label YEAR 0001. Produced by von Hausswolf and longtime collaborator Filip Leyman, it is an opus of stirring movement, anthemic ritualism, and maximalist composition, marking a new chapter in von Hausswolffs music and featuring appearances from Ethel Cain, Abul Mogard, Iggy Pop and Maria von Hausswolf.ICONOCLASTS begins with brass heralding out, beckoning listeners into the boundless story that is about to unfold. Before long, von Hausswolfs first beaming vocals ring out: I came to take you back to where you came from, but thats not what you want. From this, the groundwork is set for an album of blistering, mounting tension and hard-fought, euphoric release. Addressing themes of love, freedom, and autonomy, its title, ICONOCLASTS, hints at a shattering and reimagining of the sacred personal symbols that bubble under the surface of contemporary life: commitment, time, dependency, and belief.In this pursuit, von Hausswolff chooses Atlashe who carries the worlds weight upon his shouldersas a sympathetic character. How does one find the strength to prevent collapsing in these trying moments? For von Hausswolff, it is the pursuit of the divine. She finds inspiration in the fears and contradictions that arise when one is faced with monolithic power structures and concepts. The songs on ICONOCLASTS transform these uncertain feelings into kindling for the creation of sonic bonfires of immense scale. Von Hausswolff sows her songs in the borderlands between the gargantuan and the intimate, and it is the ashes of these demolished symbols that fertilise its grounds for new possibilities.Stripping back the metallic qualities that have characterised her sound, on ICONOCLASTS, von Hausswolff breaks open the gates into a warm sound world, rich in organic, gleaming potentials. Between echoing drums, murmuring organs, and reverberating guitars, von Hausswolff herself becomes one figure in this fluttering aural space. On ICONOCLASTS, her ensemble is expanded to include the virtuoso saxophonist Otis Sandsj, who brings his swirling saxophone trills to the core of the record. With a magnetic power, her voice pulls the listener closer, offering glimpses into an emotive world of secrets and madness, of heartbreak and desire, of beauty and life. Although pushing towards new sonic territory, ICONOCLASTS features all of the signature qualities of a von Hausswolff release: mammoth intensity, crystalline iridescence, and lustrous dynamism

PopRockFolk / Roots
Jan 15
8:00 PM
Empty Bottle·Ukrainian Village

*MOVED TO THALIA HALL* Anna von Hausswolff

Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM / 21+ Anna von Hausswolff is a Swedish musician and composer whose work carves out space for the celestialand the transcendent to enter into the modern world. Following her breakthrough album,Ceremony(2012), von Hausswolffs subsequent releases quickly cemented her as an artist of unpredictable and vastcreativity, always moving forward, always melding tradition with experimentation in unimaginable ways.Taking the pipe organ, with its ancient whirringcharacter, as her instrument of choice, von Hausswolfssound has long played with the ethereal qualities of breath: of taking in, holding, and releasing it. Thissometimes takes the form of colossal, doom-laden rock songs, and at other times, as intimate organpieces. OnICONOCLASTS, her sound evolves again, bringing a poppier and more vibrant element to hermoving songs.ICONOCLASTSis von Hausswolfs sixth LP, and her debut release on Swedish recordlabel YEAR0001. Produced by von Hausswolf and longtime collaborator Filip Leyman, it is an opus ofstirring movement, anthemic ritualism, and maximalist composition, marking a new chapterin vonHausswolffs music and featuring appearances from Ethel Cain, Abul Mogard, Iggy Pop and Maria vonHausswolf.

PopRockFolk / Roots
Jan 15
9:00 PM
Price TBADetails →
Bottom Lounge·West Loop

Boys of Fall, Wolf Rd, Gold Steps

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.

RockPopMetal
Jan 22
7:00 PM
Uncommon Ground·Edgewater

bluefront and Matthew Morgan

Alan Zreczny's songs are narrative poems set to spirited melodies, which he performs on the guitar and piano, solo and with his band bluefront. Over the years Zreczny has created an imaginative and truly original body of work with lyrics that often put a new twist on age-old sayings giving them a fresh, surprising new meaning. Melding the vintage sound of Television, The Modern Lovers and early Talking Heads with the current but equally timeless approach of The War On Drugs, the Chicago outfit celebrate the sound of classic guitar-driven rock. bluefront is Alan Zreczny, Keith Herc and Scott Paeth.

Folk / RootsPopRock
Jan 23
8:00 PM
Price TBADetails →
Metro·Wrigleyville

feeble little horse

RESCHEDULED FROM 10.9.26 // ALL TICKETS HONORED Wednesday, January 27 feeble little horse * Snuggle $26 Adv. / $30 Day of / All Ages / Doors: 6:30pm / Show: 7:30pm feeble little horse is naturally delighted to present their third full-length LP, bitknot . The album was written, arranged, produced, and recorded by Sebastian Kinsler, Lydia Slocum, and Jake Kelley across their respective homes in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A spirited investigation into the unnatural space created between human nature and a culture of convenience, a synthesis of dirt and digital, bitknot by feeble little horse creates a language wherein one can re-imbue a sanctity of interdependence away from consumptive “self-sufficiency” and materialism. “The album art is based on the coincidental core memory matrix, which was used in old computers to store memory / access information using 0s and 1s. Each core, or ‘bit,’ is accessed through the grid of wires, like a knot that stores secret details and memories.” bitknot asks that we find new modes of being through this grid, entrusting one another with the collaborative construction of these knots. This negotiation with an ever-developing hybrid reality is expertly exemplified in the album’s production – the buoyancy of Kinsler’s arrangements provide a perfectly balanced surface tension for the weight of Slocum’s meandering introspection as they playfully harmonize against saccharine hooks, walls of noise, a supercharged car battery’s worth of synths and samples dropped in the ocean of their guitar-driven songwriting framework, and some of Kelley’s most laser-focused drums to date to create a sonic chimera that is as likely to be found nascently developing in the early aughts as some unknown, chromatic future.

RockPopElectronic
Jan 27
7:30 PM