Chicago live music

Rock Shows in Chicago

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

Upcoming events

Kingston Mines·Lincoln Park

Mike Wheeler Blues Band/Nicholas Alexander Blues Band

World famous Kingston Mines features the best Blues music from 2 bands on 2 stages. Doc's Kitchen offers great Catfish, Wings, Burgers, Beignets, and more! Kingston Mines has returned to general seating - no reservations. The doors & kitchen open at 6:00pm on Thursday. Tickets can be purchased at the club after 6:00 PM, if not purchased online. Must be 21 to enter. Thursday: 6pm -- 2am Acoustic Set: 6pm to 7:30pm North Stage Sets: 7:30pm, 9:30pm, 11:30pm Main Stage Sets: 8:30pm, 10:30pm, 12:30am "Hear Blues, Drink Booze, Talk Loud, You're Among Friends" ...Doc

Jazz / BluesRock
Nov 19
6:00 PM
Cobra Lounge·Ukrainian Village

Strawberry Girls / Andrës

Cobra Lounge present... Strawberry Girls Andrës w/ special guests TBA $24 ADV // $29 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/** ⬅️

MetalRockElectronic
Nov 19
6:30 PM
Salt Shed·Bucktown

Slow Pulp

When the members of Slow Pulp discuss Yard, their second full-length record and first for ANTI-, their vocabulary often defaults to synesthetic imagery and sensation. "We have so many visual cues for how we talk about music," singer and guitarist Emily Massey says as she stops herself in the middle of explaining how the album's second song, "Doubt," sounds like wakeboarding. "Doubt is quite dark lyrically, but it is found in this upbeat and almost campy environment." On Yard, the Wisconsin-bred, Chicago-based four-piece nestles comfortably into pockets of nuance, impressions, contradictions -- sonics and lyrics finessed together to bottle the specific tension of a feeling you've never quite been able to find the right words for. In that regard, listening to Slow Pulp can feel like being in a room with someone who's known you so long that they can read your every micro-expression and pinpoint exactly how you're feeling before you can.

PopRockElectronic
Nov 19
8:00 PM
Price TBADetails →
Metro·Wrigleyville

Protomartyr

Thursday, November 19 Protomartyr * J.R.C.G. $30 Adv. / $35 Day of / 18+ / Doors: 7pm / Show: 8pm Since their 2012 debut No Passion All Technique , the Detroit post-punk band Protomartyr have mastered the art of evoking place: the grinding Midwest humility of their hometown, as well as the x-rayed elucidation of America that comes with their vantage. Protomartyr—vocalist Joe Casey, guitarist Greg Ahee, drummer Alex Leonard, and bassist Scott Davidson—have become synonymous with caustic, impressionistic assemblages of politics and poetry, the literal and oblique.

RockPop
Nov 19
8:00 PM
Constellation·North Center

SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL Words, Songs & Poems of TONY FITZPATRICK

Jon Langford and Rick Kogan present an evening of words, songs and poems written by the late visual artist, author, actor, gallerist and podcaster Tony Fitzpatrick. Long renowned for his etchings, illustrations and multi-media collages, Tony's deep well of creative output also included poetry, personal essays, and on a much lesser-known basis, songwriting. Shining a light on these works, alongside Jon and Rick, will be vocalists Kelly Hogan and Sally Timms, drummer Quin Kirchner, guitarist John Szymanski, multi-faceted performer Al Scorch and lighting director Tracey Dear, with promotional support from John Soss.

Folk / RootsRockJazz / Blues
Nov 19
8:00 PM
Cole's Bar·Logan Square

rocknite presents! Lace for Leisure / Credit Card / Lemon Chrome

rocknite brings rising artists and music lovers into a vibrant community. Our shows are all about connection: between musicians, between like-minded strangers and between artists and their fans. In a time where concert tickets come with crazy upcharges and the majority of venues are owned by international corporations, rocknite intends to localize fandom and incorporate socialization into music discovery. rocknite started in Highland Park, Los Angeles in March 2025 at The Goldfish. Now we've started chapters in Nashville, New York, Chicago and Long Beach and stepped out at SXSW and Bonnaroo. All of our shows are built by and for their cities' artist scenes and anchor around three-band lineups and accessible entry. These events are free to attend. This month's featured artists are Lemon Chrome, Lace For Leisure, and Credit Card.

FreeRockElectronic
Nov 19
8:00 PM
Subterranean·Wicker Park

Small Brown Bike

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.

RockMetal
Nov 19
8:00 PM
Empty Bottle·Ukrainian Village

Packaging / Discus / Leo

Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM / 21+Packaging is the duo of Daniel Lyon and Connor Birch. Their debut albumPackagingfusespsychedelic textures, krautrock chug, electronic grandeur, tuneful accessibility, and just a littlebit of bristling self-awareness

RockElectronicPop
Nov 19
9:00 PM

Beartooth: Pure Ecstasy World Tour

Doors @ 5PM, Performance @ 6PM This is an ALL AGES event. Aragon Ballroom is a standing room only venue, all tickets are General Admission unless otherwise stated. There is NO re-entry. https://www.aragonballroomchicago.com/

MetalRock
Nov 20
6:00 PM
Price TBADetails →
Cobra Lounge·Ukrainian Village

Ghostwoman / Croaker

Riot Fest presents... Ghostwoman w/ special guests Croaker $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

RockElectronicPop
Nov 20
6:00 PM
Outset·West Loop

Headache

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.

RockElectronicHip Hop
Nov 20
6:30 PM
Price TBADetails →
SPACE·Evanston

The Flat Five

The Flat Five is a Chicago-based pop vocal supergroup Kelly Hogan, Nora O'Connor, Scott Ligon, Casey McDonough, Alex Hall made of five in-demand musicians who individually spend much of their time touring and recording with bands like Neko Case, NRBQ, The Decemberists, Andrew Bird, Mavis Staples, Iron and Wine, Jakob Dylan, Robbie Fulks, Alejandro Escovedo, The New Pornographers, J.D. McPherson and many other heavy hitters. These five folks stay very, very busy. Yet for the past 10 years, these shameless harmony junkies came together, like a moth to a porchlight, to make music as The Flat Five. Purely for the love of singing together. For the mother-effing fun of it.

Rock
Nov 20
7:30 PM
Garcia's Chicago·West Loop

Mountain Grass Unit

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. Premium Table seating is located closest to the stage offering the most intimate music experience for guests and includes table service. Reserved Table seating is located on our main floor, behind the Premium section, and also includes table service. Both Premium and Reserved table seating is cabaret style which means you may be sitting with other fans. Private Booths are available and depending on the booth seats 1 to 4, 5, or 6 guests. General Admission/Standing Room is located around the sides of the room on an elevated level for quality viewing and easy bar access.

Folk / RootsRock
Nov 20
8:00 PM
Price TBADetails →
Joe's Live Rosemont·Lincoln Park

US99 Presents: Jackson Dean – Magnolia Sage Tour

ABOUT JACKSON DEAN: With his strong gravel-toned vocals, wayward spirit, intentional songwriting and overall mystique, PLATINUM-selling singer/songwriter Jackson Dean has earned a reputation for his impressive live show and thought-provoking music. Since astonishing Nashville in 2022 with Greenbroke, the acoustic-forward debut that rocked as hard as it embraced freedom, the dusky-voiced songwriter from Maryland has always gone his own way rather than chasing trends. "Don't Come Lookin'," his propulsive No. 1 debut single, struck PLATINUM, giving Greenbroke a launching pad for a writer willing to pay the price and go the distance. The demand for Jackson skyrocketed after landing a coveted spot on artist to watch lists by Pandora, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and CMT, as well as an ACM New Male Artist of the Year nomination in 2023. On The Back of My Dreams, Dean's sophomore album, continued to provide fuel for a combustive live show; it also delivered the No. 1 "Heavens To Betsy" from a project American Songwriter deemed a "near-perfect follow up." The hard-charging performer, who has opened for headliners including Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Lainey Wilson, Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn and Brothers Osborne, as well as conquering Europe, Australia and New Zealand on his headlining tour, is now stepping into new territory both sonically and lyrically. His third studio album, Magnolia Sage, was released earlier this year to critical acclaim. A stellar collection of songs that move from sweeping to soothing, rocking to ruminative, the 11-track project creates a sound that is singularly Jackson Dean: alive, vital, frisky, sexy and rugged. More new music from Dean is expected soon.

Folk / RootsRock
Nov 20
8:00 PM
Price TBADetails →
Martyrs'·North Center

The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band

Chicago! The Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band returns to Martyrs' Friday, November 20th! Grab your tickets!! Three time BMA nominee's The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band are "the greatest front-porch blues band in the world". They are led by Reverend Peyton, who most consider to be the premier finger picker playing today. He has earned a reputation as both a singularly compelling performer and a persuasive evangelist for the rootsy, country blues styles that captured his imagination early in life and inspired him and his band to make pilgrimages to Clarksdale, Mississippi to study under such blues masters as T-Model Ford, Robert Belfour and David "Honeyboy" Edwards.Their latest record, Honeysuckle was produced and recorded by Reverend Peyton and mixed by eight-time Grammy winner Vance Powell (Chris Stapleton, Jack White). The record features many special guests, including gospel music group The McCrary Sisters on the song "Manger," Blues Music Hall of Famer and Grammy-nominated harmonica player Billy Branch who plays on the Blind Lemon Jefferson song "Nell (Prison Cell Blues)," Grammy award-winning and IBMA's 10-time Fiddle Player of the Year Michael Cleveland plays on "Freeborn Man" and Colton Crawford from The Dead South plays banjo on "The Good Die Young." Adrian and Meredith Band is a Nashville-based Bohemian swing-folk act built around rhythm, movement, and the shared experience of live music. Led by married troubadour duo Adrian and Meredith Krygowski, the band draws from Americana, swing, soul, polka, and global folk traditions.

Folk / RootsRockJazz / Blues
Nov 20
8:00 PM
Uncommon Ground·Edgewater

Varsity Dropout with Martin Bandz and Alma Yeon

Varsity Dropout is a Chicago-based indie folk project using music as a therapeutic lens to explore memory and connection. Rooted in raw, unvarnished songwriting, the sound bridges the warm, expansive folk of Mumford & Sons and Bon Iver with the emotional weight and dynamic punch of Manchester Orchestra and The 1975. Every track is an invitation to process the heavy stuff together. Alma Yeon: Alma Yeon creates kaleidoscopic songs on keyboard and electric ukulele. Her lyrical music explores growth, grief, and finding joy in unexpected places. An up-and-coming singer-songwriter in Chicago, Alma Yeon's moving performances have been called "playful and provocative" with the power to gather and heal. Alma Yeon searches deep and creates love songs, a forgiving mirror, and a call to action. Martin Bandz: Martin Bandzoumouna (aka Martin Bandz) is a Chicago-based singer-songwriter and producer whose multi-genre sound draws from a upbringing in jazz and symphonic bands, classical funk and R&B, African icons like Koffi Olomide and Youssou N'Dour, and 2000s alt-rock.

PopRock
Nov 20
8:00 PM
Price TBADetails →