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

SPACE·Evanston

Blue Monday: Remembering Barrelhouse Chuck w. Lee Kanehira, Johnny Iguana, Gerry Hundt, Billy Flynn & friends

"Upon his passing a decade ago at the relatively young age of 58, Barrelhouse Chuck Goering had cemented his place in the pantheon of Chicago blues pianists, among the very same masters whose memory he worked zealously to preserve. His education was on the piano bench - with Sunnyland Slim, Little Brother Montgomery, Big Moose Walker, Pinetop Perkins, Detroit Junior, and more, and he went on to play with numerous Chicago stalwarts such as Johnny B. Moore and Willie Kent. The latter part of his career saw him touring with Nick Moss and Kim Wilson, being featured on the soundtrack for the movie Cadillac Records, and performing at an inaugural ball for President Barack Obama in Washington, DC. This evening of music celebrating Chuck's legacy is brought to the stage by Lee Kanehira, pianist for Alligator Records artist The Cash Box Kings, whose Otis Spann and Memphis Slim-informed style was nurtured by Chuck and his good friend and colleague Erwin Helfer. Joining her in this tribute is pianist Johnny Iguana, Delmark recording artist and engine behind "garage cabaret" combo The Claudettes, Grammy-winning guitarists Billy Flynn and Little Frank Krakowski, and rhythm section of Gerry Hundt, bass, and Smokey Campbell, drums, both of whom played countless gigs and recorded with Chuck. Expect blues, boogie, and lots of laughs, just the way Chuck would have it."

FreeJazz / BluesRock
Dec 14
8:00 PM
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

Jarrod Walker

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
Dec 15
8:00 PM
Price TBADetails →
Jazz Showcase·South Loop

Petra's Recession Seven

Petra's Recession Seven: Petra van Nuis - vocals, Art Davis - trumpet, Eric Schneider - reeds, Russ Phillips - trombone, Andy Brown - guitar, Dan DeLorenzo - bass, Bob Rummage - drums. At the start of the Great Recession in September 2008, Petra's Recession Seven, an authentic Chicago-style jazz band was born at Chicago's legendary Green Mill. The seven piece ensemble is led by Petra van Nuis, a vocalist praised by the Chicago Tribune for her 'interpretive savvy...light-and-silvery vocals and, better still, saucy manner of delivery that emphasizes the art of the double entendre.'

Jazz / BluesElectronicRock
Dec 15
8:00 PM
SPACE·Evanston

Leroy from the North with The Hoyle Brothers

Leroy From The North packs a different kind of heat with My Favorite Gun, the dark and expansive follow-up to the power trio's acclaimed debut, Toughen Up. Stacked high with guitars, grooves, and the occasional synth, it's an album that showcases not only the wide-ranging firepower of the band's influences --- from southern rock to cosmic country to British psychedelia --- but also their decision to blur the lines between genre and generation, creating a spacey, sweeping sound that exists out of time. Before launching the band in Los Angeles, frontman Eli Wulfmeier grew up in Michigan, raised on the sounds of 1970s bands like Humble Pie and Free. He headed to California during his 20s, laying the foundation for his own band while establishing himself as a go-to guitarist for acts like Shelby Lynne, Sam Morrow, and Nikki Lane. Filled with sharp songwriting and rhythmic stomp, 2023's Toughen Up found him nodding to his roots as a Motor City rocker who'd found a new home in California's country community. Two years later, My Favorite Gun sets its sights on a new horizon. This time, Wulfmeier and his longtime bandmates --- drummer Jason Ganberg and bassist Adam Arcos --- aren't focused on where they came from. They're more interested in where they're headed next. "There's something about this record that feels like a Black Mirror episode, where everything is just a little bit off, a little disconcerting, a little weird," Wulfmeier says. "All three of us have played so much Americana and country music over the years that we wanted to get outside of our own comfort zone." For inspiration, he found himself listening to moodier music --- including indie-folksinger José González, trip hop duo Zero 7, and art rock band The National --- and watching reruns of Miami Vice. Something about the TV show's dark and dangerous aesthetic seemed to mirror his adopted home of California, too, and it influenced the songs he wrote for My Favorite Gun. Embracing the use of alternate narrators, he began filling the album with stories about twisted love affairs, meltdowns, and even the apocalypse. "When you grow up in the Midwest, LA looks so glamorous," he explains. "Then you move here and see the nastiness, too, and there's something really interesting about that dynamic. I like exploring those darker sides. I like finding the beauty in something that other people might pass up."

FreeFolk / RootsRock
Dec 16
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 →
Cole's Bar·Logan Square

Downside Salesman / Fjord Taurus / Peter Hunt and the Great Outdoors

Downside Salesman is a Midwestern punk band based in Chicago, IL. Formed in 2020, the band released their debut EP, Wastehaven, and played throughout the city before taking a hiatus. Founding members Robert Lane and Alissa Wolff revived the project in 2025 with Zachariah Gall and Ryan Ceroky, bringing a new lineup and a fuller, more dynamic sound. Downside Salesman released their sophomore EP, Dibs., on October 26, 2026. The EP explores personal growth, letting go of what (or who) no longer serves you, and the importance of finding connection and community along the way. Harkening back to the old world and the vague Scandinavian ancestry of half its members, Fjord Taurus is firing on all cylinders. Their music is reminiscent of late nights spent racing slot cars, listening to the rarest Mario Andretti demo tapes, and eating hot pockets. Their tunes consist of guitar centered rock that hints at early 90s indie with a smattering of emo and punk sensibilities. Peter Hunt & the Great Outdoors is a new-wave emo band from Chicago, IL. Often lauded as "more important to music history than the Beatles," Peter Hunt & the Great Outdoors released their debut album, 'Defeater', in November.

Rock
Dec 17
8:00 PM

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 →
Kingston Mines·Lincoln Park

Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials/Sheryl Youngblood 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 7:00pm on Friday. Tickets can be purchased at the club after 7:00 PM, if not purchased online. Must be 21 to enter. Friday: 7pm -- 4am Acoustic Set: 7:30pm to 9pm North Stage Sets: 9:00pm, 11:30pm, 1:30am Main Stage Sets: 10:30pm, 12:30am, 2:30am "Hear Blues, Drink Booze, Talk Loud, You're Among Friends" ...Doc

Jazz / BluesRock
Dec 18
7:00 PM
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 →
FitzGerald's·Berwyn

THE REDMONDS Holiday Show w/ special guests The Vaughn Building & Sam Day (electric cellist!)

FITZGERALDS NIGHTCLUB PRESENTS: THE REDMONDS Holiday Show! $20.00 General Admission // $25/seat Reserved Tables Available The Redmonds, comprised of a stellar line-up of Chicagoland's top talent, have been performing eclectic sets of classic rock, Americana, and originals together for over a decade. Fronted by the impeccable vocal harmonies of husband and wife Mike and Katie Redmond, the band puts out a high-energy show every time. 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.

Rock
Dec 18
7:00 PM
SPACE·Evanston

Friendship and Charlotte Cornfield w. Fred Thomas

Hurts Like Hell, Toronto songwriter Charlotte Cornfield s March 27, 2026 Merge Records debut, is the most open-hearted, full-voiced album of her career and the first shes recorded since the birth of her daughter in 2023. Decamping to Philip Weinrobe s Sugar Mountain studio in Brooklyn, New York in January 2025, Cornfield was joined by Palehounds El Kempner (guitar/vocals), Lake Street Drives Bridget Kearney (bass/vocals), Adam Brisbin (guitar/pedal steel), and Sean Mullins (drums). She and Weinrobe then recruited Feist , Buck Meek , Christian Lee Hutson and Maia Friedman to sing on the album. Every musician involved was a dream collaborator, Cornfield says. These ten songs are at once a reaffirmation of Cornfield standing among the great singer-songwriters of her generation and the first articulation of her future, whatever uncertainty and love it may bring______ Music for sleeping and waking, walking and driving, hunting and fishing, for loitering outside a roadhouse on the haunted tundra. Okay in elevators, not great for dinner. On Caveman Wakes Up Friendships new album and second for Merge Records, the bands historically capacious definition of country music grows wider still. Shambolic guitars are offset by flute pads, bleary poetry is set against a Motown rhythm section, a song about Jerry Garcia and First Lady Betty Ford fades out with a drum solo, like if Talk Talk came from a dingy Philadelphia basement, and was fronted by James Tate. Songwriter Dan Wriggins ragged baritone cuts through eleven murky, swirling country-rock songs with profound lyrical substance and sincerity. Like an alarm clock incorporated into the edge of a dream, Caveman Wakes Up belongs equally to the conscious and subconscious mind, fraught with background, steeped in reference and experimentation, delivered casually and as a dire warning, dedicated, above all, to musics creative soul.

FreeRockFolk / Roots
Dec 18
8:00 PM
Martyrs'·North Center

The Local Honeys

Though many artists are defined by place, only a handful of artists come to define the places they're from. The Local Honeys are Kentucky and Kentucky runs through their veins like an unbridled racehorse. When a master songsmith like Tom T Hall calls an artist "a great credit to a wonderful Kentucky tradition" it's time to pull up a chair and pay attention. As it pertains to The Local Honeys he was right on the money. For almost a decade the duo (Montana Hobbs and Linda Jean Stokley) have been an integral part of the Kentucky musicscape. They've paid their dues, garnering countless accolades and accomplishments (tours with Tyler Childers, Colter Wall, praise from the New York Times) and have become the defining sound of real deal, honest-to-god Kentucky music.

Folk / RootsRock
Dec 18
8:00 PM
Martyrs'·North Center

The Local Honeys

Though many artists are defined by place, only a handful of artists come to define the places they're from. The Local Honeys are Kentucky and Kentucky runs through their veins like an unbridled racehorse. When a master songsmith like Tom T Hall calls an artist "a great credit to a wonderful Kentucky tradition" it's time to pull up a chair and pay attention. As it pertains to The Local Honeys he was right on the money. For almost a decade the duo (Montana Hobbs and Linda Jean Stokley) have been an integral part of the Kentucky musicscape. They've paid their dues, garnering countless accolades and accomplishments (tours with Tyler Childers, Colter Wall, praise from the New York Times) and have become the defining sound of real deal, honest-to-god Kentucky music.

Folk / RootsRock
Dec 18
8:00 PM
Rosa’s Lounge·West Town

Cash Box Kings feat. Cameron Webb

Join us for just $20! Secure your seat in advance, or grab your ticket at the door for $25 (if available; advance purchase highly recommended). $15 General Admission is a relaxed, free-flowing late-night blues set where artists stretch out, special guests musicians often sit in. Entry begins at 10:30-11 PM. Shared-table and bar seating are available as space permits. Important Details: Doors open at 8 PM: To secure guaranteed seating, guests should arrive between 8 PM and 9 PM. Guests arriving after 9 PM will be guaranteed entry, but seating will be based on availability. Seating: Available on a first-come, first-served basis at tables and the bar. Please note that tables are shared.

Jazz / BluesRockElectronic
Dec 18
9:30 PM
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 →
FitzGerald's·Berwyn

THE HALF-BRITS 5th Annual Holiday Extravaganza with aftershow jams from DJ Beamish!

FITZGERALDS NIGHTCLUB PRESENTS: THE HALF BRITS Annual Holiday Show PART 5! $15 General Admission // $25 a Seat Reserved Tables THE HALF-BRITS RETURN TO FITZGERALD'S HISTORIC NIGHTCLUB FOR THE 5TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA! The holiday tradition is back---and this year, we're turning it up a notch. Join THE HALF-BRITS for a festive night packed with live music, holiday merriment, special guests, and plenty of surprises. And when the show wraps, DJ Jamie Beamish takes over for an aftershow party featuring throwbacks, house, indie, and more. It's a celebration of family, friends, and great live music, all wrapped up in one unforgettable holiday party. 🎄 Tickets are expected to go fast! The last two Holiday Extravaganzas sold out in advance, so don't wait to grab yours. Come celebrate the season with us and make the 5th Annual Holiday Extravaganza one to remember! 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.

Rock
Dec 19
8:30 PM
Kingston Mines·Lincoln Park

Mike Wheeler Blues Band/Rico McFarland Blues Band

World famous Kingston Mines features the best Blues music from 2 bands on 2 stages. Docs Kitchen offers great Catfish, Wings, Burgers, Beignets, and more! Kingston Mines has returned to general seating - no reservations. The doors & kitchen open at 7:00pm on Friday. Tickets can be purchased at the club after 7:00 PM, if not purchased online. Must be 21 to enter. Saturday: 7pm 4amAcoustic Set: 7:30pm to 9pmNorth Stage Sets: 9:00pm, 11:30pm, 1:30amMain Stage Sets: 10:30pm, 12:30am, 2:30am Hear Blues, Drink Booze, Talk Loud, Youre Among Friends ...Doc

Jazz / BluesRock
Dec 20
5:30 PM