NOTABLE NOVEMBER CITY WINERY CHICAGO SHOWS ON SALE NOW

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar: 

ICONIC BRITISH PSYCHEDELIC POP LEGENDS THE ZOMBIES, THE RETURN OF SOUL SINGER/SONGWRITER DWELE AND QUEEN OF THE BLUES SHEMEKIA COPELAND

PLUS: FRENCH JAZZ SINGER CYRILLE AIMEE AND A BENEFIT CONCERT WITH CHICAGO’S GENRE-BENDING NICO SEGAL AND THE JUJU EXCHANGE

PUBLIC TICKETS NOW ON SALE 

City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph Street, announces English rock band The Zombies – with over 50 years of music, multi-Grammy Award nominee Dwele and more. The following shows are currently on sale to the public at citywinery.com/chicago.

Nico Segal Presents: The JuJu Exchange – a Benefit Concert for Merit School of Music 
Tuesday, November 28; 7:00 p.m.
$20/$25/$30/$45

Drawing from hip-hop, jazz, classical and pop music, Nico Segal and The JuJu Exchange present a benefit concert for West Loop’s Merit School of Music which serves nearly 5,000 Chicago-area youth by removing barriers to high-quality music education. Nico Segal (previously known as “Donnie Trumpet” from the Chance the Rapper-affiliated band, The Social Experiment), Julian & Everett Reid and Lane Beckstrom use The JuJu as a way to build off of their past experiences in order to make a genre-bending style of music that looks to the future while dealing with the problems of the present. The ensemble is based on a musical partnership of these childhood friends who came up through Chicago Public School music programs, including Merit School of Music which band members attended between 1998 and 2013, three of whom graduated from Merit’s Alice S. Pfaelzer Tuition-free Conservatory. The musicians attribute their music and personal success to the exceptional training they received at Merit. Founded in 1979, Merit is a nationally accredited music school that offers its diverse student body sustained access to the highest-quality musical instruction, helping young people transform their lives through music education.

Shemekia Copeland 
Saturday, December 9 
$38/$45/$48/$52
Whether she's belting out a raucous blues-rocker, firing up a blistering soul-shouter, bringing the spirit to a gospel-fueled R&B rave-up or digging deep down into a subtle, country-tinged ballad, Shemekia Copeland sounds like no one else. With a voice that is alternately sultry, assertive and roaring, Copeland's wide-open vision of contemporary blues, roots and soul music showcases the evolution of a passionate artist with a modern musical and lyrical approach.

Dwele
Thursday, December 14; 7:00 & 9:30 p.m.
$38/$45/$55/$60
Influenced by the sounds of jazz and Motown, Dwele is a multi-Grammy Award nominated songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. He began his career in Detroit’s underground hip-hop scene during the late ’90s and has since released five albums and collaborated with artists like Big Sean and Kanye West, including work on West’s 2007 Flashing Lights. His fifth studio album, Greater than One, mixes silky ballads and crispy up-tempo jams to create what Dwele calls “bedroom music.”

Cyrille Aimee
Thursday, February 15
$38/$35/$32/$28
Cyrille Aimée (Sur­real M­A) is a French­Dominican vocalist and actress. Winner of the Montreux Jazz Festival's Vocal Competition, the Sarah Vaughn International Jazz Vocal Competition and finalist in the Thelonious Monk Vocal Competition, Aimée is—in the words of Will Friedwald of The Wall Street Journal—"one of the most promising jazz singers of her generation."

The Zombies 
Monday-Tuesday, March 19-20
$65/$68/$75/$78
The Zombies have returned to celebrate the release of their latest Billboard-charting album, Still Got That Hunger, and their 2nd nomination for the 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Zombies is led by founding and current members vocalist Colin Blunstone and keyboardist Rod Argent alongside bassist Jim Rodford (formerly of ARGENT and The Kinks), Rodford's son Steve Rodford on drums, and renowned session guitarist Tom Toomey. The band's live performances take fans on a journey through time, from their early hits, such as 1968 masterpiece “Odessey & Oracle,” to post-Zombies solo favorites to today with Still Got That Hunger.

City Winery also announces Josh & Erika (of the Empty Pockets) opens for Poco featuring Rusty Young on Oct. 25 and Marie Miller opens for Kris Allen on Dec. 18.

All City Winery events are open to all ages and start at 8 p.m., unless noted.

Only members of City Winery Chicago’s signature VinoFile™ program have access to advanced ticket sales in addition to receiving: a waiver of ticket service fees; free valet parking; Restaurant Loyalty Rewards, such as a free pair of VIP concert tickets for every $500 spent on food & beverage in the restaurant; exclusive membership-only events; and access to the proprietary City Winery Virtual Sommelier™, which helps make suggestions for wines one might enjoy based on past consumption at the venue.

The Zombies, Shemika Copeland, Nico Segal & The JuJu Exchange, Dwele, Marie Miller and Cyrille Aimee join a diverse mix of the most respected names in pop, rock, jazz, blues, world music, theater, dance, spoken word and comedy presented at City Winery Chicago, including previously announced headliners and supporting acts:

David Crosby & Friends (Oct. 30-31); Lizz Wright with Lyric (Nov. 1-2); Tim Reynolds & TR3 (Nov. 3); Jackie Greene & Anders Osborne with Cris Jacobs (Nov. 4; 5 & 8pm) The Accidentals with Jake Allen (Nov. 5, 11:30am); Victor Wooten Trio (Nov. 5, 5 & 8pm); An Evening with Herb Alpert & Lani Hall (Nov. 6-7); Mariza (Nov. 8); Ryan Montbleau Band with The DuPont Brothers (Nov. 9); The Revelers (Nov. 12, 1pm); Black Violin (Nov. 12, 5:30 & 8pm); Sharon Shannon (Nov. 13); Take Me to the River (Nov. 14); Loudon Wainwright III with Lucy Wainwright Roche (Nov. 15); Kandace Springs (Nov. 16); Loose Ends (Nov. 17, 7pm); Mike Doughty (Nov. 18); Chicago Philharmonic Brunch - True Crime Radio Stories (Nov. 19, 12pm); Jackopierce with Marie Miller (Nov. 19, 7pm); Badfinger featuring Joey Molland (Nov. 20); Miki Howard (Nov. 21); Joshua Davis (Nov. 22); The Verve Pipe (Nov. 24); Kurt Elling: The Beautiful Day (Nov. 25-26, 5 & 8pm); Marcus Johnson (Nov. 27); Earl Klugh (Nov. 29, 6:30 & 9pm); Rhett Miller with Matthew Ryan (Nov. 30); Ms. Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton (Dec. 2); Jeffrey Foucault & Kris Delmhorst (Dec. 3); The Secret Sisters with Brian Dunne (Dec. 4); Marc Roberge of O.A.R. (Dec. 5, 7 & 9:30pm); Joe Pug with Juanita Stein (Dec. 6); Chicago Philharmonic Brunch - FairyTale Noël (Dec. 10, 12pm); Los Lobos with Matt Andersen (Dec. 10-11); Los Lobos with Future Stuff (Dec. 12-13); The Empty Pockets with Nate Jones (Dec. 17, 7pm); Kris Allen (Dec. 18); Bebel Gilberto (Dec. 19-20); Avery*Sunshine (Dec. 21, 7 & 9:30pm); Michael McDermott with Heather Horton (Dec. 22); Michael McDermott (Dec. 23, 5 & 8pm); Poi Dog Pondering (Dec. 26-30); BoDeans (Dec. 31, 7:30 & 11pm; Jan. 1, 5 & 8pm); Freddy Jones Band with The Nadas (Jan. 12-13); Eric Benét (Jan. 19, 7 & 10pm); The Posies (Jan. 31); 10,000 Maniacs (Feb. 9, 7:30 & 10pm; Feb. 10, 5 & 8pm) and Alan Doyle (Mar. 2).

Opened in 2012, City Winery Chicago is a fully operational winery, restaurant with outdoor patio, concert hall and private event space located in the heart of the West Loop at 1200 W. Randolph, in the historic urban Fulton Market district. Once a refrigerated food distribution warehouse, the 1911 building has been transformed into a contemporary 33,000 square foot haven for those passionate about wine, music and culinary arts. The décor evokes the romance of being in wine country, from the exposed stainless steel fermenting tanks and French oak barrels, to the aroma of fermenting grapes. Chicago’s only fully operation winery has produced dozens of in-house wines sourced from vineyards in California, Oregon, Washington, Argentina and Chile, including a Wine Enthusiast 92-point 2015 Verna’s Vineyard Reserve Pinot Noir. With more than 400 unique producers from around the world City Winery is recognized with 2014 and 2015 Best of Awards of Excellence “for having one of the most outstanding restaurant wine lists in the world” by Wine Spectator. The globally inspired, locally sourced, wine-focused food menu is conceived for pairing and sharing. The concert hall accommodates up to 300 guests, all seated at tables with complete beverage and dining service, ensuring a comfortable “listening room” experience enhanced by a state-of-the-art Meyer Sound system. Riedel is the official and exclusive provider of glassware, showing City Winery’s commitment to enjoying quality wine in a quality vessel. American Airlines is the Official Airline and Virgin Hotels Chicago is the Official Hotel of City Winery. For more information, please visit www.citywinery.com.

Five Blistering Nights of Reverend Horton Heat at City Winery Chicago 10/11-15

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

The City Church of the Reverend Horton Heat featuring Unknown Hinson w/ special guests Koffin Kats - 10/11/17

Reverend Horton Heat, Riot Fest 2012

Photo credit for all shots: Bonnie Kenaz-Mara 

This Wednesday, we'll be ChiILin' in Chi, IL at City Winery for the first of a streak of five shows by Reverend Horton Heat with support by Unknown Hinson and Koffin Kats. Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we've seen Reverend Horton Heat many times over the years, but I'll have to say my favorite is still Riot Fest 2012 when I had press credentials and got to shoot them from the pit. They always put on an excellent, high energy, live show that's a must see for rockabilly lovers. We have press credentials once again for Wednesday's kick off to the City Winery run, so check back soon for our full review and photo recap. 

About:

THESE ARE STANDING ROOM SHOWS - Limited seating is available for $55 and standing room tickets are $28 in advance and $32 on the day of the show.

The undisputed Godfather of Psychobilly, The Reverend Horton Heat, invites its congregation to join them this October in Chicago for five white-hot nights as City Winery is transformed to The City Church of The Reverend Horton Heat.

Making the run even more special, each show will feature a unique line-up with very special guests. Get ready as hot rods, lowriders and choppers descend on Chicago's West Loop for The City Church of The Reverend Horton Heat.

10/11 - featuring Unknown Hinson w/ special guests Koffin Kats

Loaded guns, space heaters, and big skies. Welcome to the lethal littered landscape of Jim Heath’s imagination. True to his high evangelical calling, Jim is a Revelator, both revealing & reinterpreting the country-blues-rock roots of American music. He’s a time-travelling space-cowboy on an endless interstellar musical tour, and we are all the richer & “psychobillier” for getting to tag along.

Seeing REVEREND HORTON HEAT live is a transformative experience. Flames come off the guitars. Heat singes your skin. There’s nothing like the primal tribal rock & roll transfiguration of a Reverend Horton Heat show. Jim becomes a slicked-back 1950′s rock & roll shaman channeling Screamin’ Jay Hawkins through Buddy Holly, while Jimbo incinerates the Stand- Up Bass. And then there are the “Heatettes”. Those foxy rockabilly chicks dressed in poodle-skirts and cowboy boots slamming the night away. It’s like being magically transported into a Teen Exploitation picture from the 1950′s that’s currently taking place in the future.

Listening to the REVEREND HORTON HEAT is tantamount to injecting pure musical nitrous into the hot-rod engine of your heart. The Reverend’s commandants are simple. And no band on this, or any other, planet rocks harder, drives faster, or lives truer than the Reverend Horton Heat. These “itinerant preachers” actually practice what they preach. They live their lives by the Gospel of Rock & Roll.

From the High-Octane Spaghetti-Western Wall of Sound in “Big Sky” — to the dark driving frenetic paranoia of “400 Bucks” – to the brain-melting Western Psychedelic Garage purity of “Psychobilly Freakout” — The Rev’s music is the perfect soundtrack to the Drive-In Movie of your life.

Jim Heath & Jimbo Wallace have chewed up more road than the Google Maps drivers. For twenty-five Psychobilly years, they have blazed an indelible, unforgettable, and meteoric trail across the globe with their unique blend of musical virtuosity, legendary showmanship, and mythic imagery.

Rev your engines and catch the sermon on the road as it’s preached by everybody’s favorite Reverend.

Click HERE for tickets and more show info about the City Winery Chicago run.

INCOMING: City Winery Hosts Chicago’s Las Guitarras de España and Musician/Composer Ronnie Malley

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

Chicago’s Las Guitarras de España will be collaborating with musician/composer Ronnie Malley for a truly multicultural show at City Winery on Monday, March 7.

Ronnie Malley

The collaboration will explore music from the shared cultural history of the Middle East, North Africa, and Spain. The special program will also feature flamenco and Indian dance with music from the ensemble Surabhi featuring Sara Ranganathan (veena), Chihsuan Yang (violin, erhu) and Carlo Basile (guitar) just returning from Shanghai, Taiwan, and Hanoi to explore music from the Silk Road tradition. Click HERE for full show details, and to purchase tickets.

CIMMfest Bands: ChiIL Live Shows on Our Radar #ChiILPicksList

Chi, IL Live Shows on Our Radar

So you've got your CIMMFest 2015 4 day pass squared away and you've picked up or downloaded the mindblowingly huge Chicago International Movies & Music Festival Program (pdf) which features over 100+ FILM & LIVE MUSIC events, & over 4 rocking days & nights (April 16-19). Now what?! 

Follow your bliss, and when in doubt check back with ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama for some sweet leads on some must sees. Here's a few of our LIVE band favs to get you started. Mark your calendars. 

The Luck of Eden Hall headlines Moe’s Tavern, 2937 N Milwaukee, on Saturday, April 18: http://cimmfest.org/the-luck-of-eden-waxworks-chicago-semisweet/.  Check out our original TLoEH live show shots here.

And our blast from the past original video interview with TLoEH's Curvey on How Creatives Parent and How Parents Create. Our interview also includes his daughter Seda, 7 at the time, in 2012.

http://theluckofedenhall.com/

HELP OUT: 

They have a great Kick Starter campaign going on right now. Kick in some cash if you can! 

Our goal today is $220. Preorder our new album The Acceleration of Time on CD, LP, limited edition Pop-Up CD for a $20,...
Posted by The Luck of Eden Hall on Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Nashville singer-songwriter Rorey Carroll will be direct support for Todd Snider at City Winery on Sunday, April 19 at 6PM: http://cimmfest.org/city-winery-and-cimmfest-present-todd-snider-with-special-guest-rorey-carroll/

http://www.roreycarroll.com/

Car­roll was born in Chicago to a rather nor­mal Amer­i­can fam­ily brought up as a typ­i­cal, mid­dle class kid. It was this up­bring­ing along with a fas­ci­na­tion with al­ter­na­tive cul­ture that led her to­wards the great Amer­i­can love af­fair, the coun­ter­bal­ance to the Amer­i­can Dream. At a young age, she lived in her car in cities all around the county, she hiked the Ap­palachian Trail, hopped freight trains. She made money play­ing mu­sic to any­one who would lis­ten, from the sub­ways of New York City to the streets of Ohio. She be­came a liv­ing para­dox, some­where be­tween run­ning from the law and run­ning from the nor­mal­ity of a Mid­west­ern sub­ur­ban lifestyle. In her words, ‘You have to trust every­one in that world… You’re all fight­ing for the same thing. But at the same time, you don’t trust any­one.’ While the hard­ness of the streets broke her down, an­other world picked her up. Ap­palachian songs, blue­grass and coun­try pat­terns ce­mented in her mind, and per­haps most im­por­tantly - she in­haled the great spirit of rock and roll.

Finally, Laura Joy will take part in Get Off the Couch at The Hideout on Sunday, April 19 at 6PM: http://cimmfest.org/get-off-the-couch-at-cimmfest-no-7-dickie-frances-luke-accord-fee-lion-laura-joy/

GET OFF THE COUCH (GOTC), hosted at The Hideout Inn, is Chicago’s longest running singer/songwriter showcase for area artists. Performed Nashville-style, it's typically held on the first Sunday of every month and hosted by Sam Wahl. 

Now GOTC and CIMMfest are bringing the show to you with headliner DICKIE (Dick Prall) and other showcase artists Frances Luke Accord, FEE LION, Laura Joy, and special guest host Myles Hayes.

http://getoffthecouchchicago.com/

http://laurajoymusic.com/

Chicago-based singer-songwriter Laura Joy has been known to quell dark, angry bars full of ornery old Irishmen with her brand of acoustic pop. Drawing comparisons that range from Joni Mitchell to Alison Krauss, Laura’s percussive finger picking and buoyant voice have graced audiences from as far as the Sun Belt to the streets of Manhattan.

Laura’s EP, “Between Our Words,” was released on March 5, 2015.  It was produced by Chicago veteran, Will Phalen, at Cold Ghost Studios. The album features James Gallagher on drums (Kapsalis Trio, Weepin’ Willows, Republic of Lights), David Gallagher on guitar (Belleisle, Weepin’ Willows), and Will Phalen on bass (Stereo Addicts, Julie Meckler).

Laura is a frequent performer on the Midwest festival scene. She has played at the Independent Chicago Songwriter Festival, Metamora Folk Festival, Lakeshore Arts Festival, Cain Park Arts Fest, and Ravenswood Remix. In January, 2013, she was awarded as a top finalist in the Broward Folk Club Songwriter Competition in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Laura has also opened for Hammel on Trial, Staceyann Chin, and Greg Klyma.

Cinema Night at City Winery Dave Grohl's Sound City THIS Tuesday at 8pm All Ages

CINEMA NIGHT AT CITY WINERY CHICAGO

SPECIAL ALL-AGES SHOWING OF DAVE GROHL’S SOUND CITY

FOOD AND BEVERAGE SPECIALS INCLUDE HALF-PRICE CARAFES OF WINE AND $10 FLATBREADS

  TUESDAY, MAY 20, 8PM

Here at ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama, Dave Grohl's long been one of our favorites. We're HUGE Nirvana fans and those songs are still in heavy rotation on our ipods.  Grohl is versitile and crazy prolific, playing with a host of greats. Come check out Sound City, the documentary he produced and directed.  It's playing THIS Tuesday at Chicago's hot venue for cool live shows and now films--City Winery!!  ALL AGES.

City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph Street, follows up the success of its April movie screening, 20 Feet From Stardom, with a special showing of Sound City, the acclaimed documentary directed and produced by Dave Grohl. The story of LA’s unsung analog recording studio in the Valley and the artists who made rock history there features appearances by Neil Young, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks, Trent Reznor, Rick Rubin, Mick Fleetwood, Lars Ulrich, John Fogerty, Rick Springfield, Josh Homme, Frank Black, Pat Smear, Barry Manilow, Lindsey Buckingham, Lee Ving, Krist Novoselic and Paul McCartney. Sound City shows Tuesday, May 20, 8 p.m. in City Winery’s performance venue projected onto dual 90-inch screens and heard on City Winery’s state-of-the-art Meyer Sound® system. 

Tickets are $5, and guests receive 50% off carafes of City Winery house-made wines and $10 flatbreads.

Sound City (Dave Grohl,

2013, 108 mins.): Tuesday, May 20, 8 p.m. ($5 general admission)

Deep in the San Fernando Valley, amidst rows of dilapidated warehouses, was rock ’n' roll's best-kept secret: Sound City. America's greatest unsung recording studio housed a one-of-a-kind console, and as its legend grew, seminal bands and artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, Rick Springfield, Tom Petty, Metallica and Nirvana all came out to put magic to tape. Directed by Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) and featuring interviews and performances from the iconic musicians who recorded some of rock’s greatest albums at the studio, Sound City doesn’t just tell the story of this real-life rock ’n’ roll shrine; it celebrates the human element of music as Grohl gathers some of rock's biggest artists to collaborate on a new album. Using Sound City's legendary analog console, together these artists continue to create musical miracles in a digital world.

All City Winery Chicago events are open to all ages and start at 8pm, unless noted.

To purchase concert tickets or to become a City Winery VinoFile™ member, please call (312) 733-WINE (9463) or visit www.citywinery.com/chicago/.

Sound City joins a diverse lineup of the most respected names in pop, rock, jazz, blues, world music and live lit performing at City Winery Chicago, including previously announced headliners and supporting acts: Spektral Quartet with Julien Labro (May 14); Colin Blunstone with special guest Edward Rogers (May 15); Cathy Richardson Band and Andrew Salgado (May 16); Steep Canyon Rangers (May 18); Sound City (May 20); Story Sessions (May 21); The Westies (May 22); Jackopierce and Phil Jacobson (May 23-24); French Quarter Fest with New Orleans Suspects, Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys and Sanctified Grumblers (May 26); Burton Cummings from The Guess Who (May 28-29); The Westies and Greg Trooper (May 30); Jukebox Groove (June 1, 2pm); Rising Appalachia and The Way Down Wanderers with Good Graeff (June 1); New Millennium Orchestra with Matt Ulery Trio (June 2); Josh Krajcik (June 3); Sizzling Latin Dance Night with Samuel Del Real and Juvenato (June 4); Bilal (June 5); Orbert Davis Sextet (June 8, 3pm); Chuck Prophet and the Mission Express – “Temple Beautiful with Strings” (June 8); Blitzen Trapper with Parkington Sisters (June 10); World Party with Gabriel Kelley (June 12-13); John Doe with Jesse Dayton (June 14); Carolina Chocolate Drops (June 16-17); Joe Purdy with Brian Wright (June 18-19); Ari Hest (June 20); Carrie Newcomer (June 22); Ginger Baker’s Jazz Confusion (June 23); Preservation Hall Jazz Band (June 24-25); Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis (June 28); Albert Cummings (June 29); Julian Lage and Nels Cline Duo (June 30); Berlin featuring Terri Nunn and Vapornet (July 1); The English Beat (July 2-3); Pedrito Martinez Group (July 4); Louis Prima Jr. & the Witnesses (July 6); Time For Three (July 7); Yarn with special guest Carolina Story (July 9); Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks (July 10); Dr. Ralph Stanley & his Clinch Mountain Boys with Town Mountain (July 11); Dengue Fever (July 12); Marc Cohn (July 17 - 18); Asleep at the Wheel (July 20); An Evening with David Crosby (July 21-22); and Dave Alvin + Phil Alvin with The Guilty Ones (July 24); Matthew Sweet ( July 25); The Bangles (July 27-28); Bruce Cockburn with Jenny Scheinman (Aug. 10-11); Sharon Shannon (Aug. 12).

City Winery Chicago, a fully operational winery, restaurant with outdoor patio, concert hall and private event space, is located in the heart of the West Loop at 1200 W. Randolph, in the historic urban Fulton Market district. The concert hall accommodates up to 300 guests, all seated at tables with complete beverage and dining service, ensuring a comfortable “listening room” experience enhanced by a state-of-the-art Meyer Sound system.  Riedel is the official and exclusive provider of glass ware, showing City Winery’s commitment to enjoying quality wine in a quality vessel. American Airlines is the Official Airline and Crowne Plaza is the Official Hotel of City Winery. For more information, please visit www.citywinery.com.

TONIGHT: CHICAGO BLUEGRASS & BLUES FESTIVAL 2014 Kicks Off 3 Weeks of ChiIL Live Shows

CBB Returns: 5th Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Fest to call Concord Music Hall & City Winery home over three weeks

Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival (CBB) is ready to celebrate its 5th birthday! The wintertime roots fest returns with 17 shows format spanning three weeks in January and February!

CBB V is anchored in eight shows over three weeks at the newly-minted Concord Music Hall, the West Loop’s City Winery, and Evanston’s SPACE.  Rusted Root and Justin Townes Earle make their first CBB appearance, while David Grisman returns for his 3rd, this time with two nights as the David Grisman JazzFolk Trio.  The fest kicks off January 10th with Leagues and The Autumn Defense (feat. John Stirratt & Pat Sanson of Chicago's own WILCO) at Concord Music Hall.  Jonathan Batiste brings a dose of New Orleans, Greensky brings the Bluegrass, and Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater channels 60 years of Chicago blues experience.  Local showcases at Tonic Room adorn nights throughout.  

Aiming to showcase the musical styles that have evolved from bluegrass and blues culture, CBB was born in 2008 of a collaboration between Mike Raspatello, React Presents, and Silver Wrapper.   Since then, the fest has hosted acts like The Avett Brothers, Bela Fleck, Grace Potter, Del McCoury, Edward Sharpe, David Grisman, Drive-By Truckers, Dr. Dog, Dawes, Honeyboy Edwards, Joe Pug, Joe Purdy, Corey Chisel, and The Skatalites, making stops at the Auditorium Theater, Lincoln Hall, House of Blues, Congress Theater, and Double Door.  
For complete details, please head to https://www.facebook.com/cbbfestival.

Check out the full lineup below:

Jan 10 - Leagues & The Autumn Defense w/ The Giving Tree Band and Dick Prall @ Concord Music Hall

Jan 10 – Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater @ SPACE (Evanston)

Jan 11 – Acoustics Anonymous w/ Clusterpluck @ Tonic Room

Jan 13 - Jonathan Batiste @ City Winery

Jan 14 - Tiny Miles & The Big Kids @Tonic Room

Jan 15 - David Grisman JazzFolk Trio @ City Winery 

Jan 15 - Great Divide w/ Nick And The Ovorols @ Tonic Room

Jan 16 - David Grisman JazzFolk Trio @ City Winery 

Jan 16 – Evergreen Grass Band w/ guests @ Tonic Room

Jan 17 - Justin Townes Earle & The Felice Brothers w/ guests @ Concord Music Hall 

Jan 17 – Shamekia Copeland @ SPACE (Evanston)

Jan 18 - Greensky Bluegrass w/ Escondido @ Concord Music Hall 

Jan 18 - Shamekia Copeland @ SPACE (Evanston)

Jan 18 – American Babies w/ guests @ Tonic Room

Jan 23 - Huckleberry Green @ Tonic Room

Jan 25 - Rusted Root w/ Donna The Buffalo @ Concord Music Hall

Feb 2 – Swear and Shake @ SPACE (Evanston) 

INCOMING: King of Soul: Acoustic Otis Redding tribute at City Winery December 9th

King of Soul: Acoustic Otis Redding is a tribute that presents the Stax Records icon’s most memorable songs as performed by vocalist Gerald McClendon, guitarist Carlo Basile (Las Guitarras De Espana) and violinist Chihsuan Yang (Matt Santos’ band), alongside some of Chicago’s top players from the realms of soul and world music.   

Here at ChiIL Live Shows, City Winery is one of our favorite small, live music venues with plentiful seating and a stellar lineup crossing many genres of music.   Think date night, or a chance to meet new friends at the long, communal tables.

King of Soul - Acoustic Otis Redding AND Spanish Guitar Duo (featuring members of Las Guitarras de España) - 12/9

MONDAY, DECEMBER 09 2013 6:00 PM DOORS / 7:30 PM START

Click here for more info & to purchase tickets.

Highly Recommended Lolla Bands On Our Radar: Houndmouth & Saturday Heartless Bastards 6PM on The Grove

Did you catch Houndmouth's Lollapalooza set yesterday or opening for Heartless Bastards at another fav of ours... City Winery last night!   Put them on your must see list.   You can still catch Heartless Bastards TODAY at Lollapalooza

After Houndmouth's debut album dropped last month, the band several people have called "the Alabama Shakes of 2013" has been one of the busiest of the summer with two late night TV appearances on Conan and Letterman and nonstop touring and festivals. By Lolla, the quartet will have already hit Bonnaroo, Newport Folk, High Sierra, and their hometown Forecastle, where they were upgraded to the main stage at the last minute due to demand.

Rolling Stone has called them "earthy melancholy with a rude garage rock streak" and American Songwriter writes that their guitar "blows gates open at a full speed gallop."   ChiIL Live Shows will have a full album review up shortly.

Watch their Letterman performance of "Ludlow" (and see how they tweaked Dave on-air!): http://youtu.be/Q_eEx3N5Le0

This past weekend, Houndmouth made their Newport Folk Festival debut to glowing reviews. Rolling Stone called their Dylan cover with Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes a "highlight" of the weekend, Billboard said they "proved their mettle," and Paste called them the #2 Band to Watch.

Festival booker Jay Sweet pegged them as the next Newport breakout on NPR All Songs Considered, saying they "are just going to grow and follow that Avett Brothers kind of path." And during the NPR Music broadcast of their set, WFUV host Alisa Ali said "Even though they just released their debut album, they are so well seasoned, like good curly fries" and Ann Powers tweeted a Vine of them "rockin it": https://vine.co/v/hAg7qLTHilE

Next up for Houndmouth: Outside Lands, Austin City Limits, and a headlining fall tour (details coming soon).

INCOMING: A Night of Funk & Soul at City Winery 7/7 (all ages)

Chi, IL Live Shows on our radar:

The Heard will be joined by The Right Now, The Diplomats of Solid Sound and host DJRC for a night of funk and soul and City Winery on Sunday July 7; 8PM ALL AGES show!

Click here for ChiIL Live Shows original photos of The Heard at Congress Theater.

http://theheardfunk.com/

http://youtu.be/lf6dvQ88J5k

INCOMING: Cellist Ian Maksin, Flamenco & Las Guitarras de Espana at City Winery June 21 #multicultural

Shows on our radar:

Russian-born/Chicago-based cellist Ian Maksin will join Las Guitarras de Espana for an evening of flamenco, world music, Spanish folk and classical music at City Winery on Friday, June 21.   Click here for advanced tickets. 

After individual sold-out debuts at Chicago's hottest new live music venue, cellist Ian Maksin and Las Guitarras de Espana will be returning to City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., on Friday, June 21st with a brand new collaborative project. Showtime is 8PM; doors open at 6PM; tickets are $20. 

Las Guitarras de Espana will present a brand new program, a unique fusion of classical, flamenco and world music unified by Ian Maksin's cello playing. The performances will range from intimate solos by Maksin and small duo and trio numbers to the culminating set by a full 10-piece band, including flamenco dancer Wendy Clinard and Senegalese tama ("talking drum") player Mamadou Diop. In addition to original compositions and traditional folk songs from Spain and Cuba, Maksin and Las Guitarras will perform some of their own renditions of works by such classical composers as Granados, Albeniz and de Falla. 

In an addition to having an international career as a classical musician, Ian Maksin is one of the few contemporary cellists performing flamenco and world music. He performs over 100 concerts annually in the USA and Europe, and his performances have been broadcast on NPR and PBS. In 2012 the Chicago Symphony Orchestra named him "Citizen Musician" for his contribution to the city's musical life. Maksin has performed and recorded with such artists as Andrea Bocelli, Sting, and Gloria Estefan.

Las Guitarras de Espana (The Guitars of Spain) is a "world music" ensemble, with a "Spanish guitar twist," that performs a fusion of Cuban son, rumba, R&B, Latin-jazz, blues and African percussion with an underlying flamenco music and dance focus. From the start, the ensemble has presented traditional Spanish guitar music along with traditional flamenco forms in collaboration with music and musicians from other genres and cultures. The ensemble has sought to unite music, dance, travel, poetry, and culture in recordings and performances.

Additional artist information is available here:

http://www.ianmaksin.com/fr_home.cfm

http://www.lasguitarrasrocks.com/

INCOMING: Las Guitarras TONIGHT at City Winery and More

Chi, IL Live Shows on Our Radar for the End of March



TONIGHT--CITY WINERY:

Chicago’s Las Guitarras de Espana will be playing City Winery on Thursday, March 21.

6pm doors/8pm start

all ages
$15-$20

This performance, with opening act Los Hombres Perdidos, will feature traditional and newly composed pieces with elements of Cuban, Indian and Spanish music as well as flamenco dance. Guest artists will include Sara Ranganthan (Indian veena), Wendy Clinard (flamenco dancer) and Andrew Bird collaborator Colin Bunn (Tres guitar).

Click here for tickets and show details.

http://www.lasguitarrasrocks.com/

http://www.carlobasilespanishguitarist.com/#!/home

HARD ROCK CAFE:

Common Shiner will share a bill with Cobalt & the Hired Guns, A Band Called Catch and The Empty Pockets at Hard Rock Café on Friday, April 12.   Show starts at 8:30pm.

Click here for more info and their full line up of shows. 





METRO: 

Jackpot Donnie will celebrate the release of their new EP, Mayday!, with a show at Metro on Friday, March 29. The band will be direct support for The Future Laureates and Molehill and The Scissors will open the show. (18+) $14 advance tickets.   Show starts at 8:30/8pm doors. 

Click here for tickets and full schedule. 



House of Blues:  
Badfish 

Saturday, March 30th  

We've shot this Sublime cover band numerous times, and their live shows are a rockin' good time.   Highly recommended!   Check back with ChiIL Live shows like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often.   We'll have a big photo and video feature on Badfish from their last Chicago appearance at Cubby Bear (including an on stage wedding proposal!!) before the 3/30 show.

Click here for HOB show details

ACT OUT: Circus acts, book, wine and talk at City Winery!

ChiIL Live Shows will be there... will you?   We're presently working out the details, but we hope to review and run a book giveaway for our readers as well!      

Of course, if you follow us much, you know we cover the local and international circus community thoroughly here at ChiIL Live Shows and our family friendly site, ChiIL Mama.   We've done multiple features on CircEsteem, Aloft, 500 Clown and major touring acts like Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Eloise, Cirque Shanghai, Ringling Brothers, and many more as well.   In fact, my own kids who will soon be 10 & 12, have been studying circus arts for close to 3 years now and perform with CircEsteem.

We plan to shoot stills on Monday and will have a photo filled recap up shortly.  As always, nothing compares to being there.   So what are you waiting for.   Get your tickets today.

Think you know the circus? Think again. Whether it's your first time in a long time, you're a fan, or a successful circus professional, come out to celebrate the diversity & artistry of today's circus. Join us on March 11 at City Winery for Circus Now: anevening celebrating contemporary American circus and the recently released book The Ordinary Acrobat, hosted by Duncan Wall with presentations and performances from the Chicago circus community.     Join CircEsteem's Executive Director Maribeth Joy as she presents on how CircEsteem uses circus as a tool for social change.  Also performing will be CircEsteem juggling instructor, Brian Dailey and CircEsteem graduate Will McGowan. Featuring presenations by:   Maribeth Joy, Executive Director, CircEsteem      Shayna Swanson, Artistic Director, Aloft Loft Adrian Danzig, Artistic Director, 500 Clown       Joe Yonek, Director, Divine Flight Chicago AcroYoga  Matt Roben, Professional circus performer    7pm Start Time! Tickets: $10 tickets sold online, at box office, and at the door by City Winery.