CITY WINERY CHICAGO ANNOUNCES ERIC ROBERSON, VAN HUNT, NANCY AND BETH AND MORE ON SALE THURSDAY, JANUARY 17th

 ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

CITY WINERY CHICAGO ANNOUNCES 

GRAMMY-NOMINATED ERIC ROBERSON RETURNS, R&B ARTIST VAN HUNT, AND MEGAN MULLALLY AND STEPHANIE HUNT PERFORM AS NANCY AND BETH

PLUS: ULTIMATE FLEETWOOD MAC COVER BAND TUSK, WORLD MUSIC ENSEMBLE FUNKADESI, CHICAGO-BASED STORYTELLERS WITH TEN-PIECE BAND STORY JAM AND GRAMMY-NOMINATED TRUMPETER AND SINGER VICTOR GARCIA

PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE THURSDAY, JANUARY 17; ON-SALE NOW TO VINOFILE™ MEMBERS

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

City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph Street, announces the return of Grammy-nominated independent R&B artist Eric Roberson and more. The following shows go on sale to the public on Thursday, January 17 at noon. All tickets will be available at citywinery.com/chicago.

Chase the winter blues away with a host of wonderful concerts on tap at City Winery Chicago. I'll be out in person to cover Paris Combo and Rachael Yamagata this month for ChiILLiveShows.com. Check back soon for my full review. 

New Shows On Sale 1/17/19:

Victor Garcia
Tuesday, February 19
$12/$15/$18/$22

Grammy-nominated musician Victor Garcia is best-known for his extraordinary trumpet talent. Beyond this, he sings and plays percussion, bass, and congas. His songwriting, arrangements and charts have led him to professorial positions at Roosevelt University, Loyola University, and the University of Illinois in Chicago. As a young talent, he has performed with some of the greats including Aretha Franklin, Arturo Sandoval, the Temptations, and more. Garcia has recorded on dozens of albums, three of them Grammy-nominated. He released his debut album, The Grind/The Groove, in 2018.


Funkadesi 
Sunday, February 24; 7:30 p.m.
$15/$18/$22/$25

Chicago’s high energy World Music funk party band Funkadesi returns to City Winery. The ensemble blends their unique signature Indian styles — bhangra, Bollywood, Indian folk — with reggae, funk, and Afro-Caribbean grooves. The six-time winner of The Chicago Music Awards, Funkadesi has been lauded by critics and fans alike, even catching the attention of President Obama who noted, “Funkadesi really knows how to get a crowd going.” Expect a mix of lush ambient sounds, paired with the band’s signature diverse dance tunes.


Van Hunt
Tuesday, March 26
$18/$20/$22/$25

Van Hunt, a Dayton, Ohio-born musician, made his way to Atlanta where he drew acclaim for his production efforts and crafty songwriting, featured on recordings by such diverse artists as Dionne Farris, Rahsaan Patterson, and Cree Summer as well as the platinum-selling soundtrack, Love Jones. His own self-titled debut album arrived in 2004, instantly establishing Hunt as a distinctive and original talent with its idiosyncratic melding of R&B, soul, funk, pop, and rock ‘n’ roll. Hunt received a 2005 “Best Urban/Alternative Performance” Grammy nomination for his breakthrough hit single Dust that was featured on his debut album. Hunt has released four other studio albums since, some of which reaching Billboard’s Top 50 R&B/Hip hop and Heat Seekers charts, as well as “The Best Albums of 2011” by The New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, and a league of other music publications.

Story Jam
Sunday, April 7; 12 p.m.
GA $18 advanced seating/$22 day of show, plus $20 brunch buffet option

Story Jam is an exciting music-lit show that features Chicago's top storytellers, original songs written for each story, and a ten-piece band. The personal stories represent a range of cultural, racial, and individual experiences; and the band is comprised of some of Chicago's best musicians. Stephanie Rogers is producer-songwriter.

Tusk - The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Experience 
Sunday, April 7 
$32/$35/$38/$45

Tusk covers all the great hits of Fleetwood Mac, which has featured the talents of Mick Fleetwood, Christine and John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks and others over the years. The five seasoned, well-respected musicians comprising Tusk have been making music together in various combinations and styles, in original outfits and in cover bands, for over twenty-five years.


Eric Roberson 
Thursday-Saturday, April 25-27
$45/$48/$55/$58

Independent rhythm and blues/soul singer-songwriter Eric Roberson (Erro to his family and friends) is the first independent artist to be nominated for a BET Award in 2007 and has subsequently been nominated for two Grammys under Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the songs “A Tale of Two” and “Still,” both from his critically acclaimed album, Music Fan First.


Nancy and Beth
Monday-Tuesday, May 6-7
$40/$45/$50/$55

Emmy® Award winning actress Megan Mullally of “Children's Hospital,” “Party Down” and “Will & Grace” met fellow actress Stephanie Hunt (“Friday Night Lights,” “Californication”) while in Austin filming the independent movie Somebody Up There Likes Me. The minute the two started singing together they realized they had something special...and those that have come out to see their band, Nancy and Beth, agree! Within just three months of its inception in 2012, N&B had already played such fabulous venues as Royce Hall in Los Angeles and been featured as a musical guest on Conan.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on January 17 at noon. Only members of City Winery Chicago’s signature VinoFile™ program have access to ticket sales today 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.

Victor Garcia, Funkadesi, Van Hunt, Story Jam, Tusk, Eric Roberson and Nancy and Beth 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: Steve Earle (Jan. 15); EagleMania(Jan. 16); Paris Combo (Jan. 17); Skylar Grey (Jan. 18); Melanie Fiona (Jan. 19, 7 & 10p); GMiV plays The Beatles with Strings  (Jan. 20, 12p); Jodee Lewis & Jonas Friddle (Jan. 20, 7p); Let Freedom Ring, Chicago! (Jan. 21, 7:30p); The Hot Sardines (Jan. 23); Randy Bachman (Jan. 24-25); Chicago Philharmonic Sunday Brunch Series (Jan. 27, 12p);Susan Werner (Jan. 27); Trey McLaughlin & The Sounds of Zamar (Jan. 28, 7p); Rachael Yamagata with Radnor & Lee (Jan. 29-30); Alejandro Escovedo with Don Antonio Band  (Jan. 31-Feb. 2); Langston Hughes Birthday Celebration (Feb. 3); Ms. Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton (Feb. 4-5); Marcus Johnson with Kathy Kosins (Feb. 6); Marc Roberge of O.A.R. (Feb. 8, 7 & 10 p); Anders Osborne (Feb. 9, 7 & 10p); Fox Crossing String Band (Feb. 10, 12p); Anita Wilson with Dante Hall (Feb. 10, 7p); Ruen Brothers (Feb. 11);Hudson Taylor (Feb. 12); Patrizio Buanne (Feb. 13); 10,000 Maniacs (Feb. 14-16); Chicago Philharmonic Sunday Brunch Series (Feb. 17, 12p); Kandace Springs (Feb. 17);Donavon Frankenreiter (Feb. 18, 6:30 & 9p); Procol Harum (Feb. 20-21); Bobby McFerrin & Gimme 5 (Feb. 22-23, 7 & 10p); The Four C Notes (Feb. 24, 2:30p); Steve Earle(Feb. 25-26); Ann Hampton Callaway (Feb. 27); We Banjo 3 (Mar. 1); JD Souther & Karla Bonoff (Mar. 3, 5 & 8p); Aaron Neville (Mar. 4-5); The Ides of March (Mar. 6); Kasim Sulton's Utopia (Mar. 7);  Ron Pope with Caroline Spence (Mar. 8); Ron Pope with Emily Scott Robinson (Mar. 9); Chicago Tap Theatre (Mar. 10, 3 & 7p); Luther Dickinson, Amy Helm & Birds of Chicago (Mar. 11); The High Kings (Mar. 12-13); Eilen Jewell (Mar. 15); Los Lonely Boys (Mar. 16-17); Michael Smerconish: (Mar. 17, 2p); Chris Diffordwith Steve Smith (Mar. 18); Christopher Cross (Mar. 19-20); The Subdudes (Mar. 21-22); Idan Raichel (Mar.23); Freddy Jones Band (Mar. 24); Eighth Blackbird (Mar. 25, 7p);The Tim O’Brien Band (Mar. 27); The Verve Pipe (Mar. 29); Will Downing (Mar. 30-31); David Archuleta (Apr. 2); Tommy Castro & the Painkillers (Apr. 4); Cyrille Aimée (Apr. 5); Willie Nile (Apr. 6); John Parr (Apr. 10); Martin Sexton (Apr. 12-13); Journeyman - A Tribute to Eric Clapton (Apr. 14, 7p); Graham Parker with Adam Ezra (Apr. 18);Carbon Leaf (Apr. 19); Dave Davies (Apr. 21); Chicago Philharmonic Sunday Brunch Series (Apr. 28, 12p); The Spring Quartet (May 1, 2p); Herb Alpert & Lani Hall (May 4-5); and David Bromberg Quintet (May 15).

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. The West Loop’s only fully operational 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.

INCOMING: Paris Combo To Play City Winery Chicago 01/17/2019

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

Swing Français Live and Remixed: 

Paris Combo 

Comes Back to the US for a Tour and with a Red-Hot Remix Album

Called “marvelously eclectic” by the LA Times, Paris Combo are returning to the US for their 20th tour in January 2019. The musically devious Parisians will be showcasing songs from their latest studio release Tako Tsubo, as well as favorites from their previous six albums, and their set will once again highlight their signature blend of swinging gypsy jazz, cabaret, French pop, Latin and Middle Eastern rhythms.

Featuring the vocals of charismatic chanteuse Belle du Berry, the line-up also includes founder-members, the Django-influenced guitarist Potzi, Australian-born trumpeter & pianist David Lewis, drummer-crooner François Jeannin, as well as virtuoso bassist, Benoit Dunoyer de Ségonzac. They are also joined by Rémy Kapriélan on percussion, vocals and sax for some dates.

Paris Combo's musical roots run deep and varied – Belle du Berry began her musical career in post-punk bands of the late eighties but also cites influences such as Arletty, the French singer-actress of the ’30s, the Surrealists and a panoply of more recent artists including the B-52’s. Potzi’s guitar has multiple influences including Django Reinhardt and his own North African heritage and this, along with François’ ska or Latin grooves creates a fascinating, toe-tapping blend.

Lewis, who previously played with a wide variety of Paris-based bands including Manu Dibango and Arthur H, attributes the group’s approach to Paris’ cosmopolitan atmosphere. Belle, Potzi and François first performed together in Paris as members of a quirky retro revue, “Les Champêtres de Joie” which went on to collaborate at the closing ceremony of the Albertville Winter Olympic Games in 1992. Du Berry and David Lewis met while performing together at the “Cabaret Sauvage” revue and in 1995 the group began to hone their sound playing in cafés and barges along the Seine under the name Paris Combo.

Paris Combo’s eponymous 1997 debut disc arrived as the swing revival was in full bloom, yet the band’s wide-ranging mix of musical influences instantly set them apart from other groups in the genre, winning critical praise and appealing to international audiences.

The mainstream success of their second album Living Room (1999) gave the group unique status as a French indie band capable of drawing crowds not only in France, where the album went gold, but also in Australia and the USA where they performed their songs – always in their native French - to growing audiences, culminating in 2004-5 with three concerts at the Hollywood Bowl.

Returning to performing in 2011 after a five-year hiatus, the group made their US comeback, again at the Hollywood Bowl with symphony orchestra, and went on to release their fifth album, simply entitled 5 on DRG Records.  Media response was enthusiastic and in 2013-14, they sold out venues across the country with their first US tours in a decade and a triumphant return to Australia in 2015. 

Following the 2017 release of their sixth album Tako Tsubo in the US on the DRG/eOne label, the group successfully toured the US, Australia / New Zealand and Europe. On their new record, the chanteuse Belle du Berry leads us through a deliciously varied collection of musical atmospheres, ranging from the intimacy of the live combo to more lush orchestral settings and beautiful 60's retro à la Bacharach with near-psychedelic overtones. The lyrical leitmotif of the album - suggested by the song titles, “Mon Anatomie,” “Spécimen,” “Anémiques Maracas,” “ID d'Heidi,” “Profil” - is the human physique and the way our emotional and physical beings interact. “Tako Tsubo,” the lounge-tinged title track, is inspired by a rare condition known also as “broken-heart syndrome." (Thank goodness Paris Combo have the cure!) Songwriter Belle du Berry indeed sees the human body as kind of « machine », capable of feeling, permuting and expressing an infinite gamut of emotions.

In April 2018 they released Remixed, an original collection remixes of their songs by some of France's most inspired DJ's to coincide with an electrifying, celebratory show at La Cigale in Paris. “After releasing 5 and Tako Tsubo, we gave some of our songs to remixers in our immediate entourage, giving them carte blanche so they could reinterpret them, and in particular, our best-known song “Living Room,” says David Lewis. “We loved the result.”  Fans are sure to feel the same.

01/17/2019 - City Winery Chicago, Chicago, IL at 8:00 pm

Ticket Purchasing or by Phone: (312) 733-9463

Ticket Price(s):
$35-$48

Venue:
City Winery Chicago 1200 W Randolph Street

Concert Start Time: 8:00 pm/ Doors Open: 6:00 pm