Arts & Entertainment
Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for Nov. 5-11
Tortoise (Credit: Heather Cantrell)
Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.
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Wednesday, Nov. 5:
Little Simz, La Reezy at Salt Shed. Tickets.
This U.K. rapper boasts a critically acclaimed, adventurous and danceable catalog.
Kaytranada, Justice, Sam Gellaitry at United Center. Tickets.
Want to dance? You’ll find few better options than this stacked arena show.
Clarissa Connelly at Constellation. Sold out.
A Scotland-born, Denmark-raised cellist makes goosebump-inducing music full of challenging and cathartic compositions.
Cindy Lee, Freak Heat Waves, Accessory XL at the Empty Bottle. Sold out.
The hardest ticket in town this weekend is this breakout indie star.
Thursday, Nov. 6:
Dogs in a Pile at Garcia’s. Tickets.
Is this New Jersey group named after a Grateful Dead lyric the next breakout jam band? Find out at their November West Loop residency.
Kurt Vile and Terry Allen at Old Town School of Folk. Sold out.
A cross-generational collaboration between two acclaimed songwriters. The first of three shows.
Soul Glo, Stress Positions, Consensus Madness at Empty Bottle. Sold out.
This month, the Empty Bottle is celebrating its 33rd and 1/3rd birthday with a packed slate of massive shows, including one headlined by a beloved hardcore outfit.
Friday, Nov. 7:
Patrick Shiroishi, M. Sage at Constellation. Tickets.
Combining metal, jazz, ambient, punk and more is this excellent experimental composer.
S.G. Goodman, Fust at Lincoln Hall. Tickets.
Enjoy music at the intersection of country and rock? This is the bill for you.
Kurt Vile and Terry Allen at Old Town School of Folk. Tickets.
A cross-generational collaboration between two acclaimed songwriters. The second of three shows.
Thundercat at Aragon Ballroom. Tickets.
Bass grooves, jazz experimentalism and hip-hop-inflected arrangements in Uptown.
TOLEDO, fanclubwallet at Schubas. Tickets.
This New York City folk duo is as likable as they are talented.
Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band, Tre Burt at Thalia Hall. Tickets.
The veteran folk singer smiles through his shows and always has his audience grinning with him.
The Hoyle Brothers at the Empty Bottle. Free.
One of the city’s longest-running musical residencies finds the local band performing their “Hard Country Honky Tonk” every week early at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 8:
Grizzly Bear at Salt Shed. Tickets.
A New York band that embodied the aughts indie rock explosion’s most avant-garde fringe makes a triumphant return to Chicago. The first of two shows.
Ron Gallo, Santa Chiara at FitzGerald’s. Tickets.
This rocker hits the ’burbs for a stripped-down acoustic concert.
Klark Sound and Tony Aparo at Judson and Moore. Tickets.
Members of the folk band Improvement Movement team up for a night of golden harmonies and pastoral arrangements in Avondale.
Vivian Girls, Skip Church at Empty Bottle. Sold out.
This month, the Empty Bottle is celebrating its 33rd and 1/3rd birthday with a packed slate of massive shows, including one headlined by a long-running indie rock trio.
Kurt Vile and Terry Allen at Old Town School of Folk. Tickets.
A cross-generational collaboration between two acclaimed songwriters. The third of three shows.
Sunday, Nov. 9:
Grizzly Bear at Salt Shed. Tickets.
A New York band that embodied the aughts indie rock explosion’s most avant-garde fringe makes a triumphant return to Chicago. The second of two shows.
Jens Lekman, Yeemz at Lincoln Hall. Tickets.
This charming Swedish songwriter is a hilarious and compelling storyteller.
Boris at Metro. Tickets.
An iconic Japanese metal band celebrates 20 years of their landmark LP “Pink.”
Beach Fossils, Being Dead at Thalia Hall. Tickets.
A New York indie rock outfit teams up with one from Texas.
Thrice, Modern Color, Downward at House of Blues. Tickets.
See why this ambitious and shapeshifting rock band has so much longevity.
Jessica Mindrum, Bob Nanna, Sam Woodring, Krill 2 at Color Club. Tickets.
An eclectic mix of local songwriters.
Font, Heathers, Uniflora at the Hideout. Tickets.
A night of rock music at one of the city’s coziest venues. What more can you ask for?
ESG, Clickbait, The Lipschitz at Empty Bottle. Sold out.
This month, the Empty Bottle is celebrating its 33rd and 1/3rd birthday with a packed slate of massive shows, including one headlined by a pioneering No Wave group.
Monday, Nov. 10:
Deeper, Stuck, The Knees at the Empty Bottle. Free.
This month, the Empty Bottle is celebrating its 33rd and 1/3rd birthday with a packed slate of massive shows, including a bill headlined by one of the city’s best post-punk bands.
Tuesday, Nov. 11:
Tortoise with the Chicago Philharmonic at Auditorium Theatre. Tickets.
Chicago’s most influential post-rock outfit teams up with an orchestra.
WTTW News arts coverage is supported by the JCS Arts, Health & Education Fund of the DuPage Foundation.
