Arts & Entertainment
Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for May 6-12
Gia Margaret (Graham Tolbert)
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, May 6:
Iron & Wine, Improvement Movement at Thalia Hall. Tickets.
Two generations of folk-rock in Pilsen.
Thursday, May 7:
John Andrews & the Yawns, Smushie, Tobacco City at Color Club. Tickets.
Two of Chicago’s greatest bands open for the New Jersey songwriter.
Liz Cooper, V.V. Lightbody at Empty Bottle. Tickets.
An excellent night of inventive indie rock.
Mac DeMarco, Mock Media at Salt Shed Fairgrounds. Tickets.
The popular and influential indie rock bard plays a massive outdoor show.
Whitney Johnson, Lia Kohl and Macie Stewart, Kari Watson at Constellation. Sold out.
Three of the city’s best instrumentalists and improvisers team up for a collaborative show celebrating their new trio LP.
Friday, May 8:
Sluice, Hiding Places at Schubas. Tickets.
The conversational North Carolina folk rockers enlist the Brooklyn slowcore band with North Carolina roots as openers.
Yumi Zouma, Ducks Ltd. at Outset. Tickets.
Get there early for the energetic jangle pop of the Toronto openers.
Footballhead, Palette Knife, Si Dios Quiere, Excuse Me Who Are You? at Lincoln Hall. Tickets.
These local pop punks headline a stacked bill in Lincoln Park.
Disclosure, Laurence Guy at Salt Shed. Sold out.
Remember the summer of 2013? The first of three shows this U.K. dance duo is performing.
Saturday, May 9:
Cut Worms, Tchotchke at Lincoln Hall. Tickets.
This ‘60s-inspired folk-rocker recorded his latest album with Jeff Tweedy in Chicago.
Lowertown, Villagerrr at Subterranean. Tickets.
Two of the most exciting acts in indie rock join forces in Wicker Park.
The Afghan Whigs, Mercury Rev at Metro. Tickets.
Veteran rock bands known for big artistic swings share the stage in Lakeview.
Disclosure, Mike Dunn at Salt Shed. Sold out.
Remember the summer of 2013? The second of three shows this U.K. dance duo is performing.
Sunday, May 10:
Hannah Frances at Old Town School of Folk Music. Tickets.
This mesmerizing folk songwriter might be based in Vermont but wrote some of her breakthrough records while living in Chicago.
Disclosure, Laurence Guy at Salt Shed. Tickets.
Remember the summer of 2013? The third of three shows this U.K. dance duo is performing.
Monday, May 11:
Tragic Heroine, Thro, Try a Dull Knife at Empty Bottle. Free.
A Free Monday show in Ukrainian Village is never a bad idea.
Melody’s Echo Chamber, Strange Lot at Thalia Hall. Tickets.
For fans of psychedelic pop, the band Broadcast and hypnotically catchy songs.
Tuesday, May 12:
Gia Margaret, Brendan Eder Ensemble at Thalia Hall. Tickets.
This local songwriter is back to singing memorable and cozy folk-pop songs on her latest LP “Singing.”
WTTW News arts coverage is supported by the JCS Arts, Health & Education Fund of the DuPage Foundation.
