Evanston

Evanston SPACE anchors the local scene: a nationally known intimate venue at 1245 Chicago Ave. that hosts major touring performers and local talent alike. The 250-capacity room offers top-tier sound and lights, and has put acts like Alabama Shakes, Brandi Carlile, Gary Clark Jr., Dr. John, and Richard Thompson on its stage. When a touring artist outgrows SPACE, Cahn Auditorium on the Northwestern University campus steps in, the university's largest performance space, with more than 1,000 seats and an orchestra pit. Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, also on the Northwestern campus, serves the university's music school programming. Prairie Moon runs live jazz every Wednesday from 9–11 pm in partnership with Chicago's Fulton Street Collective, with a monthly jazz jam session led by Clark Sommers on the first Thursday. Blue Horse Tavern, a casual American neighborhood bar downtown, has hosted free live music through the Encore! Evanston program, a collaboration between the nonprofit music incubator Likhaya and Downtown Evanston. Summers bring the free outdoor Evanston Starlight / Downtown Summer Sounds series at Fountain Square, running Thursday evenings from July through September with local and regional bands. Double Clutch Brewing Company, Nichols Concert Hall, and Studio5 round out the lineup.

Venues9

Blue Horse Tavern1026 Davis St B, Evanston
Cahn Auditorium600 Emerson St, Evanston
Double Clutch Brewing Company2121 Ashland Ave, Evanston
Evanston SPACE1245 Chicago Ave
Evanston Starlight Concerts1243 Chicago Ave, Evanston
Nichols Concert Hall1490 Chicago Ave, Evanston
Pick-Staiger Concert Hall50 Arts Cir Dr, Evanston
Prairie Moon1635 Chicago Ave, Evanston
Studio51934 Dempster St

Evanston

Venues9

Upcoming shows119

Tomorrow · Wednesday, September 2 · 1 show

Antibalas welcomed by CHIRP Radio

Thursday, September 3 · 1 show

Corky Siegel, Ernie Watts, Kalyan Pathak - TRIO

Friday, September 4 · 1 show

John Primer and Friends Tribute to Theresa's Lounge

Saturday, September 5 · 2 shows

Le Bespoke Drag Show

Evanston Folk Festival Labor Day Party

Sunday, September 6 · 3 shows

R.I.Y.L. LIVE! w. Adam Voith in conversation with Josh Terry

Oldies but Goodies: Labor Day Patio Party w. DJ Corey Bless

Last day of Summer Session private instruction (Summer 2026)

Tuesday, September 8 · 2 shows

Nduduzo Makhathini

Fall Semester/Private Instruction Begins (17 weeks)

Wednesday, September 9 · 1 show

Mr. Chair

Thursday, September 10 · 1 show

Rainbow Girls w. Jordan Smart

Friday, September 11 · 2 shows

Punch Brothers

Coat of Many Colors: LGBTQIA+ Songwriter's Circle: Evanston Folk Festival Aftershow presented by Bluegrass Situation

Saturday, September 12 · 2 shows

Evanston Folk Festival 2026 - SATURDAY

Hurray for the Riff Raff w. Free Range: Evanston Folk Festival Aftershow presented by Bluegrass Situation

Sunday, September 13 · 3 shows

Fred Armisen: Comedy For Musicians But Everyone Is Welcome

Evanston Folk Festival 2026 - SUNDAY

A Tribute to John Prine's Bruised Orange: Evanston Folk Festival Aftershow presented by Bluegrass Situation

Monday, September 14 · 1 show

Dominique Fils-Aimé

Tuesday, September 15 · 1 show

The 24th Annual Chicago Gypsy Jazz Fest

Wednesday, September 16 · 1 show

Melvin Taylor

Thursday, September 17 · 1 show

Reggae Tribute with The Urban Roots Band

Friday, September 18 · 1 show

Somi

Saturday, September 19 · 2 shows

BAILEN - SWIM!!! At Your Own Risk Tour w. Lucy Clearwater

Nichols Concert Hall presents: Formosa Quartet

Sunday, September 20 · 1 show

Candi Jenkins w. Sparkle Carcass

Monday, September 21 · 2 shows

The Shotgun Start

Fall group classes & ensembles begin

Tuesday, September 22 · 1 show

Jason Ricci & The Bad Kind

Wednesday, September 23 · 1 show

SOLD OUT - Son Volt

Thursday, September 24 · 1 show

SOLD OUT - Son Volt

Friday, September 25 · 1 show

Devon Gilfillian – Time Will Tell Tour w. Jon Muq

Saturday, September 26 · 2 shows

Alicia Witt: Album Release Show - Between Heaven and Earth (and David Lynch)

World Class Music Live presents: Rumbo Tumba

Sunday, September 27 · 1 show

An Evening of Simon & Garfunkel with Phil Angotti & Tommi Zender

Monday, September 28 · 1 show

Blue Monday: Fernando Jones & My Band! w. Felton Crews and Patrick McFowler ft. 2 of Fernando's star blues students

Tuesday, September 29 · 1 show

Sunny War

Wednesday, September 30 · 1 show

Ella Boh - Blurry Tour w. Psylosia

Friday, October 2 · 2 shows

MARO

The Glorious Musical Jewels of Beethoven and Schubert

Saturday, October 3 · 2 shows

Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers

Amélie Farren, Lilith Max, Rabbitology - The Three Wishes Tour

Sunday, October 4 · 2 shows

Cactus and Canyons: A Tribute to the Sun-Drenched Country-Rock of Laurel Canyon

Suzuki Sunday Informal jamborees

Monday, October 5 · 1 show