Julia Bullock, Seth Parker Woods and Conor Hanick/Photos: Allison Michael Orenstein, Ben Gibbs, Laura Desberg

1
Tomorrow Never Knows Fest 2026
(Multiple venues)
The festival designed to showcase up-and-coming local acts during the cold of January reaches its twentieth edition, with a handful of bigger indie bands like Diiv, Real Estate and Why? sprinkled in the lineup.
January 8-31

2
Mavis Staples
(Chicago Theatre)
The doyenne of Chicago music brings gospel greatness right there to State Street.
January 10

3
Don Was & The Pan-Detroit Ensemble
(Garcia’s Chicago)
The multi-hyphenate musician’s sound with The Pan-Detroit Ensemble is a mix of jazz, funk and world music. The project is an homage to his native city of Detroit.
January 25

4
Julia Bullock and Seth Parker Woods with Conor Hanick
(Logan Center)
Three classical music innovators collaborate on the program “From Ordinary Things,” featuring works by Maurice Ravel, Nina Simone and George Gershwin, among others.
January 18

5
Richard Lloyd Group
(The Hideout)
The founding member of Television was Tom Verlaine’s counterpart on the landmark album “Marquee Moon,” which blew open the doors on punk guitar conventions.
January 15