Live Reviews

A man wearing glasses, a dark beret, a gray hoodie, and a patterned vest sits outdoors on a stone ledge, looking at the camera with a calm expression. The background is blurred and neutral.

by Irene Monokandilos | March 24, 2026

Shabaka Brings Meditative Sound to Constellation The musician who helped define a wave of British jazz performs at a venue known for nurturing experimental music.

A woman with long reddish hair stands against a dark brown background, holding and playing a banjo. She wears a dark, patterned dress and looks confidently at the camera.

by David Witter | March 12, 2026

Rhiannon Giddens Brings the Silkroad Ensemble to the Harris Theater Giddens is the artistic director of the group founded by Yo-Yo Ma, which performs folk musical traditions from all over the world.

A split image of two women: on the left, a woman in a dark jacket and red-tinted sunglasses against a black background; on the right, a woman with long braided hair in a floral jacket against a light background.

by Irene Monokandilos | March 11, 2026

Symphony Center Loosens Its Collar: Nubya Garcia and Somi Bend Tradition in Chicago Garcia arrives as a defining voice of London’s future-facing jazz movement, while Somi has built her career bridging continents and customs.

A person with long dark hair lies on their side on a dark beach at night, head resting on the sand, with gentle waves and water visible in the background.

by Teddy Sandler | March 10, 2026

Malibu Brings Her Ethereal Sound to Sleeping Village Ambient French musician Barbara Braccini has the genius to turn a melody into a story and a feeling into a sound.

A young man with light skin and brown hair, wearing a dark suit and black shirt, stands against a dark background, smiling slightly and facing the camera.

by Dennis Polkow | March 3, 2026

Blooming Sounds: Classical Music Picks for Spring What to see and hear in Chicago's classical music world as winter ends and the new season begins.

A dimly lit lounge with blue and pink lighting, featuring a long bench along the windows and a wall with a black-and-white checkered pattern and neon reflections.

by Teddy Sandler | February 26, 2026

Electronic Wizards Bring “A Strange Party” to Smartbar Skee Mask, Max Watts and Leesh are among the headliners in this showcase of storied musicians from the electronic dance community.

Three people sit on a bench against a brick wall. The person on the left wears a dark jacket, white shirt, and sunglasses. The person in the middle adjusts sunglasses. The person on the right wears a plaid shirt and sunglasses.

by Dylan Weinert | February 24, 2026

Dance Yourself Clean with LCD Soundsystem Under a Starry Ballroom Ceiling With a new album slowly taking shape, James Murphy and company return to the historic Aragon for another four-night stand.

A woman wearing glasses sings passionately into a microphone on stage, holding one hand up. She is dressed in black, with stage lights and a dark background behind her.

by David Witter | February 19, 2026

Alyssa Allgood Takes the Leap as a Jazz Vocalist and Composer The Chicago jazz multihyphenate recently released a new EP, and will perform interpretations of Beatles songs at Winter's Jazz Club soon.

A conductor leads a small orchestra of musicians playing various string and wind instruments on a dimly lit stage with blue curtains in the background.

by Teddy Sandler | February 17, 2026

Frequency Festival Returns with Six Nights of Experimental Sound From a percussion masterclass to speculative opera, expect a citywide program of new music, electronics and genre-defying performance.

Four adults with long hair and tattoos stand side by side against a dark background. The image has a strong red overlay, obscuring some facial details and creating a dramatic effect.

by Craig Bechtel | February 12, 2026

Power Pop Band Time Thieves Are Not Stealing Time, But Earning Listener Ears The band is combining two recent EPs into one LP, released on vinyl for the first time this month. They'll celebrate the album with a show at the Empty Bottle.