Next upMusic
Mindy Smith w. Whitney Mongé
Folk
SPACEin 31 minWed 5 Aug, 19:00
51Rising
A 4.7-star venue.
Typically updated 56 min ago
What's on this week in Evanston
The next seven days in Evanston, one ranked column of where to be.
Nothing hot enough to call trending in Evanston right now, so here is everything, soonest first.
Plan my place to be
Tell me the vibe. I build a plan from what is actually hot in Evanston right now.
Also on the radar9
MusicTomorrowBill Kirchen
SPACE
Bill Kirchens five-decade career is the kind built on being in the right rooms at the right momentsand knowing exactly what to do once there. From his early days in Ann Arbor, sharing a high-school talent show with a future Iggy Pop, to helping define Americana as a founding member of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, Kirchen has consistently been at the forefront of American roots music. Along the way, hes collaborated and toured with an extraordinary circle of artists, including Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello, and earned accolades ranging from a Top-10 hit with Hot Rod Lincoln to a Grammy nomination. His distinctive dieselbilly stylean effortless blend of rockabilly, country, western swing, honky-tonk, jump blues, and morereflects both his deep musical curiosity and his knack for synthesis. That versatility is captured in The Proper Years, a retrospective drawing from his Proper Records albums Hammer of the Honky-Tonk Gods, Word to the Wise, and Seeds and Stems, plus bonus tracks from his collaboration with Austin de Lone. The collection highlights Kirchens balance of wit and heart: humorous, double-entendre-laced songwriting sits comfortably alongside songs of real emotional weight, often pairing bittersweet lyrics with jaunty melodies. A master of tasteful restraint, Kirchen favors finesse over flash, a sensibility shaped by early exposure to orchestral music, folk traditions, and the pure, resonant sound of an undistorted guitarmost famously his Telecaster, which he calls the bicycle of the electric guitar. Just as important as the music are the relationships behind it. Longtime collaborators like de Lone, Lowe, Costello, Maria Muldaur, Dan Hicks, and others form a through-line in Kirchens story, one marked by mutual respect, shared history, and genuine affection. From witnessing Bob Dylan go electric at Newport to sharing bills with John Lennon and Stevie Wonder, Kirchens journey reads like a guided tour through modern American music history. Now, as The Proper Years puts a bow on a particularly fruitful chapter, Kirchen remains characteristically upbeat and forward-lookingstill touring, still writing, and still clearly enjoying the ride.
- Musicin 2 days
Sons of the Never Wrong
SPACE
Sons of the Never Wrong is a turbo-charged Alt folk trio from Chicago that delivers witty, whimsical songs with their signature soaring vocal harmonies and gorgeous arrangements. Bruce Roper, Sue Demel and Deborah Lader come together to create wildly original music that combines influences of folk, Americana, jazz, pop and rock to express themes that range from love theatre for the ears on each of their 11 studio albums.Heres what others have to say about the Sons -Their vocals lean on jazzy syncopation counterpoint and their lyrics are even more willing to cross from realism to surrealism. ~ Washington PostOne song and youre a fan for life. ~ Hemmens TheaterThis trio has become one of folk musics most unique ~ Grand Rapids PressOne of the best folk bands of our time out pushing the envelope once again with some of the most literate, provocative lyrics around. ~ Midwest RecordThe Sons have revolutionized the world of folk. ~ UniverCity MagazineFolk Music Reinvented: Sons keep pushing the genre forward. ~ Southwestern Observer
Musicin 3 daysSpace’s Summer Patio Series: The Steps Trio
SPACE
Join us this summer as we take advantage of the warmer weather and offer a FREE series of live music on our patio - afternoon jazz, grooves and more. Music will start at 4pm each evening, Union will be open to serve up pizza starting at 4:30pm, and well have drink specials flowing! So come on by and check one (or all of them) out.__________STEPS Trio is a Chicago-based funk fusion band known for their high energy, technical mastery and soulful improv. Blending funk, blues, and experimental with influences/styles like George Benson, James brown, Pat Martino and The Meters. STEPS creates a sound that connects with audiences through raw emotion, and high energy performances in a uniquely distinctive way. Since forming in 2024, STEPS has performed at local venues and events throughout the Midwest while building a growing following online and through live performances. STEPS combines hard grooves, soulful improv, creative composition, with an engaging live show designed to leave a lasting impression on audiences.
Musicin 3 daysOliver Hazard w. Carriers
SPACE
The story of Waterville, OH indie-folk trio Oliver Hazard - Michael Belazis (vocals, guitar) and Devin East (vocals, guitar), joined by Nate Miner (keys, vocals)is a modern take on classic band mythmaking. One member returned home to Ohio after leading camping trips in California and decided to make an album with two childhood friends. They won a Facebook raffle to record one song at a studiobut instead, they played their entire album straight through in a single take, resulting in their 2018 debut LP, 34 N River. The album was hailed as a folk-pop masterpiece by The Fader, and soon after, the band landed slots at Bonnaroo and Mountain Jam. In 2019, they released their 6-track EP, The Flood, which Billboard described as a souvenir. Their self-titled sophomore album followed in July 2023, incorporating music from their earlier Northern Lights EP along with five new songs. Most recently, they released their Raindrop River EP in December 2024. Oliver Hazards next chapter continues to tell the story of Waterville, Ohioa small town with a big heart. Their music serves as a soundtrack to everyday life, lifting spirits and inviting listeners to find beauty in the ordinary.
Musicin 4 daysSpace’s Summer Patio Series: Guy King
SPACE
Join us this summer as we take advantage of the warmer weather and offer a FREE series of live music on our patio - afternoon jazz, grooves and more. Music will start at 4pm each evening, Union will be open to serve up pizza starting at 4:30pm, and well have drink specials flowing! So come on by and check one (or all of them) out.__________Guy Kings music is fresh and unique while maintaining a strong link to the musical masters that came before him. His natural musical abilities and his one-of- a-kind blend of Blues, Jazz, Soul, Rock and Rs true artistic voice. As a singer, Kings beautiful and soulful voice is a perfect match to his music that cuts straight to the soul, much like his guitar playing. His unique approach to the guitar has been compared to Jazz legend Wes Montgomery and Blues legend Albert King. As he has graced stages around the world, he has captured the attention of fans everywhere.
- Musicin 4 days
Joel Paterson and His Organ Quartet
SPACE
Blues, swing and soul jazz night with guitarist Joel Paterson and His Organ Quartet! Guitar ace Joel Paterson brings his band of Chicagos finest to SPACE for one night only, featuring the dynamic lineup of Ben Paterson on Hammond organ, Natalie Scharf on Saxophone, and Alex Hall on drums.
Musicin 5 daysClinard Dance's Flamenco Quartet Project
SPACE
Creating a mind bending evening of music, percussion and movement where flamenco meets blues, jazz and rap Angela Allen, Chicago Stage and Screen ReviewClinard Dances Flamenco Quartet Project is pleased to return to Space this Summer 2026. The Project uses the history, art and structure of flamenco to create collaborative multidisciplinary compositions that engage audiences and creates community. Since 2021, weve been connecting the flamenco perspective to local artists from jazz, blues, and hip-hop backgrounds. Weve learned that flamenco is a foundation for understanding authentic blues, jazz and spoken word styles and traditions. Featuring jazz vocalist Joan Collaso, rapper King Mossa, flamenco percussionist Diego Alvarez, flamenco singer Cachito Jose Diaz, blues legend Billy Branch, tap artist Jumaane Taylor, guitarist Andrea Salcedo and flamenco dancer Wendy Clinard . To learn more about Clinard Dance visit www.clinardance.org.
Musicin 6 daysDale Watson
SPACE
Dale Watson is a living legend of American roots music. With Texas-sized defiance and drive, hes spent four decades flying the flag for his own brand of honky-tonk, outlaw country, western swing, and rockabilly. That signature sound has a name Ameripolitan and its originator is Watson himself: a singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer, actor, cultural architect, and rule-breaking traditionalist for the modern world, championing the traditions that fly in the face of the homogenous mainstream. With Unwanted, he fires another double-barreled shotgun blast of country twang and honky-tonk bang fueled by the heartaches, hard-won lessons, and high-speed thrills of a life largely logged on the road. Singing with a booming voice that could cut through the chaos of a packed dancehall, Watson runs the show like a roots-rock ringleader. He salutes his vices on the galloping Willie Waylon and Whiskey, reflects upon a lifetime of loss with the gorgeous ballad If You Really Loved Me (Outlive Me), and gets wistfully contemplative on Life is Like a Song. Entirely written and produced by Watson, Unwanted is the sound of an Ameripolitan diehard with plenty of life left in the tank, speeding toward a horizon of his own making.
Trendiness is led by crowd size, then venue quality, ticket demand, category, and cross-source confirmation. We do not sell tickets, so the rank is honest.
Your guide to this week in Evanston
10 spots are on the Place to Be radar this week in Evanston. The hottest is Oliver Hazard w. Carriers at SPACE (rising, 59/100), followed by Chicago Stars FC vs. Bay FC and Dale Watson. The board leans music and sports. Every spot is ranked 0 to 100 by how big the crowd is, and Place to Be does not sell tickets, so the order is honest.
Top spots this week
- 1Oliver Hazard w. Carriers · SPACE · Sat 8 Aug59
- 2Chicago Stars FC vs. Bay FC · Martin Stadium · Sun 9 Aug59
- 3Dale Watson · SPACE · Tue 11 Aug58
- 4Bill Kirchen · SPACE · Thu 6 Aug55
- 5Mindy Smith w. Whitney Mongé · SPACE · Wed 5 Aug51
- 6Sons of the Never Wrong · SPACE · Fri 7 Aug51
Frequently asked
What's on this week in Evanston?
10 spots are on the Place to Be radar this week in Evanston. The biggest are Oliver Hazard w. Carriers at SPACE (59/100), Chicago Stars FC vs. Bay FC at Martin Stadium (59/100), Dale Watson at SPACE (58/100).
What is the biggest event in Evanston this week?
Oliver Hazard w. Carriers at SPACE on Sat 8 Aug. It scores 59 out of 100 on the radar, the rising tier.
What kinds of events does Place to Be track in Evanston?
Right now the Evanston board has 9 music, 1 sports. Everything from arena concerts and league matches to festivals, nightlife and free city moments is on one ranked radar.
How does Place to Be rank events?
Each spot is scored 0 to 100, led by how big the crowd is, then venue quality, ticket demand, category and whether more than one source lists it. Place to Be does not sell tickets, so the ranking is honest and never pay to play.
Do I need an account to see what's on in Evanston?
No. The Evanston radar is free and needs no sign-in. An account only adds saving spots and an optional weekly email of what is heating up in your city.
Refreshed through the day from live sources. 10 spots on the Evanston radar right now.