Live Acoustic Music Near Waukegan, Illinois

If you've never experienced hearing talented musicians perform in a small, intimate environment, you are in for a treat.

House concerts are a growing trend across the country, where people invite friends and neighbors into their homes for an up-close concert experience. And there are house concerts being held in and around the Waukegan area that you can check out - you just need to contact the host and ask to be invited.

Churches and non-profit community groups around Waukegan host occasional coffeehouses that feature traditional folk musicians and other acoustic artists as a way of bringing the community together. Local libraries also host free concerts that are open to the general public.

In addition, live acoustic music can be heard in several listening rooms and small theaters in and around the Waukegan area. Local restaurants and cafes in the area sometimes host nationally touring musicians as well.

Below you can find a listing of upcoming shows in these smaller venues by nationally and internationally touring artists.

Upcoming Acoustic Shows

March 28
Hey Nonny (Listening Room)
Arlington Heights, IL
March 29
Pat Owen-Leary is a folk and blues singer/songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. Owen-Leary combines the influence of traditional bluegrass, country and Irish folk music with the blues, rock n roll and soul. For more information, visit patowenleary.com
Montrose Saloon (Bar/Nightclub)
Chicago, IL
March 31
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
April 3
FitzGerald's Nightclub (Bar/Nightclub)
Berwyn, IL
April 4
Juliet Lloyd has quickly gained a name for herself as a strikingly accomplished songwriter and no-holds barred performer.
Uncommon Ground (Listening Room)
Chicago, IL
April 5
Molly's House Concert (House Concert)
Lincolnwood, IL
April 5
FitzGerald's Nightclub (Bar/Nightclub)
Berwyn, IL
April 8
Thalia Hall (Small Theater)
Chicago, IL
April 13
Deidre McCalla doesn’t merely take the stage - she owns it. Her songs embody hope and celebration, struggle, loss, and longing. Sometimes all in one song!
St Tim's Coffeehouse (Listening Room)
Skokie, IL
April 14
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
April 17
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
April 18
Old Town School of Folk Music (Small Theater)
Chicago, IL
April 19
"Devastatingly beautiful" Minnesota-based singer-songwriter-guitarist David Singley captures emotional honesty in well-crafted songs.
Uncommon Ground (Listening Room)
Chicago, IL
April 19
Old Town School of Folk Music (Small Theater)
Chicago, IL
April 20
Whether they’re ripping through a set of original jigs and reels, adding lush harmonies into traditional folk ballads, or cracking up an audience with stories from the road, House of Hamill puts on a show that captivates audiences.
Maple Street Concerts (Folk Music Coffeehouse)
Lombard, IL
April 23
Thalia Hall (Small Theater)
Chicago, IL
April 24
Schubas Tavern (Bar/Nightclub)
Chicago, IL
April 24
Thalia Hall (Small Theater)
Chicago, IL
April 26
With a voice like complex coffee,Gráinne Hunt enchants audiences with her heart-melting vocals and emotional songs, making her a standout among Ireland’s vocalists and songwriters.
Molly's House Concert (House Concert)
Lincolnwood, IL
April 27
Old Town School of Folk Music (Small Theater)
Chicago, IL
April 27
Hey Nonny (Listening Room)
Arlington Heights, IL
April 30
With over 30 million plays on Spotify, Ira Wolf has exploded onto the folk scene over the past three years. Making a home on the road, Wolf connects with audiences on a personal level through melancholy vocals and vulnerable lyrics.
Uncommon Ground (Listening Room)
Chicago, IL
April 30
Hey Nonny (Listening Room)
Arlington Heights, IL
April 30
Montrose Saloon (Bar/Nightclub)
Chicago, IL
May 2
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
May 3
Wesley's Place is here in La Grange to provide good musicians a venue for live music. Wesley's Place fits into the vibrant Friday evening scene in La Grange, where there are dozens of restaurants and pubs for dining before or after the show.
Wesley's Place (Folk Music Coffeehouse)
La Grange, IL
May 3
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
May 4
Long-standing folk concert series broadcast before a live audience on WFMT, 98.7FM and livestreamed.
Folkstage (Listening Room)
Chicago, IL
May 8
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
May 9
Schubas Tavern (Bar/Nightclub)
Chicago, IL
May 10
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
May 12
City Winery (Listening Room)
Chicago, IL
May 16
FitzGerald's Nightclub (Bar/Nightclub)
Berwyn, IL
May 18
Old Town School of Folk Music (Small Theater)
Chicago, IL
May 18
Deidre McCalla doesn’t merely take the stage - she owns it. Her songs embody hope and celebration, struggle, loss, and longing. Sometimes all in one song!
Acoustic Renaissance Concerts at Hinsdale Unitarian Church (Folk Music Coffeehouse)
Hinsdale, IL
May 24
Lincoln Hall (Bar/Nightclub)
Chicago, IL
May 25
Hey Nonny (Listening Room)
Arlington Heights, IL
May 29
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
May 31
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
June 1
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
June 1
Folkstage (Listening Room)
Chicago, IL
June 2
Molly's House Concert (House Concert)
Lincolnwood, IL
June 5
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
June 11
Old Town School of Folk Music (Small Theater)
Chicago, IL
June 12
Indie Folk Singer-Songwriter with a European Twist. I sing in 4 languages and I love to take my audience with me on an imaginary journey throught songs and stories.
Montrose Saloon (Bar/Nightclub)
Chicago, IL
June 15
Join us for an evening with acclaimed singer-songwriter/humorist Susan Werner and her sidekick Trina, in the intimate John & Nancy Hughes Theater.
Gorton Center (Listening Room)
Lake Forest, IL
June 15
Hey Nonny (Listening Room)
Arlington Heights, IL
June 16
Info at www.ariellesilvermusic.com/tour
Lake County Folk Club (Listening Room)
Grayslake, IL
June 18
Irish American Heritage Center (Folk Music Society)
Chicago, IL
June 21
Songwriter, banjo-piano-uke-guitar player, Rachael Davis is as renowned for her expressive–and explosive–voice as she is for uniting the often disparate worlds of folk, blues, country, and pop.
Hey Nonny (Listening Room)
Arlington Heights, IL
Get notified of upcoming shows!
Join the Undiscovered Music community now to start receiving our weekly newsletter of upcoming acoustic concerts near you and to discover new artists you might like. It's free to join!
Places to see live acoustic music in and around Waukegan, Illinois

House Concerts

Molly's House Concert (Lincolnwood)

Listening Rooms

City Winery (Chicago)
Davenports Piano Bar (Chicago)
Folkstage (Chicago)
Gorton Center (Lake Forest)
Hey Nonny (Arlington Heights)
Lake County Folk Club (Grayslake)
SPACE (Evanston)
St Tim's Coffeehouse (Skokie)
Subterranean (Chicago)
The Outta Space (Berwyn)
Uncommon Ground (Chicago)
Uncommon Ground Edgewater (Chicago)

Folk Music Societies

Irish American Heritage Center (Chicago)

Folk Music Coffeehouses

Acoustic Renaissance Concerts at Hinsdale Unitarian Church (Hinsdale)
Maple Street Concerts (Lombard)
Wesley's Place (La Grange)

Cafes, Restaurants & Coffee Shops

Adelle's Fine American Fare (Wheaton)
Beat Kitchen (Chicago)
Durty Nellie's (Palatine)

Libraries

Oak Park Library (Oak Park)
Waukegan Public Library (Waukegan)

Small Theaters

Epiphany Center for the Arts (Chicago)
John and Nancy Hughes Theater (Lake Forest)
Old Town School of Folk Music (Chicago)
Thalia Hall (Chicago)

Bars & Nightclubs

Brudder's Sports Bar (Chicago)
FitzGerald's Nightclub (Berwyn)
Golden Dagger (Chicago)
Lincoln Hall (Chicago)
Mackey's Hideout (McHenry)
Montrose Saloon (Chicago)
Schubas Tavern (Chicago)
Sleeping Village (Chicago)
The Hideout (Chicago)