Live Acoustic Music Near Chicago, 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 several house concerts being held in and around the Chicago 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 Chicago 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 Chicago. 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

June 25
City Winery (Listening Room)
Chicago, IL
June 26
Shawn is an American singer-songwriter who specializes in folk rock, instrumental rock, adult alternative, and Americana music and is best known for the 1998 single "Lullaby", which hit number one on the Adult Top 40.
Old Town School of Folk Music (Small Theater)
Chicago, IL
June 27
Uncommon Ground (Listening Room)
Chicago, IL
June 27
Old Town School of Folk Music (Small Theater)
Chicago, IL
June 27
The Hideout (Neighborhood Bar)
Chicago, IL
June 27
The Riviera Theatre (Concert Hall)
Chicago, IL
June 27
Catherine Miles & Jay Mafale are two scoops of modern folk with a generous sprinkling of pop-catchiness, topped off with the wit and flair that comes of their theater backgrounds.
Two Way Street Coffee House (Listening Room)
Downers Grove, IL
June 28
“Fink grabs mainstream pop gestures by the throat and shakes them until they say what he wants them to...transformed by Fink’s voice, which has a boyish ring but the heft and life-experience of an adult.” – David Patrick Stearns
Molly's House Concert (House Concert)
Lincolnwood, IL
June 29
The Chicago Tribune has called Mark Dvorak “masterful,” and the Fox Valley Folk Festival describes him as “a living archive of song and style.” In 2012, WFMT 98.7 fm Fine Arts Radio named him “Chicago’s official troubadour.”
Two Way Street Coffee House (Listening Room)
Downers Grove, IL
June 29
City Winery (Listening Room)
Chicago, IL
July 1
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
July 3
City Winery (Listening Room)
Chicago, IL
July 6  [SOLD OUT]
FitzGerald's Nightclub (Neighborhood Bar)
Berwyn, IL
July 8
The Hideout (Neighborhood Bar)
Chicago, IL
July 8
Thalia Hall (Small Theater)
Chicago, IL
July 9
City Winery (Listening Room)
Chicago, IL
July 10
Alt rocker live looper band screamer righteous babe guitar shredding song slinger
Uncommon Ground (Listening Room)
Chicago, IL
July 10
City Winery (Listening Room)
Chicago, IL
July 11
Eva Cassel has shared the stage with John Mayer for a songwriting clinic at Berklee College of Music. Currently based in Nashville and touring nationally.
Uncommon Ground (Listening Room)
Chicago, IL
July 12
Old Town School of Folk Music (Small Theater)
Chicago, IL
July 12
City Winery (Listening Room)
Chicago, IL
July 12
City Winery (Listening Room)
Chicago, IL
July 13
Lake County Folk Club (Folk Music Society)
Grayslake, IL
July 13
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
July 13
City Winery (Listening Room)
Chicago, IL
July 14
Old Town School of Folk Music (Small Theater)
Chicago, IL
July 16
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
July 17
Old Town School of Folk Music (Small Theater)
Chicago, IL
July 17
Jack Summers is a songwriter based in KCMO. He writes songs about coal towns, shopping malls, being sad, everything wrong with the world, and smoking weed with Jesus. 2022 NewSong Walnut Valley Contest Winner, 2023 Kerrville New Folk Contest Winner.
Uncommon Ground (Listening Room)
Chicago, IL
July 18
Hey Nonny (Listening Room)
Arlington Heights, IL
July 18
Old Town School of Folk Music (Small Theater)
Chicago, IL
July 18
Molly's House Concert (House Concert)
Lincolnwood, IL
July 18
Joy Clark, New Orleans singer-songwriter, lyrical guitarist and composer who creates soulful original compositions that celebrate peace and the undeniable power of love.
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
July 18
Joy Clark, New Orleans singer-songwriter, lyrical guitarist and composer who creates soulful original compositions that celebrate peace and the undeniable power of love.
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
July 19
Old Town School of Folk Music (Small Theater)
Chicago, IL
July 20
Old Town School of Folk Music (Small Theater)
Chicago, IL
July 24
Uncommon Ground (Listening Room)
Chicago, IL
July 25
Elexa Dawson is a practitioner of the soul. Her red-dirt honey vocals and rhythmic guitar deliver a sound that hits home. Familiar and intriguing, her songs speak of earth and community, and all relationships, from mother & child to friend & lover.
Two Way Street Coffee House (Listening Room)
Downers Grove, IL
July 27
Pierce Pettis Concert in the intimate Stuart Room at the Gorton Community Center in Lake Forest, IL "Pierce is a master musical storyteller ... " ?Justin Paul (Grammy/Oscar/Tony-winning lyricist/composer, "La La Land" "Dear Evan Hansen?)
Gorton Center (Listening Room)
Lake Forest, IL
July 27
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
July 29
The Hideout (Neighborhood Bar)
Chicago, IL
July 29
Jordan Smart is a folk singer based in Latonia, KY. If he can’t make you laugh, cry, or at very least think, feel free to approach him for a refund.
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
August 1
Two Way Street Coffee House (Listening Room)
Downers Grove, IL
August 2
Evocative songs of place from the deep northwoods of Wisconsin.
Molly's House Concert (House Concert)
Lincolnwood, IL
August 2
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
August 4
SPACE (Listening Room)
Evanston, IL
August 5
Introduction to Songwriting with Pierce Pettis
Gorton Center (Listening Room)
Lake Forest, IL
August 6
Explore Alternate Guitar Tunings with Pierce Pettis ~ Discover the unique alternate guitar tunings used by legendary artists like Keith Richards, Leo Kottke, Joni Mitchell, Lindsey Buckingham, and Bob Dylan.
Gorton Center (Listening Room)
Lake Forest, IL
August 8
Old Town School of Folk Music (Small Theater)
Chicago, IL
August 8
We're excited to return to Wesley's Place. We had a great time before and plan on having even more fun the second time around. Ticket prices in the link.
Wesley's Place (Folk Music Coffeehouse)
La Grange, IL
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Places to see live acoustic music in and around Chicago, Illinois

House Concerts

Molly's House Concert (Lincolnwood)
This Old House Concert (Oswego)

Listening Rooms

City Winery (Chicago)
Gorton Center (Lake Forest)
Hey Nonny (Arlington Heights)
SPACE (Evanston)
St Tim's Coffeehouse (Skokie)
The Venue Aurora (Aurora)
Two Way Street Coffee House (Downers Grove)
Uncommon Ground (Chicago)

Folk Music Societies

Lake County Folk Club (Grayslake)
Irish American Heritage Center (Chicago)
Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM) (Lisle)

Folk Music Coffeehouses

Acoustic Renaissance Concerts at Hinsdale Unitarian Church (Hinsdale)
Edgar's Place Coffee House (Park Forest)
Maple Street Concerts (Lombard)
Wesley's Place (La Grange)

Cafes, Restaurants & Coffee Shops

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

Libraries

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

Small Theaters

Epiphany Center for the Arts (Chicago)
Old Town School of Folk Music (Chicago)
Thalia Hall (Chicago)

Bars & Nightclubs

FitzGerald's Nightclub (Berwyn)
Montrose Saloon (Chicago)
Schubas Tavern (Chicago)
The Hideout (Chicago)