Words: Alex Wood | Photo: @JimTuerkDespite being far from a household name in the music scene, Bill Callahans tours draw a serious buzz, the songwriter finding his way to Chicago every few years at best.When tickets to his Sunday-night show at Constellation sold out immediately, he added a Monday night performance. When this sold...

By: Heidi Peters Photography"I love a venue that you can buy rosin in the lobby,"  Sara Watkins confessed, thanking the Old Town School of Folk Music several times throughout her Wednesday night set.  After repeated visits, it's starting to feel familiar for her, and clearly the audience has found a...

By: Aaron Stein (@neddyo) | Photos: Andy TenilleOn a September Saturday, we took the entire family to Coney Island for a late afternoon of fun and Nathan's before making our way over to the new Amphitheater for the second night of Widespread Panic. I've been a huge fan of theirs since forever (my...

By: Ryan MannixPhoto via peapodmcgee InstagramBuffalo natives Aqueous brought their self-described genre bending funkadelic groove-rock, with soaring melodies to Martyrs', for an extremely tight two hour party.Perhaps the perfect venue for such an eclectic group, the band played to a much larger and more enthusiastic crowd than their trip to Mothers a...

Words: Ryan Mannix | Photos & Video: Wyatt BrakeThe road-warrior Steepwater guys keep the gravel and grit in their instruments as much as their appearance. Friday night at Schubas brought energy, boogie, and several dual-guitar shred fests throughout the balls-to-the-wall two hour set, drawn heavily from their latest release ...

By: Philamonjaro StudioThe Thursday night leading up to the 2016 edition of Chicago's Riot Fest & Carnival kicked off with two amazing ska club shows: The Specials with opener The Far East at Concord Music Hall  (an official Riot Fest pre-show) and The Skatalites with special guest Charley "...

We'll always cover the old favorites, but it's also worth keeping a lookout for artists that may be on their first few swings through Chicago. This feature, 8-UP, showcases eight acts on the way up -- catch 'em before they're big.Check them out in this Spotify Playlist and read a little more about&...

By: Howard Greenblatt - Imagine PicturesBlues in the desert?  Bisbee, Arizona hosted its 12th Annual Blues Festival this year at the Bisbee Royale and City Park in Brewery Gulch.The three day event kicked off on Friday night with a special performance featuring The Blues Wizard, the T.S. Henry Webb &...

By: Philamonjaro StudioA pre-festival after-show?  As anticipation builds for this weekend's Riot Fest Chicago, organizers presented a late night warm up gig at Cobra Lounge with Agent Orange and Counterpunch on Sunday night.Agent Orange hit the stage at 10:15 to a packed crowd of diehard fans.  ...

By: Howard Greenblatt (Imagine Pictures)Meet The Blues Wizard, Keith Edward (aka Keith Kifer).Originally from Warren, Pennsylvania, Keith now lives in Bisbee Arizona where he repurposes items such as suitcases and hubcaps into playable guitars and amplifiers at his storefront business, the Lunatic Fringe Luthiery.He plays these unique instruments at festivals and on...