Incoming

The Chicago Reader will celebrate five decades of being the city’s best-known free paper with a 50ish UnGala at The Museum Of Contemporary Art tomorrow night. The event will take place on three floors, with four stages of live entertainment, food and beverages from the museum’s own catering service, and raffles. General tickets are still available for $20, and check-in starts at 7:00 pm. I’ve been picking up copies of The Chicago Reader (or subscribing to it) since I worked on the loading dock at Montgomery Ward back in the 1970s. So good to see that it’s still around. Congratulations and have a blast celebrating.

The New Cue, a popular U.K. online newsletter, is holding a Read This And Party - A Celebration Of 2022’s Best Music Books event this Thursday at The Social venue in London. Lush guitarist-vocalist Miki Berenyi will be among the writers on hand, and will be signing copies of her recently released memoir Fingers Crossed - How Music Saved Me From Success. A post on the official Lush Facebook page promises DJs, reading, signing, and dancing.

Joel Paterson’s Hi-Fi Christmas takes place tomorrow night, November 30 at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights. The critically acclaimed guitarist will be performing songs from his Hi-Fi Christmas Guitar instrumental album (available on green vinyl) as well as covers of The Beatles and other artists. The music starts at 7:30.

Congratulations to U2 on being chosen by the John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts as one of the five honorees for its annual ceremony on December 4 in Washington, D.C. Amy Grant, Gladys Knight, George Clooney, and composer Tania Leon are the Center’s other selections. I’ve been reading Bono’s memoir SURRENDER: 40 Songs, 1 Story and thoroughly enjoying it. I never knew he could beat adults at chess when he was a lad.

Peter Asher and Jeremy Clyde were each half of popular British Invasion duos (Peter and Gordon and Chad and Jeremy respectively), so it’s only natural they would be compatible as yet another duo. They've done shows in the past and will be together again at the The Old Town School Of Folk Music this Thursday, December 1.

Madness, Noel Gallagher, Roger Daltry, Paul Weller, Chrissie Hynde, and Baxter Dury will celebrate Sir Peter Blake’s 90th Birthday with a performance at the Royal Festival Hall in London on December 2. Tickets are already sold out for the event, which in addition to honoring the noted British artist Blake, is a benefit for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

There will be two days of ranking full stop when The English Beat performs shows this Saturday and Sunday at City Winery Chicago. 

The 21st annual One Of A Kind Holiday Show will be held Dec 1 – 4 at the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago. The event will feature 500 artists, craft makers and designers. Tickets are $15 and are valid for entry all four days; kids under 12 get in free. Hours are 10:00 am to 7:00 pm Thursday through Saturday; 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday.

An Acoustic Christmas, a special event performed by the critically acclaimed folk/alt rock band Over The Rhine will take place this Sunday at The Old Old Town School Of Folk Music in Chicago.

The Schubas music venue is having a Winter Market, featuring local artisans and merch sellers, from 12:00 to 5:00 pm this Sunday. Admission is free, Schubas is located at 3159 N. Southport Avenue on Chicago’s north side.