Incoming

Depending on when you see this, you could catch Decoy Prayer Meeting (starting at 7:00 pm) tonight at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side. If not tonight, the band—which that specializes in rockabilly and vintage Country and Western music—will return to that same venue on September 22.

The Chicago Jazz Festival, a longtime favorite event in this city, will be held in Millennium Park this Thursday through Sunday. The headliners are Esperanza Spalding, Monty Alexander, Kermit Ruffins, and Eliades Ochoa. Admission to the festival is free; other performers scheduled include Sarah Marie Young, Silvia Marque, Ari Brown, and Patricia Barber.

Space in Evanston will wind up its Singer-Songwriter Shows series in August with a performance by bilingual cellist/vocalist Helen Gillet tomorrow night.

Nowhere Else Festival, the annual concert event staged by Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler from the critically acclaimed Americana band Over The Rhine, will take place this weekend in Martinsville, OH. In addition to Over The Rhine, the performers will include Amy Helm, John Paul White, Joy Clark, and The Newbees.

Tickets are now available for Marshall Crenshaw’s 40+ Years In Showbiz! show with James Mastro at City Winery Chicago on September 14. Crenshaw has given us several irresistible songs, such as “Someday, Someday,” “Cynical Girl,” and “Whenever You’re On My Mind.”

The alt rock band whitewolfsonicprincess, purveyors of what they call “21st Century Druid Music/Cetic Blues,” will perform with All Days and Victor Sanders this Saturday at Jarvis Square Pottery on Chicago’s far north side. The music starts at 8:00 pm.

North side venue Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue has an eclectic triple bill coming up this Saturday. McLuhan, the adventurous seven-piece Chicago band inspired by philosopher Marshall McLuhan, will showcase music from its critically acclaimed and recently re-released album Anomaly. Chicago club scene veterans The Hurtin’ Kind can tap into the Americana songs on their 2023 debut It Won’t Happen That Way; and the Americana/garage rock band Hitchcock Brunettes will likely offer material from their upcoming debut.

Irish Days will offer a variety of Celtic music and fun in downtown Long Grove, IL this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Performers include Academy Of Irish Music; McNulty School Of Irish Dance; Shannon Rovers Pipe Band; The Larkin And Moran Brothers; and Trinity School Of Dance. There will be food and beverage vendors, or visitors can check out one of the various restaurants or cafes in Long Grove.

FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL will host a Beatles Brunch w/ String Session at noon on September 7. Phil Angotti and Friends, whom I’ve often lauded on this blog for their musical expertise, will be performing,  along with the string session.

Pravda Records artists The Imperial Sound, with special guests the Total Pro Horns and singer-songwriter Rachel Drew, will bring their original soulful rock to The Hideout in Chicago on September 4. The music starts at 8:00 pm.

The first of three upcoming shows by NRBQ in the Chicago area will take place at Lincoln Hall on September 4. The Facebook post from band members Scott Ligon and Casey McDonough quotes the lyrics from The Youngbloods’ hit single “Get Together” with the promise of “100% guaranteed to make you smile on your brother.”

Another VU, the Chicago-based band that performs 1969-era Velvet Underground songs, has a gig lined up at Montrose Saloon this Saturday.

The International Pop Overthrow - Vancouver music festival takes place up north this Thursday through Sunday at the Lana Lou’s venue. Six acts will perform on Thursday and Friday; seven will rock Lana Lou’s on that Saturday. Check out the official IPO website for the full schedule.