Incoming

Depending on when you read this, you could catch MotownShowdown: The Temptations Vs The Supremes tonight at City Winery Chicago. The tribute show, presented by Jai Brenai Productions, imagines the iconic soul acts in a battle of the bands. The music starts at 7:30 pm.

The Psychedelic Furs, who gave us new wave classics such as “Love My Way,” “Pretty In Pink,” and “The Ghost In You,” will perform with special guest Gary Numan of “Cars” and “Are Friends Electric?” fame this Saturday at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago. Other stops on the tour include Seattle; Sacramento; Los Angeles; Denver; Washington, D.C.; Boston; and Brooklyn.

Androgynous Mustache, a collective of Chicago area musicians known for ambitious tribute shows honoring famous recording artists, will mark the 40th anniversary of Tom Waits’ Rain Dogs album tomorrow night at Montrose Saloon. This time out, 10 musicians will recreate the entire album.

Tickets go on sale this Wednesday at 8:00 am (I’m assuming that’s an English time zone) for the Isle Of Wight Festival taking place on June 18 – 21 2026 in Seaclose Park, Newport. Headline acts include The Kooks; The Cure; Teddy Swims; Wet Leg; Sex Pistols with Frank Carter; The Last Dinner Party; Suzanne Vega; and KT Tunstall. Those of us unable to make the journey can still purchase really cool posters and t-shirts on the official website, although it looks like the 2026 merch hasn’t been added yet.

Pravda Records Presents, a showcase featuring three of the Chicago-based label’s acts, will take place at Martyrs’ on October 10. A recent Facebook post from The Handcuffs teases with the promise, “The ’Cuffs will be doing something a little different for this one show which should be fun for you and for us.” They’ll be joined by Brian Krumm And His Barfly Friends and Nathan Graham. Martyrs’ is located at 3855 N. Lincoln Avenue.

The Class Of 68 will present The British Invasion Show this Thursday at Impact Fuel Room in Liberty, IL. The band features vocalist Jay Geoppner—a longtime favorite on the Chicago music scene—and promises a “non-stop high energy journey from The Beatles’ first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 through the early seventies.”

A Carnival Of Black And White, the latest and long-awaited album from the Milwaukee-based power pop band Trolley, will be available this Friday. The catchy title track and the Elvis Costello style “As Long As I Can Find You” have previously been released as teasers, but soon fans will be able to discover all 13 tracks.

There will be a Beatles Brunch with Phil Angotti And Friends at noon this Sunday at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn. Just about a week later, on Saturday October 11, Angotti will join Chicago area musicians Casey McDonough, John San Juan, Tom Ryan, Blair Holmes, and John Perrin for his John Lennon 85th B-DAY Bash at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue. This has been an annual event for some time, but Angotti is no longer doing two separate, full-length shows in one day because, well that was an exhausting amount of show time. Guitarist Joel Paterson will be the opening act for the John Lennon 85th B-DAY Bash.

Local bands The Spindles and Go Time! each have their own approach to power pop, but that doesn’t keep them from sharing gigs on a regular basis. This time, they’ll be joined by the likewise inclined Vinto Van Go for a triple bill that kicks off at 8:00 pm on October 18 at the Cubby Bear in Wrigleyville.

Chicago-based singer-guitarist Terry White has a record release party for his latest album You Won’t Have A Name this Thursday at Fitzgerald’s in Berywn, IL. The event will also feature performances by The Loaded Dice, Cannonball, and other special guests. You Won’t Have A Name is now available on Bandcamp.

The annual World Music Festival Chicago opened last Friday and will run through this Sunday at the Chicago Cultural Center; The Old Town School Of Folk Music; The Promontory; Constellation; Martyrs’; Beverly Arts Center; and other venues around the city.

The Chicago-based Rachel Drew Band will perform music by Bob Dylan, Richard and Linda Thompson, and other noted artists at 8:30 this Sunday at Simon’s Tavern on the city’s north side. Drew is an accomplished singer-songwriter, so maybe she’ll also showcase some of her own work that night.

Looks like my nephew Joe Flamm will be involved in some more competition when he appears on the Beat Bobby Flay program on the Food Network this Thursday night at 8:00 pm. Joe came out a winner on Season 15 of Top Chef and has since opened the Rose Mary and il Carciofo restaurants in Chicago’s Fulton Market neighborhood. Good luck, Joe.