SPACE

Songs of Protest, Sounds of Freedom

Songs of Protest, Sounds of Freedom brings together an all-star lineup of Chicago area musicians raising their voices in song and spoken word. Singing and speaking out with power, inspiration and hope for change during these troubling times.The program will include blues, folk, jazz, reggae, rock and poetry.Proceeds benefit the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.In a dissonant world, every moment of harmony counts--and if we share music, we might just shout in anger a little less and sing in unity more. - Jon Meacham

Yates McKendree

Born in Nashville and raised in a recording studio, multi-instrumentalist Yates McKendree grew up hearing and playing with some of Music Citys greatest musicians. Self taught from the age 3, music came to him naturally. Although still just a young man of 23 years, his experience as a professional musician goes back over a decade. That early experience includes playing regularly in some of Nashvilles most notable venues (The Bluebird Cafe, The Ryman Auditorium, Third & Lindsley). It also includes North American and European tours and multiple appearances on national television (Imus In The Morning, CBS Mornings).During Yatess teenage years, he played on and engineered dozens of recordings in his fathers (Kevin McKendree) studio, The Rock House; most notably for Delbert McClinton and John Hiatt, who told Rolling Stone Magazine, Yates was our secret ingredient. In January 2020, Yates earned a Grammy Award for his role as an engineer and a musician on Delbert McClintons Tall Dark .In 2023, the award winning McKendree released his debut LP, Buchanan Lane on Qualified Records. The album was nominated for two Blues Music Awards and is a favorite among blues lovers everywhere. The success of the album led to a strong demand for live performances in North America and Europe. Yates has been hitting the road with his band ever since.In between touring and his Monday night residency at the world famous Bluebird Cafe, Yates managed to find time to write and record another album of original songs, deep blues and rNeed To Know highlights Yatess skills, remarkable style and taste as a multiinstrumentalist and vocalist with an emphasis on guitar.Because of Yatess lifelong, intense dedication to blues and roots music, he has developed a direct line from his soul to whatever instrument he holds. When he sings and plays, you dont just hear it, you feel itdeeply. Yates and his band are looking forward to playing the blues for you

WhiteWolfSonicPrincess and The Handcuffs w. Scott & Odie

Handcuffs 7pmwhitewolfsonicprincess 8pmwhitewolfsonicprincess - Carla Hayden - vocals & percussion, James Moeller - vocals & acoustic guitar, Nura Aly - violin, Randy Farr - percussion, Steve Rutstein - drums, Michael Hovnanian - double bass, Ian Ogdon - electric bass, Matt Smith - electric guitar.whitewolfsonicprincess music has been described as 21st Century Druid Music, Celtic Blues, NeoPsychedelic Folk-Rock, & Pagan Grooves. For the last decade, this creative ensemble has been gaining fans by making story-songs, prayers to the natural world, songs that reflect the interconnectedness of all things, and the dance of light and shadow in the Universe.The Handcuffs are led by critically acclaimed drummer Brad Elvis (Screams, The Elvis Brothers, Big Hello, The Romantics, The Split Squad) and vocalist/rhythm guitarist/sax Chloe F. Orwell (Big Hello). The Handcuffs explore broad sonic territory while believing in the power of a great radio hook. The Handcuffs inhabit some of the same musical domain as Mott the Hoople, T-Rex, Queens of the Stone Age, Patti Smith Group, Led Zeppelin and Roxy Music - all filtered through a modern lens - and deliver bold, sexy songs with memorable melodies and unexpected twists. Known as much for their dynamic live shows as for being prolific writers and producers, their songs have been featured in dozens of films and television shows.They have released four full-length albums, a special Cassette Day/Record Store Day best of on cassette and are currently working on their fifth for Pravda Records (also the home of their fourth). The Handcuffs are one of the few bands capable of effectively combining the spontaneity and musicianship of glam/punk with the urgency and rough-edged sound of garage rock, says Jersey Beats Phil Rainone.Theres a sexy, swaggering street vibe throughout, added Musoscribes Bill Kopp. And the Chicago Sun-Times exclaims that The Handcuffs are simply effervescent. Completing The Handcuffs garage-glam lineup are bassist Emily Togni, keyboardist Carolyn Engelmann, and lead guitarist Jeffrey Kmieciak, all talented veterans of the Chicago and national music scene.

The Wilder Flower

Madeline Dierauf and Molly Johnson have been building a sound together since meeting in 2021 at the Hagood Mill Fiddlers Convention, where they have each taken home multiple blue ribbons. Joined in 2025 by guitarist Audrey Neel, their musical chemistry was immediate and theyve been refining their sound and show ever since. The Wilder Flower blends Folk, Americana, Bluegrass, and Old-time influence into something new and fluid. They thrive vocally on three-part harmonies, whether a two-chord old-time ballad, or a modern, minor-filled melody, and instrumentally feature bluegrass banjo tunes, fiddle and clawhammer string-band songs, and everything in between. Their unique sound is centered around original songs and tunes that are thoughtfully arranged and adapted to showcase their tasteful instrumental sensibilities. They flex between genres and writers in each song, but there is something to their collective taste that speaks the same language, though switching dialects.

Bronwyn Keith-Hynes

Grammy-winning fiddle virtuoso Bronwyn Keith-Hynes is stepping into the spotlight.After several years of wowing audiences as the fiddler for Molly Tuttle & GoldenHighway, the 2x IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year is striking out on her own - fronting aband for the first time and bringing her voice to the forefront. Known for her fiery fiddleplaying and pure, rootsy singing, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes debut vocal album I Built AWorld earned her a Grammy nomination this past February, and American Songwritercalls her a world-class fiddler with a golden voice.Now, as her own entry in bluegrass history expands from celebrated instrumentalist tobandleader and front woman, Bronwyn isnt just crafting a career in the image of genregreats like Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas; shes bringing them along for the ride. BothBush and Douglas are featured as players on I Built a World, and theyre not the only ofBronwyns musically-inclined pals and heroes to make an appearance on this starstudded album.Keith-Hynes music blends high octane bluegrass sensibilities with the soul of countryand American Roots music. Backed by a powerhouse group of Nashville musicianshand picked from her tight-knit community, Keith-Hynes represents the next generationof top tier bluegrass musicians, who will be appreciated for generations to come.With a career that has already spanned collaborations with some of the biggest namesin acoustic music, Bronwyn is now forging her own pathbringing her undeniable talentto audiences in a whole new way.

Chicago Catz: Summer Dance Party

The Chicago Catz are one of the Windy Citys best kept secrets and treasures. For more than 30 years, this group of world class musicians have performed throughout the Chicago area serving up some of the hottest, get out of your seat, dance music in town. Their origins began during the late 70s and early 80s when there were three hugely successful local bands in Chicago: R and B group Third Rail (later known as Maxx Traxx), Ska band Heavy Manners, and blues act Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows. Each band sold out night clubs, played college concerts and put out albums of original music. By day, the musicians were respected studio/session players. Jingle houses and album producers were always putting out the call for those cats from Chicago. The stress from the lets make records grind and the competition from session work was enormous. Several of the guys from the three groups were longtime friends and had similar musical tastes, having grown up listening to R and B pop music. They thought that it would be fun to put together a high energy R and B pop dance band as a side project. It would create a nice change of pace from their daily business pressures and give them the opportunity to play together. Through their contacts, they knew they could pick up some club dates and let their hair down playing songs made famous by the likes of Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Temptations and other greats of the Motown era. Their plan was put into action. They got together after their sessions and rehearsed for several months until the music was tight. During this time, word got out that the supergroup had formed. At their first appearance, devoted fans of Third Rail/Maxx Traxx, Heavy Manners and Big Twist and The Mellow Fellows came out in droves to see them. The fireworks emanating from on stage fueled the audience and the group became an instant success, The Catz as they are called by their fans, have gone on to become one of the most sought after groups in town.. Their musicianship is unparalleled and their philosophy is simple. Were here to have fun, you might as well join us.

West Texas Exiles

Featuring five musicians who grew up in El Paso, Lubbock and Amarillo, the West Texas Exiles draw upon the wide-open western reaches of the Lone Star State with a wide-ranging, Americana-centered sound. Rising from the embers of the Dirty River Boys, which Marco Gutierrez co-founded in 2009, the Austin band features a triple-threat of songwriters in Gutierrez, Daniel Davis and Colin Gilmore (son of legendary Texas troubadour Jimmie Dale Gilmore), plus seasoned bassist Eric Harrison and latter-day Dirty River Boys drummer Trinidad Leal. The Exiles 2023 debut EP paved the way for their first full-length album, 8000 Days, due out later this year. The recordings build upon the live chops the group has honed through a weekly residency at Austins legendary Continental Club plus gigs at key local events such as SXSW and Willie Nelsons Luck Reunion, as well as high-profile touring appearances at Nashvilles Americanafest, Braun Brothers Reunion and San Franciscos Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival.

Alastair Greene

Fronting a power blues-rock trio, guitarist Alastair Greene breathes in sulfuric fumes and exhales blazing fire. Greene is doing his best songwriting and singing ever. - Downbeat Magazine

SOLD OUT - Robert Earl Keen: A Night of Songs & Stories (Early)

No two creative lives unfold the same way, and for Robert Earl Keen, the story was never going to end with a quiet retreat. After decades on the road, with 21 albums, countless shows, songs sung by legends like George Strait and The Highwaymen, and honors ranging from the BMI Troubadour Award to the Texas A&M Distinguished Alumni Award, he might have had every reason to slow down. But Keen has always seen the open road as a beginning, never an end.Rather than closing the book, Keen has turned the page to something vivid, unpredictable, and wide open. A new chapter not so much about winding down as it is about doubling down. And if the last year is any indication, he is just getting started.Keens calendar is fuller than ever, and the stages are getting bigger. This year alone, he made his Grand Ole Opry debut, joined Tyler Childers for a sold-out performance at the Hollywood Bowl, and helped his longtime friends Turnpike Troubadours bring the house down at Red Rocks Amphitheater. He continues to headline iconic venues across the country, host his Americana Podcast: The 51st State, write a forthcoming book, and currently working on a new studio album.This creative bloom is not a resurgence, but a renaissance. Keen moves through it with the clarity and confidence of someone who knows exactly what he wants to express, and precisely how to shape it. Long admired for his painterly approach to songwriting, Keen writes with a visual sensitivity that brings scenes and emotions into sharp focus. His songs unfold like carefully rendered portraits or landscapes, each line adding color, texture, and depth. He captures fleeting detailsa gesture, a glance, a shift in lightand transforms them into something enduring. His ability to balance specificity with subtlety gives the listener a sense of place and presence. Keens songwriting creates a fine line between complex story-telling and audience appeal. Beneath it all is not just momentum, but a quieter, hard-earned joy, a rhythm that comes from moving forward with purpose and the steady confidence of someone who has found his true pace.But even as he looks ahead, Robert Keen keeps his roots close. His Annual Homecoming Weekendan ever-growing celebration of friends, family, fans, and musicculminates in the free Fan Appreciation Day concert at John T. Floores Country Store, a beloved Texas institution. The event reflects Keens signature combination of authenticity and altruism, and his enduring connection to the people who have walked alongside him throughout his journey. This year, he also led Applause for the Cause, a major benefit concert raising over three million dollars for flood relief in the Texas Hill Country. It was a testament not just to his influence, but to his commitment to the community that has nurtured him for over two decades.Onstage, Keen and his band are sharper, and more alive than ever, playing not to prove anything, but to celebrate everything. And every night, as the lights go up and the chorus swells, one truth becomes unmistakably clear: the road goes on forever, the party never ends, and Robert Earl Keen is still at the center of it all, guitar in hand, moving forward with grace, grit, and boundless imagination.

Robert Earl Keen: A Night of Songs & Stories (Late)

No two creative lives unfold the same way, and for Robert Earl Keen, the story was never going to end with a quiet retreat. After decades on the road, with 21 albums, countless shows, songs sung by legends like George Strait and The Highwaymen, and honors ranging from the BMI Troubadour Award to the Texas A&M Distinguished Alumni Award, he might have had every reason to slow down. But Keen has always seen the open road as a beginning, never an end.Rather than closing the book, Keen has turned the page to something vivid, unpredictable, and wide open. A new chapter not so much about winding down as it is about doubling down. And if the last year is any indication, he is just getting started.Keens calendar is fuller than ever, and the stages are getting bigger. This year alone, he made his Grand Ole Opry debut, joined Tyler Childers for a sold-out performance at the Hollywood Bowl, and helped his longtime friends Turnpike Troubadours bring the house down at Red Rocks Amphitheater. He continues to headline iconic venues across the country, host his Americana Podcast: The 51st State, write a forthcoming book, and currently working on a new studio album.This creative bloom is not a resurgence, but a renaissance. Keen moves through it with the clarity and confidence of someone who knows exactly what he wants to express, and precisely how to shape it. Long admired for his painterly approach to songwriting, Keen writes with a visual sensitivity that brings scenes and emotions into sharp focus. His songs unfold like carefully rendered portraits or landscapes, each line adding color, texture, and depth. He captures fleeting detailsa gesture, a glance, a shift in lightand transforms them into something enduring. His ability to balance specificity with subtlety gives the listener a sense of place and presence. Keens songwriting creates a fine line between complex story-telling and audience appeal. Beneath it all is not just momentum, but a quieter, hard-earned joy, a rhythm that comes from moving forward with purpose and the steady confidence of someone who has found his true pace.But even as he looks ahead, Robert Keen keeps his roots close. His Annual Homecoming Weekendan ever-growing celebration of friends, family, fans, and musicculminates in the free Fan Appreciation Day concert at John T. Floores Country Store, a beloved Texas institution. The event reflects Keens signature combination of authenticity and altruism, and his enduring connection to the people who have walked alongside him throughout his journey. This year, he also led Applause for the Cause, a major benefit concert raising over three million dollars for flood relief in the Texas Hill Country. It was a testament not just to his influence, but to his commitment to the community that has nurtured him for over two decades.Onstage, Keen and his band are sharper, and more alive than ever, playing not to prove anything, but to celebrate everything. And every night, as the lights go up and the chorus swells, one truth becomes unmistakably clear: the road goes on forever, the party never ends, and Robert Earl Keen is still at the center of it all, guitar in hand, moving forward with grace, grit, and boundless imagination.

Mindy Smith w. Whitney Mongé

Good things, its often said, come to those who wait. And yet, as one of the great poets of our time also famously observed, the waiting is the hardest part.Both truths have been proven once again on the journey to singer-songwriter Mindy Smiths sixth studio album Quiet Town, which brings a treasured musical voice back into the spotlight.Fans can look forward to hearing new songs from Quiet Town as well as beloved tracks from her previous albums during her live performances.A good rule of thumb when going to a Mindy Smith concert, bring a hanky, a tissue or an extra sleeve. Your tear ducts dont know the difference between laughing tears and crying tears and youll likely be doing both. Humor is how I compensate for singing so many sad tunes back-to-back, says Smith.Mindy Smith is a Long Island-born, Americana award winning, Dove nominated, Nashville based singer-songwriter with a clear and honest passion for Americana, jazz, pop, rock, blues, and folk. As a recording artist, she has sold over 750k albums and singles and amassed over 175 million streams to date. She has played some of the most prestigious festivals in the world including Cambridge Folk Festival, Maverick Festival, Newport Folk Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, MerleFest, Austin City Limits, South by Southwest, Bonnaroo and more. Smith has also appeared on The Grand Ole Opry over 20 times.Her original songs have been recorded and released by the likes of Alison Krauss, Lee Ann Womack, Faith Hill and most recently Danny Burns ft Sam Bush. Mindy has performed with and toured alongside the likes of Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, John Prine (US AND UK Tour), Nickel Creek (US Tour), and Mary Chapin Carpenter (US Tour. Most recently, Smith was the featured vocalist on Kenny Chesneys charting single, Better Boat. Says Chesney, if you just close your eyes and listen to her voice -- Im speaking for me --she brings calm, she brings a sense that its all going to be all right. [T]o me, when I hear her voice, its like an angel, her voice is so--whats the word?genreless. Its bigger than all of us.

Bill Kirchen

Bill Kirchens five-decade career is the kind built on being in the right rooms at the right momentsand knowing exactly what to do once there. From his early days in Ann Arbor, sharing a high-school talent show with a future Iggy Pop, to helping define Americana as a founding member of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, Kirchen has consistently been at the forefront of American roots music. Along the way, hes collaborated and toured with an extraordinary circle of artists, including Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello, and earned accolades ranging from a Top-10 hit with Hot Rod Lincoln to a Grammy nomination. His distinctive dieselbilly stylean effortless blend of rockabilly, country, western swing, honky-tonk, jump blues, and morereflects both his deep musical curiosity and his knack for synthesis. That versatility is captured in The Proper Years, a retrospective drawing from his Proper Records albums Hammer of the Honky-Tonk Gods, Word to the Wise, and Seeds and Stems, plus bonus tracks from his collaboration with Austin de Lone. The collection highlights Kirchens balance of wit and heart: humorous, double-entendre-laced songwriting sits comfortably alongside songs of real emotional weight, often pairing bittersweet lyrics with jaunty melodies. A master of tasteful restraint, Kirchen favors finesse over flash, a sensibility shaped by early exposure to orchestral music, folk traditions, and the pure, resonant sound of an undistorted guitarmost famously his Telecaster, which he calls the bicycle of the electric guitar. Just as important as the music are the relationships behind it. Longtime collaborators like de Lone, Lowe, Costello, Maria Muldaur, Dan Hicks, and others form a through-line in Kirchens story, one marked by mutual respect, shared history, and genuine affection. From witnessing Bob Dylan go electric at Newport to sharing bills with John Lennon and Stevie Wonder, Kirchens journey reads like a guided tour through modern American music history. Now, as The Proper Years puts a bow on a particularly fruitful chapter, Kirchen remains characteristically upbeat and forward-lookingstill touring, still writing, and still clearly enjoying the ride.