The following are acts performing at City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph Street, Chicago late November through New Year's Eve. All City Winery Chicago events are open to all ages and start at 8:00 p.m., unless noted.
Kurt Elling: The Beautiful Day
Saturday-Sunday, November 25-26; 5:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.
$38/$42/$46/$50
Grammy Award-winner Kurt Elling is among the world's foremost jazz vocalists. He won the DownBeat Critics Poll for fourteen consecutive years and was named "Male Singer of the Year" by the Jazz Journalists Association on eight occasions. An international jazz award winner, he has also been Grammy nominated a dozen times. Most recently, he released a Christmas album, The Beautiful Day: Kurt Elling sings Christmas (Okeh Records). Elling, a Chicago native, returns to the city for four performances following sell-out gigs at City Winery in 2015 and 2016.
Rhett Miller with Matthew Ryan
Thursday, November 30
$25/$28/$32/$35
Old 97's frontman Rhett Miller returns to City Winery Chicago for his annual, solo holiday extravaganza. In addition to his 9 studio albums with the Old 97's, Miller has released 7 solo albums: Mythologies (1989), The Instigator (2002), The Believer (2006), Rhett Miller (2009), a live covers album The Interpreter Live at Largo (2011), The Dreamer (2012), and The Traveler (2015). Miller has also written short stories, essays, and articles that have appeared in Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, The Atlantic, and Salon.
Chicago Philharmonic Brunch Series - FairyTale Noël (Heavenly Trio and Holiday Cheer)
December 10; 12:00 p.m.
$25 General Admission; $10 Student Tickets
The Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players, a subgroup of the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, is dedicated to the concept of chamber music as "the music of friends" by capturing the jam-session feel of great music performed by world-class musicians. Join the Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players for the flowing melodies of Debussy's Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp and Bax's Elegiac Trio, gorgeous works to transport you to a fairytale place. Travel to a fantasy realm as Chopin reinterprets the famous aria from Rossini's Cinderella (La Cenerentola).
The Empty Pockets' Holiday Wonderland Concert with special guest Nate Jones
Sunday, December 17; 7:00 p.m.
$28/$35/$38/$42
The Empty Pockets' often cerebral and sometimes playful indie rock sound is built on a foundation of Americana, Blues, and Motown Soul. An old-school sensibility showcased by multiple lead singers, rich harmonies, and skilled instrumentalists sets rootsy Chicago outfit Empty Pockets apart. Following their success as a Buddy Holly Tribute act, the foursome began an expedition to stomp on the floorboards, sing to the rafters, dance on their instruments and create music completely on their own. The Pockets return to their Chicago hometown for this special evening of music filled with critically acclaimed originals and holiday favorites. Soulful Ohio songwriter Nate Jones opens. A limited number of tickets for a VIP Wine Tour and Tasting with the band are available for $65, tickets to the show not included.
Kris Allen - Somethin' About Christmas Tour
Monday, December 18
$22/$25/$28/$30
After dazzling audiences with such performances as his keyboard-accompanied rendition of Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine," Arkansas-born Kris Allen won season eight of American Idol. A limited number of Meet & Greet tickets are available for $50, concert not included.
Michael McDermott's 6th annual "Mischief & Mistletoe"
Friday, December 22 with special guest Heather Horton
Saturday, December 23; 5:00 p.m. solo acoustic show & 8:00 p.m. with full band plus Canterbury Carolers
$28/$32/$35/$38
Described by author Stephen King as "one of the best songwriters in the world and possibly the greatest undiscovered rock 'n' roll talent of the last 20 years," Michael McDermott's brand of rock 'n' roll brims with the kind of well-honed style and wisdom that can only come from a career on the road and a pedigree in the studio. Effortlessly blending natural folk sensibility, pop hooks and honest rock, McDermott's music is as much for the outcast as the congregation. It's an exploration of the dark corners of life's journey and it resonates middle class truths through the passionate filter of a kid that grew up on Chicago's Irish South Side.
Monday, December 25
GA seated: $25 in advance / $30 day of show
After last year's sellout, Joel Chasnoff's Christmas for the Jews is back with special guests stand-up comic Jon Fisch ("The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," "Late Night with David Letterman"), "funniest rabbi in Chicago" Rabbi Barry Schechter, and guitarist Ed Shulman. A Chicago native, Chasnoff is the author of the comedic memoir The 188th Crybaby Brigade about his service in the Israeli Army. He has performed on stage and screen in nine countries, including two off-Broadway shows, a USO comedy tour of Japan and Korea, more than 1,000 Jewish events in North America and Europe, and Israeli late-night TV. A graduate of I.O. (formerly Improv Olympic) in Chicago and UCB and The PIT in New York, Chasnoff regularly performs improv and teaches his Improv Comedy 101 Workshop to adults and teens. A portion of proceeds from Joel's comedy and book sales is donated to his foundation, Project Elijah.
Sunday, December 31; 7:30 p.m. & 11:00 p.m.
$65/$75/$80/$85
BoDeans celebrates the end of one year and the beginning of another with four shows at City Winery Chicago. BoDeans' accessible adult alternative sound has achieved many milestones, including a permanent installation at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland as part of their Midwest Artists exhibit. The group has made appearances at festivals including Farm Aid, Summerfest and ACL Festival along with TV appearances on Saturday Night Live, Letterman, Today, Imus, CNN, and ESPN. Currently, BoDeans' music is featured throughout the Netflix original series "The Ranch" starring Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Debra Winger, and Sam Elliott.
For more information, please visit www.citywinery.com/chicago.
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