We’re firm believers that Chicago has one of the greatest live music scenesāthe Smashing Pumpkins, Styx, Jennifer Hudson, Chance the Rapper, and many other artists were discovered here. Whether you’re into R&B, Rap, Indie Rock, or Pop, there is a stream of festivals and artists coming to perform in Chicago at beloved concert venues. With venues ranging from intimate dive bars to Wrigley Field, there’s no shortage of concerts in Chicago, so here is the list of all the best ones coming in September.
September 13: Phosphorescent
Matthew Houck, an American singer-songwriter, is known by his stage name Phosphorescent. He adopted this alias in 2001 while recording and performing his first full-length LP, “A Hundred Times or More,” in Athens, Georgia. In January 2024, Phosphorescent announced his new album “Revelator.”
šLocation: The Metro
š«: Purchase tickets to Phosphorescent here
September 14: Mat Kearney
Mat Kearney is an American musician who was born in Eugene, Oregon, and is currently based in Nashville, Tennessee. Throughout his career, Kearney has released five studio LPs, secured the #1 spot on iTunes, ranked at the top of multiple Billboard charts, had four entries into the Hot 100, and accumulated over 2.5 billion global streams.
šLocation: The VIC Theatre
š«: Purchase tickets to Mat Kearney here
September 17: Joywave
Joywave is an American indie rock band from Rochester, New York, formed in 2010. The band’s lineup consists of Daniel Armbruster (vocals), Joseph Morinelli (guitar), and Paul Brenner (drums). They gained recognition for their collaboration with the electronic music project Big Data on the song “Dangerous.” In 2024, they released the entirety of the albumĀ Permanent Pleasure.Ā
šLocation: Thalia Hall
š«: Purchase tickets to Joywave here
September 18: Royel Otis: Glory to Glory
Royel Otis is an Australian guitar-pop duo from Sydney. The band, formed in 2019 by Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic, has released three EPs, including “Sofa Kings,” before dropping their debut studio album, “Pratts & Pain,” in February 2024. Royel Otis is scheduled to perform two consecutive shows in Chicago. The first show at Metro is already sold out due to high demand, but the second show will be held at the Salt Shed, and fortunately, tickets are still available for fans.
šLocation: The Salt Shed
š«: Purchase tickets to Royel Otis here
September 18: Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift
Candlelight concerts in Chicago bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen in Chicago. Get your tickets now to discover Taylor Swift’s music at the Stan Mansion under the gentle glow of candlelight.
šLocation: Stan Mansion
š«: Purchase tickets to the Candlelight concert here
September 20: M. Ward
Matthew Stephen Ward, known professionally as M. Ward, is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Glendale, California. Ward’s solo work is a blend of folk and blues-inspired Americana analog recordings. He has released 10 studio albums since 1999. Additionally, he is a member of the indie pop duo She & Him and the folk-rock supergroup Monsters of Folk.
šLocation: Lincoln Hall
š«: Purchase tickets to M. Ward here
September 22: Aaron Frazer
Following Frazerās 2021 debut, Into the Blue is praised as a daring blend of soul, psychedelia, spaghetti western, disco, gospel, and hip-hop, representing the impressive range of Frazer’s vocal talents.Ā
šLocation: Thalia Hall
š«: Purchase tickets to Aaron Frazer here
September 27: Everglow
Everglow is a South Korean girl group formed by Yuehua Entertainment. The group is composed of six members: E:U, Sihyeon, Mia, Onda, Aisha, and Yiren. Korean media cites them as the “ultimate performance boss.” They are known for their EDM-trap-inspired synth-pop sound and for adopting the “girl crush” concept in K-pop.
šLocation: The VIC Theatre
š«: Purchase tickets to Everglow here
September 30: Marcos Valle
Marcos Valle is a highly influential Brazilian musician known for his diverse talents as a singer, songwriter, and record producer. His contributions to the music industry span across various genres, including bossa nova, samba, and innovative fusions of rock, soul, jazz, and dance music with Brazilian styles. Valle is widely recognized for his significant role in popularizing bossa nova during the 1960s.
šLocation: The Metro
š«: Purchase tickets to Marcos Valle here
