7:00 p.m., Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, $10 more ›

Philip Glass is as close to a household name as living composers get these days. He's been referenced in South Park and The Simpsons and made an appearance on The Colbert Report earlier this year. His musical style is immediately identifiable and, just as important to his renown, has pervaded our culture, either through his own numerous and highly visible works (for example, he composed the film scores to Thin Blue Line, Candyman, Kundun, The Truman Show, The Hours, and Fog of War, among others) or through his massive influence (Brian Eno and David Bowie were early devotees). more ›

Fulcrum Point and eighth blackbird, two leading ensembles of the Chicago new-music scene, will present multi-discipline, multi-genre concerts at the Harris Theater this week. To make it even more enticing, Wednesday's eighth blackbird show has cheap tickets available. more ›

Leaders of several local arts organizations announced preliminary details of "The Soviet Experience," a fourteen-month-long multidisciplinary festival beginning in October, 2010, and continuing through December, 2011. Eleven different institutions will present works by visual artists, choreographers, composers, and dramatists who lived under the stifling Politburo. more ›

Maybe you don't like the world's greatest sport or consuming delicious food and drink. Or maybe you just aren't a Saints fan, a Colts fan, or a fan of hypocritical corporate decisions. more ›

Most probably recognize Mikhail Baryshnikov as Carrie's love interest on Sex and the City, but I knew him first as the name I wore on my dance tights. The man is a true living legend in the world of ballet, a man who brought the art to the attention of a culture more concerned with television and rock and roll (perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised that everyone I told that I was going to see the show knew his name). He is the kind of legend that comes a lifetime before, not the kind that that you still have the opportunity to see perform. more ›

We just got word 50 tickets have been released for this weekend's Mikhail Baryshnikov performance of "Three Solos And A Duet" including partner Ana Laguna at The Harris Theater. It's a rare chance to see one of the few masters of dance in such an intimate setting so we recommend taking advantage of this last minute offer. more ›

The Grant Park Music Festival's 75th season gets started tomorrow evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. The anniversary celebration kicks off with concerts on Wednesday and Friday at the Pritzker Pavilion and on Saturday in the Harris Theater. more ›

Problem: You want to treat your mom to some classy tunes this Sunday, but you don't know which concert to see. more ›

Now that we're waist-deep in a recession, concerts featuring contemporary classical music might be one of the first items to get slashed from your budget. Perhaps that's what the CSO had in mind last Thursday with their pre-concert reception. more ›

Honestly? Tuesday night we were totally stoked to see Titus Andronicus at Reggie's, but at the last minute we realized just how foolish we would be to pass up a chance to see what would probably be a one-time only event with Glenn Kotche joining forces with modern classicists eighth blackbird at The Harris theater. more ›

Glenn Kotche, drummer for Loose Fur and some other little local band named Wilco, plays percussion tonight with local avant-classical sextet eighth blackbird at The Harris Theater. Kotche's solo drumming is truly mind-blowing -- go on, watch one of his performances -- and we're told he will be debuting a brand new piece amongst some other familiar material. more ›

Still looking for something to do tonight? The outstanding combo of Mavis Staples and Booker T & the MG's play the Harris Theater tonight for the Old Town School of Folk Music's annual benefit. Staples is also supporting her upcoming Live: Hope at the Hideout, a recording made this June at, well, the Hideout, that's out this Tuesday. FYI - the liner notes for the disc are by Time Out Chicago's (and former Chicagoist contributor) Scott Smith. As of post time, good tickets were still available. more ›

Gus Giordano, a man who left a substantial mark on the form of modern jazz dance, passed away last March, and now his Chicago dance company is honoring his legacy with a duel set of performances this weekend at Harris Theater. more ›

This month, you don’t have to be among the well-heeled to afford a ticket to the ballet. Quality ballet performances can be pretty gosh-durn expensive; don’t miss these chances to experience one of the most beautiful forms of dance for a relative steal. more ›

Next week, there are some great opportunities to watch free dance performances, ranging from international superstars in dance and choreography to some of Chicago’s emerging local talent. more ›

Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park is one of our favorite places in the entire city, but others seem to like it just as much, or at least, take full advantage of all the great free events that are available there each summer. more ›

Man, are we ever tired expensive, indoor, un-simulcast opera. more ›

Considered to be one of the innovators of modern jazz dance, Gus Giordano died early Sunday at the age of 84. His theories on movement and dance technique led to the founding of his own Evanston-based dance company in 1962, eventually becoming what is now known as Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago. Currently run by Giordano’s daughter Nan, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago performs all over the world and is recognized for constantly innovating and broadening the limits of jazz dance. more ›

We were one of the few lucky enough to catch Jon Brion when he stopped by The Hideout earlier this year. His one-man band is truly an awesome spectacle top behold, and will seriously leave anyone withing earshot slack jawed. When we heard he was coming back to Chicago to play a New Year's Eve show at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park we immediately thought, "This is the show to beat." So far, no other show has been announced that is as exciting, in our opinion. more ›

We first witnessed the cockamamie genius of Jon Brion at the second Intonation Festival. Pouring rain be damned, the guy captivated 15,000 people that day, many of whom knew him only as “the guy who worked on Kanye’s records.” Chicagoist left the festival grounds that day with that rare inspiration feeling that reminds you of just how powerful it is to witness true musical aptitude when it meets unbridled creativity. Fast forward to the winter... more ›

Don't settle for another Wednesday of and Girl Scout cookies that have been in the freezer for months (not ... that ... we do that ...). There's a shitton of stuff going on tonight! more ›

Here’s what you missed while you were thinking about giant ketchup packets: August is supposed to be a slow month? The dance community didn't get that memo. Aside from the Jazz Dance World Festival, next month sees Dance for Life, a gala for AIDS-related charities; Mark Morris Dance Group presented by Ravinia at the Harris Theater; Chicago Dancing Festival at Millennium Park; and the conclusion of the Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s Summer Festival. The Berwyn... more ›

Here’s what you missed while you were reading Harry Potter… and while Harry Potter got stinking rich: Grab your composition paper and get to work. The Chicago Chamber Musicians are searching for the next great chamber piece by a brilliant composer age 32 or younger. They’ll perform the winning entry at a CCM concert next June. Entries are due December 1, so check out the rules, then find your muse. Thirty years ago, the Sears... more ›

Dance’s big guns prance around Chicago each spring, so we won’t have to. That’s for the best, since a few too many evenings on the couch and bar stool have robbed us of our best stage leaps. At least these folks haven’t lost a step: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the Auditorium Theater this weekend, bringing new work and a few of their gorgeous, athletic favorites. Influences range from traditional Indian and West... more ›

If you keep up with your "Free Tibet" news, you may be glad to hear that the Dalai Lama is going to visit Chicago. more ›

Last week you tried to get tickets to High School Musical for your pre-teen, teen, or tween child. And of course you failed, along with thousands of other parents. Craigslist hints at only a fraction of the carnage. Next to that game in Miami, the HSM one-night stand is the most sought after ticket in Chicago. But even if you sold your soul or ransacked your nest egg for the chance to see glossy American... more ›

Chicagoist doesn’t know if it’s the holiday season that has us thinking about universal human truths, or all the conflict that is happening around the world. Sometimes we get overwhelmed with how much it takes to change the world. Then a couple of people get together and prove that it doesn't have to be that hard. more ›

We don’t know what the world’s highest blogging honor is (getting a real job?), but we know we’ve got a long way to go before we’re at the top of our field. Now, jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis? He’s tops. And he’s got the title to prove it. Plus, 25 grand to wave in everybody’s faces like he’s Bad Bad Leroy Brown. more ›

We hope you used our Decent Days and Nights as a guide to what fun things are going on in music this week. Empty Out Your Wallet is for those of us who obsessively plan ahead and like charging things on our credit cards. Here are some of the shows going on sale this weekend that could help fill out those upcoming Decent Days and Nights. Bob Dylan Kings of Leon Oct. 27 & 28,... more ›