Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm

By the winter of 2021, Joelton Mayfield had done nearly a decade of work to prepare his debut LP, Crowd Pleaser. As a teenager, he’d toiled for years as the music director of his Texas church, despite extreme doubts about Christianity’s role in his life and his role in Christian life. He’d then shipped off to Nashville, hoping to earn a music business degree in the city where they seem to be factory-made. He’d instead switched to English, studied the more mature songwriters around him, joined a series of college bands, and drifted into the edges of the city’s indie rock and alt-country enclaves, building a patchwork of players he trusted.

Crowd Pleaser documents the widening chasm between Mayfield, the sheltered Texas kid, and Mayfield, the burgeoning songwriter indulging in all the music, movies, relationships, books and conversations that came with leaving his sheltered early life. His sense of the bigotry, misogyny, and myopia he’d left behind sharpened, too. These songs are a map of an unraveling and the concomitant reformation, as he sorts through hypocrisies, doubts, and disappointments and does his best to make sense of them. Throughout Crowd Pleaser, Mayfield returns to the line “God’s children never grow up.” It’s as if he’s finally admitting not only that he was cast out of the garden long ago but also that there may never have been a garden at all, that you have to move along to find out.

In 2024, a year before Crowd Pleaser was even ready for release, Mayfield opened several shows for two heroes—John Darnielle, of the Mountain Goats, and John Moreland. Both have used songwriting to stare into personal voids, to stand at the edge of some never-ending abyss and tell the truth about what they’ve seen down there. Mayfield is a new member of that tradition, having put some of the most difficult lessons he’s learned in life to paper and then gathering his friends to help animate them, to turn them into these songs meant to be shared like communion. “God’s children never grow up,” goes that refrain. Yes, some of them just grow into something unexpected: songwriters able to relay the good news that can exist in passing through the hardest of times and emerging on another side, able to sing about it.

Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm

By & By is Chicago's premiere queer country songwriting symposium that aims to create a definitive book of Queer Country’s standards. Artists perform their submissions to assemble the archive one page at a time. Join host Olivia Love as we document the intimate stories behind songs and create a live document of queer music meant intended to be shared and celebrated widely.

Doors at 6:00pm, show at 7:00pm

ex situ is a multi-dimensional visual project by Tim Nagle, set to release in July 2026.

Photographed entirely on film over 5 years, the first fixture of this work, a 92 page hardcover still-life photo book, explores the blue highways through its focus on out of place subjects across different landscapes.

With routes stretching to both coasts, Nagle spontaneously documented roadside and rural finds that fit this lens. Through changing terrains and seasons, the photos take on a dream-like ambiguity, feeling like they can exist anywhere.

The companion work and second fixture of the project is a magnetic forty-five minute experimental short film, also shot during his travels. The grainy and psychedelic vignettes marry the earthly nature of the still photos from the book while shifting the perspective into more abstract territories. It is scored by unique collaborations from 25 musicians spanning different genres and instrumentations.

The improvised takes, recorded individually by each musician, were alchemized together by Nagle and producer Andrew Humphrey to blend the music and visuals into a cohesive experience.

The photo book is available for pre-order at www.timnaglemedia.com and will be accompanied by a release show and screening of the film on July 23, 2026 at Judson and Moore Distillery in Chicago, IL

Doors at 2:00

The Cosmic Country Cookout RETURNS! The cult-hit psychadelic showcase expands to a day-long immersive party as host Mary Williamson takes on a journey into THE Cosmic Country. The house band The Flying Objects back the celestial siren Erin Rae in from Nashville as well as play a party set with the best singers they know aka the "All-Stars". Food by Piñatta, and a debut from the curated HOLE-IN-POCKET Midwestern Market. Catch sets from local friends Storms of Love and Glass-Beagle.

Limited early-bird presale tickets! Most tickets will be sold at the door only!

Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm

Sweet Megg is a dynamic vocalist and songwriter originally from New York City, now based in Nashville. She began her career at just 16 as a songwriter and has worn many hats since: whitewater raft guide, DIY anti-folk artist, Parisian and New York jazz singer, honky-tonk angel, and circus ring leader.

Her diverse travels and experiences have imbued her music with rich history and boundless innovation. Her vocals are both expertly trained and refreshingly raw, making her sound relatable and captivating.

Megg’s music weaves together many threads of the American story—her Irish heritage, early blues training in high school, years immersed in the jazz world, explorations through the American South, inspiration from East Village poets, and the honky-tonk traditions of Nashville. The result is a sound that feels both timeless and refreshingly modern, offering a unique blend of old and new.

Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm

“Special gem of a multi-hyphenate comedian”* Gabi Shiner (Reductress, A.V. Club, Late Stage Live! with Ella Yurman) performs songs based on the work of legendary groups, like the Pussycat Dolls and the nuclear family.

*Theresa Buchheister, Staff Picks

Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm

Ken Pomeroy arrived to many ears, seemingly out of the blue, with her 2025 Rounder Records debut, Cruel Joke. The album, with its hushed tones and intimate nature, felt like being welcomed into a secret world: familiar but fresh, flashes of darkness filled with hope, and the kind of songwriting that opens up with repeated listens. A singer-songwriter in the purest sense, Pomeroy’s observations tap into an emotionality steeped in universal truths: longing, freedom, and the joys and heartaches of home.

Hailing from Moore, Oklahoma, and now calling Tulsa home, the twenty-three-year-old was no secret to the area’s growing music community where she had been performing since she was a teenager. Drawing inspiration from fellow locals like Wilderado and John Moreland, Pomeroy’s arrival on a larger stage was not a surprise to those in the know, a culmination of years being on the stage, learning how to play guitar, carry a tune, and most importantly, write. With the release of Cruel Joke (May ’25) Pomeroy and her long-time collaborator, Dakota McDaniel, spent much of the year on tour. The two made the most of their opportunities supporting acts ranging from Iron & Wine to I’m With Her, Madison Cunningham to Flyte, Shane Smith & the Saints to American Aquarium. Appearances at Newport Folk, Telluride Bluegrass and Big Ears Festival exposed Pomeroy to a larger audience, broadening her fanbase outside of a single genre.

By year’s end, Cruel Joke had found its audience, making its way on numerous end-of-year lists with NPR’s Ann Powers calling Pomeroy a “generational talent” and Stereogum’s Marissa R. Moss & Natalie Weiner describing her writing as “gorgeously succinct lines accompanied by equally tasteful but interesting arrangements [...] her unexpected vocal choices and knack for softening the somber with a great melody makes songs [...] truly unforgettable.”

2026 finds Pomeroy completing work on her next record and touring extensively throughout North America while heading to the UK and Europe for her first dates overseas. She states: “A lot of really cool things are happening, but it hasn’t set in. I haven’t had time to bask in it. Even when I started playing music, I never thought, ‘I’m a musician. I chose this life.’ I feel like something way above me pointed at me and said, ‘Okay, here’s your path.’ And I’ve just been following it kind of blindly ever since.”

Doors at 7:00pm, show at 8:00pm

Andrew Sa steps confidently into the spotlight with his debut album American Rough, out on June 26 via Bloodshot Records. After growing up in the Bay learning to sing along to classic country hits, Sa eventually moved to Chicago to further his songwriting education through a class at the Old Town School of Folk Music, and went on to meet the collaborators that shaped his musical career in Chicago for the years to come: Liam Kazar and Sully Davis. It was Davis who first invited Sa to open for the legendary queer country band Lavender Country at The Hideout and also tapped him for the brilliantly campy music revue Cosmic Country Showcase, started by Davis and Dorian Gehring in 2018. It was largely through Cosmic Country that Sa became a sought-after voice in Chicago’s independent music scene, enveloping audiences with his signature, siren-like croon and delectable charm. Sa’s ever-evolving relationships with his collaborators, the city of Chicago, and his own songwritership paved the way for this impressive debut. Produced by North Carolina-based H.C. McEntire, American Rough is an intimate, aching, sweet-toned showcase of country-colored indie-folk songs that serve as a cinematic portal into Sa’s relationships with men, the city, and his own pulsing heart. Across its 10 sparkling tracks, we find Sa navigating the complicated dance of masculinity as it’s brought to its most tenuous limits. Sa’s evocative poetry and hypnotic, sultry, lilt captivate and charm, held together throughout by McEntire’s pristine and resplendent musical production recalling Roy Orbison, Randy Newman, Waylon Jennings, and the Everly Brothers. In the world of American Rough, men hold each other close and sway along to the radio. Rugged voices coo, sunlight filters through half-opened windows, hard bodies find each other in the dark and soften, dreams linger, springs bloom taunts. By album closer “Fightin to be Fightin”, we feel the complicated weight of masculinity’s sour burden, but still trust in Sa’s vision of a gentler kind of manhood.

Doors at 8:00pm, show at 8:30pm

Andrew Sa steps confidently into the spotlight with his debut album American Rough, out on June 26 via Bloodshot Records. After growing up in the Bay learning to sing along to classic country hits, Sa eventually moved to Chicago to further his songwriting education through a class at the Old Town School of Folk Music, and went on to meet the collaborators that shaped his musical career in Chicago for the years to come: Liam Kazar and Sully Davis. It was Davis who first invited Sa to open for the legendary queer country band Lavender Country at The Hideout and also tapped him for the brilliantly campy music revue Cosmic Country Showcase, started by Davis and Dorian Gehring in 2018. It was largely through Cosmic Country that Sa became a sought-after voice in Chicago’s independent music scene, enveloping audiences with his signature, siren-like croon and delectable charm. Sa’s ever-evolving relationships with his collaborators, the city of Chicago, and his own songwritership paved the way for this impressive debut. Produced by North Carolina-based H.C. McEntire, American Rough is an intimate, aching, sweet-toned showcase of country-colored indie-folk songs that serve as a cinematic portal into Sa’s relationships with men, the city, and his own pulsing heart. Across its 10 sparkling tracks, we find Sa navigating the complicated dance of masculinity as it’s brought to its most tenuous limits. Sa’s evocative poetry and hypnotic, sultry, lilt captivate and charm, held together throughout by McEntire’s pristine and resplendent musical production recalling Roy Orbison, Randy Newman, Waylon Jennings, and the Everly Brothers. In the world of American Rough, men hold each other close and sway along to the radio. Rugged voices coo, sunlight filters through half-opened windows, hard bodies find each other in the dark and soften, dreams linger, springs bloom taunts. By album closer “Fightin to be Fightin”, we feel the complicated weight of masculinity’s sour burden, but still trust in Sa’s vision of a gentler kind of manhood.

Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm

Chicago's Meg & The Wheelers, hot off their brand new release Honky Tonk Wisdom join Oklahoma's Mallory Eagle backed by The Flying Objects (of Cosmic Country Showcase) for a real boot scootin' country party.

with Molly Carberry, Blue Earth Sound DJs

Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm

Chicago’s MV Wells steps out front with Le Dauphin, his debut solo album, arriving May 29, a sharp, melody-first mix of indie rock, orchestral pop, and singer-songwriter craft that leans as much on Harry Nilsson and Burt Bacharach as it does the left-field pop instincts of Electric Light Orchestra and early solo John Lennon. After a decade embedded in the city’s indie circuit, from the scrappy hooks of NE-HI to the synth-leaning detours of Spun Out, Wells pivots toward something more deliberate here. The edges are still there, but the focus sharpens. This is a songwriter’s record, built on melody first, with a deep pull toward classic pop structure and a refusal to sand down its weirder instincts.

Doors at 6:30pm, show at 7:00pm

There’s no way around it: New York comedians Charlie Bardey and Richard Perez are Up To Something. After having spent years crafting a shared absurd comic sensibility — Charlie directed Richard’s hit one-person show “I Have To Do This,” the two made the Eternal Family short film “Ha Birthday” — Charlie and Richard are ready to share their new Secret Project with the world. A mix of crowd-work, sketch, self-help, and shared hallucination, Charlie and Richard: Secret Project spirits you into a world like no other.

Charlie Bardey is a writer and comedian born and raised in NYC. He hosts the popular podcast Exploration: LIVE! and was named one of Vulture Magazine’s “Comedians You Should and Will Know” in 2023.

Richard Perez is a comedian, actor and writer based in Brooklyn, NY. He has a solo show called “I Have To Do This” directed by Charlie Bardey. Named one of Vulture’s “Comedians You Should And Will Know in 2023,” Perez has appeared in various film and television projects such as “The Moment” (A24), Adults (FX), The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (NBC) and more.

Doors at 8:30pm, show at 9:00pm

Long-time friends and collaborators Emily Mann and Wila Frank, known together as Paper Wings, dream up warm, pastoral folk songs furnished with delicate banjo and spellbinding harmonies so close you often can’t tell their voices apart. On their latest project, Listen to the World Spin, the Nashville duo’s songwriting flourishes, displaying their exceptional ability to reference nostalgic sounds of American folk music while maintaining their own compelling style of artful and unpretentious lyricism. Embracing themes of solitude, nature, and passage through time and space, Listen to the World Spin is a beautiful exploration of how we are never alone in our search for meaning and certainty in difficult times. “We needed these songs to guide and comfort us through the last few years,” says Frank, “And we hope they’ll do the same for others.” Listen to the World Spin was released on March 15th, 2024 with support from Free Dirt Records.

Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm

A night of alt-country in Avondale.

feat. Full Spectrum Bluegrass

Lessons at 8:00pm, dancing at 9:00pm

Local Universe presents the queer two-step night that's taken the city by storm! Come by and dance to live music every month!

Pull out that vintage cowboy hat, shine up that bespoke bolo, and come pardner-up to dance with someone new and hang with fellow country-queers. There's a grand prize for the best dressed, and even a little something for the runner up! Channel Dolly and Orville and come dressed to impress.

If you need a bit of liquid courage, Judson & Moore's house distilled spirits and handmade cocktails will be available from the bar.

Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm

Will Orchard is a Nashville-via-New England based indie-folk artist. He has made a name for himself as both a deeply emotive and disarming songwriter, and a relentless DIY troubadour. His music has taken him on tour around the US and Europe more times than he can count, often with his partner & fellow songwriter Jess Kerber. His latest record, Behind The Shadow Glass, was lauded by many indie outlets, including Atwood Magazine, who praised his “poetic introspection, stirring melodies, and earnest, open-hearted spirit”. In 2026, he looks forward to continued tour dates around the US and Europe, and a new record on the horizon.

Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm

Local Universe presents a new character showcase: BOOTLEG hosted by Kerry Stevens. Comedians, musicians, and performers are given a choice of pop-culture icons to rip-off LIVE at Color Club.

"GREATEST HITS" Line-up: Liska as "Gwen Stefani", Carly Schirber as "Robin Williams", Jacob Crow as "Gweneth Paltrow", Lou Bisio as "George Washington", and Ashlyn Quintus as "Cher".

Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm

Georgia-bred, Nashville-based artist Kristina Murray plays Americana and country music rooted and steeped in troubadour storytelling and southern-rock grit.

Kristina currently lives in Nashville, active in the independent country and Americana music scene. One listen and you’ll believe every word that drips from her honky-tonk hewn, yet honeyed vocal style.

Her new album Little Blue is out now on Normaltown Records

Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm

Billy Fortune Unit is on tour from Cinncinatti and plays bluegrass. Joined by local indie artists Westhead and Poolish.

Doors at 8:30pm, show at 9:00pm

Mama’s Broke have spent over a decade in a near-constant state of transience, pounding the transatlantic tour trail. They've brought their dark, fiery folk-without-borders sound to major festivals and DIY punk houses alike, absorbing traditions from their maritime home in Eastern Canada all the way to Ireland and Indonesia. Nowhere is the duo's art-in-motion approach more apparent than on their long-awaited JUNO-nominated sophomore record Narrow Line (released May 2022 on Free Dirt Records) It's the sound of nowhere in particular, yet woven with a rich synthesis of influences that knows no borders.

The eleven songs on Narrow Line burrow deeply, with close harmony duets, commanding vocals, and poignant contemplations on cycles of life, including birth and death. Tinges of Americana stand side-by-side with the ghosts of Eastern European fiddle tunes and ancient a cappella ballad singing, melding into an unusually accessible dark-folk sound. A careful listen of Narrow Line invokes an ephemeral sense of place—whether real or imagined—inviting us to take comfort in the infinite possibilities of life, whether or not we ever choose to settle down.

For a group defined by constant touring, it’s not surprising that the two artists that make up Mama’s Broke, Lisa Maria and Amy Lou Keeler, met on the road. Both coming out of travelling communities that are focused on music and protest, the two owe the way in which they move through the world to the integrated and self-sustaining nature of DIY culture and activism. It was a busy life that took them on a roundabout annual touring schedule running between Canada, the United States, Ireland, the UK, and Europe.

The driving force behind this band is – and has always been – the commitment to challenge borders between people, places, and traditions; while encouraging freedom of expression and community through music.

Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm

Zander Raymond, Eli Schmitt, Garrett Hatcher, and Zander Raymond

Show starts at 8:00pm | BYOB Donations welcome!

Local Universe and Sheep Cult Comics presents Hogget Hour; A whimsical hour of comedy and visual chaos. Join the cult on April 29th at 8:00pm for a night of hilarious weirdness and educational perspectives. A baby sheep like you might even grow into a full sized adult- if you follow directions carefully. Donations are welcome and it’s BYOB. Featuring Brigid Broderick, Mina Bond, Jerwin Gabriel Santiago, Nathan Hatchfield, Sam Rocha, Finn Allen, and Emma Day. Poster design by Maddy Angstreich.

Night Starts at 8:00pm, mini sets at 9:00pm and 10:00pm

It may seem like these feelings will never end, but DJ Gutterball is hosting the last night of sad country 45s at Sportsman’s April 26th. On this last lonely evening two voices will pluck heartstrings enough for them to finally break: Quarter Mile Thunder and Lillian King bring live mini sets to the front bar. Drink specials from Judson & Moore and Apologue Liquors all night long.

Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm

CHUCK MEAD is a Country singer with a rock n roll heart. He’s also a renowned songwriter, producer, music director, musicologist and architect behind the rebirth of Lower Broadway and the Global Neo Traditional Country music movement.

This Kansas native, has been at the forefront of what has come to be known as Americana Music for the better part of 25 years. Perhaps best known for cofounding the famed ‘90s Alternative Country quintet, BR5-49, whos 7 albums garnered a CMA Award for Best International Touring Act and three Grammy nominations, helped build an indelible bridge between authentic American Roots music and millions of fans worldwide.

LAID BACK COUNTRY PICKER and Honey are the Hillbilly Power Duo. Picking up where the White Stripes left off, they deliver a blistering show, equal parts 70s Guitar Rock, Honky Tonk and Country Punk. They have toured internationally, opening for the likes of Deep Purple as well as playing festivals and clubs across the US. Blurring the lines with wit, humor and hot picking, LB is his own genre.

Imagine Waylon Jennings sitting in with Motorhead.

Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm

Matt Gold and Dustin Laurenzi present Devotional Fade, a collaborative record of electroacoustic rhythmic improvisations – equal parts meditation and dance, released on We Jazz Records, 24th April. Laurenzi and Gold, key collaborators in the Chicago creative scene and with genre spanning artists such as Bill Callahan and Makaya McCraven, step forward here with a major artistic statement, a product of extended improv sessions capturing the duo’s hypnotic interplay. This is the sound of two of Chicago’s most vibrant instrumental voices listening deeply, communing in sound.

Recorded in Laurenzi’s attic studio, Devotional Fade emerged from a series of weekly sessions over the course of a single month. The duo kept the tape rolling continuously each day and selected a number of immersive sonic worlds to present, oscillating between patient, sacred minimalism and wild, dancefloor-worthy combustion.

Lane Beckstrom is a producer and multi-instrumentalist based in Chicago, IL. Lane works in a variety of genres with projects such as Resavoir, Sam Evian, Hannah Cohen, Knox Fortune, Liam Kazar and others. Lane's forthcoming solo project is an exploration of ambient electronic music.

Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm

GTC is a Bad mofo. He makes Tex-Mex rock n’ roll and cowboy kraut with his band NASA Country. He is San Antonio’s resident cosmic country, gonzo honky tonk, weirdo freak and a national treasure in Holland. He is a fun dude and if you see him live you will have a good time, "foo."

Bobby Conn has been playing pick 'n' mix with genres and delivering messages of politics, hope, despair, revolution and bullshit in his quasi-falsetto since the early Nineties. All this whilst dressed in glitter, eyeliner and high heels that would these days rival Nicky Wire.

Bobby Conn is a vocalist, songwriter, and performance artist working in Chicago, IL. He came out of the Chicago “No­Wave” noise and performance scene in the mid­90’s but quickly developed a reputation for extravagantly excessive performances, satirically political lyrics, and experimental, soul­based art rock.

Daytime Event

New from Color Club & CIVL Fest is the GREEN Expo! This event aims to empower artists and strengthen the music community through resource sharing. During the day musicians and fans can connect within the larger Chicago community and break down barriers created by knowledge gatekeeping.

In the Color Club Ballroom, the Expo will feature tables from organizations integral to the wider live music community, such as labels, booking agencies, city arts orgs, marketing professionals, and PR companies, all sharing their role within the community.

In smaller spaces throughout the building, there will be opportunities to attend more intimate breakout sessions, workshops, and panels. Connect with professionals and experts on topics ranging from starting a band to navigating the current, tumultuous environment of the contemporary album cycle.

Color Club's monthly showcase GREEN, which inspired the EXPO, will continue that evening to closeout the event. GREEN programming spotlights up-and-coming talent in partnership with Columbia College and is made possible by the Music In Action grant from Live Music Society.

Expo details will be updated here and announced via Instagram soon! RSVP now to save your spot.

Doors at 6:30pm, show at 7:00pm [early]

Jonathan van Halem is a stand-up comedian based out of New York City. Jonathan currently works at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and previously worked at Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out The News. He’s also served as a contributor to the parody website Clickhole. 

Known for his observational comedy and relatable style, Jonathan has worked as a frequent opener for comedians such as David Cross, Rory Scovel, Gianmarco Soresi, Kyle Gordon, and Sabrina Wu. He hosts a popular monthly show at Union Hall in Brooklyn called Hot Gossip, which has been featured in The New York Times and Brooklyn Magazine. 

Jonathan has achieved significant success online, with clips routinely garnering millions of views on Instagram and TikTok. His rant against AMC A-List was named one of Vulture’s Best Comedy Shorts of June 2024. He also made this fun, semi-viral video about Chappell Roan. 

When he’s not doing comedy, he’s patiently waiting for the New York Mets to win the World Series. His favorite Family Guy character is Stewie. 

Happy birthday Jim!

Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm

The tenured music professional with 36 full-length records, Jim Lauderdale has been described as "stylistically restless". He's been at the cutting edge of where Americana has been headed since the 90s jumping from rock and country straight into a bluegrass album with thee Dr. Ralph Stanley and writing hits for the likes of George Strait, Patty Loveless, and George Jones. He'll be in town with his Nashville all-star band the Game Changers tonight.

We don't expect anything less than wild stories, wild antics, and a good time from one of our favorites, Jim Lauderdale.

Doors at 8:30pm, show at 9:00pm

Last Call Honky Tonk is Judson & Moore's late night two step party. Every month catch a rotating local band play and the bar serves a cheap beer & shot combo for the late night affair. Dance right up until you hear your bartenders yell last call!