Upcoming events.

Malambre
Feb
21

Malambre

lafayette-based malambre brings to life a repertoire of soulful vintage songs from South America and the Caribbean. Their sound is shaped by a unique cultural mix with diverse influences rooted in mid-century Cuban music, American jazz and blues, traditional Colombian rhythms, and psychedelic cumbia from the Andes.

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Ishmael Ali
Feb
26

Ishmael Ali

@ishmaelali brings a group to celebrate his debut solo album, Burn the Plastic, Sell the Copper. The record features a remarkable crew of distinguished Chicagoans in various configurations in addition to solo performances interspersed throughout. The record on the whole highlights a wide array of Ali's unique language and propensity for collaboration, taking the listener through an eclectic but cohesive mix of music. Raw solo cello explorations, intimate duo improvisations, interactive electronics, rhythmic grooves, and singable (and sung!) melodies populate the record like characters whose voices interact, whose stories unfold over time. 

This iteration of the band will feature Ishmael Ali (cello, electronics, vox), Brianna Tong (vox), and Bill Harris (drum set), and a special guest. 

doors at seven / show at eight / $10 / 21+

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The Ballistics
Feb
27

The Ballistics

alt-new wave fusion provided by @theballistics

3 hours packed with hits and deep tracks from all your favorite new wave and alt rock artists including: The Cure, U2, REM, The Smiths, Pixies, Nirvana, Weezer, and more!

doors at eight / show at nine / ten bucks / 21+

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DRAG
Feb
28

DRAG

we are making fetch happen

saturday, february 28th we will be hosting an open stage

applications to compete are on @msalexapro bio

please apply by february 13th to be considered to compete. Not all applications are guarantees to compete.

come out and support with your singles, cameras, cheers, and dancing! It's about to be BIG (farma style)

@eldraarts @magnus.cum.laude @spottavern @kyrobpaq

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Keefe Jackson Trio (w/ Jason Roebke, Mikel Patrick Avery)
Mar
14

Keefe Jackson Trio (w/ Jason Roebke, Mikel Patrick Avery)

The new, the old, the in-between: a trio of improvisor/composers forged in the Chicago creative milieu,

working and playing, developing and dissolving, meeting the future years ago.

Keefe Jackson (saxophone, clarinet) is a Chicago-based improviser and composer performing in the US,

Europe and Latin America. He has collaborated with musicians including Jason Adasiewicz, jaimie branch,

Dave Rempis, Tomeka Reid, and Greg Ward. "...the impeccable logic of his lines and the richness of his

tone leave you wanting more... Jackson's high-register squiggles and coarsely voiced, rippling runs push the

limits of the tenor's tonal envelope." -- Bill Meyer (Chicago Reader)

The diversity of Jason Roebke’s musical associations make him one of the most sought after bassists,

composers, and educators in Chicago and beyond. He composes music that is extreme in its pairing of

silence and explosive gestures. Solo performance and a duo with dancer Ayako Kato are also at the

forefront of his creative activities. The Chicago Reader described his work as “a carefully orchestrated

rummage through a hardware store.” Roebke studied privately with saxophonist and composer Roscoe

Mitchell as well as legendary double bass pedagogue Stuart Sankey. Roebke tours widely in the US and

Europe.

A percussionist, composer/improvisor, filmmaker, photographer, and designer of modern pedal and

electronic instruments, artist Mikel Patrick Avery considers this multiplicity as one practice: creative problem

solving. Avery has collaborated and performed with numerous ensembles including Natural Information

Society, Rob Mazurek’s Exploding Star Orchestra, Marshall Allen's Ghost Horizons, Tomeka Reid, the Jeff

Parker Quartet, Kurt Vile, Big Thief, and Theaster Gates’ ensemble, The Black Monks of Mississippi. In both

his own practice and collaborating with other artists, exploration and inclusion is the focus of his life's work.

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Bussy Kween Power Trip / Heet Deth / King Dom Cummies
Jan
31

Bussy Kween Power Trip / Heet Deth / King Dom Cummies

@kingdomcummies is known for dark, surreal, and intense narratives involving, but not limited to, Afropessimism and weird fiction.

@heetdeth is the loud sound coming from lowest of lower wacker in Chicago. Gritty, heavy, weirdo punk for joyfully dancing to existential dread.

@bussykweenpowertrip is a black kweer punk trio from chicago with no guitars, absurd and sinister vocals, skull-cracking drums, and bass that hits like a sledgehammer

doors at eight / show at nine / $10 / 21+

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Tragic Heroine / Fox Runs East / Joy Buzzer
Jan
30

Tragic Heroine / Fox Runs East / Joy Buzzer

@tragicheroinemusic (chicago) is known for a mix of slowcore, folk, and alt-gaze, similar to Wednesday or Phoebe Bridgers, focusing on emotional, often dark, themes.

@foxrunseast (bloomington) is a shoegaze/indie rock band known for dreamy, atmospheric, and often heavy soundscapes, drawing comparisons to bands like Drop Nineteens, Sonic Youth, and Horse Jumper of Love. Their music explores themes of nightmares, personal experiences, and features intricate guitars and evocative vocals, with recent releases like their "Haunted//Hometown" debut. 

@joybuzzerrodeo (west lafayette) stolen valor cowboy music

doors at eight / show at nine / $10 / 21+

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Astronomy on Tap
Jan
27

Astronomy on Tap

no knowledge required, just curiosity

come learn about astronomy in a relaxed, casual setting

featuring informal talks by professional scientists, trivia, prizes, and beer

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Ultimate Dog / Nanu Nanu
Jan
10

Ultimate Dog / Nanu Nanu

@theultimatedogband is an experimental/indie band from the midwest known for lo-fi rock, garage, psychedelic, and bedroom pop sounds, blending guitars, fuzz bass, keys, and drums with jam-band improvisation, originating from a transcendent moment at a dog park in Brooklyn.

joined by @nanunanu - jam rock from lafayette

doors at eight / show at nine / $10 / 21+

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GARM
Jan
3

GARM

Led by electric organist Isaiah Keith, GARM is a unit that plays an eclectic mix of fusion, funk and jazz.

doors at eight / show at nine / $10 / 21+

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SPOT NYE
Dec
31

SPOT NYE

SPOT TAVERN X TIGER ROOM NYE 2025!!! 🔥🔥

Celebrate the end of the year with us at Spot Tavern.
Tiger Room DJs will be keeping the dancefloor hot all night long. Expect to hear Techno, House, Ghetto tech, Hip-Hop, Footwork, and everything in between. This night is gonna be a party to remember!!

Dress to sweat and prepare to go lateeee. But don't worry we will quench your thirst with a free midnight Champagne toast. 🥂🥂🥂

Get your tickets early, link is in bio and post! 🔥🔥

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Tigertavernnewyearseve.eventbright.com

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Hemlock Row / Motus / Concrete Chicken
Dec
20

Hemlock Row / Motus / Concrete Chicken

Motus band(pronounced Moe-tuse) is a Midwest band comprised of 4 members. Their songs include topics of relationships and life experiences. Their EP is out on all streaming services.

Hemlock Row is a 4-piece alternative/indie band from Indianapolis, IN. Backed by multiple music degrees, years of training, a very wide range of musical influence, and raw talent, Hemlock Row has managed to cultivate a high energy live performance that captivates audiences from start to finish. The band seamlessly moves between heavy-hitting riffs, singable choruses, and complex time signatures all while maintaining a consistent and enjoyable aura that can only be described as “Hemlock Row.”

The psychedelic rock suite Concrete Chicken—known locally for its mind-expanding instrumentation, entrancing grooves, and genre-bending style. Casting spells and groovy riffs, Concrete Chicken weaves the chaos and confusion of the present into an ever-growing sonic world of psychedelia, punk, hard rock, and prog that springs to life when they take the stage.

doors at eight / show at nine / $10 / 21+

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KASIA & friends
Dec
19

KASIA & friends

Join KASIA & Friends for a cozy night of jazz and pop holiday classics and be the first to hear the debut of her original Christmas single, “Don’t Ask Me What I’m Doing for Christmas.” Dare you ask? Find out at this one-night-only, unforgettable holiday evening. 

doors at eight / show at nine / $10 / 21+

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Judy x Swam
Dec
13

Judy x Swam

Hailing from Chicago, Judy combines sharp lyricism, spiritual introspection, and infectious vocal melodies to create a sound as unique as their story. Drawing influence from Kanye West, Chief Keef, and Young Thug, they push boundaries while staying rooted in personal truth. Their latest project, Judy Angel, is a heartfelt exploration of spiritual growth and human complexity.

doors at eight / show at nine / $10 / 21+

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Jason Stein/Damon Smith/Adam Shead
Dec
12

Jason Stein/Damon Smith/Adam Shead

Jason Stein — Damon Smith — Adam Shead (often billed as Stein/Smith/Shead) is a Chicago-rooted improvising trio uniting bass clarinetist Jason Stein, double bassist Damon Smith, and percussionist Adam Shead. Since forming in late 2021, the group has toured extensively across the Midwest and beyond, becoming a fixture in the creative music circuit and collaborating with influential figures such as Roscoe Mitchell. Their recorded work documents a remarkably productive period, encompassing four releases: Volumes & Surfaces (2022), Hum (2023), spi-raling horn with Marilyn Crispell (2024), and Live at the Hungry Brain with Marilyn Crispell (2025). Together, these albums trace the group’s evolution from kinetic, small-ensemble interplay toward expansive collaborations that bridge generations of avant-jazz practice.

Critics have consistently praised the trio’s fearless energy and deep listening. All About Jazz described Volumes & Surfaces as “undiluted free jazz with energy as its calling card and attention as its driver,” while The Free Jazz Collective called their collaboration with Marilyn Crispell “stunning” and “full of muscular interplay.” Known for their balance of precision and volatility, Stein/Smith/Shead channel the improvisational lineage of Chicago’s creative music scene into a sound that is at once restless, focused, and alive to the moment. Their forthcoming 2025 tour marks the trio’s first since 2022, signaling a new chapter for one of the most dynamic ensembles in contemporary improvised music.

doors at eight / show at nine / $10 / 21+

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Josh Berman/Keefe Jackson Quartet
Dec
11

Josh Berman/Keefe Jackson Quartet

Tour supported by BlueStem Jazz

Here we have another wonderful example of the lively collaboration between American and Scandinavian musicians. Keefe Jackson and Josh Berman, both from Chicago and fixtures on the city's vibrant free jazz scene, have developed an unmistakable interplay based on blind trust through their many years of collaboration. Their compositions are based on strong melodic themes and open forms that constantly challenge the entire group to take different and often unpredictable paths.

Norwegians Jon Rune Strøm and Tollef Østvang have created a strong, homogeneous voice as a rhythm section over the past five years. Especially in their joint work with Friends & Neighbours, All Included, and Universal Indians, as well as in collaborations with Tobias Delius, Dave Rempis, and Joe McPhee, they unmistakably leave their mark on their music.

doors at seven / show at eight / $10 / 21+

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Winter Market
Dec
7

Winter Market

Embrace the season’s spirit and support

Local artists offering handmade creations, vintage finds, & more

$7 raffle fundraiser

Donations —> Food Not Bombs Lafayette

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Ben Schmidt-Swartz
Nov
25

Ben Schmidt-Swartz

Ben is a Chicago born saxophonist, composer and educator, living and working in Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Ben holds both a Bachelors, and Masters in music from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, where he also taught. He is now teaching and freelancing throughout Chicago, performing with some of Chicago’s finest improvisers including Vincent Davis, Jim Baker, Ed Wilkerson, and Preyas Roy just to name a few. His main interest is playing music of great expressive, creative, unifying and spiritual power, and loves to straddle the line between absolute freedom of expression, and stoic traditionalism.

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Vo'vaava
Nov
21

Vo'vaava

One thing….for a long time….the great gods of the drone course through you, forgetting all conscious nervous systems. You see someone dancing but you don’t know if it’s you or someone else from a distant time. Can you feel it?

doors at eight / show at nine / $10 / 21+

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Monthly Jazz Night
Nov
19

Monthly Jazz Night

Jazz night at the Spot is a monthly showcase of some of the incredible musical talent in the Greater Lafayette Area. With a slightly different cast of house band members each month, and surprise appearances by other area musicians, this is not an event to be missed!

No cover!

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