Folk Archives - Chicago Concert Reviews

“I Don’t Want To Wait” icon Paula Cole, fresh off “Lo,” enthralls Old Town School on tour opener

Almost a decade has passed since Paula Cole released an entirely original pop/rock album following a string of jazz, folk and social justice-themed projects, but “Lo” [More…]

R&B Grammy nominee, “Refill” singer/songwriter Elle Varner unplugs for City Winery stretch

Growing up with musical parents who supported established artists behind the scenes gave Elle Varner a chance to basically grow up in studios and on the road, so it was only [More…]

Two decades of Celtic Woman’s classical meets contemporary coming to Rosemont Theatre

In the twenty years since Celtic Woman brought its harmonious cocktail of classical or contemporary covers and originals to the masses, they’ve been named Billboard’s #1 [More…]

The legendary Crystal Gayle lets her lovely long hair down to talk classic country, Des Plaines date

Country music simply wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for Crystal Gayle, whose indelible mark on the genre includes becoming its first female artist to achieve platinum [More…]

CIBC’s “Girl From The North Country” sets a Great Depression drama to the brilliance of Bob Dylan

Troubadour Bob Dylan is no stranger to Broadway after serving up the soundtrack for Twyla Tharp’s dance musical “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” though it definitely [More…]

Country and Americana troubadour Rosanne Cash reinvents “The Wheel” for Old Town School

As one of Johnny Cash’s daughters, music may as well have been implanted into the DNA of Rosanne Cash, though she quickly carved out her own career throughout the 1980s to [More…]

Lauded local Michael McDermott’s 50th City Winery show full of fresh starts, mischief, mistletoe

To those in Chicago, Michael McDermott is a superb yet criminally underrated troubadour who never got the push he deserved on a national level while getting off the ground in [More…]

Jim Henson’s beloved “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas” a touching Studebaker throwback

The 1970s children’s book turned television special, “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas,” isn’t nearly as ubiquitous as groundbreaking puppeteer Jim Henson’s [More…]

Marriott Theatre does a “Beautiful” job revealing “Tapestry” troubadour Carole King

Trailblazing troubadour Carole King is 81-years-old and more or less retired, but thanks to Broadway’s “Beautiful,” her boundless creativity continues to be passed down [More…]

Irish troubadour Hozier takes Huntington Bank Pavilion to the church of “Unreal Unearth”

Look up any listing to catch Hozier live, and no matter the city or country, it’s sold out well in advance, including Huntington Bank Pavilion At Northerly Island for the [More…]