aiplannerevanston events & things to do in february
Exciting events and experiences happening this month in Evanston.
Jon Muq
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For Jon Muq, a singer-songwriter born in Uganda and now living in Austin, Texas, music is part of a larger conversation hes having with the world and everybody in it. Drawing from African as well as western musical trends and traditions, he devises songs as small gifts, designed to settle into everyday life and provoke reflection and resilience. These days the world is sad, he explains, so I wanted to make happy songs. I wanted to write songs that connected with the listener in a very personal way. When someone listens to my music, its not just about me and what Im singing. Its about how they understand the songs individually. I think these songs can speak many languages, depending on what you want from them.Muqs experiences as a child in Uganda and as a man in America give him a unique perspective on the world hes addressing. I grew up in a very different life, where so many people pass through hard times just because they dont have much. Our biggest issue was food scarcity. Then I came to a different world, which gave me a picture of how to write a song that can find balance with everyone wherever they are, whether they have a lot or not much. With his May 31st debut album with producer Dan Auerbach and tours with Billy Joel, Norah Jones, Mavis Staples, Amythyst Kiah, Corinne Bailey Rae, and others, Muq is expanding the scope of his music to speak to more and more people.
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Blue Monday: Ivan Singh
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Ivan Singh is a Latino Blues Guitarist and Singer from Argentina, recently moved to Chicago with great acceptance in the Blues community and a growing FanBase of all ages and ethnicities. A Rising Blues Sensation in Chicago with his Unique Style LatinBlues developed from his Spanglish lyrics, Homemade 4 string Guitar Lata de Batata, and 6 Piece Band which includes a Horn Section.In addition to concerts around the States, Singh also tours in Different countries between America, Europe, and Asia, where in 2023, he performed in Mahindra Blues Fest India alongside Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal, and Kingfish Ingram.
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Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas
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Williams started his professional music career at 21, just five years after high school, recording singles for his brothers El Sid label. Sid also opened a venue in Lafayette, El-Sid-Os, where Nathan became a staple performer on Friday nights.Williams big break came when Buckwheat Zydeco recommended him to Rounder Records, which was searching for an accordionist after Buckwheat left for Island Records. Nathan auditioned, secured a recording contract, and in 1985, he founded Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas, inspired by a Chenier instrumental. The band debuted at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 1988.In November 1992, the Cha Chas played at the New Orleans Rock n Bowl for the first time, paving the way for regular zydeco nights there starting in spring 1993. Nathans 1997 live album, Im a Zydeco Hog: Live at the Rock N Bowl, New Orleans, captured the energy of these performances. They also celebrated the venues 30th anniversary in 2018.The New York Times once noted that Williams, at 25, was poised to become important in revitalizing zydeco. His music blends zydeco, jazz, blues, and Rs original songs penned by Williams.For over three decades, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas have toured extensively, performing everywhere from local Louisiana spots to international stages in countries like Austria, Spain, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Turkey, Germany, and even Poland, a first for a zydeco band.The band has always been a family affair, featuring Nathan on accordion and vocals, his brother Dennis Paul on guitar, cousin Mark Anthony Chukka Williams on rubboard, and Sid as manager. Other family members involved include his son Nathan Jr., cousin Allen, and nephew Djuan, alongside non-family members like bassists Paul Newman and Wayne Burns, and saxophonist Allen Cat Roy Broussard.In his 1995 album Creole Crossroads, Williams collaborated with Cajun fiddler Michael Doucet from BeauSoleil, highlighting a rare fusion of zydeco and Cajun styles with his brother Sid and Sids wife, working in their grocery store. During a period of illness recovery, Williams chose to devote himself to mastering the accordion, practicing secretly in the bathroom. He looked up to Buckwheat Zydeco, who was a key mentor, but it was Chenier who left a lasting impact on his music. Sid eventually bought Nathan his first accordion from Buckwheat Zydeco.
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The Headhunters w. Imperial Boxmen presented by WDCB
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Formed in 1973, The Headhunters are one of the foundations of jazz and funk music, known for their iconic best-selling recordings released in the mid-1970s. The ensemble continues to impress at their live shows and with their album releases today. While 50 years of recording and touring has not included Herbie regularly, his influence is always informing The Headhunters co-leaders and best friends Mike Clark and Bill Summers, who carry forward the legacy with timeless, paradigm-shifting classics: Watermelon Man, Chameleon, Butterfly, Sly and Palm Grease to just name a few. The Headhunters latest recording Live at Garcias Chicago (out everywhere October 24th, 2025) is a reflection of the bands 50 year breadth, depth and innovation. The album captures an electric live performance at the new state of the art listening room Garcias in Chicagos vibrant West Loop with Clark and Summers at the helm.The albums A side opens with the bands perennial jam 4 String Drive, followed by the 2024 original composition The Stunt Man before tracks Warrior Suite and Watermelon Man root the album in the spirituality that Baba Bill has infused in The Headhunters since day one in 1973. Side B includes a modern funk rendition of Bob Marleys classic I Shot the Sheriff followed by covers of Thelonious Monks Monks Dream and Chick Coreas Humpty Dumpty then morphs into an extended drum and percussion conversation called Headhunters Drums to round out the eight song LP. Catch the band on the road in 2026 featuring co-leaders Summers and Clark along with New Orleans veterans Severin, Clarence Johnson and Shea Pierre.
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DUG w. Nat Myers
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Theres a natural magnetism to DUGs folk brew. The duo, made up of Conor (Lorkin) OReilly and Jonny Pickett, are gearing up for the release of their debut album, having formed in 2023but youd be forgiven for believing that theyve been writing together for a lifetime. Their music stems from roots in musical traditions spanning both sides of the pond. In one breath, echoing the great American folk troubadours, and in another, comfortably channelling the elder statesmen of Irish folk.
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Rabbi Joe Black & Friends
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Chris Cain
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Chris Cain was born in San Jose, California in 1955. His parents were huge music fans and shared their love of blues, jazz and popular songs with Chris. His African American father and Greek mother had a huge, shared record collection, which fascinated Chris from an early age. Chris was three years old when his father first took him to see B.B. King. His father gave him his first guitar at age eight and Chris learned lick after lick, song after song. Hed listen to his fathers records over and over until the music had seeped into his soul
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THE PETS
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Workshop Production It’s 2011 and an animal collector in Zanesville, Ohio has set every one of his 50 exotic pets free. St. Francis of Assisi shows up to help during this wild, dark roam around the countryside. It's Animal Farm meets The Wizard of Oz meets a road trip comedy with a late ‘90s soundtrack. This pastoral comedy is based on a true story. Written by Dizzy Turek and directed by Dan Washelesky+. Featuring performances by Kylie Anderson+, Alexander Attea, Haley Bolithon+, Rasheeda Denise+, Capri Gehred-O'Connell, Suzy Krueckeberg+, Ben F. Locke+, Johnard Washington+, and Alice Wu +Denotes Bramble ensemble member In an effort to make our performances financially accessible to those who might not otherwise be able to attend, we offer a limited number of $5 Access Tickets for each performance. Sunday, Feb 22 - Masked Performance. Masks will be required for attendees on this date. Friday, Feb 27 - Student Night. Free pizza, plus a post-show discussion with the artists. Please note that all late audience members will be seated at the house manager's discretion due to the actors using all entrances. This show runs 2.5 hours including a short intermission
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Northwestern Wildcats Mens Basketball vs. Michigan Wolverines Mens Basketball
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Soft Opening
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Soft Opening features Nora OConnor, Liam Davis, Gerald Dowd, Alton Smith, and Mark Bransfield recreating the soft rock songs of the 70s. _______ Soft Opening tenderly recreates the soothing sounds of 1970s soft rock. Its five members not only take turns singing lead, each one is also required by blood oath to provide backup vocal harmony to fully recapture the beauty of these legendary songs. Featuring local darlings Nora OConnor (Neko Case, The Flat Five), Liam Davis (The Diff, Frisbie), Gerald Dowd (Robbie Fulks, Justin Roberts), Alton Smith (Steve Dawson & The Lucid Dreams, Bear Williams Band) and Mark Bransfield (The Bransfield Strait), these identically aged musician-vocalists have these classic tunes all but etched into their frigging DNA. It is thus their distinct pleasure to sing you these songs with all the dulcet majesty and love they command.
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The Shotgun Start
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The Shotgun Start is Fried Egg Golfs irreverent golf podcast hosted by Andy Johnson and Brendan Porath with producer PJ Clark. Typically in your podcast feeds, the guys are taking their talents to the stage for a live show of their usual variety of topics, an audience Q&A, and probably a filibuster about the Bears. Come for the laughs, stay for the Champions Tour minute.
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THE PETS
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Workshop Production It’s 2011 and an animal collector in Zanesville, Ohio has set every one of his 50 exotic pets free. St. Francis of Assisi shows up to help during this wild, dark roam around the countryside. It's Animal Farm meets The Wizard of Oz meets a road trip comedy with a late ‘90s soundtrack. This pastoral comedy is based on a true story. Written by Dizzy Turek and directed by Dan Washelesky+. Featuring performances by Kylie Anderson+, Alexander Attea, Haley Bolithon+, Rasheeda Denise+, Capri Gehred-O'Connell, Suzy Krueckeberg+, Ben F. Locke+, Johnard Washington+, and Alice Wu +Denotes Bramble ensemble member In an effort to make our performances financially accessible to those who might not otherwise be able to attend, we offer a limited number of $5 Access Tickets for each performance. Sunday, Feb 22 - Masked Performance. Masks will be required for attendees on this date. Friday, Feb 27 - Student Night. Free pizza, plus a post-show discussion with the artists. Please note that all late audience members will be seated at the house manager's discretion due to the actors using all entrances. This show runs 2.5 hours including a short intermission
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