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Live Music in Downtown Evanston!

TAKE THE ENCORE! EVANSTON SURVEY
for your chance to win one of three $50 Evanston E-Gift Cards!

Encore! Evanston is a pilot program that will help to place live musicians into local restaurants and bars to help to create a more vibrant and engaging dining and drinking atmosphere in Downtown Evanston's business district. The program will also showcase local and regional musical talent, and provide educational and experiential performance opportunities for emerging musicians.

The Encore! Evanston program is a collaboration between the Downtown Evanston business district and Likhaya, a nonprofit incubator that empowers artists through community and entrepreneurship. The initial pilot program will run from February thru April 2025, and will feature free music at three different venues, per the schedule below.

Although it's not part of the Encore! Evanston program, there is also great live Jazz at Prairie Moon on Wednesday nights in partnership with the Fulton Street Collective, one of Chicago’s most respected and well-known venues for producing high quality live jazz. 

Downtown Evanston is easily accessible by bike, bus or train! If you're driving into Downtown Evanston, click here to learn more about parking. For more information about the Encore! Evanston pilot program, please email info@DowntownEvanston.org.
Tuesdays, 7-10PM | Blue Horse Tavern

Tuesdays, 7-10PM | Blue Horse Tavern

1026 Davis Street
Blue Horse Tavern is a casual neighborhood kitchen & gathering place for locals & visitors alike. Focused on great food & drinks made with care and rooted in classic technique but done without any fuss or pretension.

Scheduled Music:
  • February 4, 11, 18, 25
  • March 4, 11, 18, 25
  • April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

More Information


Thursdays, 7-10PM | Ridgeville Tavern

Thursdays, 7-10PM | Ridgeville Tavern

1520 Sherman Avenue
Located at the corner of Sherman Avenue and Grove Street in the heart of downtown Evanston, Ridgeville Tavern strives to be the quintessential neighborhood bar welcoming all to enjoy quality tavern fare and top-notch drinks.

Scheduled Music:
  • February 6, 13, 20, 27
  • March 6, 13, 20, 27
  • April 3, 10, 17, 24

More Information


Fridays, 7-10PM | Bat 17

Fridays, 7-10PM | Bat 17

1709 Benson Avenue
Bat 17 is a breakfast, lunch and dinner pub that takes a page from some of New York's' finest delis, ratchets up the quality to a mouth-watering trance, and wraps the whole package inside a Soho, Tribeca, Lincoln Park or Wicker Park style saloon.

Scheduled Music:
  • February 7, 14, 21, 28
  • March 7, 14, 21, 28
  • April 4, 11, 18, 25

More Information