Lead by saxophonist Spencer Schillerstrom, The Lexicon Trio is composed of musicians who’ve dedicated their talents and time to the vast repertoire of jazz music. From swing to modern composition, this trio performs with reverence and reference to the past while allowing improvisation to change every performance. Composed of some of the best musicians in Chicago, The Lexicon Trio has performed all over the city at venues like The Waterfront Cafe, Ina Mae Tavern, and The Tack Room. Enjoy an evening of songbook ballads, bebop burners, and modern melodies with the Lexicon Trio.

ANDIE blends her influences of  Blues, Soul, R&B, and Jazz to create a unique and retro sound. ANDIE’s 2022 NPR Tiny Desk Submission for her song “He’s Not What You Need Blues” was described as “a skillful exploration of the hurt that comes with being betrayed” by NPR, and was released by the band in 2025. Her band ANDIE & The Bandits was recently voted  Chicago Reader’s “Best Blues Band 2025” as well as being finalists in the DCASE Chicago Made Music Showcase. ANDIE & The Bandits established themselves early as a force by winning  first place in Columbia College Chicago’s Biggest Mouth Band Competition in 2019. ANDIE & The Bandits have held residencies at Golden Dagger in 2023, and Epiphany Center for the Arts in 2024, solidifying themselves in the Chicago music scene.  

Laura Cai is a recording artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based out of Chicago.

As a singer, keyboardist, cellist, guitarist, and bassist, Laura has lent her range of talents to a variety of live and studio projects across diverse genres for more than a decade. She has worked as a studio musician, recording and arranging songs that have together amassed millions of streams. As a live musician, Laura has toured both domestically and internationally, playing in venues spanning from intimate coffee shops to sold-out theaters to arenas of thousands.

Laura has had songs placed with CBS and Walmart alongside Grammy-nominated producer Oh, Hush! and created viral videos with recording artist Alex Blue. She currently plays weekly at piano bars around the city as she continues to hone her skills as an up-and-coming producer, mixer, and masterer.

René Avila band leader for a traditional Cuban Charanga band.  He has two ensembles, from a trio to a 9 piece band.  We have played for Chicago's Summerdance, Navy Pier's Beer Garden, Old Town School of Folk Music and various festivals throughout the city. Our ensembles play traditional Cuban from the golden ages of the 40's 50's and 60's still keeping the "Charanga" format.Charanga is a classical chamber ensemble that came out of Haiti, featuring the unique sound of the french flute and violins.  During the Haitian revolution of 1804, this sound migrated to eastern Cuba where it reached Santiago.  In the space of 120 years, the modern Charanga was born by adding elements of Africa, Spain, Haiti and Cuba transforming it into an electric mix of cultures and one of the worlds most exciting dance genres. 

THE DUO OF PAIGE KIZER AND ISAAC MEIER IS A PIANO AND VOCAL SET OF A VAST VARIETY OF ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC. ISSAC HAS BEEN A KEY MEMBER OF PAIGE’S ORIGINAL MUSIC AND BAND, PAIGE AND THE KIZERS. BOTH PAIGE AND ISAAC ARE PRESENT MUSICIANS ON THE LOCAL CHICAGO SCENE. THE TWO HAVE CRAFTED A DUO AND SET LIST THAT IS SURE TO MAKE ANY EVENT A LITTLE BRIGHTER!

Pablo alto is a synth-forward indie rock collaboration between songwriter/guitarist Sergio Luna and classical/jazz keyboardist Pulsar Li, who together lean into their markedly diverse backgrounds.  Since 2023, Pulsar, Sergio, and bassist Ben Campbell have together created music that spans and traverses genre while maintaining a distinct identity. Drummer Ben Greenwood joined Pablo alto during the recording of their upcoming 2026 album Octaplume, throughout which his aggressive syncopation provokes interaction akin to modern jazz music laid out over more familiar pop and rock song forms.  The Pablo alto sound is defined not only by its range, sourced from both electronic and acoustic sound worlds, but also by a democratic process that achieves a result none of the individual musicians would achieve on their own.

Under his moniker Orillia, Andrew Marczak follows the long tradition of folk music's more progressive stewards, commanding audiences with his unique bracing tenor and skeletal arrangements. With 2 albums under his belt, he has toured across North America and Europe, and currently resides in Chicago with his partner and collaborator, Peach. His newest record, Fire-Weed, is out now on Far West Records. Orillia recently performed an Exclusive Mini-Concert for Sirius XM’s Outlaw Country Channel, and they have been featured on NPR's Great American Folk Show, Holler Country, The Chicago Tribune, and radio stations across the U.S., Canada, and Germany. They are working on their 3rd album...

Sophia Cruz is a Chicago-based Funk, Indie, Neo-Soul singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, inspired by artists like Stevie Wonder, Hiatus Kaiyote, D’Angelo, Lalah Hathaway and Amy Winehouse. Raised in a musical household, her sound blends rich, soulful vocals with tight, funky grooves, rooted in classic Soul, Funk and R&B with modern indie and rock touches.

 Growing up in a musical household, she became a multi-instrumentalist, absorbing a wide range of genres from Latin and Jazz to Opera and Folk. Leading her to become a graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a bachelor's in vocal performance and her win(s) for Best Singer-Songwriter and Best R&B artist for Chicago Reader’s ‘Best Of 2025’ 

Sophia's band is a fusion of diverse talents, with members bringing a wealth of experience from different genres, educational backgrounds, and locations across the US. Sophia has graced the stages of several notable venues in Chicago, including Subterranean, Sleeping Village, Martyrs’, Epiphany Center for the Arts, Lemon, Blind Barber, Navy Pier to performances further at First Avenue in Minneapolis and Groove in NYC, their music has resonated with audiences across different cities. She brings fresh energy to every stage, captivating audiences with original music that honors legacy while pushing creative boundaries.

The Metalliques materialize from Dimension Zero to present a sultry, surfy and cinematic act that would be equally at home in a David Lynch film or softcore Italian giallo.

Alex Benjamin has been playing at Tack Room for the past six years, and has also performed at Thalia Hall, Steppenwolf, The Den Theatre, Metro, and on national and international tours. In addition to piano, Alex writes and performs drag and performance art.

Aaron Brenton is a Chicago bassist, educator, and composer hailing from Madison, WI. With a degree in Double Bass Performance from the Lawrence University Conservatory, Aaron takes pages from the books of Eddie Gomez, Scott LaFaro, Rufus Reid, and Christian McBride to craft saxophone-like improvisations and contrapuntal bass lines. A new figure in the Chicago music scene, Aaron embraces bass in all mediums, having played with Jonathan Blake, Ike Sturm, The Harmon Brothers, Taiwanese jazz pianist Sopon Suwannakit, Grateful dead-esque jam band The Jeremiah Jams Band, reggae funk group Luma Knotty. When not performing Aaron composes and teaches private lessons and classes. Excited to play at the Tack Room!

Olivia and the Lovers are a queer and trans cowboy band based in Chicago, working to increase visibility and safety for queer voices, bodies, and narratives in the country music scene. Taking inspiration both from classic American folk music and cowboy standards, Olivia Love writes music as a vehicle for vulnerability and reflections on queer love, loss, and healing.

Laura Cai is a recording artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based out of Chicago.

As a singer, keyboardist, cellist, guitarist, and bassist, Laura has lent her range of talents to a variety of live and studio projects across diverse genres for more than a decade. She has worked as a studio musician, recording and arranging songs that have together amassed millions of streams. As a live musician, Laura has toured both domestically and internationally, playing in venues spanning from intimate coffee shops to sold-out theaters to arenas of thousands.

Laura has had songs placed with CBS and Walmart alongside Grammy-nominated producer Oh, Hush! and created viral videos with recording artist Alex Blue. She currently plays weekly at piano bars around the city as she continues to hone her skills as an up-and-coming producer, mixer, and masterer.

Midamerican Elevator is a harmony-driven indie-rock project formed in 2020, built around the long-standing collaboration of Paxton Long and Beni Yuzawa, who began singing together in 2013. The music is relaxed but intentional—folk-leaning indie rock that values melody, harmony, and space.

Rooted in Chicago’s vibrant music scene, The Front Desk is a six-piece band fusing funk, soul, rock, and jazz into a sound distinctly their own. Since forming in 2023, The Front Desk has built a reputation for shows that get people singing along while laying down playful, improvisational tunes.Configuration: we will have 5 people: bass, trombone, percussion, guitar, and lead vocals.

Hollow Bastion is a three-piece indie rock band from Chicago that teeters between a deep sincerity and utter unseriousness. What began as a solo project of Teagan Brey in her suburban bedroom has evolved over the years into a full band. Now part of Chicago’s vibrant DIY scene, Hollow Bastion includes fellow troublemakers Ruben Steiner (bass) and Michael Whalen (drums).  Their debut album, Waitin’ All Winter, is a fully DIY, self-recorded and self-produced release, the first from Hollow Bastion as a trio, opening the door to a fuller rock ’n’ roll sound. The band blends indie rock with folk textures and catchy hooks, drawing from a wide range of influences to create a sound entirely their own.

Kevan Eftekhari has been entertaining audiences and establishing himself as a fixture in the Chicago music community for nearly two decades. From piano bars, to weddings, and to corporate events, Kevan brings to life any occasion with his impressively massive repertoire of popular classics and hits from all ages and genres.

@kevanchicago 

http://kevaneftekhari.com/

Gayun Cannon is a 23 year old singer, self-produced artist, and multi-instrumentalist from the South Side of Chicago. Through her music, Gayun creates a space for healing  whether she’s exploring love, personal growth, or the trials and tribulations of her own life journey. Each song is crafted as an emotional experience, inviting listeners to reflect, feel deeply, and embrace every part of themselves. Her artistry blends vulnerability with intention, turning personal stories into shared moments of connection.

Tall Tall Trees is the musical id of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mike Savino, a pioneer in the realm of experimental, DIY banjo music. Accompanied by his trusty Banjotron 6500, a highly customized, electrified banjo and effects pedal setup, Savino has wowed audiences since the 2009 debut of his self-titled album with his eclectic and innovative blend of psychedelic folk, rock and world music. His work seems to actively evade comfortable definition, upon first listen one will recognize the tenderness of Cat Stevens, the melancholy introspection of Elliott Smith, the anthemic psychedelia of Pink Floyd, and a deep abiding respect for Earl Scruggs. Savino often performs solo, showcasing his fleet-footed loop pedal mastery, as well as alongside long-time collaborator and fellow innovator, Kishi Bashi. He has recently collaborated with fellow psych-banjo maestro JD Pinkus of the Butthole Surfers, releasing Ponder Machine, a psychedelic banjo opus on the Shimmy Disc label. Tall Tall Trees latest release and 5th LP, Stick to the Mystical I, featuring a collaboration with Josiah Wolf of the band Why? is out now on Joyful Noise Recordings.

RSVP HERE: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/kicking-it-curbside-with-tall-tack-room-tickets/14918273?pl=thalia3

Smooth Rogers is the brainchild of Chicago-based musician, Zac Bron. Combining elements of psychedelic pop, dreamy alt-rock, and funk infused synth pop, Smooth Rogers takes you on a journey through lush soundscapes and danceable grooves.

Singer-songwriter Caleb Jefson, best known as Marble Teeth, has always made music that sounds like it could fall apart at any second – that’s exactly why it matters. there was a huge crowd of people gathered in the street reads small, uneven, and at times uncomfortable. Yet, it’s one of the clearest statements from a project that has built a world on imperfection.

Five songs, acoustic at their core – this EP extends the small central Illinois artist’s commitment to small-scale intimacy while pulling harder on collage and interruption. Memory fragments, incidental noise, disjunction; it’s a continuation of the lofi folk lineage that runs through Phil Elverum’s The Glow Pt. 2 and the early Alex G. cassettes – but also belongs to the current ecosystem of Bandcamp folk that refuses polish as a matter of principle.

credit: https://uglyhug.com/2025/09/23/marble-teeth-finds-poetry-in-the-power-bill-album-review/

Cody Palmer fronts the high-energy honky-tonk band Sparkle Carcass creating the sound he calls Dive Bar Country, while Downes leads Reilly Downes & The Acid Cowboys known for her raw storytelling and “small, but mighty” vocals. Married in real life, these two are in constant collaboration, regularly swapping side-musician duties to play in each other's full bands. Stripping away the loud electric setup for a rare acoustic duo set, they'll share the stage trading off lead vocals, and backing each other up for an intimate, unfiltered showcase of songs.