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.

The Silver Palms is an indie rock band based in Chicago. Though all four members hail from the landlocked Midwest, their sound channels the spirit of the coast—blending surf-rock influences with catchy pop melodies and immersive, introspective lyrics.

Following its late summer release, the band is out actively promoting their new EP. This four-track release marks the band’s second project and signals the beginning of a new chapter for The Silver Palms.

Known for their energetic and engaging live shows, The Silver Palms have played across the city at venues including Gman Tavern, Beat Kitchen, Reggie's, Subterranean, & many more.

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!

Frankie Master is a singer/songwriter based in Chicago. Originally from metro Detroit, she grew up listening to Motown, show tunes, early aughts pop, and 70s folk rock – meanwhile studying classical piano and journaling compulsively for 10+ years. As a result (presumably), her music is a unique blend of indie, soul, rock, and pop – warm, sincere, and introspective at its heart.

Get the party started early ahead of Geese's sold out Thalia Hall show with a pre-show happy hour downstairs in Tack Room! Local selector extraordinaire Machete Matt of Laurie's Planet of Sound will be curating the tunes while Tack Room serves up their speciality drinks to kick things off right. 

Get the party started early ahead of Geese's sold out Thalia Hall show with a pre-show happy hour downstairs in Tack Room! Local selector extraordinaire Machete Matt of Laurie's Planet of Sound will be curating the tunes while Tack Room serves up their speciality drinks to kick things off right. 

Join us for a frightful evening with our resident drag queen Wanda. She will be kicking off spooky season with “Everybody Scream,” an evening of music from Florence & The Machine as well as tunes from other other witchy artists. Gather around the piano and enjoy an eerie evening with her on Friday, October 10 from 9pm-11pm. 

Don’t miss it! 

Wanda is Chicago's dark-sided, piano-playing drag queen. She has performed in New York City, Los Angeles, London, and all around the UK as a solo act and as part of the drag theatre group SADHAUS, which she co-founded. You can usually find her enchanting audiences at Tack Room or leading a ghost tour downtown. She has also led art tours at the Art Institute, and if you're lucky she will bust out her accordion! Find Wanda on Instagram at @wandachicago.

Spencer Schillerstrom is a Chicago-based saxophonist, educator, and composer. Bending definitions established by genre, Spencer has taken his unique sound to venues all over the midwest as a bandleader and sideman at venues such as Andy’s Jazz Club, The Chicago Jazz Showcase, The Promontory, and currently holds a residency at The Waterfront Cafe. Spencer holds an MFA from DePaul University in Jazz Saxophone, is a Tenor Madness Saxophones Artist, a Luminarts Fellowship Finalist, and is a former student of world renowned musicians Dana Hall, Scott Burns, Patrick Bartley, and Steven Snyder. As an educator, Spencer currently leads the Jazz Band at Lewis University, conducts private lessons at Downers Grove South High School, and teaches at Hinsdale South High School as the saxophone studio paraprofessional and jazz program co-director. “Introducing Spencer Schillerstrom” is now available on all streaming platforms.

Mark your calendars, the Lovergirl Halloween Extravaganza is coming to an Ack Room near you! We will have 4 craft options and each person gets to make 2 things. More info on specific crafts & costume contest to come.

PuRCHASE TICKETS HERE: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/halloween-craft-night-with-lovergirl-tack-room-tickets/14547103?pl=thalia3

Get ready for a night of infectious grooves and sultry vibes with BIOLÓGICA Y SU COMBO, a vibrant force in Chicago's Latin Jazz scene. Known for intertwining classic rhythms like chachachá, mambo, and bossa nova; the band pushes boundaries by embracing the spirit of fusion. Led by their charming frontwoman, Biológica — the group is a powerhouse of killer jazz musicians who know how to bring the heat.

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 for his quartet and for Solar Sails, a collective jazz fusion trio with fellow Lawrence grads. Excited to play at the Tack Room!

Chicago-based guitarist and composer Jack Macklin is a rising star in the modern jazz music scene. Macklin's love for the guitar began at an early age starting with the first song he learned how to play; "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osborne. This sparked a life-long pursuit for Macklin to explore and discover the impact of music on humanity.

Macklin's music is deeply inspired by improvisation and the lineage of master musicians who came before while exploring the boundaries of modern music. Macklin blurs the lines of what a genre can be.  Macklin now resides in Chicago, Illinois where he continually interacts with Chicago's best musicians and is invested in the community. Macklin is continuing to compose and perform regularly in Chicago and beyond.

Macklin is known throughout the community as a young lion and has already performed with many notable musicians at the age of 25 including; Matt Ulery, Greg Ward, Joel Frahm, Donny McCaslin, Marcus Finnie, Dave Douglas, Don Aliquo, Bruce Foreman, and many others. Macklin has been a part of many successful projects including the notable "Red Door Band" which was featured in news articles by Chicago Read and WGN. The band also released an EP in the summer of 2020, which features Macklin as a co-leader in the group.

Macklin is invested in his trio which released its debut EP entitled One that's on all streaming services and for sale on his website. His experience working with admired musicians from many different traditions has made him an interactive, and versatile musician who is finding his distinct musical voice.

Macklin returned to Chicago after two years of performing full-time in Nashville, TN. Macklin declared that spending his time on creative and improvised music is what he wants to accomplish. Macklin's goal is to create a band that goes above and beyond genres to connect with the audience personally and to have a compelling experience that leaves the listener wanting more. 

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.

Larson's stark, often blunt lyrics and weathered baritone shares similarities to Michael Gira (Swans, Angels of Light) and Mark Lanegan,  there are also generous shades of hazy shoegaze guitar and moody gothic overtones wedded to song structures that are pure American folk/blues at heart. It's no surprise that Larson's varied influences connect the dots between Son House and Bauhaus.

Loose Leaf is a contemporary jazz ensemble led by trumpeter Zachary Finnegan and guitarist Andrew Sudhibhaslip, blending original compositions and reimagined standards with a fresh, modern edge. Rooted in the warmth of acoustic sound yet expanded by electronic effects, the band creates a textured and immersive listening experience. With a name inspired by ritual and richness, Loose Leaf offers audiences music that is both grounding and adventurous, organic in feel, inventive in spirit, and brewed for connection.

Zachary Finnegan is a Chicago-based trumpeter, composer, and bandleader whose music bridges traditional jazz with orchestral, gospel, cinematic, and pop influences. He has toured internationally, performed at major festivals, and collaborated with artists such as Michael Bublé & Knower. His 2024 debut album Guidance & Gratitude has reached listeners in over 30 countries, showcasing his vision of jazz as both timeless and ever-evolving.

Andrew Sudhibhasilp is a French-born, Chicago-based guitarist and composer whose playing reflects a unique blend of European sensibility and American jazz tradition. With a style that weaves lyrical melodies and intricate harmonies, he brings both warmth and sophistication to the contemporary jazz scene. Andrew has become a sought-after collaborator across the Midwest, performing with leading ensembles while shaping his own artistic voice.

From Chicago, Illinois comes the emerging artist Paige Camera. Creating music that focuses on the beauty of lyricism, capturing it all with vivid imagery, and a glimmering voice. Her first album “Without Fear of Wind or Vertigo”, showcase the dedication to her vision, and lays the foundation for what we can expect in the future with her music. Her most recent single “Endlessly”, is out now.

Lydia Cash writes candidly about her life, forging songs as beacons of authenticity in which she reveals the innermost workings of her heart’s loves and losses. Her delicate melodies woven with alt-rock angst showcase this native Alabamian/Chicago transplant’s dichotomy of grit and sweetness.

Cash’s upcoming full-length album, Violet is slated for release this fall.

Kyle Downs is a Texas-born, Chicago-based guitarist that explores the intersection of jazz, indie rock, and soul through his carefully crafted selection of covers and original material

Join us for another evening of cozy crafting at Tack Room on 9/11 with Lovergirl Creates. As the sun starts to set earlier, stay warm and bright with a handmade candle holder, decorated with preserved fall leaves and additional collage materials. All materials and instruction included in the ticket price. Now introducing Early Bird Tickets - get your ticket by 8/27 for only $10!

Buy Tickets here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/fall-candleholders-with-lovergirl-creates-tack-room-tickets/14512113?pl=thalia3

Matt Coakley is a composer, multi-instrumentalist and singer based in Chicago. Matt made his solo debut in 2023 with the single "Wicker Woman", which he followed up in 2024 with two 8-EPs: "Splish Splash" and "All Hallows". In early 2025, he released two new songs: "Hey Lover" and "I Hope We Work Out".

Matt Coakley was born and raised in Philadelphia, graduated from Drexel University with a degree in recording arts, and then moved to Chicago where he has worked as a studio engineer, songwriter and music teacher for the past 7 years. He has recorded and performed with several acts in Chicago, New York, and Philly, such as The Laughing Hearts, Bonnie Watts, Drift, MJ Upstairs, Man After Man, Avenue Eight, and The Philadelphia Spice. 

Matt also co-wrote the musical "Planet W" with New York-based Franco Giacomarra. A concert showcase of the musical was staged in New York in 2023. "Planet W" debuted at ARS Nova's ANT FEST in June of 2024, produced by The Village Collective. In September 2024, a cast album recording of the musical was released. In 2025, "Planet W" was chosen as a finalist for the O'Neill Musical Theatre Conference.

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.

What if the greatest gift we could give is right here, right now?

For Chicago’s Blue Rose, this isn’t just an idea; it’s a way of life. Rooted in authenticity, their music celebrates the here and now, highlighting the beauty and power of living with intentionality and presence. Describing themselves as “new country with an old soul,” the Midwestern band led by Jori Griffith and Marcus Gebauer invites listeners to embrace life as it unfolds – a theme that resonates throughout their debut album, Blue Moon.

Produced by Noam Wallenberg at Rax Trax Recording, Blue Moon is as much a record about seeing our own ‘bigger picture’ as it is a reflection of Blue Rose’s story. Drawing inspiration from ‘60s and ‘70s rock icons as well as contemporary artists like Phish, Kacey Musgraves, Mt. Joy, and Lainey Wilson, Blue Rose masterfully blend influences into something uniquely their own: A little bit country and a little bit rock n’ roll, the band are as engaging on record as they are on stage, their live shows boasting an unpredictable edge.

“I want people to feel like they're home when they hear us,” Jori Griffith says. “I want them to feel connected through our songs.”

Blue Rose’s music radiates joy, celebrating our shared humanity while capturing real emotions and lived experiences. It’s the result of passions realized and dreams come true, and it’s an invitation for all those listening to live freely in the moment.

Purchase tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/show-tell-for-grown-ups-tack-roomthalia-hall-tickets-1520578955589?aff=oddtdtcreator

Looking to meet real people IRL? Welcome to the first step.

The Tell Me Why It’s Cool Show produces live events designed to showcase humans and the topics that get them excited.

We can’t wait to meet you and learn what you’re passionate about.

Show & Tell for Grown-Ups is a night of learning cool stuff & meeting cool people.

The show started here in Chicago April 2024 and has been bringing together a wide variety of knowledge junkies ever since. Check out our instagram to get a vibe for what the show is @tellmewhyitscool_show We can't wait to have fun & learn something with you.

How does it work?

Presenters sign up online for their 5-minute slots to tell us why something is cool. Then we open it up for Q&A with the audience for 3-4 minutes.

Chicago is full of interesting people who love to chat so the show is different every time.

What kinds of things do people bring to Show & Tell for Grown-Ups?

Topics can range from the intricacies of woodworking joinery to the chemical structure of the 90s sensational nail polish, Unicorn Pee. Sometimes people bring their cool collections or teach us about a Pop Culture phenominon that they think the world needs to hear about.

This show is PG-13. We're here to ignite interest in cool stuff, not fuel fires on heated issues. Presenters promise to keep this show free of adult content, excessive swearing, and anything that challenges anyone's religious, political, racial, or sexual identity.

Do YOU want to bring something to Show & Tell for Grown-Ups?!

Sign up online for a chance to get a slot: https://forms.office.com/r/gfMRYyRR7p

If you want to present, here are some prompts for what to bring:

• Have you made something that you’re really proud of, but haven’t had a chance to properly show it off to people? (AMAZING spreadsheets and life hacks encouraged!)

• Is there a subject that you have tons of seemingly pointless knowledge on? We love deep dives into the history or technical aspects of subjects.

• What was the last thing you did dopamine fueled rabbit hole research into (not necessarily work related)? Tell us why it's cool.