The original item was published from March 15, 2019 1:47 PM to April 1, 2020 12:00 AM
You can find a variety of live music in Geneva on any weekend. You just have to know where to go.
On Saturday, May 25, FoxFire Restaurant is having Make it a Double, with Mark Frystak (vocals/guitar) and Hayley Skreens (vocals/banjo) producing a sound that is all their own. From Bluegrass to Contemporary Folk, to Country and Americana, this duet delivers originals and reinvented popular tunes.
Live music of this quality is impressive for a City of only 22,000 residents in the western suburbs. If you compare Geneva to Chicago, our high-quality restaurants and one-of-kind shops, really do keep up with the best of them.
To keep their customers coming back for more, the Walrus Room occasionally has live jazz music on Friday nights. If you follow their Facebook page, you will not miss the next night of relaxing background music with your Manhattan and Walleye dinner.
Preservation has also kept its scene thriving with live acoustical singers and instrumentals to enhance your intake of wine and pretty artisan cheese/meat plates.
The Hootenanny House, which primarily provides group music lessons, hosts wonderful concerts during the summer. For $15-20, you can find top-notch musicians playing for an audience inside their adorable house. Last summer, they had Chicago songwriter Heather Styka. Hootenanny’s Facebook event description is enticing…“With a heartfelt croon that brings to mind Billie Holiday or Patsy Cline, Styka combines the lyrical intricacy of folk with a catchy melodic pop sensibility and the grit of classic country in songs that are smart and disarming.”
Another nice option for a musical evening is at Geneva Wine Cellars and Tasting Room. At 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays, this intimate venue is filled with the sound of beautiful live music. For a $15 per-person minimum tab, you can relax and enjoy the performance with a glass of wine. Keep in mind that reservations are not taken, and seating is limited.
Summer is a great time to catch live music on the lovely patios of places like Livia Italian Eatery, Fiora's, and Galena Cellars Winery. Free outdoor concerts are held every summer at our parks, festivals, and Geneva Commons. City-sponsored concerts are listed on our Upcoming Events web page.
Old Towne Pub and Eatery regularly hosts the band Wait, What? which plays a variety of “covers gone acoustic” and “blues you can move to.” They also have open mics and other acoustical performers on their calendar.
Be on the lookout for Cafe & Barr, a new Geneva coffeehouse on Third Street that already has an impressive calendar of weekend concerts starting in April. Olivia Ports, described as having dark lyrics and Indie/pop melodies, will play on the evening of Saturday, May 11.
No list of live music venues in Geneva would be complete without mentioning EvenFlow Music & Spirits. EvenFlow has some of the most popular regional acts. This three-level venue with a full-sized stage features bands in every genre from rock to jazz to live band karaoke. The walls of EvenFlow's impressive vintage building, once the State Bank of Geneva, highlight artwork celebrating some of the greatest American musicians. To listen to favorites by Ella Fitzgerald, Cole Porter, and Louis Armstrong on an early Sunday evening, catch Lush Life Jazz Band, a Chicago Jazz Trio, there on Sunday, April 7.
A number of Geneva establishments have live music on their calendars, from open mics to soulful acoustical performers and jazz bands. Just check their website or Facebook Page to plan a fun night out on the town. Here is a list of places to keep in mind with a Facebook Page link to each location. You can also use the new
Explore Geneva Map to plan your visit and find your way to these venues. Hope to see you soon!
Find the Music Here
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