City Winery Chicago announces first concerts

Mavis Staples

Photo: Chris Strong

Michael Dorf, founder of Brooklyn's famed Knitting Factory, has recently focused his efforts on a new venture: wining, dining and serenading the Lucille Bluths of Chicago. City Winery Chicago, an offshoot of the successful New York flagship, will provide a full restaurant and wine bar to some 300 concert-goers at their wood-paneled music hall in the West Loop.

Scheduled to open August 1, the lounge will feature an array of musical and comedic stylings ranging from pop to world music. Helming City Winery Chicago's booking is Colleen Miller, a seasoned talent buyer who has spent the last 17 years at the Old Town School of Folk Music.

In addition to a robust initial lineup featuring Sam Moore, Roseanne Cash, Mavis Staples and Suzanne Vega among many others, the venue will host a special music series pairing live or recorded versions of an artist's discography with special wine flights to really emphasize those musical and taste notes. Launching Tuesday, August 28, the series kicks off with the music of T. Rex as performed by the Waco Brothers.

The casks continue to flow with a weekly Sunday Klezmer Brunch. Beginning August 19, City Winery will be serving up music from the old country while you nosh on bagels with schmear and lox.

A full list of shows is available after the jump.

Lewis Black + Running on Empty + John Bowman, August 15–19. $50–$80.
Klezmer Brunch with Chicago Klezmer Ensemble, Aug 19. $10.
Jesse Harris, Aug 22. $10.
Howie Day, Aug 23. $20–25.
Sam Moore, Aug 24–25. $45–85.
Klezmer Brunch with Maxwell Street Klezmer Band, Aug 26. $10.
Wine & music pairing: Music of T. Rex performed by the Waco Brothers, Aug 28. $15–35.
Gumbo & Cab Fest with the Lost Bayou Ramblers, Aug 30. $10.
An Evening with Johnny & Jimmy: John Sebastian of The Lovin’ Spoonful + Jimmy Vivino of the Basic Cable Band/CONAN, Aug 31–September 1. $35–45.
Klezmer Brunch with Tum Balalaika, Sept 2. $10.
Charlie Mars, Sept 2. $18–22.
David Grisman Sextet, Sept 6–7. $40–50.
Suzanne Vega + Musikanto, Sept 8–9. $40–50.
Klezmer Brunch with Shakshuka, Sept 9. $10.
Wine & music pairing: Music of the Rolling Stones performed by the Exiles on Randolph Street, Sept 10. $10–25.
Southside Johnny & The Poor Fools, Sept 13. $38–45.
Bebel Gilberto + Paulinho Garcia, Sept 14–15. $45–55.
Klezmer Brunch with Chicago Klezmer Ensemble, Sept 16. $10.
Joan Osborne Duo, Sept 16–17. $25–40.
Acoustic Strawbs + John Wesley Harding, Sept 18. $22–30.
Matthew Sweet, Sept 20–21. $30–40.
Patterson Hood, Sept 22–23. $22–28.
Klezmer Brunch with Jutta and Hi Dukes, Sept 23. $10.
Deolinda, Sept 24. $18–25.
Fanfare Ciocarlia, Sept 25. $18–25.
Ian Hunter of Mott the Hoople + Nicholas Tremulis, Sept 28–29. $44–55.
Klezmer Brunch with Maxwell Street Klezmer Band quartet, Sept 30. $10.
Girlyman, Sept 30. $22–30.
My Brightest Diamond, October 6. $18–25.
Shemekia Copeland, Oct 12. $22–28.
Paula Cole, Oct 13. $28–35.
Battlefield Band, Oct 15. $18–25.
Joan Osborne Duo, Oct 16–17. $25–40.
Mason Jennings + The Pines, Oct 19–20. $22–35.
Klezmer Brunch with Chicago Klezmer Ensemble, Oct 21. $10.
Kurt Elling,  Oct 22–23. $35–45.
Dobet Gnahore + Manu Gallo of Zap Mama + Kareyce Fotso + Leni Stern, Oct 24–25. $28–35.
Glen Phillips + Grant Lee Phillips, Oct. 27. $28–35.
Klezmer Brunch with Maxwell Street Klezmer Band quartet, Oct 28. $10.
Cheryl Wheeler, Oct 28. $18–25.
David Wax Museum, November 1. $18–22.
Klezmer Brunch with Maxwell Street Klezmer Junior Orchestra, Nov 4. $10.
Shawn Colvin, Nov 7–8. $40–50.
Bettye LaVette + Eilen Jewell, Nov 9–10. $38–48.
David Broza, Nov 12. $25–35.
Mary Black + Rosie O, Nov 15. $40–55.
Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane + Steve Kimock, Nov 16–Nov 17. $42–48.
Klezmer Brunch with Chicago Klezmer Ensemble, Nov 18. $10.
Rosanne Cash, Nov 18. $48–68.
Mavis Staples, Nov 23–24. $48–75.
Klezmer Brunch with Tum Balalaika, Nov 25. $10.
Klezmer Brunch with Ensemble M’Chaiya, December 2. $10.
Klezmer Brunch with Chicago Klezmer Ensemble, Dec 16. $10.
Klezmer Brunch with Maxwell Street Klezmer Band quartet, Dec 30. $10.
Los Lobos, Dec 31. $85–175.