Hot Spots: Catch live music in the act

The suburbs sound good for live music, with settings ranging from nightclubs to restaurants. Here’s a sampling of some of the lively music venues that bring artists and fans together.

HARLEM AVENUE LOUNGE
ADDRESS 3701 S. Harlem Ave., Berwyn
CONTACT (708) 484-3610; www.harlemavenuelounge.com
The broad range of blues is represented here. “It’s everything from very traditional to Jimi Hendrix and everything in between,” says owner Ken Zimmerman. On Tuesdays, he features a solo or duet acoustic show, while Thursdays offer a blues jam; both start at 8:30 p.m. with no cover. Thursdays kick off with a house band. “We have different people — some neighborhood people, some professionals — who stop out,” he says. Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, who drummed for Muddy Waters, dropped by with Pinetop Perkins in August. And Marty Sammon, keyboardist for Buddy Guy’s band, recently starred. Bands play Fridays and Saturdays at 9:30 p.m., usually for a $6 cover.

The Jimmy Burns Band, known for a mix of Delta roots, R&B and soul, plays the Harlem Avenue Lounge in Berwyn. SUBMITTED PHOTO BY CHICAGOBLUESBEAT.COM

SALT CREEK WINE BAR
ADDRESS 8900 Fairview Ave., Brookfield
CONTACT (708) 387-2432; www.saltcreekwinebar.com
“We have a variety of music: jazz, blues, ska, reggae, rock; we’re very proud of the high caliber of music that we offer,” says co-owner Linda Kampschroeder. “It’s just a great venue, great acoustics.” She calls the setting warm, intimate and subtly sophisticated. Music is usually played two to three times weekly, with an open mic each Monday. In addition to 100 fruits of the vine, the wine bar features hand-crafted beers and cocktails, plus signature dishes from its kitchen.

WILLOWBROOK BALLROOM
ADDRESS 8900 S. Archer Ave., Willow Springs
CONTACT (708) 839-1000; www.willowbrookballroom.com
An entertainment landmark since 1921, the venue lets you stretch your legs to live music every Sunday. A dress code keeps up tradition for ballroom dancers, who are treated to 10-piece big bands in the afternoon. Swing fans can move to bands or disc jockeys Sunday evenings. DJs provide the beat for country and western dancing on Tuesdays and salsa on Wednesdays, while special events dot the calendar. Wish you were “Dancing with the Stars” worthy? Lessons will get you into the groove.

THE UPPER CLUB AT VILLA VERONE
ADDRESS 416 Hamilton St., Geneva
PHONE (630) 232-2201; www.villaverone.net
A dance floor is part of the action at the romantically lit Upper Club, a rich wood-paneled space reminiscent of a vintage downtown club. It’s part of a group of Villa Verone restaurants owned by Pietro Verone. He brings entertainment to his upstairs Upper Club each Thursday through Saturday, and now offers a comedy night on occasional Wednesdays. He says the alternating acts include The Family Reunion, which plays Motown and dance tunes; Tony Havana and the Flashback Cabaret Band, devoted to standards, Motown and jazz; Victor Pacini in a Sinatra tribute various Thursdays; and Ty Stone and Company, a James Brown revue. The only cover is a $5 admission to the comedy nights.

The RendezVu
ADDRESS 1 E. Wilson St., Batavia
CONTACT (630) 406-9177; www.the-rendezvu.com
Acts like Greg Boerner, the guitar guru whose name is pronounced “Burner,” frequent The RendezVu restaurant on Saturday nights, kicking off at about 9 p.m. The riverside restaurant and its Bulldog Lounge have a separate floor for pool table action. You can show off your own talents at open mics at 9 p.m. Thursdays.

CAB’S WINE BAR BISTRO
ADDRESS 430 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn
CONTACT (630) 942-9463; www.cabsbistro.com
The bistro, which held a birthday bash for performer Shirley King, daughter of B.B. King, has two venues for live music. Upstairs is an intimate loft where music starts at 7 p.m. Thursdays, with occasional cover. “It’s called ‘Home by Nine,’ but usually goes longer than that; we have singer-songwriters,” says Lisa Ayllon, who owns the restaurant with her husband, Luis. Both are avowed music lovers. She says there’s usually entertainment Friday or Saturday beginning around 9:30 p.m., adding, “We like to feature kind of fun music. I think, really right now, people want to laugh and have fun. Now that we own the restaurant, we don’t get out much and have to bring the entertainment to us.”

New Orleans singer-songwriter Olga has appeared in the “Home by Nine” series at Cab’s Wine Bar Bistro in Glen Ellyn. SUBMITTED PHOTO

McNALLY’S TRADITIONAL IRISH PUB
ADDRESS 201 E. Main St., St. Charles
PHONE (630) 513-6300; www.mcnallysirish pub.com
An eclectic mix of music is played Thursday through Saturday, with karaoke on Wednesdays. Sundays are devoted to the music of Ireland. To set the authentic pub mood, the Emerald Isle has been captured in the design of McNally’s by Irish artisans. Maurice Lennon, a fiddler who performed in several famous bands in Ireland and now calls Illinois home, plays traditional tunes from 4 to 7 p.m. Sundays. He often is joined by fellow musicians or Irish bands. “He’s developed a bit of a following; he’s unbelievable,” says Kieran McNally, partner and general manager. When Fridays and Saturdays roll around, he says some of the tables are moved aside to create room to dance as cover bands serve up ’80s and ’90s hits. An acoustic artist or duo plays from 8:30 to 11 p.m. Thursdays. There’s no cover.

The Boxx Elders is a favorite band at McNally’s Irish Pub in St. Charles. SUBMITTED PHOTO

THIS MUST BE THE PLACE
ADDRESS 206 Main St., Lemont
CONTACT (630) 243-1500; www.BeThePlace.com
“We’re (giving) people a place to hear original music,” says Dan Farnesi, who teams with his partner, Bill Moffatt, and their wives, Joleen and Karyn, to run the enterprise, which bills itself as offering casual dining and fine music. “We have everything from rock to blues. We’re doing a Sunday night jazz big band series ... (trying for) once a month.” To date, it has featured return engagements by the Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra and the Chico Smorgalees Jazz Ensemble. The orchestras vary from 15 to 19 players, he says, noting the series has been a big hit. Open mics are offered every Wednesday. Farnesi says This Must Be The Place hosts a lot of benefits — “We’re really trying to help as many people as we can here.”

CABANA CHARLEY’S
ADDRESS 6315 Main St., Seven Bridges Development, Woodridge
CONTACT (630) 964-TIKI (8454); www.cabanacharleys.com
With directional signs pointing to the beach, guests are immersed in a lively Florida-style restaurant and lounge, right down to the authentic tiki bar. “We like to create a fun atmosphere,” says owner Diann Denault, whose custom-built bamboo tiki bar comes complete with thatched roof. There’s no cover for the entertainment. Karaoke begins at 8 p.m. Thursdays, and an acoustic solo act or duo performs at 8 p.m. Fridays. Bands are featured at 8:30 p.m. Saturdays. Denault says the music covers hits from the 1960s to today, and Jimmy Buffett tributes are not forgotten. Alligator bites are on the menu, and contests run the gamut from dressing like your favorite classic rocker to holiday sweaters.

JOHN’S BUFFET
ADDRESS Winfield and Jewell roads, Winfield
PHONE (630) 752-2000; www.johnsbuffet.com
You won’t find a buffet at John’s Buffet. John Karwoski says his grandfather opened the restaurant and tavern in the 1920s, but didn’t want to call it a bar, so he picked a synonym of the period: buffet. Today, John’s offers music Saturday nights, with special events scattered during the year including live music the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. He says the smaller room puts the audience close to the entertainment, which generally ranges from pop to rock and a little blues. Music kicks off between 8:30 and 9 p.m., with no cover.

FLIGHT 112 WINE HOUSE
ADDRESS 112 W. Park Ave., Elmhurst
PHONE (630) 758-0808; www.flight112wine.com
Singer-songwriters are in the spotlight, with a solo or duo acoustic act taking the stage from about 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays. The show is held in coordination with a regular fundraiser, which offers half-price beer for a donation to the food pantry. Jazz rules Fridays from 8 to 10 p.m., typically featuring a trio, quartet or quintet. The Elmhurst College Jazz Band plays monthly. Artworks add personality to the sleekly contemporary setting of the organic wine house, where there’s no cover.

LUNAR BREWING CO.
ADDRESS 54 E. St. Charles Road, Villa Park
PHONE (630) 530-2077; www.myspace.com/lunarbrewingco
Lives bands on Saturday nights complement the crafted beers at Lunar Brewing Co., which has eight of its own beers on tap and nine guest taps. The rock and cover bands start playing between 9:30 and 10 p.m., with no cover. The bar, which serves pizza and snacks, also invites patrons to bring in their own food or have it delivered.

Mike and Mike plays a Thursday night acoustic set at McNally’s Irish Pub in St. Charles. STAFF PHOTO BY RENEE TOMELL