There are a lot of great shows this week featuring local bands, and lots of them are free or very cheap. You should check some of them out, give some love and support to the local music scene.
On Wednesday, there isn’t a whole lot going on except for a whole bunch of St. Patrick’s Day or otherwise Irish-themed celebrations at the Abbey Pub, Metro, FitzGerald’s, and the Old Town School of Folk Music. Because in Chicago, we celebrate St. Patrick’s day twice – once on Saturday, and then again on the holiday proper.  Is this city just a giant excuse to party sometimes? Why yes, yes it is.
Monday, March 15
Amaral; Instituto Cervantes of Chicago (31 W Ohio). 7 pm, $15-20
Imelda May, The Del Moroccos; Martyrs. 8 pm, $15
My Gold Mask, Common Loon, Cloud Nothings, Campfires; Empty Bottle. 9 pm, free
Woods, Real Estate, Netherfriends; Lincoln Hall. 9 pm, $12
Tuesday, March 16
Jamie Cullum, Imelda May; Park West. 8:30 pm, sold out
Wednesday, March 17
Nothing; go celebrate St. Patrick’s Day… again.
Thursday, March 18
Jay-Z; United Center. 7 pm, $39.50-129.50
Chicago Bar Association Symphony Orchestra and Chorus; St. James Cathedral (65 E Huron). 6:30 pm, $10
Low Down Brass Band, Identity Crisis Inc.; Cubby Bear Wrigleyville. 10 pm, free
Friday, March 19
Cowboy Junkies, Grant-Lee Phillips; Old Town School of Folk Music. 7 pm and 10 pm, $34-38
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis; Symphony Center (220 S Michigan). 8 pm, $34-129
Great Big Sea; House of Blues. 8 pm, $25-27
The Shams Band, Derek Nelson and the Musicians, Will Phalen and the Stereo Addicts, Hey Rabbit; Subterranean. 9 pm, $7-10
Scout Niblet, Picastro; Schubas. 10 pm, $12
Saturday, March 20
Gold Motel, Color Radio, Volcanoes Make Islands; Subterranean. 6:30 pm, $10
Great Big Sea; House of Blues. 8 pm, $25-27
Norah Jones, Elvis Perkins; Chicago Theatre. 8 pm, sold out
White Mystery, Other Minds; Hideout. 9 pm, $8
Sunday, March 21
Harmonica Convergence; Old Town School of Folk Music. 7 pm, $24-28
Willie Nelson and Family; Genesee Theatre (203 N Genesee St., Waukegan). 7 pm, $40-85