We are getting back in the swing of things here with the weekly calendar. Â It’s the beginning of the year, cut me some slack.
We’ve got some great local artists on bills this week, plus some very diverse acts coming in as part of the Tomorrow Never Knows festival, spread out at Schubas, Lincoln Hall, Metro, and the Hideout.  And, the Old Town School of Folk Music is kicking off a 55-day celebration of not only its 55th anniversary, but also the grand opening of its new building this week, with various classes, concerts, and other events.
Monday, January 9
Robbie Fulks, Don Stiernberg; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 Suggested Donation
Tuesday, January 10
Gabe Dixon, Leila Broussard; SPACE. 8 pm, $10-14
The Black Willoughbys; Hideout. 9 pm, $5 Suggested Donation
Creepy Band, Jon Drake & the Shakes, Johnathan Young, Ryley Walker; Empty Bottle. 9 pm, $8
Wednesday, January 11
Koo Nimo & The Occidental Highlife Association; Old Town School of Folk Music (West; 4544 N Lincoln). 8:30 pm, free ($5 suggested donation)
Thursday, January 12
Drake Bell; SPACE. 7 pm, $25-30
Tycho, Active Child, Ant’lrd, Abstract Science DJs; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, sold out
Friday, January 13
Filligar, Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes, Save the Clocktower; Subterranean. 9 pm, $10
Saturday, January 14
Alejandro Escovedo, JT Nero, Allison Russell; Old Town School of Folk Music (West; 4544 N Lincoln). 7 pm & 10 pm, $24-28
Too Hot To Handel: The Jazz Gospel Messiah; Auditorium Theatre. 7:30 pm, $30-72
The Walkmen; Metro. 10 pm, $26
Sunday, January 15
The Pickin’ Bubs; Schubas. 12 pm, free
Too Hot To Handel: The Jazz Gospel Messiah; Auditorium Theatre. 3 pm, $30-72
Vance Gilbert; Old Town School of Folk Music (East; 4545 N Lincoln). 7 pm, $16-20
Nina Ferraro, The Parlour Suite, Bad Bad Meow, Natalie Grace Alford; Beat Kitchen. 8 pm, $10
Freakers Ball: A Tribute to Shel Silverstein, ft. Jon Langford, Sally Timms, Nora O’Connor, and others; Hideout. 8 pm, $20