Weekend picks: Comedian Joe Machi hits three Zanies stages

'Red Eye' guy

If you enjoyed the work of comedian Joe Machi on TV shows like “Red Eye” or “Last Comic Standing,” then catch him live this week at three Zanies locations: First at 1548 N. Wells St., Chicago, (312) 337-4027, then at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, (630) 524-0001, then at MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont, (847) 813-0484. $25 plus a two-item purchase. zanies.com. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, in Chicago; 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, in St. Charles; and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, in Rosemont

Hawaii & wine

Try to forget the winter with a special Luau in the Loft January Wine Release tasting on Thursday at the Lynfred Winery, 971 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling. $8. (847) 229-9463 or lynfredwinery.com. 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7

Werewolves of Chicago

Chicago-based Werewolves at Hour 30 have cultivated a catalog that is, at once, true to modern rock (such as the infinitely catchy “Knocked Up”) while echoing the grooves of classic rockers (as in the luxuriously layered “No Direction”). WAH30 - James Duich, Art Wito and Elk Grove's Anthony Defilippis - are playing a 17-and-older show at Chicago's House of Blues Friday where they'll be joined by hard-core alternative rockers Draft Week, born in southern DuPage County, and Textures of Lions, a progressive rock foursome from Chicago. House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. $10. (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com. 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8

Conductor-soloist Grams

Conductor and Elgin Symphony Orchestra music director Andrew Grams shares his skills as a violin soloist in a series of concerts at two locations: Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $30-$45; then at Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $30-$65. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8 in Schaumburg; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10 in Elgin

Equality comedy

GayCo, Chicago's longest-running gay and lesbian sketch comedy troupe, revives its 2015 revue “Fifty States of Gay” for one show only tonight at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $25. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8

Poetry workshop

The Northwest Cultural Council hosts a Second Saturday Poetry Workshop at the Palatine Public Library, 700 N. North Court, Palatine. Workshop will be led by Angela Narcisco Torres, a senior poetry editor for RHINO and a reader for the New England Review. The topic is “Poetry of Place, Exile, and the Self: Exploring Identity and the Idea of Home.” Participants are encouraged to bring 15 copies of their own work to share with the group. $15. For reservations, call (847) 382-6922 or email nwcc@att.net. 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 9

Temporary creations

Ice carvers from Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio converge on Rosemont for an Ice Carving Competition on Saturday at MB Financial Park, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont. No admission charge. (847) 349-5008 or rosemont.com/mbfinancialpark. 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9

Arcada hosts Jeffery Austin

St. Charles fans of “The Voice” may have recognized Jeffery Austin as Jeffery Austin McClelland as he made his climb to the final four last season. But before the St. Charles North grad heads out West to chase his musical dreams, he will play one final show at the Arcada Theatre Saturday. Austin will perform many of his hits from his time on “The Voice,” in addition to other songs from his musical catalog. Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Tickets start at $15. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9

Hold on!

The top 35 bull riders will try to hang on to bucking bovines when the 2016 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Built Ford Tough Series launches Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 9 and 10, at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $20-$132. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 6:50 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, and 1:50 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10

Opera greats

Superstar tenor Plácido Domingo is joined by soprano Ana María Martínez for a special gala concert conducted by Sir Andrew Davis on Saturday at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. $250-$525. (312) 827-5600 or lyricopera.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9

Classical pop

Hear how pop songs by Adele, Coldplay and Pharrell sound when transcribed for a classical chamber trio when Simply Three performs on Saturday at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $25; $23 for students and seniors. (847) 381-0687 or prairiecenter.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9

Yesterday once more

Fans of The Carpenters won't want to miss the touring tribute show “Close to You” on Saturday at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $25-$35. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9

Simply Semple

With a voice made to belt out arena rock songs yet expressive enough to coax poetry out of song, Northern Ireland-born Keith Semple has journeyed through the Chicago music scene from one successful rock band to another. His recent appearance on “The Voice” made him a household name, but that only adds a bit of extra “wow” factor to his performances with Semple, the energetic rock band - featuring Stevie Craig, Johnny Jannotti and Drew Johnson - he's been playing with since 2013. Keith and the band bring their original rock to Palatine for a show at Durty Nellie's Saturday with Rebel Reign, a dual-female-fronted rock cover band from along the Illinois-Wisconsin border. Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $10. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com. 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9

Great Midwest Train Show

Model train enthusiasts can buy, sell and trade model trains and train-related items at the Great Midwest Train Show in buildings 1-5 at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. The show features operating model train displays, a Lego train layout, an HO layout for youngsters to operate and more. An estimated 180 exhibitors from more than 10 states will showcase everything from hobby tools to train whistles. $7 for adults and seniors; free for kids younger than 12. Free parking. greatmidwesttrainshow.com. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10

WinterFest

WinterFest at Volo Bog State Natural Area, 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, Ingleside, features live music with Kendra Swanson and Miles Over Mountains, a snow-sculpting contest, winter nature crafts, bog tours, skiing, snowshoeing and hiking, awards for Volo Bog's photo contest and more. Admission is $5 adults and $3 kids. (815) 344-1294. Noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10

Midnight deadline

See how “Cinderella” dances her way to the ball with accompaniment by composer Sergei Prokofiev when the touring Moscow Festival Ballet performs two shows Sunday at Belushi Performance Hall at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $55; $45 for youth. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10

Maggio's music

Vocalist Johnny Maggio performs the music of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin and other legendary crooners at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $15. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10

Bette's world

Learn about the life and personality of Academy Award-winning actress Bette Davis (1908-1989), as actress and historian Leslie Goddard portrays Davis in a History Speaks Lecture Series event in the Century Memorial Chapel at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. (630) 420-6010 or napersettlement.org. $7 adults; $6 kids (ages 4-12). Advance tickets save $1 each. 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10

Upcoming concerts

Sealed with a Kiss, 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, Q Bar Glendale Heights, 2240 Bloomingdale Road, Glendale Heights. Rock covers. (630) 893-9346 or qbarglendaleheights.com.

The Color Morale, Arkham, Victims, Tanzen, 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, Wire, 6815 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. Post hard-core rock. $15-$18. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.

Fletcher Rockwell, Decadents, Early Autumn Station, 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison, Chicago. Americana rock. $5-$7. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

Rad Payoff, Velocicopter, Bow & Spear, Secret Science, Blizzard Babies, Propane! Propane! 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, Quenchers Saloon, 2401 N. Western Ave., Chicago. Rock. $8. (773) 276-9730 or quenchers.com.

Sedated - Tribute to the Ramones, The Devilocks - Tribute to the Misfits, 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, Brauerhouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. Rock tributes. $5-$8. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

PM Buys, Glass Mountain, Scott William, 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Folk. $10. (773) 281-4444 or beatkitchen.com.

Ember Oceans, Freaks for Geeks, The Mile, As Is, 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. Indie rock. $8. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.

Boss Fight, Droughts, Buildings, Space Blood, Crttrz, Snort, Enhasa, Blue Steel, Game Genie, The Runaway Five, Jacob Horn Trio, 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, Quenchers Saloon, 2401 N. Western Ave., Chicago. Post-punk. $10. (773) 276-9730 or quenchers.com.

Hitsleep, Eye & I, The Great Fusilli, 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. Alternative rock. $10. (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com.

Punch Cabbie, Red River, Along the Parallel, Paragon, 7 Corners, Bloodman, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago. Metal, hard rock. $10. (312) 666-6775 or bottomlounge.com.

Romantic Rebel, 4WITHOUT, Seldom Told, 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, Brauerhouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. Hard rock. $10. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Dog & Wolf, Turnspit, The Flips, Otto Mann, Rapids, Sincere Engineer, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10, Quenchers Saloon, 2401 N. Western Ave., Chicago. Punk. $8. (773) 276-9730 or quenchers.com.

Reid Etter with Nadrine Omar, Kent Rieger and Ryan Peterson, 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. Acoustic rock. Free. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.