Music notes: Ivy Ford brings the blues to Libertyville's Mickey Finn's

Ivy Ford and the blues

Ivy Ford, Waukegan's fresh-faced contribution to Chicago's blues scene, is a striking force in local music. With a decade of experience belting out hits and honing her instrumental skills, including stints with the legendary Buddy Guy, this retro-styled musician brings a rare energy to the stage whenever she performs with her band. Catch her when she pairs with indie pop-rockers Blood Red Boots at Mickey Finn's in Libertyville. 10 p.m. Friday, April 29, at Mickey Finn's Brewery, 345 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Free. (847) 362-6688 or mickeyfinnsbrewery.com.

New Colony Six comes back

New Colony Six, one of Chicago's original garage bands, had a string of hits in the late '60s and early '70s. It took a reunion show in 1988 to get the band rocking again. Catch the current lineup at the Woodstock Opera House this weekend. 7 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 W. Van Buren St., Woodstock. $36-$46; VIP meet-and-greet packages available for $76. (815) 338-5300 or woodstockoperahouse.com.

Aaron Williams at HOB

Glen Ellyn's Aaron Williams is one of the busiest guys on the local music scene. With his hands in many different projects - including organizing the annual Homegrown Music Festival and creating music and a video for the locally produced feature film “Mind Over Mindy” - it's a wonder he has time to perform with his rock band, The Aaron Williams Band. But with recent performances across the suburbs and city, the band is drawing crowds. Catch them Saturday when they play Chicago's House of Blues with Obisoulstar, The Energy Commission and Adam Ness. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. $10. (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com.

Gallery 81 single debut

Living in the space between alternative rock and pop-punk, Gallery 81 is gaining a name for itself with energetic stage shows and music that has been trending on ReverbNation. The band, which has ties to DuPage County, is releasing a new single, “Freight Trains,” at their Saturday night show. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at Chicago Star Bar, 10139 Harlem Ave., Chicago Ridge. $7 for singles, $10 for couples. (708) 576-8785 or chicagostarbar.com.

Illuminati Congo jamfest

Chicago reggae rappers Illuminati Congo headline a night of local jams at Brauerhouse in Lombard. Rapper Jahn the Baptist and producer Nic the Graduate blend hip-hop beats and healing grooves in their music, along with samples from a wide variety of styles and genres. Libertyville fusion rockers Sneezy, Chicago reggae jamfest Fersher and Plainfield's funk-rocking OD Jo join the party. 9 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at Brauerhouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $8-$10. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Upcoming concerts

College of Lake County Jazz Ensemble: 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 29, in the Mainstage Theatre of the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts on the CLC Grayslake Campus, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. Jazz, big band. $5-$6; free for kids younger than 18 (ticket required). (847) 543-2040 or clcillinois.edu/programs/mus.

Cellrs, Valo, The Sharrows, Austin Fillmore: 8 p.m. Friday, April 29, at the Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. Rock. $5. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

Werewolves at Hour 30, The Locals: 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 29, at HVAC Pub, 3530 N. Clark St., Chicago. Rock. $8. (773) 789-8864 or hvacpub.com.

Rusted Root: 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 29, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. Roots rock. $20. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

NRBQ and Los Straitjackets: 9 p.m. Friday, April 29, at FitzGerald's, 6615 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. Pop, rock, jazz and more. $25. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

SEMPLE: 9 p.m. Friday, April 29, at EvenFlow, 302 W. State St., Geneva. Rock. Call for cover. (331) 248-0269 or evenflowmusic.com.

Field Day: 9 p.m. Friday, April 29, at Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Rock. $4. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

Studebaker John & The Hawks: 9:30 p.m. Friday, April 29, at Harlem Avenue Lounge, 3701 S. Harlem Ave., Berwyn. Blues. $6. (708) 484-3610 or harlemavenuelounge.com.

Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet with “Brass Blow-Out” concert: 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook. $25 adults; $23 seniors; $7 students. (630) 941-0202 or elmhurstsymphony.org.

New Colony Six: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 W. Van Buren St., Woodstock. Rock. $36-$46; VIP tickets $76. (815) 338-5300 or woodstockoperahouse.com.

The Sweet Potatoes and The Young Novelists: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at Maple Street Chapel, 220 S. Main St., Lombard. Folk, country and more. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door or in advance at maplestreetchapelfolk.com.

Haley Reinhart's “Better” Benefit Concert: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $22.09. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

Oakton Six Piano Ensemble: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 30, and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 1, in the Footlik Theater at Oakton Community College, 1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines. Classical, ragtime and more. A reception follows each concert. Tickets cost $19 general admission; $16 for seniors and students; $14 for groups. (847) 635-1900 or oakton.edu/tickets.

The Rod Stewart Alumni Band with “The Rod Experience”: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Rock; Rod Stewart tribute. $19; free for kids younger than 12. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

“ABC's Nashville in Concert”: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. Country; features music from the ABC television series “Nashville.” Performers include Clare Bowen, Chris Carmack, Will Chase and Audrey Peeples. $37.50-$77.50. ticketmaster.com.

Cirrus Falcon: 9 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Rock. $4. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

Dream Council, Inspector Owl, Magicks: 9 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at Quenchers Saloon, 2401 N. Western Ave., Chicago. Rock. $5. (773) 276-9730 or quenchers.com.

Afterlife featuring Kings of Class, Bentley Dean, GoodSex, DJ LD, James Dean, Guilty Pleasures and Dr. Proper: 10 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at Annex Nightclub, 1958 W. North Ave., Chicago. House, EDM. $5; free before midnight. (773) 278-4646 or annexnightclub.com.

The Festival Chorus of Harper College: 3 p.m. Sunday, May 1, at the Performing Arts Center at Harper College, 1200 Algonquin Road, Palatine. Classical. $12-$18; free for kids 5 and younger. (847) 925-6100 or goforward.harpercollege.edu.

Palatine Concert Band: 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 1, at Cutting Hall, 150 E. Wood St., Palatine. Band presents its spring concert. $5-$8; free for kids 12 and younger. (847) 202-5222 or cuttinghall.org.

Like Rats, Disrotted, Staring Problem, Mexican Werewolf: 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 1, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. Metal. $8. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.

American English: 7 p.m. Thursday, May 5, at Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove. Pop and rock; Beatles tribute band. Proceeds help support the South East Association for Special Parks and Recreation, which provides recreation services to people with special needs. $25, plus service fee. Doors open at 6 p.m. seaspar.org.

Information is provided by entertainment venues. Check with venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings, visit dailyherald.com/calendar.