At the clubs: March 18-25
America's Historic Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway Ave., Aurora: 28 Days, 10 p.m. Saturday, March 19; Rock Chicago — all ages live music, 7 p.m. Sunday, March 20, ($8). (630) 892-0034 or rh34.com.
Beans & Leaves Coffee & Tea Cafe, 320 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove: Thomas Swenson (Americana), 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 19; Merv Collins (fingerstyle guitar), 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 20. Free. (847) 821-0011.
Blues Bar, 2 W. Busse Ave., Mount Prospect: Mellon Cougar, 9:30 p.m. Friday, March 18; Mr. Blotto, 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 19. (847) 788-9977 or blues-bar.com.
Cubby Bear North, 21661 N. Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire: Lateralus (Tool tribute band), 10 p.m. Friday, March 18, ($6); Not For Profit, 9 p.m. Saturday, March 19, ($10). (847) 541-4700 or cubbybear.com/lincolnshire.
Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine: Sixteen Candles, 10 p.m. Friday, March 18, ($7); Rock Candy, 10 p.m. Saturday, March 19, ($7). (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.
FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn: New Faces of Soul, Bono Bros., Yellowhammers, Velvet Jimis, 8 p.m. Friday, March 18, ($10); Tab Benoit, 9 p.m. Saturday, March 19, ($20); Ralph Covert's Acoustic Army, 9 p.m. Saturday, March 19, in the SideBar music room ($10); Rob Parton's Big Band, Hinsdale Central High School Jazz Band, 6 p.m. Sunday, March 20, ($5-$10); Cahill, Stiernberg, Edelstein & Kawabata, 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, ($12); The Letter Three, 8 p.m. Thursday, March 24, in the SideBar music room. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.
Harlem Avenue Lounge, 3701 S. Harlem Ave., Berwyn: Linsey Alexander Blues Band, 9:30 p.m. Friday, March 18, ($6); Harry Garner Blues Band, 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 19, ($6); Open Mic Blues Jam, hosted by Tom Crivellone, 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, (free). (708) 484-3610 or harlemavenuelounge.com.
John Barleycorn, 1100 American Lane, Schaumburg: “Bands on the Rise” with Vasoline, Six Strings, Mockstar and more, 9 p.m. Thursday, March 24, ($5). (847) 619-5540.
McCarthy's Restaurant and Irish Pub, 506 Hawthorn Center, Vernon Hills: Legendary Rockstars, 9 p.m. Saturday, March 19. (847) 367-4704 or mccarthysrestaurant.com.
Montrose Room at the InterContinental O'Hare Hotel, 5300 N. River Road, Rosemont: Losing Scarlet, Friday, March 18. (847) 544-5300 or montroseroom.com.
Peggy Kinnane's 10-Year Anniversary St. Patrick's Day Music Fest, Peggy Kinnane's Irish Restaurant and Pub, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights: Music festival in heated big top tents. Runs through Saturday, March 19. Music runs from 11 a.m. to midnight each day, capped off with a national act each evening. Performers include American English, the Neverly Brothers, 38 Special and more. Tickets are $40-$50. Event is for ages 21 and older. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.
Penny Road Pub, 545 Penny Road, Barrington: Soil, Vintage, Man The Mighty, Red Violent, 10 p.m. Friday, March 18, on the main stage ($15); Nate Z. Cheef Squad, Dance Party, Watch City, 7 p.m. Friday, March 18, in the Rock Room; The Lizard Kings, Sudden Impulse, 10:45 p.m. Friday, March 18, in the Rock Room; The Spherical Banana, Time and Distance, 10:45 p.m. Saturday, March 19, in the Rock Room; Relevant Seed, Nitrous Rockside, Rude Rooster, 7 p.m. Saturday, March 19, on the main stage; The Pluto Platters, The Laffing Hyenas, Develop Mental Therapy, 8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 19, in the Rock Room. (847) 428-0562 or pennyroadpub.com.
S.P.A.C.E., 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston: Po' Girl with Peter Mulvey, 10 p.m. Saturday, March 19, ($12-$20). JJ Grey and Shannon McNally (acoustic), 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, ($18-$30). (847) 492-8860 or evanstonspace.com.
Two Way Street Coffee House, 1047 Curtiss St., Downers Grove: Lee Murdock, 8:15 p.m. Friday, March 18, ($7). (630) 969-9720 or twowaystreet.org.
Viper Alley, 275 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire: Trippin Billies, 8:15 p.m. Friday, March 18, ($12); Classic Albums Live: The Doors LA Woman, 8:15 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 19-20, ($10-$30); Johnny Winter, 8:15 p.m. Thursday, March 24 ($20-$40). (847) 499-5000 or viper-alley.com.