Sound check: Jason Isbell brings country to Chicago's Auditorium Theatre

Jason Isbell

Country/Americana star Jason Isbell took two Grammy Awards this year - Best Americana Album for "The Nashville Sound" and Best American Roots Song for "If We Were Vampires." Hear them as he and his band, the 400 Unit, play Chicago's Auditorium Theatre this weekend, joined by Oklahoma singer-songwriter John Moreland. 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $39.50-$79.50. (312) 341-2300 or auditoriumtheatre.org.

PolkaToberfest

Roll out the barrel with polka-rockers Brave Combo at BrauerHouse's PolkaToberfest. The two-night celebration features food, stein-holding contests and of course beer, along with performances by the Bolzen Beer Band and Sgt. Sauerkraut's Polka Band. 9 p.m. (doors at 8) Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14-15, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $15-$20 each night. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Meghan Trainor

Meghan Trainor, the pop singer formerly all about that bass, brings her show to the Chicago Theatre this weekend, along with the X Ambassadors, George Ezra and Brynn Elliott. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $49-$85. (312) 902-1500 or msg.com.

Randy Rogers Band

The Texas-bred Randy Rogers Band exudes authenticity in its Billboard-charting hits. Hear them for yourself when the band visits Rosemont along with Austin singer-songwriter Parker McCollum. 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Joe's Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. $19-$24. (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com.

Concert highlights

• For the Fallen Dreams, Obey The Brave, I Am, Of Virtue: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at Wire, 6815 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $15. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.

• Owl Meet rabbit, Robert Biskoski (from Bury Me In Lights), Action Jackie: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at Miskatonic Brewing Company, 1000 N. Frontage Road, Darien. Free. (630) 541-9414 or miskatonicbrewing.com.

• Orgy, Motorgrater, Brand Of Julez, The Crowned: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at RocHaus, 96 W. Main St., West Dundee. $20-$25. (815) 482-2870 or rochaus.com.

• Maroon 5 "Red Pill Blues Tour" with Julia Michaels: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. $80-$239. (800) 745-3000 or unitedcenter.com.

• Boy Band Review: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $70-$10. (331) 777-4712 or ticketweb.com.

• Buddy Guy, Quinn Sullivan, Carlise Guy: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $49-$125. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

• Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, John Moreland: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $39.50-$79.50. (312) 341-2300 or auditoriumtheatre.org.

• Hyryder, Kevin Mileski Duo: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $10-$12. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

• PolkaToberfest featuring Brave Combo, Bolzen Beer Band and Sgt. Sauerkraut's Polka Band: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $15-$20. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

• Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes and Tonino Baliardo: 8 p.m. (gates at 5) Friday, Sept. 14, at Ravinia Festival, 200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park. $33-$80. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org.

• Replay: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Free. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

• The Rack & the Riddler, Blaqrock, Garek, the Loose Cannons: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. $7-$10. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

• Jared & the Mill, Cardinal Harbor: 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $15. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

• The North 41, Stampy: 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at Martyrs', 3855 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $10-$15. (773) 404-9494 or martyrslive.com.

• State Champs, Sleep On It, Undesirable People: 9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago. $25. (312) 666-6775 or bottomlounge.com.

• Johnny Rivers, Jimmy Webb, Steve Kessler: 6:30 p.m. (gates at 5) Saturday, Sept. 15, at Ravinia Festival, 200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park. $20-$55. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org.

• Meghan Trainor, X Ambassadors, George Ezra, Brynn Elliott: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $49-$85. (312) 902-1500 or msg.com.

• PolkaToberfest featuring Brave Combo, Sgt. Sauerkraut's Polka Band and November Criminals: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $15-$20. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

• Smarty Pants: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Free. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

• The Vibrators, Walk Among Us, The Old Comiskeys: 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $10-$13. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

• Wedding Banned: 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $7. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

• Sam Adams Octoberfest Kick Off with Too White Crew and Trash Martini: 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $10. (331) 777-4712 or ticketweb.com.

• Tony Danza "Standards & Stories": 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$99. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

• The Rising (Bruce Springsteen tribute): 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $10. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.

• Vacation Manor, Ember Oceans: 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, at Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $10-$12. (773) 525-2508 or lh-st.com.

• War of Ages, Capsize, Ghost Key: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, at Wire, 6815 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $13-$15. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.

• John Popper: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago. $55-$68. (312) 733-9463 or citywinery.com.

• John Pizzarelli Trio: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago. $28-$42. (312) 733-9463 or citywinery.com.

• Ash, Namorado: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $20. (773) 525-2508 or lh-st.com.

• Sam Morrow: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at Bourbon on Division, 2050 W. Division St., Chicago. $10-$12. (773) 796-5879 or eventbrite.com.

• The Goddamn Gallows, Gutter Demons: 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $12-$15. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

• Tilian, Royal Coda, Andres, Sunsleep, Mark Rose, When We Was Kids: 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at Wire, 6815 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $15-$17. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.

• All-Star Grateful Dead Night: 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at BrauerHouse Live, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $10-$15. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

• Christopher Shayne, Dan Whitaker & The Shinebenders: 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $12-$10-$12. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

• Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor and local music fanboy. You can follow him on Twitter at @thatshamieguy. Listen to Brian's "2018 Chicago Sound Check Vol. 7" Spotify playlist for a sampling of some of the local bands he's written about recently for the Daily Herald.