This Calendar lists live music events both within Chicago and the larger region within reach of Chicagoans.  The Agenda view shows more detail, and clicking on each item will also bring up a Google map. These listings are based upon information provided by venues, bands and promoters, and Timba.com is not responsible for schedule changes, cancellations, etc.
Are you a Timba, Salsa or Latin Jazz band, a venue presenting one, or a promoter for the band with an upcoming performance in the Chicago area or within driving distance from Chicago?  Listings here are free (we reserve the right not to list any information submitted).  Send the information (band, venue, performance dates, start/end times) at least a week in advance of the performance to bill.tilford@timba.com
See the Interviews & Reviews subpage  for reviews and interviews of concerts, CDs, films, books etc. For some capsule reviews of area restaurants that regularly feature live music, see the Restaurants with La Música page. For a listing of the directories for Salsa instructors, DJs and their events (there are one or more DJ events somewhere virtually every night of every week), see the Dance Events and Resources page.

VENUE KEY :

Abbey Pub , 3420 W. Grace St, Chicago IL 60618 (773) 478-4408   
AG (Abram Gale) Lounge , 2366 N. Neva Av., Chicago, IL 60707 (773) 804-6011
Alhambra Palace Restaurant , 1240 W. Randolph St, Chicago IL 60607 (312) 666-9555
Bottom Lounge ,   1375 W. Lake St., Chicago IL 60607 (312) 666-6775
Cafe Laguardia , 2111 West Armitage Avenue, Chicago IL 60647 (773) 862-5996 
Carnivale , 702 W. Fulton Market, Chicago IL 60661 (312) 830-5005 
Chicago Theatre , 175 N. State, Chicago IL 60601 (312) 795-0034 
Club Mambo , 3336 N. Milwaukee Av, Chicago IL 60641 (773) 481-2050 
Coconut Beach Nightclub ,  2787 S. Floyd St, Louisville KY 40299 (502) 634-2843
Coco , 2723 W. Division St., Chicago IL 60622 (773) 384-4811
Coup d'Etat, 2109 S. Wabash Av., Chicago IL (312) 753-5700
Cubby Bear Chicago ,   1059 W, Addison St., Chicago IL 60613 (773) 327-1662
Dragon Lounge at Sushi House , 1107 Lake St., Oak Park, IL (708) 660-8899
Excalibur Nightclub , 632 N. Dearborn, Chicago IL 60607 (312) 266-1944 
Family Den , 8940 S. Stony Island Avenue, Chicago, IL 60659 (773) 734-8545
The Foundry , 85 Executive Drive, Aurora, IL 60504 (630) 978-2088 
Green Mill Cocktail Lounge , 4802 N. Broadway St., Chicago, IL 60640 (773)-878-5552
Instituto Cervantes ,   31. W. Ohio,   Chicago IL 60654 (312) 335-1996
Kabuki Japanese Restaurant , 2473 N. Clark St., Chicago IL 60614 (773) 975-2340
Las Tablas Restaurant , 4920 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago IL 60641 (773) 202-0999
Latino Arts Inc , 1028 S. 9th Street, Milwaukee WI 53204 
Lazo's Tacos, 2009 N Western Av, Chicago IL 60647 (773) 486-3303
Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N. Kedzie AV, Chicago IL 
Mas O Menos , 2539 W. Division St., Chicago IL
Maya del Sol , 144 S. Oak Park Av, Oak Park, IL 60302 (708) 358-9800
Mayne Stage , 1328 W. Morse Ave, Chicago, IL 60626 (773)-381-4554 
McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage ,   425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn IL 60137 (63) 942-4000
Music Institute of Chicago , 1490 Chicago Av, Evanston IL 60201 (847) 905-1500 
90 Miles Cuban Cafe , 2540 W. Armitage, Chicago IL 60647 (773) 227-2822
Old Town School of Folk Music , 4544 N. Lincoln Av, Chicago IL 60625 (773)-728-6000  
Output Lounge, 1758 W. Grand Ave., Chicago IL 60622 (312) 929-2515
Ravinia Festival , 418 Sheridan Rd, Highland Park, IL 60035  (847) 266-5000
Room 43, 1039-1043 E. 43rd St., Chicago IL 60653 (773) 285-2222
Sabor Restaurant & Tequila Bar , 2907 45th St, Highland, IN 46322 (219) 595-0102
Sabor A Cafe , 2435 W. Peterson Av, Chicago IL 60659 (773) 878-6327
Salud Tequila Lounge , 1471 N. Milwaukee Av, Chicago IL 60622 (773) 235-5577
Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center , 4046 W. Armitage Av, Chicago IL 60639 (773) 698-6003
Siboney Cuban Cuisine , 2165 N. Western Av., Chicago IL (773) 276-8776
Sky Bar at Saints, 131 Breckenridge Lane, Louisville KY 40207 (502) 896-6711
Tumbao , 3213 W. Armitage, Chicago IL 60647, (773) 772-9800
Viper Alley , 275 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire, IL 60059 (847) 499-5000
Warrenville Library , 28W751 Stafford Place, Warrenville, IL 60555 (630) 393-1171
Wherehouse , 818 S. Water St., Milwaukee, WI 53204 (414) 383-7593

Notes About Some Key Concerts and Events

Some of the key events accessible to Chicagoans are:

A.  Alexander Abreu & Havana d'Primera, Sunday, June 9, 4pm
Club Azucar, 1506 Lake Shore Ct., Louisville, KY 40223
Tickets:   http://www.boletosexpress.com/event/havana-dprimera/

Yes, depending upon where you live, this may be a 5-6 hour drive, but they saw you coming, so it's a 4pm matinee.  You can do it!  And it's as close as they'll come to Chicago this time.   More than worth the drive if you can swing it. 

B.  Chuchito Valdés Trio, Jazz Showcase, May 30-June 2, various times

This is a 4-night stand by this excellent pianist in a trio format, who is also the son of Chucho Valdés and grandson of Bebo.   His drummer for the occasion will be Rafael Monteagudo, whose 2012 CD Innovation is also reviewed on our site. 

C. Buika, Saturday, June 15, 2013, 8pm
Old Town School of Folk Music

Buika's eclectic music is of special interest to Timba.com's readers in part because she works extensively with Cuban musicians, including Ivan Melón Lewis on this latest project.  This performance will also be part of the WYCC television Musicology series. 

D. Pablo Menéndez & Mezcla Jazz All-Stars, Saturday, June 29, 2013, 8pm
Old Town School of Folk Music

Pablo's cutting-edge resume goes waaaaaaay back.  He was a key member of the Experimental Sound Group (Grupo Experimentación Sonora del ICAIC) in the 1970s, his group Mezcla later combined everything from Cuban folkloric music to Jazz, Reggae, Rock and acheived international recognition as it did so.  The musicians all have serious Jazz chops (and most of them also lead other bands), and Pablo tells us that this will have some Yoruba and Rumba but will also bring some serious Jazz to the performance.  This should be on your don't-miss list. 

E.  Festival Cubano, August 3-4,  2013, Riis Park, Fullerton and Narragansett, Chicago IL
This is the fourth year for this festival, which so far has been continuously improving each year. The entertainment lineup usually comes much closer to the event, but save the date...