27 Live is a new restaurant, lounge and live event venue opening this Spring in downtown Evanston. Follow 27 Live on Facebook for all of the latest news, concert information and events.

Restaurant (coming soon)
27 Live is putting a fresh twist on Modern American cuisine in our full-service restaurant, and mixing creative cocktails alongside local craft brews on tap. The menu is fresh and rotational, and the preview menu will be introduced in late February/early March.

Lounge (coming soon)
With iron chandeliers, a fireplace, black slick booths and a stunning art deco bar – this will be the secret weekday spot.

Live Event Venue
Click here for more information on our upcoming events or join our mailing list to stay up to date with our monthly concert calendar.

27 Live will be rockin’ tonight with the blazing, soulful guitar of Louie Zagoras and Rollover. Come on down with your dancing shoes on. The doors open at 8:00PM and the show starts at 9:00PM. Get your tickets on Ticketfly.

Chicago Tribune ranked this as one of the top 10 things to do this weekend!

The Mumps. Television. Patti Smith. Ramones. Talking Heads. City Lights. Blondie. It’s 1975 and CBGB’s is holding a showcase of bands they consider The Top 40 New York Unrecorded Rock Talent. In the same part of town, a few 18-year-olds decide to throw together a cartoon and music fanzine that will hopefully earn them free drinks and entrance to some of their favorite clubs. “PUNK” fanzine only ran 15 issues between 1976-1979, but still became one of the most influential early punk magazines.

One of those scrawny 18-year-old entrepreneurs was Legs McNeil. Known as the “resident punk” – he has since gone on to become a contributing editor at Spin Magazine and author/co-author on numerous books on the early punk scene and his close relationship with the Ramones. On Friday, April 26th, McNeil reads from his current best-seller, “Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk” as well as his new book, “Live Through This…” (a true story). If anyone ever wanted to know about the drugs, sex and rock n’ roll – Legs has already filled more than a few books with the real stories. The night will also feature musical performances by 27 Live favorites The Handcuffs and The Black Laces.

Doors open 8 p.m. / Show 9 p.m., $6 advance tickets/$8 at the door

HAPPENING TONIGHT! (Monday, April 8th)
Turning Point Behavioral Health Care Center presents A Night at the Movies April 8th from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at 27 Live, 1012 Church Street in Evanston. The event includes an intimate screening of the critically-acclaimed documentary Of Two Minds exploring life with bipolar disorder. An hors d’oeuvres reception and conversation with award-winning filmmaker Doug Blush, and Carlton Davis, one of the six individuals featured in the film, follows the screening. Tickets are $70. For reservations and more information call 847-933-0051 or visit www.tpoint.org. Proceeds will benefit Turning Point’s mission of making comprehensive, high-quality mental health care accessible to all.

OF TWO MINDS Feature Trailer from Douglas Blush on Vimeo.

FRI 4/5 – Evanston Punk Rock Night Featuring The Mizzerables
+ The Cathy Santonies + Command Control
9 PM / Doors 8 PM, $5-$8, 18 and over TICKETS - On the first Friday of every month, 27 Live and Wrecking Ball Productions bring together some of the best local punk lineups from the Chicagoland area.

FRI 4/12 – The Bernie Worrell Orchestra + The Famous Mandrell Brothers
9 PM / Doors 8 PM, $12-$15, 21 and over TICKETS - Bernie Worrell is a legendary funk keyboardist who is best known for his work with Parliment/Funkadelic and The Talking Heads. Worrell’s new project brings the funk to Evanston.

FRI 4/19 – Empire State Express + The Top Shelf Lickers
9 PM / Doors 8 PM, $5-$8, 18 and over TICKETS - Empire State Express has a new full-length album streaming on their site at www.empirestateexpress.com

FRI 4/20 – Nigel Mack & the Blues Attack
9 PM / Doors 8 PM, $5-$8, 21 and over TICKETS - Nigel Mack is a canadian import to the blues scene in Chicagoland. With his playing history at places such as Buddy Guys, House of Blues and Blues Bar, it seems like he fits right in.

FRI 4/26 – Punk Rock Storytelling with Legs McNeil + Black Laces + The Handcuffs
9 PM / Doors 8 PM, $6-$8, 21 and over TICKETS - Buried deep in the heart of the 70’s New York punk scene, McNeil became friends with some of the best known acts that ever played CBGB’s. He founded Punk Magazine, became a Spin contributor and co-wrote an unofficial punk history guide. Bands before and after McNeil’s storytelling.

SAT 4/27 – The Pat Smillie Band
9 PM / Doors 8 PM, $5-$8, 21 and over TICKETS - Rock, soul and blues all rolled into one night.

FRI 5/3 – Death and Memphis + Voice of Addiction + The Shallow Hearts
9 PM / Doors 8 PM, $5-$8, 21 and over TICKETS - On the first Friday of every month, 27 Live and Wrecking Ball Productions bring together some of the best local punk lineups from the Chicagoland area. Death and Memphis is an all-star line-up featuring members of The Bomb, My Big Beautiful, and Boneyard Brawlers.

SAT 5/4 – Louie Zargoras & Rollover
9 PM / Doors 8 PM, $5-$8, 21 and over TICKETS - Rollover has opened for well-known acts such as Dave Mason, Kenny Loggins and Joe Satriani. This band is a fan favorite in the Evanston neighborhood

If you have never heard of SXSW (South by Southwest), think of Austin, Texas being invaded by Lollapalooza… and then invaded by the Chicago Film Festival. SXSW features 104 stages, musical acts from 50 countries, and close to 19,000 participants. Besides the music, there are film and interactive events running simultaneously from March 8 – March 17. Office media nerd Jackie here at 27 Live has put together a Spotify playlist. Sneak a listen this week and up your local music IQ.

CONGRATS TO THE KICKBACK!
Here at 27 Live, we were fortunate enough to have The Kickback play our first show of 2013 in the music venue. Like any early twenty-something guys, The Kickback were excited about three things: a new live music venue to play in, a few free beers and most importantly, two extra-large pizzas left for them in the green room.

As a newer band on the scene, an all night intimate set was peppered with band banter, bad jokes and awkward story-telling. It was a marathon of a set. If you have a chance to see them this year – request their weird and brilliant cover of Weezer’s “Sweater Song.”

Full List of Chicago South by Southwest acts:
Chance The Rapper | The Congregation | Jerome Derradji | Device | Empires | Frontier | Gemini Club | The Hood Internet | Houses | JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound | The Kickback | Davy Knowles | Jon Langford & Skull Orchard | Locrian | Scott Lucas & the Married Men | Johnathan Mcreynolds | Chris Mills | Mahogany | Omen | On An On | Vic Spencer | Waco Brothers | Wild Belle