We're seeking new members for our 2025 Board of Directors, as well as our founding Associate Board for young professionals 35 and under. Details and application at each of the links above.
Upcoming CHIRP Events
CHIRP Is Proud to Support Quiet Pterodactyl
Color Club
4146 North Elston
Chicago
,
IL
60618
(708) 320-8431
21+
CHIRP is proud to support Quiet Pterodactyl!
Quiet Pterodactyl, a non-profit that hosts and produces non-profit and educational music and arts programming, is celebrating its 5th anniversary! The event will include a silent auction as well as live musical performance from Angel Bat Dawid, JOBS, 4Dgirlz, DJ All the Way Kay, as well as additional surprises. Stop by the CHIRP table to say hello and pick up some swag!
The concert and auction take place on Sunday, November 24th at the Color Club, a new arts incubator and venue in the historic Irving Park neighborhood.
For more information, visit Quiet Pterodactyl’s website.
CHIRP Night at the Whistler with La Rosa Noir and This House Is Creaking
The Whistler
2421 N. Milwaukee
Chicago
,
IL
60647
(773) 227-3530
21+
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On Sunday, November 24th, CHIRP Night at the Whistler returns with La Rosa Noir and This House Is Creaking!
Every last Sunday of the month is CHIRP Night at the Whistler — an evening where you can enjoy the music of CHIRP-curated local artists, the Whistler’s take on classic cocktails, and the good feeling of supporting independent radio.
This September, we're excited to welcome Chicago's own La Rosa Noir and This House Is Creaking to the Whistler stage. As usual, there is no cover for this 21 and over event, and the night kicks off at 8:00 PM.
CHIRP Welcomes: Sharp Pins
Schubas
3159 N. Southport
Chicago
,
IL
60657
(773) 525-2508
18+
On Sunday, 12/1, CHIRP Radio 107.1FM welcomes Chicago's own Sharp Pins to Schubas!
Kai Slater returned this year with Sharp Pins’ newest offering, Radio DDR. It continues the project’s scuzzy indie-rock after last year’s delightful, Turtle Rock. Radio DDR really is a record that showcases the brilliance of DIY culture. Slater’s vision is brought to life with fuzzy imperfect vocals, slapping drums, and simple jangly guitars – what more could you want?
Both Sides Now presents: Sound and Vision
Schubas
3159 N. Southport
Chicago
,
IL
60657
(773) 525-2508
21+
Step into a realm where the music takes center stage and vinyl records reign supreme.
Introducing Both Sides Now: A CHIRP Vinyl Listening Bar -- a monthly oasis for music aficionados and introverts alike. Nestled in the cozy upstairs room of Schubas Tavern, this unique event happens every first Wednesday of the month.
Join us upstairs at Schubas! The decks start spinning at 7:30pm.
This month's menu comes from DJ Drew: "Sound and Vision".
- John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman – Lush Life (1961)
- Jim O’Rourke / Oren Ambarchi – Hubris (2016)
- The Beach Boys – Smile (1967)
CHIRP Welcomes: Wishy
Schubas
3159 N. Southport
Chicago
,
IL
60657
(773) 525-2508
18+
On Thursday, December 5th, CHIRP Radio 107.1FM welcomes Indianapolis indie rockers Wishy to Schubas!
You could call Wishy’s story a lucky one. For years, Kevin Krauter and Nina Pitchkites’ musical paths crossed then diverged, until they finally came together to form a new band. For a couple more years that band morphed, changing names and styles, but once everything cohered, it was clear Krauter and Pitchkites’ musical synergy was a rare one–the kind that sounds like someone hitting the jackpot. Part sly wink and part warm gratitude, it’s only fitting their much anticipated full length debut is titled Triple Seven.
Krauter and Pitchkites first met in high school in Indianapolis, but didn’t connect as friends until a little later, when Pitchkites was in college. At the time, Pitchkites was making music and playing shows around Indiana as Push Pop; Krauter, also gigging around Indiana, became an instant fan. After a brief stint in Philadelphia, Pitchkites found herself back home in Indianapolis in the spring of 2021. Krauter, who had since garnered acclaim for his solo albums, was eager to start a new band. He approached Pitchkites with material he’d written during the pandemic, and suggested they work together.
By day Krauter works as a music teacher, giving drum and guitar lessons to students, while Pitchkites is a seamstress by trade and often makes embroidered merch for the band. Coming up in a scene defined by hardcore and emo, Krauter and Pitchkites instead found themselves writing melodies in their heads while driving to work, pulling music from the air and arriving at a blearier, more ethereal interpretation of Midwest expanse. Initially, their music oscillated between hazy dream-pop and heavier alt-rock.
CHIRP Welcomes: Bettye LaVette
Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago
,
IL
60625
(773) 728-6000
All Ages
CHIRP is excited to welcome Bettye Lavette to The Old Town School of Folk Music on Sunday, December 8th!
Bettye LaVette was hailed by the New York Times as “one of the great soul interpreters of her generation”. She is a song stylist. Her gift is being able to take a song from any genre, whether well known or obscure, and making it completely her own. To quote the late, great George Jones, "Bettye is truly a 'singer's singer'."
These intimate shows feature Bettye and her keyboard player, Thomas West. They allow her voice to be the complete center of attention, and feature Bettye performing songs from throughout her 62 year career. Hearing Bettye in this intimate setting, stripped down to just her voice and a piano, is a very moving experience.
Her career began in 1962, at 16 years old, in Detroit, Michigan. Her first single, "My Man-He's A Lovin' Man", was on Atlantic Records. Throughout the 60s and 70s, she recorded for several major labels. She also appeared in the Broadway Musical Bubbling Brown Sugar alongside Honi Coles and Cab Calloway.
The 2000's started what she calls her "Fifth Career". Since 2000, she has received the R&B Foundation's Pioneer Award, won several Blues Music Awards, was inducted into both The Blues Hall Of Fame and The R&B Hall Of Fame, received the Legacy Award from the Americana Music Association, and has received 7 Grammy Nominations.
CHIRP DJ Night @ The Native
The Native
2417 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago
,
IL
60647
(872) 206-5526
21+
CHIRP DJ Night at the Native is the 2nd Tuesday of every month! This December, join our next CHIRP DJ, DJ Eddie Sayago, spinning his favorites on Tuesday, December 10 starting at 9pm.
There is no cover for this event, and a portion of the bar proceeds helps support CHIRP. The Native is cash only, and dog friendly! Hope to see you there!
The First Time: First Day
Martyrs’
3855 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago
,
IL
773.404.9494
CHIRP Radio’s longtime live lit and music series, The First Time, is unlike any other storytelling show in Chicago, pairing six readers' personal "first" stories with a song performance.
This unique structure allows the story to resonate with audience members as they experience the accompanying song performed by our house band, The First Time Three, featuring Liam Davis, Gerald Dowd and Steve Frisbie.
This show's theme is "First Day" - mark your calendar today!
/ CHIRP at the Holly Jolly Holiday Market
Northcenter Town Square
4100 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago
,
IL
60618
All Ages
CHIRP is happy to join the North Center Neighborhood Association for their 4th Holly Jolly Holiday Market at NorthCenter Town Square!
Enjoy a festive shopping experience with more than twenty unique vendors offering a variety of merchandise. Savor delicious food, hot cocoa, and coffee, and indulge in seasonal adult beverages while enjoying live entertainment throughout the weekend. Capture a memory with Santa and Mrs. Claus on Saturday and be enchanted on Sunday as The Winter Queen and the Snow Angels bring a touch of magic and joy to your afternoon!
At the CHIRP booth, kids of all ages can decorate record album covers and we'll have station stocking stuffers for independent radio fans.
The market will be held at North Center Town Square, located at 4100 N Damen.
CHIRP Monthly Music Trivia: Divas 2
Beermiscuous
2812 N Lincoln
Chicago
,
IL
60657
21+
/ / CHIRP Welcomes: Lucero
Evanston SPACE
1245 Chicago Avenue
Evanston
,
IL
60202
(847) 492-8860
All Ages
CHIRP Radio 107.1FM is excited to welcome Lucero to Evanston SPACE for THREE NIGHTS to send off 2024 in style!
The search for one’s identity is a lifelong process that every individual must go through. Who someone is today, is not the person they were yesterday nor who they may be tomorrow. Despite those changes, there is a general idea of a defined sense of self. No matter what happens, it is that small yet solid and grounding definition of self that continues to drive us forward in our search for identity and whatever may come with it.
It would be difficult to find any artist who understands that better than the band Lucero.
The band, comprised of all its original members (which in addition to Ben Nichols, includes Brian Venable on guitar, Roy Berry on drums, John C. Stubblefield on bass, and Rick Steff on keys) teamed up for a third time with producer and Grammy Award-winning engineer and mixer, Matt Ross-Spang. Lucero began the recording process in Sam Phillips Recording Service before transitioning and finishing the record in Ross-Spang’s newly opened Southern Grooves Productions in Memphis, TN. Ross-Spang appears to have settled in with the band’s more trademark sound whilst very much making his touch known to listeners.
CHIRP Welcomes: Jessica Lea Mayfield
Schubas
3159 N. Southport
Chicago
,
IL
60657
(773) 525-2508
18+
CHIRP Radio 107.1FM welcomes Jessica Lea Mayfield to Schubas on Thursday, 2/6!
Jessica Lea Mayfield is singer songwriter hailing from rural Ohio, she’s been active since age 15 as a solo artist and grew up living in a bus and traveling around playing bluegrass festivals with her parents family band starting at the age of 8. She writes ominous Appalachian folk rock depicting love and relationships and human dynamics. Her 4th studio album is set to be released end of this year (produced by Daywave) and she is announcing east and west coast fall and winter tour dates.
CHIRP Welcomes: The Bevis Frond
Schubas
3159 N. Southport
Chicago
,
IL
60657
(773) 525-2508
18+
CHIRP is happy to welcome The Bevis Frond to Schubas on Thursday, March 6th!
The Bevis Frond (guitarist and songwriter extraordinaire Nick Saloman) have ultimately become the UK’s leading underground psychedelic rock band. Their music is an iconoclastic collision of distinctly British psychedelia, space-rock, grunge, slow-burning soulful laments, even grizzled folk and more than occasional moments of sublime pop genius.
If there is any artist who could be considered as having followed a tangential path from Hendrix to Big Star to Spacemen 3, that would be The Bevis Frond -- and that’s not hyperbole, the evidence is to be found in countless albums over 30 years of thrilling musical innovation that few have matched.
Yet, he remains the best kept secret in Rock ‘n’ Roll. Isn’t it about time you discovered one of England’s finest songwriters and insightful lyricists?
CHIRP Welcomes: Pom Pom Squad
Lincoln Hall
2424 N Lincoln Avenue
Chicago
,
IL
60614
(773) 525-2501
18+
On Friday, March 7th, CHIRP Radio 107.1FM welcomes Pom Pom Squad to Lincoln Hall!
Pom Pom Squad is a Brooklyn-based indie rock band that has been making waves with their distinctive blend of punk, grunge, and pop influences. Led by vocalist and songwriter Mia Berrin, the band emerged in 2015 and quickly gained attention for their raw, emotive sound and poignant lyricism. Originally conceived as a solo project by Berrin, Pom Pom Squad evolved into a full-fledged band as she assembled a talented lineup to bring her musical vision to life. Their music delves deep into themes of identity, vulnerability, and personal growth, often drawing from Berrin’s own experiences with mental health challenges and societal pressures.
In 2019, Pom Pom Squad released their debut EP titled “Hate It Here,” which garnered critical acclaim for its honesty and authenticity. Tracks like “Heavy Heavy” and “Cherry Blossom” showcase their ability to juxtapose gritty guitar riffs with Berrin’s powerful vocals, creating a sound that is both nostalgic and refreshingly modern. Known for their electrifying live performances, Pom Pom Squad has built a dedicated fan base captivated by their infectious energy and impassioned delivery.
They continue to evolve their sound while maintaining a core commitment to crafting songs that resonate deeply with listeners. As they navigate the indie music landscape, Pom Pom Squad remains a dynamic force poised for further growth and impact. With new projects on the horizon and a steadfast dedication to their craft, they are set to solidify their place as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary alternative rock.
CHIRP Welcomes: SPELLLING
Lincoln Hall
2424 N Lincoln Avenue
Chicago
,
IL
60614
(773) 525-2501
18+
CHIRP Radio 107.1FM is excited to welcome SPELLLING to Lincoln Hall on Tuesday, May 13!
California-based artist Chrystia Cabral records fantasy-like, genre-blurring experimental pop under the appropriately magical pseudonym Spellling. Her self-released 2017 debut, Pantheon of Me, was a haunting set of dreamy, loop-based avant-folk. After the album received acclaim, she signed with Sacred Bones Records and released Mazy Fly, a more fleshed-out blend of dark synth pop, art pop, and hazy soul, in 2019. Her third album, 2021's The Turning Wheel, was even more expansive, with lusher orchestration and more progressive arrangements. She reworked songs from her first three albums for 2023's Spellling & the Mystery School.
Her fluid blend of hypnotic folk, ethereal darkwave, and abstract soul earned attention from the local press, and her debut full-length, also titled Pantheon of Me, appeared later in the year. The album immediately received attention from websites like Pitchfork and Afropunk. After signing with Sacred Bones, Spellling released the single "Hard to Please" in 2018, which was backed with a cover of Sparks' "My Other Voice." The following year, Sacred Bones released Spellling's sophomore record, Mazy Fly. The album featured "Hard to Please" as well as the single "Haunted Water." Her third long-player, The Turning Wheel, arrived in 2021. Self-produced and performed by a cast of 31 musicians, the album was divided into a more upbeat "Above" half and a more chilling, gothic "Below" half. Along with her touring band, Cabral re-recorded songs from her first three albums, documenting how they'd evolved through years of performances, for the 2023 release Spellling & the Mystery School.