HOLIDAY SHOWS AT CITY WINERY CHICAGO
FORMER ROCAKAPPELLA STAR SEAN ALTMAN HEADLINES JEWMONGOUS UNKOSHER COMEDY SONG CONCERT ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT
PLUS: SUZY BOGGUSS’ SWINGIN’ LITTLE CHRISTMAS, THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA TALKIN’ CHRISTMAS, AND MICHAEL McDERMOTT’S 3RD ANNUAL MISCHIEF & MISTLETOE SHOW
Sean Altman and Suzy Bogguss are available for advance interviews
City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph Street, presents a diverse lineup of holiday shows throughout December. Sean Altman, formerly of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?’s a cappella house band Rockapella, takes the stage Christmas night in Jewmongous, an outrageously fun concert for believers and heathens alike. This week, Suzy Bogguss performs a countrified Christmas set. Next week The Blind Boys of Alabama give Christmas a funky Gospel flair and, then, for the third year, Michael McDermott returns for his Mischief & Mistletoe show. Tickets to the following shows are on sale now:
Suzy Bogguss – A Swingin’ Little Christmas show: Thursday, Dec. 4 ($25/30/35)
Grammy winning singer-songwriter Suzy Bogguss, a small-town girl from Illinois who made her way to Nashville, is one of country music’s enduring treasures. In this fun holiday show, Bogguss and her band perform a double-set of songs from her two beloved Christmas albums: 2003’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, featuring the merrymaking, uptempo “Two-Step ’Round the Christmas Tree”; and 2010’s I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas. She’ll include a few selections from her recently released acoustic album of songs written by Merle Haggard, Lucky, along with some of her hits. It’s a show that will make even the Grinch smile.
The Blind Boys of Alabama – Talkin’ Christmas!: Thursday, Dec. 11 ($40/45/50)
Five-time Grammy Award winning gospel group Blind Boys of Alabama, who’ve been singing together since 1944, ring in the season and hit the road in support of their new album Talkin’ Christmas!. The new release features veteran roots artist Taj Mahal as a co-billed collaborator; original songs include the title track “Talkin’ Christmas!,” a funky tribute to the power of Christmas featuring Money Mark on keyboards, and the compassionate “What Can I Do?,” which features Taj Mahal on vocals and is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell. The tour will showcase the band performing selections from their new album, along with Christmas classics and other gems from a 70-plus-year career.
Michael McDermott 3rd Annual Mischief & Mistletoe: A Christmas Show: Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 22-23 ($20/25/30)
Chicago singer-songwriter Michael McDermott has been crafting personal, evocative music for almost two decades. His first album, 620 W. Surf, recorded when he was only 20 years old, established McDermott as a young man filled with poetry and power. Michael returns to City Winery this holiday season to perform the Ashes album in its entirety plus a dollop of traditional Christmas songs that audiences will know and be obliged to sing along to.
JEWMONGOUS: Unkosher Comedy Song Concert: Thursday, Dec. 25 ($18/20/22)
Ex-Rockapella star Sean Altman’s unkosher comedy song concert JEWMONGOUS is “tuneful and sharply witty” (Los Angeles Times), “relentlessly clever” (Chicago Tribune) and “bawdy with a wicked modern streak” (Washington Post), combining “the tunefulness of the Beatles and the spot-on wit of Tom Lehrer” (Boston Globe). Altman, who “writes hilarious and irreverent acoustic rock songs about his awakening Jewish awareness” (Jerusalem Post), is “part of a new breed of Jewish hipster comedy that includes Jon Stewart, Sacha Baron Cohen, Sarah Silverman and Heeb Magazine” (Philadelphia Daily News). Sean’s guests will be local Jewish a cappella heroes Listen Up and acclaimed NYC comedic author and songstress Cynthia Kaplan. All believers and heathens are welcome but JEWMONGOUS is not appropriate for children unless you’re training them to be sailors.
All City Winery Chicago events are open to all ages and start at 8pm, unless noted. To purchase concert tickets, please call (312) 733-WINE (9463) or visit www.citywinery.com/chicago/.
Suzy Bogguss, Blind Boys of Alabama, Michael McDermott and JEWMONGOUS join a diverse mix of the most respected names in pop, rock, jazz, blues, world music, movies, spoken word and comedy presented at City Winery Chicago, including previously announced headliners and supporting acts: Lisa Loeb with Zachary Scot Johnson (Dec. 3); Suzy Bogguss – A Swingin’ Little Christmas (Dec. 4); Chicago Philharmonic Sunday Series: American Songbook (Dec. 7, noon); Griffin House and Clarence Bucaro (Dec. 7, 8pm); Lisa Fischer (Dec. 8, 6:30 and 9pm); Rich Robinson with Guthrie Brown (Dec. 9); Toh Kay of Streetlight Manifesto (Dec. 10, 8 and 10 p.m.); The Blind Boys of Alabama Christmas Show (Dec. 11); The Bad Plus (Dec. 14, 5 & 8pm); The Rack and The Riddler featuring Serafin Alvarado (Dec. 15); Delbert McClinton (Dec. 16); Los Lobos (Dec. 17-19); Tab Benoit with Kris Lager Band (Dec. 20, 7:30 & 10:30pm); The Westies with Nicholas Tremulis (Dec. 21); Michael McDermott’s Mischief & Mistletoe Christmas show with Anne Heaton (Dec. 22); Michael McDermott’s Mischief & Mistletoe Christmas show with Canterbury Carollers (Dec. 23); JEWMONGOUS’ Christmas Day Comedy Songfest (Dec. 25); Poi Dog Pondering (Dec. 26-29); The Chicago Rock ’n’ Soul Revue (Dec. 30); Shemekia Copeland (Dec. 31, 7:30 & 11 pm); Bilal (Jan. 1-2); The Psychedelic Furs (Jan. 4-6); Marshall Crenshaw & The Bottle Rockets (Jan. 8); Howie Day (Jan. 9-10); Misfits (Jan. 9, 11:30pm, 21+); Ian Maksin and Goran Ivanovic Trio (Jan. 11, 7pm); The Dinner Party (Jan. 12); Stooges Brass Band with Lowdown Brass Band (Jan. 14); Chuck Ragan with Al Scorch (Jan. 15); Mary Fahl with Rachael Sage (Jan. 16); The Duhks with The Accidentals (Jan. 17); Jackie Greene (Jan. 18); Joe Henry (Jan. 19); Head for the Hills (Jan. 20); Robert Randolph & the Family Band and friends (Jan. 23-24); Kevin Griffin of Better Than Ezra (Jan. 25); Wynonna and Friends: Stories & Song (Jan. 28); Jeff Daniels (Jan. 29); Kevin Nealon (Jan. 30, 7:30 & 10pm); Steve Earle with Dawn Landes (Feb. 1-4); Dailey & Vincent (Feb. 8, 5pm); Glen Phillips (Feb. 8, 8pm); John Oates (Feb. 10); Marc Broussard (Feb. 12-13); 10,000 Maniacs (Feb. 14, 5:30 and 8pm); Pedrito Martinez Group (Feb. 15, 5 & 8 pm); Black Violin (Feb. 17); Shawn Colvin (Feb. 18-19); Colin Hay (Feb. 20-22); Leon Russell (Feb. 24-25); Ed Kowalczyk – Throwing Copper Unplugged (Feb. 28 – Mar. 1); British Invasion Tour (Mar. 7): Johnette Napolitano (Mar. 27); The Gibson Brothers (Apr. 15); Joan Armatrading (Apr. 23-24 SOLD OUT); and Kathleen Madigan (May 8, 7:30 & 10pm).
Opened in 2012, City Winery Chicago is a fully operational winery, restaurant with outdoor patio, concert hall and private event space located in the heart of the West Loop at 1200 W. Randolph, in the historic urban Fulton Market district. Once a refrigerated food distribution warehouse, the 1911 building has been transformed into a contemporary 33,000 square foot haven for those passionate about wine, music and culinary arts. The décor evokes the romance of being in wine country, from the exposed stainless steel fermenting tanks and French oak barrels, to the aroma of fermenting grapes. Chicago’s only fully operation winery has produced dozens of in-house wines sourced from vineyards in California, Oregon, Washington, Argentina and Chile, including a Wine Enthusiast 90-point 2012 Bien Nacido Vineyard Reserve pinot noir. With more than 400 unique producers from around the world City Winery is recognized with a 2014 Best of Award of Excellence “for having one of the most outstanding restaurant wine lists in the world” by Wine Spectator. The globally inspired, locally sourced, wine-focused food menu is conceived for pairing and sharing. The concert hall accommodates up to 300 guests, all seated at tables with complete beverage and dining service, ensuring a comfortable “listening room” experience enhanced by a state-of-the-art Meyer Sound system. Riedel is the official and exclusive provider of glassware, showing City Winery’s commitment to enjoying quality wine in a quality vessel. American Airlines is the Official Airline and Virgin Hotels Chicago is the Official Hotel of City Winery. For more information, please visit www.citywinery.com.
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