Our picks for events in and around Chicago this weekend.
Mavis Staples
Just as Mavis Staples kicks off her new album, “Sad and Beautiful World,” with a cover of Tom Waits’s “Chicago,” the beloved singer begins her 2026 tour this weekend in her hometown. Expect her to play songs from the November release — which includes covers ranging from Curtis Mayfield, Leonard Cohen, Gillian Welch and Sparklehorse — as well as old favorites.
7:30 p.m. Jan .10 at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.; tickets from $101.55 at msg.com
State Champs
The propulsive pop-punk band plays Salt Shed, celebrating the 10th anniversary of “Around the World and Back.” Real Friends, Harrison Gordon and Driveways also perform.
7 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave.; tickets (ages 17+) from $45.50 at saltshedchicago.com
Discus
The Chicago indie rock band led by brothers Jake and Paul Stolz plays the Ramova Loft.
8 p.m. Jan. 9 at Ramova Theatre, 3520 S. Halsted St.; tickets from $19.56 at ramovachicago.com
Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers
Bill Murray returns to Thalia Hall with his blues-rock band featuring Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia. As a Tribune review of last year’s show put it, “It was no joke. It was a blues-rock band plus Murray stepping forward to occasionally croon. It was a reminder that there are few things in life as satisfying as Bill Murray singing, even if the man is no singer.” Saxophonist Jimmy Carpenter opens.
8 p.m. Jan. 9 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St.; tickets (ages 17+) from $79.50 at ticketweb.com
G. Love & Special Sauce
More than 30 years after G. Love & Special Sauce’s debut, they’re still bringing their breezy brand of hip hop blues. No word on whether the Philly natives will play their latest release, “Fly, Eagles, Fly,” in Bears territory. Makua opens.
8 p.m. Jan. 11 at SPACE, 1243 Chicago Ave., Evanston; tickets from $65.31 at ticketweb.com
Women’s Jazz Festival
The fourth annual Women’s Jazz Festival is underway in Arlington Heights. There’s still time to catch shows featuring Joanie Pallatto and Tromblau and Friends; Stacy McMichael and JoVia Armstrong; Lucy Smith with JoAnn Daugherty; and a showcase of rising stars.
Through Jan. 10 at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights; tickets from $26 at heynonny.com
“The Voice of Hind Rajab”
See the critically acclaimed movie reconstructing the death of 5-year-old Hind Rajab, a Palestinian girl trapped in a car during Israel’s siege of the Gaza Strip. The Tunisian-French film, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, uses audio and documentary footage from the actual events that inspired the film. The 5:45 p.m. Jan. 9 screening features a Q&A with actor Saja Kilani.
Through Jan. 29 at Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St.; tickets from $14.50 at siskelfilmcenter.org
“Working Girl: The Films of Barbara Stanwyck”
See “The Lady Eve,” the 1941 Preston Sturges screwball classic starring Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda, on the big screen. It’s part of the Music Box Theatre’s film series dedicated to Stanwyck, which also features Cecil B. DeMille’s Western “Union Pacific” (1939), Frank Capra’s pre-code romance “The Miracle Woman” (1931), Samuel Fuller’s Western “Forty Guns” (1957), and William Castle’s psychological horror flick “The Night Walker” (1964).
Through Feb. 27 at Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave.; tickets from $11 at musicboxtheatre.com
Young Playwrights Festival
See four one-act plays penned by Chicago high school students and workshopped by industry professionals as part of Pegasus Theatre Chicago’s 39th annual Young Playwrights Festival. This year’s plays include “Blizzard Bound” by Whitney Young Magnet High School student Sophia Ponce and directed by ILesa Duncan; “Offices Etc.” by Lane Tech College Prep student Clark Tavas and directed by Anna Bahow; “A Question” by Senn High School student Lola Zimmerman and directed by Ben Locke; and “Toil and Trouble” by Lane Tech College Prep student Ashley Snyder and directed by Duncan.
Through Jan. 24 at Chicago Dramatists, 798 N. Aberdeen St.; tickets from $18 at pegasustheatrechicago.org
’Scopes in the City
Adler Planetarium is bringing the universe to Elk Grove Village as part of its ‘Scopes in the City program. See Jupiter this weekend in a whole new way, as astronomy educators and volunteers offer a free chance to view it through a telescope. Future installments will offer opportunities to observe the sun from Palos Park on Jan. 24 and Jupiter and the Orion Nebula from Bolingbrook on Feb. 12.
7-8:30 p.m. Jan. 9 at Elk Grove Village Public Library, 1001 Wellington Ave., Elk Grove Village; details on the free events at adlerplanetarium.org
Have something to do around Chicago? Email events to day.chitribevents@gmail.com
