René Avila band leader for a traditional Cuban Charanga band.  He has two ensembles, from a trio to a 9 piece band.  We have played for Chicago's Summerdance, Navy Pier's Beer Garden, Old Town School of Folk Music and various festivals throughout the city. Our ensembles play traditional Cuban from the golden ages of the 40's 50's and 60's still keeping the "Charanga" format.Charanga is a classical chamber ensemble that came out of Haiti, featuring the unique sound of the french flute and violins.  During the Haitian revolution of 1804, this sound migrated to eastern Cuba where it reached Santiago.  In the space of 120 years, the modern Charanga was born by adding elements of Africa, Spain, Haiti and Cuba transforming it into an electric mix of cultures and one of the worlds most exciting dance genres. 

Matt Coakley is a singer-songwriter and recording engineer currently based in Chicago. He made his artistic debut in 2023 with the spooky indie rock track "Wicker Woman", which he followed up in 2024 with two 8-song EPs: the upbeat, summery "Splish Splash" in June, and the darker, Halloween-themed "All Hallows" in October. Matt is a multi-instrumentalist who plays piano, guitar, bass, and drums. He was born and raised in Philadelphia, graduated from Drexel University with a degree in recording arts, and then moved to Chicago where he has worked as a studio engineer, songwriter and music teacher for the past 6 years. He has recorded and performed with several acts in Chicago, New York, and Philly, such as The Laughing Hearts, Drift, MJ Upstairs, Man After Man, Avenue Eight, and The Philadelphia Spice.  He also co-wrote a new sci-fi musical "Planet W" with the New York-based Franco Giacomarra. They staged a concert showcase of the musical in New York in 2023 and a full production at ARS Nova's ANT FEST in June of 2024.

Matthew Coglianese is an upright and electric bassist in Chicago who has been performing professionally for the past 10 years. An integral part of his musical identity is his love for a wide variety of genres from swing to classical, hip hop to Latin jazz, funk to bluegrass, and everything in between. 

Since he is proficient on both the electric and upright bass, Matthew finds himself spread throughout many of the rich musical cultures that are embedded in the Chicago music scene. His most prominent project is the blues-soaked soul-funk powerhouse known as Zoofunkyou, which has been an integral part of the city’s music scene for the past 10 years.

In his group known as the Cogs Trio, the ensemble explores creative and improvisatory soundscapes with a rotating lineup of some of the city's finest musicians. While this context honors the lineage of improvisatory music, it also pushes the envelope and sonic boundaries by allowing each player to fully express their own voice in each composition while allowing the group to go wherever the moment takes them. This iteration of the group features Nathan Reider on Alto Saxophone and Brenden Cabrera on Piano.

Laura Cai is a recording artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based out of Chicago.

As a singer, keyboardist, cellist, guitarist, and bassist, Laura has lent her range of talents to a variety of live and studio projects across diverse genres for more than a decade. She has worked as a studio musician, recording and arranging songs that have together amassed millions of streams. As a live musician, Laura has toured both domestically and internationally, playing in venues spanning from intimate coffee shops to sold-out theaters to arenas of thousands.

Laura has had songs placed with CBS and Walmart alongside Grammy-nominated producer Oh, Hush! and created viral videos with recording artist Alex Blue. She currently plays weekly at piano bars around the city as she continues to hone her skills as an up-and-coming producer, mixer, and masterer.

Paige and the Kizers Acoustic is a duo of Paige Kizer and Sophie Hafer. They are a spin-off of the original live, pop/rock band, Paige and the Kizers, that has performed over the past few years in the Chicago area. The acoustic set features originals by Paige Kizer, as well as covers of a vast variety of adult contemporary music.

Wanda and Kevan are teaming up again to bring you Jingle Bell Rock, a night of holiday music and cheer on Friday, December 13. Be sure to dress the part with an Ugly Christmas Sweater! We will be crowning the top 3 sweaters with prizes. Prizes include Thalia Hall merch, a Punch House Punch Class for two, and a grand prize of Thalia Hall show of your choosing.*

Join us from 8pm-10pm. No cover, no RSVPs, just walk on in. 

*Some show restrictions apply.

Wanda is Chicago's dark-sided, piano-playing drag queen. She has performed in New York City, Los Angeles, London, and all around the UK as a solo act and as part of the drag theatre group SADHAUS, which she co-founded. You can usually find her enchanting audiences at Tack Room or leading a ghost tour downtown. She has also led art tours at the Art Institute, and if you're lucky she will bust out her accordion! Find Wanda on Instagram at @wandachicago.

Kevan Eftekhari has been entertaining audiences and establishing himself as a fixture in the Chicago music community for nearly two decades. From piano bars, to weddings, and to corporate events, Kevan brings to life any occasion with his impressively massive repertoire of popular classics and hits from all ages and genres.@kevanchicagohttp://kevaneftekhari.com/

Guitar for Guaraldi is an annual tribute series in Chicago devoted to pianist and composer Vince Guaraldi known famously for his work on the Charlie Brown holiday specials. Come get into the Christmas spirit, with the Mich Shirey Trio as they perform true-to-form guitar arrangements of the Charlie Brown Christmas album, along with favorites from Guaraldi’s catalog!

“Adapting the sound and swing of 88-note keyboard jazz to a stringed instrument is no small task, and the results aren’t always pleasant to the ear. (I speak from listening experience.) Mich, who has loved Guaraldi’s soundtrack since childhood, embraced the challenge and triumphed; his trio’s handling of this music delivers the same gentle, soulful spirit that makes that 1965 album a must-play experience every year.” – Derrick Bang, Author of “Vince Guaraldi at the Piano”

Zach, a rising star in the world of jazz trumpet, calls Chicago, IL home. His musical journey skyrocketed when he finished his first global tour alongside five-time Grammy Award winner Michael Bublé in 2023, entertaining audiences in arenas and stadiums worldwide. With an impressive discography of 13 albums with a debut album released in June of 2024, Zach's trumpet has lent its brilliance to esteemed ensembles such as Knower (Louis Cole and Genevieve Artadi), the Buddy Rich Big Band, Alan Gresik Swing Orchestra, and the Blueshift Big Band.

From the iconic Madison Square Garden to the vibrant streets of São Paulo's Allianz Parque, Zach's trumpet has echoed across diverse landscapes, captivating audiences with soulful melodies. Closer to home, he's a fixture at established jazz venues throughout the Midwest, including The Green Mill, Café Coda, The Chatterbox and Andy's Jazz Club playing alongside esteemed musicians such as Matt Ulery, Thaddeus Tukes, Meghan Stagl, Marlene Rosenberg, Camila Mennitte and many more.​

Zach's musical prowess extends beyond solo performances; his ensembles have graced stages at renowned festivals such as the Riverfront Jazz Festival, where they opened for jazz legend Dave Liebman in 2017. Headlining events like the Bull Falls Jazz Festival and the Taste of Bloomington Festival further solidify his place in the jazz scene.

In addition to previously leading his own bands, including the "Crossroads Quintet" and "Omnos Quartet," Zach collaborates as a sideman with the popular hip-hop/jazz-fusion outfit "Clint Breeze and the Groove." A graduate of UW-Stevens Point and Indiana University, Zach's musical journey continues to evolve, resonating with audiences worldwide.

Laura Cai is a recording artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based out of Chicago.

As a singer, keyboardist, cellist, guitarist, and bassist, Laura has lent her range of talents to a variety of live and studio projects across diverse genres for more than a decade. She has worked as a studio musician, recording and arranging songs that have together amassed millions of streams. As a live musician, Laura has toured both domestically and internationally, playing in venues spanning from intimate coffee shops to sold-out theaters to arenas of thousands.

Laura has had songs placed with CBS and Walmart alongside Grammy-nominated producer Oh, Hush! and created viral videos with recording artist Alex Blue. She currently plays weekly at piano bars around the city as she continues to hone her skills as an up-and-coming producer, mixer, and masterer.

Tack Room will be hosting its first ever Harvest Fest on Friday, November 22nd and Saturday, November 23rd. It will be a weekend full of honky tonk, country music, and dancing. Chicago Honky Tonk will kick off the weekend with dance lessons at 8PM followed by dancing to vinyl spun by Stoned at the Jukebox at 9PM on Friday, and then finishing it off with a live performance from The Rust Riders on Saturday at 7PM. Doors will open at 6 PM, and there will be no cover all weekend long. Hope to see you there! 

RSVP HERE!

Tack Room will be hosting its first ever Harvest Fest on Friday, November 22nd and Saturday, November 23rd. It will be a weekend full of honky tonk, country music, and dancing. Chicago Honky Tonk will kick off the weekend with dance lessons at 8PM followed by dancing to vinyl spun by Stoned at the Jukebox at 9PM on Friday, and then finishing it off with a live performance from The Rust Riders on Saturday at 7PM. Doors will open at 6 PM, and there will be no cover all weekend long. Hope to see you there! 

RSVP HERE!

Groppler Zorn is a collection of musicians culled from various scenes in Chicago. The group comes together with the mission to play good improvised music, wishing others may revel in its refreshing sounds.

Matthew Coglianese is an upright and electric bassist in Chicago who has been performing professionally for the past 10 years. An integral part of his musical identity is his love for a wide variety of genres from swing to classical, hip hop to Latin jazz, funk to bluegrass, and everything in between. Since he is proficient on both the electric and upright bass, Matthew finds himself spread throughout many of the rich musical cultures that are embedded in the Chicago music scene. His most prominent project is the blues-soaked soul-funk powerhouse known as Zoofunkyou, which has been an integral part of the city’s music scene for the past 10 years. In his group known as the Cogs Trio, the ensemble explores creative and improvisatory soundscapes with a rotating lineup of some of the city's finest musicians. While this context honors the lineage of improvisatory music, it also pushes the envelope and sonic boundaries by allowing each player to fully express their own voice in each composition while allowing the group to go wherever the moment takes them. This iteration of the group features Nathan Reider on Alto Saxophone and Grayson Nye on Piano.