Risa Rubin is a singer songwriter and harp player originally from LA. Her last two releases have been on the top 100 album lists on Bandcamp. She is a multimedia artist and now a Chicagoan. She also makes puppets, and performs regularly in the musical/comedic duo the Salmon Sisters at Color Club. She is so excited to return to the Tack Room. 

Night Beach makes bedroom pop music that got up and went outside. Expect dreamy melodies and lush, full arrangements.

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.

Show & Tell for Grown-Ups was created to bring nerds together, in-person, to get excited and learn about each other’s interests. It's like a tiktok rabbit hole, but live and in-person!

Join Show & Tell for Grown-Ups at the ground floor cocktail bar of Thalia Hall, Tack Room! Grab something at the bar, and then get ready to have fun & learn something.

Show & Tell for Grown-Ups is a platform to showcase niche interests and knowledge. Join us to have fun, learn something, & make friends!

Presenters sign up online to share 5-minutes on something they think is cool that is music-themed. We’ve had presentations on everything from Examining the Fluid Dynamics of Dogs Shaking Dry or The Evolution of the Romantic Languages to The Anatomy of a Hoagie. We’ve heard about people’s hobbies like dice games, playing the harmonica, and ghost hunting.

If it’s a subject you know a lot about & you’re excited to share, we’re here to listen and learn.

The flow of the show:

• Presenters get 5-minutes to tell us why something is cool.

• We open up for 3-4 minutes of Q&A with the audience.

• Other audience participation parts sprinkled in: Animal Fact, This Week in History, & Where Did That Phrase Come From?

We are an introvert friendly show. Forced participation is not our jam. If you want to contribute, please know that we very much want to hear from you. If you’d rather blend & just enjoy, we’re stoked you are spending the night with us.

You wanna bring something to Show & Tell?

Signup for your 5-minute slot to show & tell: https://forms.office.com/r/gfMRYyRR7p

For $5 off your ticket, RSVP with Pie: https://plan.getpie.app/plans/1ff1fd10-f7a2-11ef-a13c-a5b2abe680a5?inviter=201f0080-f7a2-11ef-a13c-a5b2abe680a5

Pie is a local Chicago meetup app that is focused on reducing social isolation by showing what plans your friends are going to and supporting event creators building cool stuff.

To learn more about the show, follow us on Instagram @tellmewhyitscool_show or check our website www.tellmewhyshow.com.

Purchase tickets here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/show-tell-for-grown-tack-room-tickets/14261373?pl=thalia3

Get ready for Spring with Lovergirl Creates at Tack Room Whether you have a green thumb, are ready to give plant parenting another try, or want to create a handmade gift for the plant lover in your life, this workshop is the perfect way to celebrate Earth Month and the start of Spring. Price includes all materials to create your own unique planter, soil, and a rooted propagation ready to be planted. 

Get Tickets Here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/planters-and-propagations-with-lovergirl-tack-room-tickets/14282493?pl=thalia3

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 built around standard tunes 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 Kyle Madsen on saxophone and Grayson Nye on Piano. 

Lydia Cash grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. She moved to Chicago on a whim in 2013, and her love for the city has since become a wellspring of inspiration for her music.

Cash's latest release, “Blush,” feels almost like reading a secret– the five songs are beacons of authenticity where she reveals the innermost workings of her heart’s loves and losses. Each song is a unique confessional, a portrait of a moment in time, poured out of her like the best bottle of wine on a back porch. Heartache, new romance, and introspection are all common themes that are held together with threads of vulnerable moments– a shared cigarette, a head on a shoulder. Her delicate melodies, enrapturing voice, and a pedal steel twang showcase this native Alabamian/Chicago transplant’s dichotomy of grit and sweetness. 

Stephen Schuch, a resident of Chicago, has been captivating audiences with his performances for the past 15 years. Deeply influenced by the soulful sounds of Stevie Wonder and the timeless classics of Motown, Stephen also finds inspiration in the works of legendary artists such as Jim Croce, John Legend, and The Beatles.

Throughout his career, Stephen has made notable appearances on prominent Chicago media outlets, including 98.7 WFMT, WGN, and NBC. His dedication to his craft and his ability to connect with audiences have made him a beloved figure in the Chicago music scene.

stephenschuch.com

Kevin Fort has established himself as one of the most in-demand pianists on the Chicago jazz scene. Praised for his “thrilling virtuosity and agile, vibrant improvisations,” (Chicago Jazz Magazine) and as “one of those rare piano players who can temper his technical brilliance in the service of the composition” (Scene Newspaper).  Kevin is a champion of the straight-ahead jazz tradition while embracing modern influences.  He has performed and/or recorded with artists such as Bob Brookmeyer, John Clayton, James Moody, Ira Sullivan, Slide Hampton, Phil Woods, Steve Turre, Bill Watrous, John Pizzarelli, Harry Allen, Melissa Aldana, and Makaya McCraven.

Currently, Kevin serves as a faculty member at the Northwestern University Bienen School of Music, where he mentors the next generation of jazz musicians.
 
Kevin Fort is a Yamaha Artist.

LA LOM is headed to Pilsen for Record Store Day 2025 in celebration of their latest release, Live at Thalia Hall! Pick up a copy from 606 Records across the street and gain access to a special listening party and record signing with the band in Tack Room, located on the ground floor of Thalia Hall. 

11am-3pm. Beverages and other refreshments available from the Tack Room bar.

RSVP does not guarantee entry.  RSVP HERE: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/la-lom-live-at-thalia-tack-room-tickets/14266853?pl=thalia3

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.

Megan Hozick is an indie rock singer-songwriter specializing in high-energy tunes with creative, humorous, and compelling lyrics. Catchy melodies, powerhouse vocals, and clever words come together to create her unique style that's a little bit folk, a little bit punk rock, and a whole lotta heart!!

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.

Over the past 20 years, Rachel Swain has captivated audiences across genres with her powerful voice and rich songwriting. Born and raised in Austin, Texas, later moving to Houston, she developed a passion for music from a young age; Swain frequently watched her parents perform in various nightclubs around Houston. After her family relocated to Chicago where she is still based, she began to cut her teeth as a performer and songwriter, learning to play the fiddle, guitar, and bass and playing in projects from indie rock to 60s French pop. Her work has been named Performer Magazine’s April 2014 Vinyl of the Month, was featured by Fred Mills of Spin and Blurt Magazine on Blurt Online, and made Walt Falconer’s of The Falcon’s Nest, Top-10 Records of 2014 list.

Raised on rodeo and rock and roll, her musical influences span country, bluegrass, Americana, and soul. Swain's music is honest, soulful, and steeped in her Texas roots. Soaring melodies are complimented by her bold and dynamic vocals, with themes that speak to a range of human experience, including loss, love, and redemption. Listeners will notice nods to new and classic country in her eclectic and nuanced music. She performs solo and with her band, The Swains. Her highly anticipated debut solo releases are due out early 2025.

Jennifer Femme is telling stories. Stories about love. Stories about her dramatic internal world. Stories about rain, the sun, and a man named Big Willy. With her unique background in classical violin and jazz guitar, she tells these stories with a voice both earthy and soaring, heart-wrenching and tongue-in-cheek. She has made a name for herself in Chicago playing countless shows around the city (both solo and with her band), hosting open mics, and founding The Purple Teapot: a DIY performance space which offers queer artists of many disciplines a place to hone their craft and make connections. She has released an E.P., a live album, and is currently hard at work on her debut studio album. Visit jenniferfemme.com and follow her on Instagram @jennifer_femme for updates.

Megan Esther is a Chicago born and based, Texas raised singer-songwriter known for their clever lyrics, political perspective, vocal prowess and blues rock americana sound. Megan can be found leading The Megan Esther Band and performing frequently in the Chicago local music scene. You can listen to Megan Esther’s debut single “How Its Gotta Be” on all streaming platforms.

Singer-songwriter, pianist, and producer Chris Urquiaga, also known as JChris, is lauded for his exciting performance energy and smooth voice.

Hailed as “…the next big thing” by Metro Weekly magazine, this Latin pop virtuoso is internationally recognized for his pop compositions which are laced with Latin, Afro and Brazilian influences. He has worked with Dionne Warwick, Carlos Vives, Omar Apollo and Kristin Chenoweth, among others, and has performed for the Hispanic Heritage Awards on PBS and at venues like The White House and Carnegie Hall. This season, he was selected to go on an international tour with his band as a global musical ambassador on behalf of the U.S. State Department, presenting headlining concerts and music workshops to youth.

Website: http://jchrisofficial.com/

The Anacleto Trio is lead by drummer/percussionist and composer Alex Santilli. The Chicago native is the current percussionist for major soul giants "Thee Sacred Souls" as well as playing in a plethora of Chicago groups and collectives. Ranging from jazz to the free/avant garde to Afro Cuban, Brazilian music and contemporary groove,beat and soul music. The self proclaimed Ethnomusicologist has traveled all over doing fieldwork , in search of the rhythms/songs that bind humanity. His music and performances are a complete reflection of this with a rotating cast of incredible musicians, the music stays current and always moving forward while still grounded in the classics. He has taken the artist name "Anacleto" (named after his grandfather) and has released and is currently releasing more music under the name " The Adventures of Anacleto" a mix of compositions/productions and improvisations. 

The stage has always been home for Liam Taylor. At the young age of 5, he spent most of his time acting in plays and musicals. After years of performing other people’s work, Taylor decided, as a queer man growing up in the South, it was time to tell his own stories. In his short career, he has worked with many artists including Johnathon McReynolds, Erykah Badu, Woody Goss of Vulfpeck, and many more. Since releasing music in 2022, he has performed at many of the city's acclaimed festivals, including Lollapalooza, Taste of Chicago, and Market Days, and has headlined shows in New York, Dallas, and in different parts of Europe. After a string of viral videos in 2023, he received a shoutout from Ariana Grande, recognizing his powerhouse vocal ability. 

In 2024, he began releasing a string of singles from his first album, 26 missed calls, getting 300K+ streams across all platforms. He intends to create safe spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals across the globe through his unique, energetic and eclectic pop music. This is merely the beginning for Taylor, so don't miss out on an opportunity to see him in Chicago!

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.