Evanston Live Music Scene Could Recapture its Beat this Summer

Operators of Evanston’s live music venues expect continued challenges due to the pandemic, but there is hope the music and their businesses will return this year. Outdoor concerts are on the horizon for late summer and club owners are crossing fingers for indoor performances starting in the fall.

“I’m not counting on anything, but we’re hoping for live music in September,” said Steve Rashid, co-founder of Studio5, which shares a performance space at Evanston Dance Center on Dempster Street.

Liz Breslin, who along with her husband Patrick owns the Celtic Knot Public House on Church Street, says live Irish and bluegrass music are missed. “Music is vital to our business. It created a community for us during normal times and is a big part of our identity,” Ms. Breslin said. “It’s been a challenging year, but we’re still standing, taking it day by day.”

The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), founded at the start of the pandemic, says 90% of music establishments around the country could go out of business. Read more