Tone Glow is excited to announce "Hitching a Ride with the Devil," a showcase of four works on 16mm by filmmaker Michael Wallin (1948-2016).

At June’s Elastro series we’re excited to welcome Kristina Warren in from the east coast, along with solo performances from Elastic curator Ben Zucker and Nu A.M.!

Two trios paying homage to the legacies of 70s avant-garde jazz: The Tri-Centric Experiencer’s Unit plays a landmark Anthony Braxton composition; Lion’s Head, named after mentor Richard Davis, interpolates free improvisation with hard-swinging classic repertoire.

Vee, Julie, and David met through a School of Song workshop led by Brian Eno in January 2025. At the end of the workshop, the Chicago-based participants gathered to share one of the songs they had written that month. Fifteen people crammed into Julie’s living room, performing live or recorded Brian Eno–influenced work. The evening was deeply inspiring: songwriters from different
backgrounds and genres sharing vulnerability, talent, and generous support for one another. The group decided to continue meeting monthly to share new work and exchange feedback. Now, these three will bring their music to the stage at Elastic Arts, showcasing three distinct approaches to songwriting.

An immersive performance experience by poet Marty McConnell with film by Lindsey Dorr-Niro and music by Patrick Wojtak

Through language, music, and imagery, “Days of Wonder: it is time to be very tender with our grief” explores curiosity and interconnectedness as methods of moving into and through personal, societal, and global sorrow, survival, and co-evolution.  

An immersive performance experience by poet Marty McConnell with film by Lindsey Dorr-Niro and music by Patrick Wojtak

Through language, music, and imagery, “Days of Wonder: it is time to be very tender with our grief” explores curiosity and interconnectedness as methods of moving into and through personal, societal, and global sorrow, survival, and co-evolution.  

Tonight we welcome John O’Neill in from California for a solo performance, alongside Chicago artists GS70 and existence decay.

You will find yourself surrounded by moving accordions, creating a lush, vibrating soundscape. Seven clowns will guide 7 cycles of meditation, searching for the playful boundaries of mindfulness. Each cycle has its own foundational note, its own harmony and its own chakra taking you from the root at the base of your spine all the way to the crown connecting you to the universal consciousness, which, I'm told, also wears the clown nose. Bring accordions or yoga mats.

Free and open to the public. Donations accepted.

The experimental electronic heavyweights TV Pow kick off a tour. Matthew Davis performs with solo project on the heels of his recent release Free, ambient duo Open Seki kicks off the evening.

One night only in Chicago - hear The Harbingers season finale before anyone else!

Please join us for a closing reception for our current visual gallery exhibition Too Tender Headed where you can experience this beautiful show one last time, but also hear from the artists.

In honor of Juneteenth, join us for a special screening of Neptune Frost, followed by a conversation and featured performance by a guest poet.

At tonight’s CLEAT Series we welcome Seth Andrew Davis in from Kansas City for a solo performance, followed by three pieces from Duo Riso.

Two improvised-music-and-video sets featuring:
Chad M. Clark (guitar) and Scott Rubin (video), plus
Erez Dessel (keys) and Maya Nguyen (video)

Sri Perangur (he/they) is a violinist, improviser, and composer trained in the Carnatic (South Indian classical) musical tradition. Following in the footsteps of premodern Indian painters, "Synesthesia” seeks to imagine rāgas (melodic frameworks) not only as tastes, scents, and textures, but also as characters, ideas, and symbols.

8:30 pm: Sri Perangur’s Synesthesia
9:15 pm: Clark / Rubin
10:00 pm: Dessel / Nguyen

$15 / $10 w/ Student ID - Tickets Available at the Door

At the first of two CLEAT Series events for June this week, we welcome BARAS and Jared Kelley.

Acclaimed composer and multi-instrumentalist Dameun Strange is set to present a series of afrofuturist experiments at Elastic Arts. This performance, supported by Sonic Vanguard, serves as a cornerstone of his AACM composition residency.

Join us as The Middle presents an evening of unique musical duos. Each explores diverse eras and styles of music, featuring works by Jazzmeia Horn, J.S. Bach, Shai Maestro, Benjamin Britten, Momo Hasselbring, Alvin Santner, and the world premiere of a new piece by Kes Yager. 

We’re excited to present a special Sunday night Improvised Music Series event with two sets from the trio of Bonnie Han Jones, Jeff Arnal, and Ken Vandermark!

Shake Shook Shaken is a theater/movement workshop series produced by Julie Meckler. The series is designed for people to gently bring body awareness, allowing participants to open up, explore outside of their comfort zone, bond with each other, create and show. By playing with these concepts using our bodies, voices, words, and each other, we will explore our own awareness and sensitivity as artists and people. 

Join us for an evening of Bass Dreams + BYSH!

Join Sixty Inches From Center here at Elastic Arts to hear the latest from poets and creative writers recently published by Sixty Lit, including Vera Blossom, e’mon lauren, Diego Báez, Temperance Aghamohammadi, and Riley Yaxley.

Write That Down! is having another Show & Tell at Elastic Arts in Avondale/Logan Square!
WTD!’s Show & Tell series is possible through our partnership with Chicago’s Guild Literary Complex.

Two trios bringing together generations of Chicago mainstays of jazz, noise, and alt-rock and pop (it wouldn’t be Elastic if it wasn’t alt-!)

Join us for this month’s Pleiades Series! Chicago-based sonic clown and performance artist SAY MAYFIRE opens the evening with Educational Television, a remote-controlled audiovisual performance built from live sound and video manipulation, absurdity, and experimental process. Montreal-based trumpeter and interdisciplinary artist Émilie Fortin follows with a solo set drawing from improvisation, physical theater, and contemporary music practices. Following the performances, SAY and Émilie will co-lead an open workshop/jam exploring sound, clowning, movement, and guided experimentation.

Marcy and AP of the Dovewhether podcast are having a live show! They have hosted Dovewhether, a gay socialist podcast about media and art, for 2.5 years. Last time they tried to host a live show someone almost [REDACTED] one of the co-hosts. After surviving a near-death experience, bottom surgery and coming out as gay on the podcast, they’re ready to put on a show if it’s the last thing they do! The theme of the night will be John Waters' Female Trouble. A queer staple, a rainbow paperclip, gay tape.

Join us as 113 Composer’s Collective presents new work for violinist Maya Bennardo.

Juliann Wang presents music and dance, bringing her own unique brand of modern practice while paying homage to her roots. The evening will feature her group “My Little Realities”, an experimental sound and alt-jazz collaborative. Bridging traditional motifs, poetry, and improvisation across multiple genres. Working with a collection of Chicago’s engaged innovators (Ben Zucker, Graham Nelson, Evan Kopek, John Rozman), they create inspiring moments of shared dialogue and expression, both composed and spontaneous. She will also be presenting a dance piece for this event."

Our May Elastro features visiting audio/visual artist Jason Zeh, a new duo Ancient Futures that includes Scott Rubin and QūJié, and HUMACHINE UNLEARN67NG.

Hedra Rowan and Nick Meryhew’s Tallulah Bankheist performs improvisations on one EWI. Tommy Carroll leads an new ensemble.

Join us for the release show for Casts new album Desire Path.