By Gregg Shapiro

Contributing writer

Wed., Jan. 30

Flutist Martha Councell and pianist Richard Steinbach perform works by C.P.E. Bach, Schumann, Fauré and Copland at 12:15 p.m. in Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. Call (312) 744-6630.

Dr. Susan Wicklund reads from and signs “This Common Secret: My Journey as an Abortion Doctor,” chronicling her 20-year career on the front lines of the abortion war, at 7:30 p.m. at Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark. Call (773) 769-9299.

Davenport’s, 1383 N. Milwaukee, presents Clara Reaves in “Clarified” at 8 p.m. Call (773) 278-1830.

Uncommon Ground Devon, 1401 W. Devon, welcomes Cameron McGill’s Workshop, featuring Jennifer Boeder, at 9 p.m. Call (773) 465-9801.

Buddy Guy’s Legends, 754 S. Wabash, presents Buddy Guy with Dave Specter. Call (312) 427-0333.

Breakers Broken, Taxi and The Villers play Reggie’s Rock Club, 2105 S. State, at 8 p.m. Call (312) 949-0120.

Jan. 31

The Flesh Hungry Dog show presents country crooners Devin and the Straights, piano rock trio The Beazley Phillips Band and newcomers Cobalt at 9 p.m. at Jackhammer, 6406 N. Clark. Call (773) 743-5772.

B1g T1me performs at the Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace, Call (773) 478-4408.

Able Baker Fox plays the Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont. Call (773) 281-4444.

Decibully performs at 9 p.m. at the Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western. Call (773) 276-3600.

Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, welcomes Cococoma and The Submarine Races at 9 p.m. Call (773) 227-4433.

My Damn Butterfly and Can.Ky.Ree perform at 10 p.m. at Uncommon Ground Devon, 1401 W. Devon. Call (773) 465-9801.

Michele Weldon reads from and signs “Everyman News: The Changing American Front Page,” in which she documents the transformation of newspapers from hard news to features-driven info-tainment, at 7:30 p.m. at Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark   Call (773) 769-9299.

Velvet Lounge, 37 E. Cermak, presents the Spider Trio at 9 p.m. Call (312) 791-9050.

Todd Rundgren & Band (Jesse Gress, Kasim Sulton and Prairie Prince) plays Park West, 322 W. Armitage, at 8 p.m. Call (773) 929-5959.

The annual Segovia Classical Guitar Series kicks off with The Assad Brothers’ Brazilian Guitar Festival at 7:30 p.m. in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive on Northwestern University’s Evanston campus.

Sérgio and Odair Assad return to Northwestern with special guests, including their sister, guitarist and vocalist Badi Assad, jazz  guitarist Romero Lubambo and guitarist, percussionist and vocalist  Celso Machado.

Feb. 1

The Chicago Sinfonietta presents ¡Guitarra!, featuring guitar virtuoso Alfonso Ponticelli and Swing Gitan, at 7:30 p.m. at the National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th.

Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, hosts the 3rd Annual John Glick Memorial Show featuring The Dials and Teenage Imposters, at 10 p.m. Call (773) 276-3600.

Rico! plays FitzGerald’s, 6615 W. Roosevelt in Berwyn, at 9:30 p.m. Call  (708) 788- 2118.

Heartland Café, 7000 N. Glenwood, presents Smentek and Mullen and KristaAcoustic at 10 p.m. Call (773) 465-8005.

The Prairie Cartel, Fun Club, and Stars perform at 10 p.m. at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia. Call (773) 227-4433.

Som Brasil celebrates Brazilian Carnival at 10 p.m. at Uncommon Ground Devon, 1401 W. Devon. Call (773) 465-9801.

Mario Abney plays the Velvet Lounge, 37 E. Cermak, at 9 p.m. Call (312) 791-9050.

The Red Line Tap, 7006 N. Glenwood, welcomes Honest Engines, Common Shiner and Kelly Condron at 9 p.m. Call (773) 274-5463.

Sears Centre in the Prairie Stone Complex in Hoffman Estates, presents Matchbox Twenty, Alanis Morissette and Mute Math at 7 p.m.

Dean Milano, veteran of rock, blues, folk and jazz bands in the U.S. and abroad, performs at 8:15 p.m. at the Two Way Street Coffee House, 1047 Curtiss in Downers Grove. Call (630) 969-9720.

DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist perform “The Hard Sell Show” at 9 p.m. at Park West, 322 W. Armitage. Call (773) 929-5959.

Schuba’s, 3159 N. Southport, presents Ra Ra Riot with The Virgins and Essex Chanel at 10 p.m. Call (773) 525-2508.

Leathur Cheetah plays Reggie’s Rock Club, 2105 S. State, at 9 p.m. Call (312) 949-0120.

Vicky Emerson and Joe Taylor perform at 9 p.m. at Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark. Call (773) 929-3680.

Feb. 2

Randolph Café at the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph, presents Red, Hot & Cole, with Bradford Newquist, at 12:15 p.m. Call (312) 744-6630.

Trista Smith & Jason Grimm play Davenport’s, 1383 N. Milwaukee, at 8 p.m. Call (773) 278-1830.

Buffalo Tom is not extinct and to prove it they perform at 9 p.m. at the Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee. Call (773) 489-3160.

Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, hosts the Del Rey 10th anniversary celebration with Tight Phantomz, Minsk and Conifer at 10 p.m. Call (773) 276-3600.

FitzGerald’s, 6615 W. Roosevelt in Berwyn, presents the Waco Brothers and Braam at 9:30 p.m. Call  (708) 788-2118.

The Rabbit Factory, Inc. and Impose Magazine present a benefit for the 7th annual Ponderosa Stomp, celebrating the unsung heroes of American music, featuring a special guest set by the legendary Syl Johnson, plus JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, Adam Fitz & The Part Timers, The Stacks and East of Edens Soul Express, at 9 p.m. at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia. Call (773) 227-4433.

Metro, 3730 N. Clark, welcomes Able Baker Fox, Hot Water Music and Lucero. Call (773) 549-4140.

Picante celebrates Caribbean Carnival at10 p.m. at Uncommon Ground Devon, 1401 W. Devon. Call (773) 465-9801.

Plaid, the New Millennium Orchestra, and Atmospheric Audio Chair perform in Millennium Park at 6:30 p.m.

Tatsu Aoki’s Miyumi Project performs at 9 p.m. at the Velvet Lounge, 37 E. Cermak. Call (312) 791-9050.

G. Love & Special Sauce and The Wood Brothers play the Riviera, 4746 N. Racine, at 8:30 p.m. Call (773) 275-6800.

Ronny’s Bar, 2103 N. California, welcomes Styrofoam Duck and U.S. Girls at 9 p.m. Call (773) 278-7170.

The Old Town School of Folk Music—Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall, 4544 N. Lincoln, presents Joe Henry, with special guest Chris Connelly, at 7 p.m. Call (773) 728-6000.

At 10 p.m. Jerry Joseph plays a record release show, with Painkiller Hotel, at Schuba’s, 3159 N. Southport. Call (773) 525-2508.

Dave Crossland, Andy Mac and Dave Pittenger perform at 9 p.m. at Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark. Call (773) 929-3680.

Feb. 3

David Balsi performs at 8 p.m. at Davenport’s, 1383 N. Milwaukee. Call (773) 278-1830.

Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, presents San Agustin at 9 p.m. Call (773) 276-3600.

Gallows, This Is Hell and Cancer Bats descend on Metro, 3730 N. Clark, at 6:30 p.m. Call (773) 549-4140.

Baroque Band performs at 3 p.m. in Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. Call (312) 744-6630.

Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark, welcomes Andy Elwell and Ben Thomas at 7 p.m. Call (773) 929-3680.

Feb. 4

House of Blues Chicago, 329 N. Dearborn, goes pink when the Indigo Girls and Michelle Malone perform at 9 p.m. Call (312) 923-2000.

From the Jam, featuring original members Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler, and the voice of the Stranglers, Hugh Cornwell, commemorates the band’s 30th anniversary and the first tour in 25 years, at 8 p.m. at the Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace. Call (773) 478-4408.

At 8 p.m., Cheri Coons performs a cabaret set at Davenport’s, 1383 N. Milwaukee. Call (773) 278-1830.

Singer and fFlashlights play the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, at 9:30 p.m. Call (773) 227-4433.

Feb. 5

Homolatte: Queer Words & Music, hosted by Scott Free, presents Marcus Waller and MeKole Wells at 7:30 p.m. at Big Chicks/Tweet, 5024 N. Sheridan. Call (773) 728-5511.

Ssion performs live with Brilliant Pebbles and Murderbot at Outdanced at Funky Buddha, 728 W. Grand. Call (773) 666-1695.

Mika bounces into House of Blues Chicago, 329 N. Dearborn, at 7 p.m. Call (312) 923-2000.

The Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence, presents the one and only Marilyn Manson at 7:30 p.m. Call (773) 561-9500.

Tim Finn, of Split Enz and Crowded House fame, performs at 9 p.m. at the Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee. Call (773) 489-3160.

The Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, welcomes Michael Yonkers & The Blind Snake and Birthday Suits at 9 p.m. Call (773) 276-3600.

Celebrate Fat Tuesday with Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas and Roy Rubinstein’s Hot Six Jazz Band, at 6:30 p.m. at FitzGerald’s, 6615 W. Roosevelt in Berwyn. Call  (708) 788-2118.

By a Thread presents Poison The Well, The Chariot and Dance Gavin Dance at 7 p.m. at the Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N Kedzie. Call (773) 252-6179.

Metro, 3730 N. Clark, welcomes Liars and No Age at 8 p.m. Call (773) 549-4140.

Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark, presents Zak Ward at 8 p.m. Call (773) 929-3680.