By Gregg Shapiro

Contributing writer

Nov. 14

Ronny’s Bar, 2101 N. California, presents The Story of Modern Farming, with Pillars and Tongues and A Tundra, at 9 p.m. Call (773) 278-7170.

Actor Slash Model, Dave End and Wet NOSE Hero play Pause Café, 1107 W. Berwyn, at 8 p.m.

A poetry reading by Vanderbilt University assistant professor Rick Hilles and Pittsburg State University creative writing co-director Jo McDougall begins at 5:30 p.m. in Columbia College Chicago’s Collins Hall, 624 S. Michigan, 6th floor.

Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee, welcomes Year Long Disaster. Call (773) 489-3160.

Joan Curto brings her cabaret act to Davenport’s, 1383 N. Milwaukee, tonight through Sunday. Call (773) 278-1830.

The Orion Ensemble continues its 15th anniversary season with a program including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Trio in C Major for Violin, Cello and Piano K. 548; Victor Babin’s Hillandale Waltzes for Clarinet and Piano (1947); Chicago composer Max Raimi’s Four Songs for Clarinet, Viola and Piano (1987); and Johannes Brahms’ Quartet in G Minor for Violin, Viola, Cello and Piano, Op. 25. at 7:30 p.m. in Chicago College of Performing Arts’ Ganz Hall (room 745) at Roosevelt University, 430 S Michigan.

The Chicago-area premiere of “Every Christmas Story Ever Told” by Michael Carleton, John Alvarez and Jim Fitzgerald, begins tonight at Pheasant Run Resort & Spa Mainstage Theater, 4051 E. Main in St. Charles. Call (630) 584-6342.

Velvet Lounge, 37 E. Cermak, presents Nicole Mitchell at 9 p.m. Call (312) 791-9050.

Like The Birds and Rue Royale perform at 7 p.m. at Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark.

Schuba’s, 3159 N. Southport, welcomes Ari Hest at 9 p.m. Call (773) 525-2508.

Bellydance Superstars unveil “Babelesque” at Park West, 322 W. Armitage. Call (773) 929-5959.

The Old Town School of Folk Music - Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall, 4544 N. Lincoln, presents Ubala Y Sus Rolass at 8:30 p.m. Call (773) 728-6000.

At 9 p.m. Ravens & Chimes and Notes & Scratches play the Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western.

Nov. 15

Baby Dayliner plays The Note, 1565 N. Milwaukee, with the Sol-Reys and Sammy Slimm, at 9 p.m. Call (773) 489-0011.

Martyrs’, 3855 N. Lincoln, presents Music With a Twist compilation-mates Dylan Rice and Sarah Bettens at 9 p.m. Call (773) 404-9494.

Denise Duhamel reads her poems at 5 p.m. in the Gage Gallery at Roosevelt University, 18 S. Michigan.

Lucky Plush Productions, presents “Cinderbox 18,” led by choreographer Julia Rhoads, tonight through Sat. night at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago. Call (312) 397-4010.

The Brian Pardo Quartet plays the Velvet Lounge, 37 E. Cermak, at 9 p.m. Call (312) 791-9050.

Jimmy Eat World performs at 7 p.m. at the Riviera, 4746 N. Racine.

Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark, presents Kass Copeland and Pamela Callahan, at 5 p.m.

Menomena and Illinois play Metro, 3730 N. Clark, at 9 p.m. Call (773) 549-4140.

Schuba’s, 3159 N. Southport, welcomes Anne Harris, at 9 p.m. Call (773) 525-2508.

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings perform at 9 p.m. at Park West, 322 W. Armitage. Call (773) 929-5959.

Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, presents Baby Dee and Gary Higgins at 9 p.m. Call (773) 227-4433.

Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, welcomes The Mountain Goats and Bowerbirds at 9 p.m.

Nov. 16

It’s Midwest Fur Con Weekend at Cal’s Liquors, 400 S. Wells, with Day After Dinosaur, Into The Light Carol Anne and The Dirty Blue, 10 p.m. Call (312) 922-6392.

Dreadnok Ripper, Middle Class Trash and Lee Harvey and the Magic Bullet play Ronny’s Bar, 2101 N. California, at 9 p.m. Call (773) 278-7170.

Three-time CMA nominee Keith Urban plays the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim in Rosemont. Call (847) 635-6601.

The Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Deborah Voigt in Strauss’ “Die Frau ohne Schatten” tonight and Tuesday night at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker. Call (312) 332-2244.

Poi Dog Pondering and Abra Moore perform tonight and tomorrow night at 8 p.m. at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell in Arlington Heights. Call (847) 577-2121.

FitzGerald’s, 6615 W. Roosevelt in Berwyn, hosts its Fall Festival with performances by Kelly Willis and Terry Adams Rock & Roll Quartet, featuring Scott Ligon, Candye Kane, Peter Case and more. Call (708) 788 2118.

Ralph Covert & the Bad Examples play Durty Nellie’s, 180 N. Smith in Palatine, at 9 p.m. Call (847) 358-9150.

The operas “The Old Maid and the Thief” and “The Medium” are performed at 7:30 p.m. tonight and tomorrow night in Lutkin Hall, 700 University Place on Northwestern’s Evanston campus. Call (847) 491-5441.

Hopewell and psychedelic rock wranglers Spindrift play The Note, 1565 N. Milwaukee, at 8 p.m. Call (773) 489-0011.

ESP Project performs at the Velvet Lounge, 37 E. Cermak, at 9 p.m. Call (312) 791-9050.

Two Way Street Coffee House, 1047 Curtiss in Downers Grove, presents Chuck Suchy at 8:15 p.m. Call (630) 969-9720.

Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark, hosts the 10th Annual Jeff Buckley Tribute Concert, featuring musicians from around the world, at 7 p.m.

The Bob Dogan Trio featuring Ryan Shultz plays Pops For Champagne, 601 N. State, at 9 p.m. Call (312) 266-7677.

The Bob Acri Octet performs at 7:30 p.m. in the Skokie Theatre, 7924 N. Lincoln in Skokie. Call (847) 677-7761.

Heartland Café, 7000 N. Glenwood, presents Emily Hurd, Phillip Lomac and Tori Sparks at 10 p.m. Call (773) 465 8005.

Martyrs’, 3855 N. Lincoln, welcomes Assembly of Dust and Family Groove Company at 9 p.m. Call (773) 404-9494.

Tom Schrader & His Ego plays a record release show, with Curtis Evans, at 10 p.m. at Schuba’s, 3159 N. Southport. Call (773) 525-2508.

MV + EE and The Singleman Affair perform at 10 p.m. at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia. Call (773) 227-4433.

The Old Town School of Folk Music - Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall, 4544 N. Lincoln, welcomes Huun Huur Tu with special guest Helen Money for two shows, at 7 & 10 p.m. Call (773) 728-6000.

Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, presents Busdriver, Daedelus and Antimc at 10 p.m.

Nov. 17

Emily White plays a CD release show, along wth Actor Slash Model, Brianna Lane, Ripley Caine, Adam Hitchell and Voodoo and Valentine, at 9 p.m. at the The Red Line Tap, 7006 N. Glenwood. Call (773) 274-5463.

The original Googie Gomez, Rita Moreno, performs at 8 p.m. at Centre East at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd. in Skokie. Call (847) 673-6300.

The brilliant Feist plays the Riviera, 4746 N. Racine, at 7:30 p.m.

New York-based writer, musician, and conceptual artist Paul D. Miller, aka DJ Spooky, premieres his newest multimedia work, “Subliminal Strings: Link City” at 7 p.m. at the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark.

Pianist Oni Buchanan performs works by Faure, Barber and Beethoven at 12:15 p.m. in Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. Call (312) 744-6630.

KT Tunstall performs at 7:30 p.m. at The Vic, 3145 N. Sheffield.

Heartland Café, 7000 N. Glenwood, presents The Hereafter and John Will Balsley. Call (773) 465 8005.

Chris Trapper, front man of The Push Stars, plays Schuba’s, 3159 N. Southport, at 7:30 p.m. Call (773) 525-2508.

Miss Alex White and the Red Orchestra play a record release show at 9 p.m. at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia. Call (773) 227-4433

The Old Town School of Folk Music - Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall, 4544 N. Lincoln, presents Festival In The Desert with Tinariwen & Mamadou Diabate, at 7 & 10 p.m. Call (773) 728-6000.

Brandon Anthony performs at 10:30 p.m. at Davenport’s, 1383 N. Milwaukee. Call (773) 278-1830.

Life and Times, Sweet Cobra and sleepcomesdown play the Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, at 10 p.m.

Nov. 18

Chicago Chamber Musicians performs “music ahead-of-its-time” along with a world premiere by Dana Wilson in the Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive on Northwestern University’s Evanston campus.

Reggie’s Bar, 2105 S. State, presents The Bleeder Project with Fashion Bomb at 7:30 p.m.

The Orion Ensemble continues its 15th anniversary season with a program including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Trio in C Major for Violin, Cello and Piano K. 548; Victor Babin’s Hillandale Waltzes for Clarinet and Piano (1947); Chicago composer Max Raimi’s Four Songs for Clarinet, Viola and Piano (1987); and Johannes Brahms
’ Quartet in G Minor for Violin, Viola, Cello and Piano, Op. 25, at 3 p.m. in the Music Institute of Chicago’s Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue in Evanston. Call (847) 905-1500.

Metro, 3730 N. Clark, hosts the 10th Annual Uncommon Ground Jeff Buckley Tribute featuring Dorothy Scott, Old Dog Music, Ryan Groff, Spencer Michaud, April Smith, Alpha Rev, Anna D’Aloisio, and Catherine Harrison, at 5 p.m. Call (773) 549-4140.

The Red Line Tap, 7006 N. Glenwood, presents The Pawns, Where Astronauts Go To Hide, The Lie of a Pipe Dream at 9 p.m. Call (773) 274-5463.

Robbers On High Street and Great Northern play Schuba’s, 3159 N. Southport, at 9 p.m. Call (773) 525-2508.

Park West, 322 W. Armitage, welcomes Vanessa Carlton and Graham Colton at 7:30 p.m. Call (773) 929-5959.

The Old Town School of Folk Music - Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall, 4544 N. Lincoln, presents Robbie Fulks’ Secret Country with John McEuen & Jason Ringenberg at 7 p.m. Call (773) 728-6000.

Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, hosts an AHRF Benefit to Raise Awareness of Noise Induced Hearing Loss feat. Le Concorde, The Its and The Handcuffs, at 9 p.m.

Nov. 19

Chances presents Chances! with DJs Behaviour, DJackAttack, Persica and Gay Terrorist, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Subterranean, 2011 W. North. Call (773) 278-6600.

Chicago Chamber Musicians performs “music ahead-of-its-time” along with a world premiere by Dana Wilson in the Anne and Howard Gottlieb Hall at the Merit School of Music, 38 S. Peoria.

Tom Clear performs comedy and improv at 8 p.m. at Davenport’s, 1383 N. Milwaukee. Call (773) 278-1830.

Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, welcomes Arks, Sally and Paper Mice at 9 p.m.

Nov. 20

Homolatte: Queer Words & Music, hosted by Scott Free, presents Dana Kaye, Brianna Lane and Liz Stahler at 7:30 p.m. at Big Chicks/Tweet, 5024 N. Sheridan. Call (773) 728-5511.

Check out Sondre Lerche in real life at 7:30 p.m. at Park West, 322 W. Armitage. Call (773) 929-5959.

Brickfight, from Fort Worth, plays The Note, 1565 N. Milwaukee, at 9 p.m., with Johnny Bodacious and the Bad Attitudes and the Party Downers. Call (773) 489-0011.

Claudia Cassidy Theater in the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph, hosts a live taping of “Listen Here!,” a jazz review radio program hosted by Chicago-based critics and broadcasters Neil Tesser and Mark Ruffin, featuring performances by prominent jazz musicians, candid interviews with movers and shakers in the world of jazz, and lively conversations about the music between the two hosts.

Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western, presents “Music of Changes” featuring oRSo, Herculaneum and Pillars & Tongues, at 9 p.m.