Sign up at 4:00pm | open mic starts at 5:00pm

Join us for our Shure sponsored Open Mic! For over 25 years, we have hosted Chicago’s up and coming musicians at our Shure Sponsored open mic that was recently voted “Chicago’s best open mic” by the Chicago reader. Ours is a competition where the winners of each week are entered into the semi-finals, and the winners from the semis are entered into the finale. Prizes from the finale have been many things of value to musicians in the past such as Shure microphones, studio time, and cash prizes. If you think you have what it takes to be our next open mic winner, come on down and give it a shot!

Johnny Speaks is a Chicago-born singer-songwriter delivering soulful acoustic Americana that blends blues grit, bluegrass drive, folk storytelling, and rock ’n’ roll energy. Influences include Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker, Dave Matthews, and Billy Strings.

A Chicago based singer-songwriter armed with unwaveringly intimate lyrics & acoustically driven melodies, damsel. is a breath of fresh air on the indie folk scene. Taking inspiration from the likes of Phoebe Bridgers, Laura Marling, and Adrianne Lenker, damsel. sings with unflinching honesty about her life and the world that she sees. Her debut album "soft animal" is out now.

The Devil Said Jump is a queer, Americana band from Chicago. Combining the honest storytelling of old Cowboy Country music with gut-wrenching harmonies and indie production. Their new song "Make Me Buy A Gun" is out everywhere now.

Sara Mercurio is a Chicago-based musician and performing artist. She draws inspiration from many different styles of music, including but not limited to rock, punk, and folk. She performs with Anna Torgerson on bass and Josh Stanley on drums.

Frank Viele’s brand of New England blues rock tugs at the heartstrings, pulling the listener on a surprise journey that transcends genre.

With several albums under his belt and a growing reputation as one of the most exciting voices in Americana music, Frank Viele continues to push the boundaries of what it means to be a modern singer-songwriter. Whether he’s performing on stage or in the studio, he approaches his music with a passion and intensity that is infectious, making more and more folks take notice…one stage at a time.

Sign up at 4:00pm | open mic starts at 5:00pm

Join us for our Shure sponsored Open Mic! For over 25 years, we have hosted Chicago’s up and coming musicians at our Shure Sponsored open mic that was recently voted “Chicago’s best open mic” by the Chicago reader. Ours is a competition where the winners of each week are entered into the semi-finals, and the winners from the semis are entered into the finale. Prizes from the finale have been many things of value to musicians in the past such as Shure microphones, studio time, and cash prizes. If you think you have what it takes to be our next open mic winner, come on down and give it a shot!

Belmaus is indie-funk band formed here in the heart of Chicago on Belmont Ave. Their goal is to play silly songs for silly folks amidst the rush and stress of everyday life. From covers by The Cardigans and Queen, to funky and energetic originals, the band has found ways to connect and grow their fan base by keeping it chill all day every day.

Guests will be served food and beverage throughout the show by one of our attentive servers. Check in starts 30 minutes before the show. Upon arrival, the music coordinator will receive and show you to your correct seats based on the ticket you have purchased. Once sat, please do not move to a different seat, as it may have been bought by a different guest. We are excited to host a night of delicious food and amazing music for you!

Slane Stuart is a singer songwriter from Chicago who for a long time played in a rock band called Fine By Me but recently has chosen to go acoustic and release his first single, "Streetlights". Violet Clare is an alternative indie folk artist. Originally from Michigan, she weaves themes of guilt, change, childhood and nature into her music. Mikey Harms is a singer songwriter and a multi instrumentalist from the Southside of Chicago. He plays Indie Folk and Alt Rock. Noel is best known as the frontman of Cheerleader Roadkill, but for this set he's turning into Zack Chill.

B.J. Fisher is a Midwest singer-songwriter known for his dynamic performances, striking voice, and soulful songwriting. Emerging from Wisconsin and now based in Chicago, B.J. blends indie-folk sincerity with rock and roll energy, crafting songs that resonate with emotional depth and melodic charm. In 2021, B.J. released his debut single, “Nothing At All,” via Radio Milwaukee. The track earned praise for its honest, buoyant indie-folk sound and was accompanied by an evocative, train-hopping music video.

This summer, B.J. played all over Chicago and recently won 3rd place at Uncommon Ground’s open mic competition. He performed at Chicago’s “Secret River Show,” and has shared the stage with acclaimed acts including Thompson Springs, Trapper Schoepp, The Well Pennies, Kyran Daniel and Fantastic Cat.

Gather round if you dare! Cellist, songwriter and storyteller Adela will lead a carefully curated collection of scary songs and folk legends. Enjoy chilling tales of the natural and supernatural. Special guests include fellow storyteller Bianca Gelse, as well as bone-jeweler, designer and author the Hooked Leviathan. 

Adela is a wandering musician, writer, and radio personality who loves using music to connect cultures. With simple arrangements and warm honesty, she uses elements of classical music, folk music and pop music to create a unique sound that is as soulful as her cello. 

Reading Rhythms is a series of welcoming reading parties designed to make it easy for people to gather and read socially. We invite you to bring any book you want and facilitate silent reading periods, as well as 1-on-1 breakouts, and group discussions to pull on the threads of the books that everyone is engaging with.

​​In a world that can often feel devoid of interest and meaningful connection, we bring readers together to reconnect with our love of learning, to experience the wonder of beautiful venues and curated music, and to gather amongst all of the people who want to be in that very same room.

​Join as at Uncommon Ground in Lakeview for a night of reading and conversation. Full dinner table service and bar options available for purchase during the event.

Sign up at 4:00pm | open mic starts at 5:00pm

Join us for our Shure sponsored Open Mic! For over 25 years, we have hosted Chicago’s up and coming musicians at our Shure Sponsored open mic that was recently voted “Chicago’s best open mic” by the Chicago reader. Ours is a competition where the winners of each week are entered into the semi-finals, and the winners from the semis are entered into the finale. Prizes from the finale have been many things of value to musicians in the past such as Shure microphones, studio time, and cash prizes. If you think you have what it takes to be our next open mic winner, come on down and give it a shot!

With textured vocals and blues-infused rock, Ed Gershon is a singer-songwriter who brings heart and soul to every performance. His music blends the storytelling of The Beatles, the improvisational spirit of Dave Matthews Band, and the raw energy of The Black Crowes—taking audiences on a dynamic musical journey. His intimate 2024 EP Solo & Acoustic features Street Lights, showcasing the raw energy and emotional depth he’s honed on stages such as Chicago’s legendary Cubby Bear and Milwaukee’s Summerfest.

Lucy London is a yodeling performance artist, opera-singer, and nomadic folk musician. Her mission as an artist is to explore and practice ways of deepening connection while laughing at the absurdity of it all. Lucy graduated from Northwestern University in 2023, where she studied classical voice and performance. She has performed with international folk ensembles in Greensboro, North Carolina and Delhi, India.  She is one half of Pinto Pals, a yodeling duo. Check out their sound here. 

Fascinated by many modes of creativity, Janelle Finton is a trumpeter, vocalist, composer, and poet who approaches music making and storytelling with wonder. She has played with groups such as the Maria Schneider Orchestra, the Grace Fox Big Band, the John Daversa Big Band, the Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra, DIVA Jazz Orchestra, and NYO Jazz at Carnegie Hall, where she toured Europe and Asia with Sean Jones, Dianne Reeves, and Kurt Elling. As a composer, she is recognized by Downbeat, the American Composer’s Forum, and is published with Brava Jazz, and Anchor Music. In 2024, she debuted her folk/jazz/chamber group joygarden, and had her concert band piece Midwest Clinic premiere. In 2025 she was commissioned by Carnegie Hall as an arranger for NYO Jazz, and conducted the premiere at Carnegie, and on tour in Latin America. After graduating from University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, Janelle moved to Chicago, where she is grateful to share joy with people through playing, writing, and teaching music!

For this performance joined by guitarist Alvin Santner, enjoy a blend between original songwriting and Brazilian folk music.

Bryan Cee is a Chicago-based singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer originally from the Bahamas. Blending Caribbean rhythms with soul, pop, and contemporary influences, his music bridges cultures while telling deeply personal stories. With a background in classical piano performance and experience as a music director and educator, The Bryan Cee Collective features Ethan Reinbach on drums and David Burrows on trumpet.

Trumpeter Aidan Buck will join his band in a night of healing, uplifting original compositions and lesser known jazz standards. Summit Blue, his renowned group in college, released two original full-length albums to hearty appreciation by the Eau Claire music community. Now living in Chicago, he is eager to plant his roots and start creating music with the local community.

Jay Moody loves singing and picking. He sings folk tunes and sometimes picks bluegrass tunes. He writes songs, too. Songs about trees and animals, trains and highways, hookups and breakups. Sometimes he rips off John Prine, but that’s not such a bad thing to do. Everything Is Not Enough is Jay’s tribute to Townes Van Zandt. Come on by for a career-spanning set showcasing the poetry and music of one of America’s very best songwriters.

Jenn Harris is a Chicago-based singer-songwriter with a love of Americana, folk and old-school country music. Her songs explore the lives we live and the beauty of this world, through rich imagery and storytelling. Lost love, bad decisions, night demons, geologic time, seahorse orphans, spelunking, the garden of friendship, the search for the divine, a circa 1918 London boarding house, lonely ghosts and mysteries—Jenn’s songs take you there.

Sign up at 4:00pm | open mic starts at 5:00pm

Join us for our Shure sponsored Open Mic! For over 25 years, we have hosted Chicago’s up and coming musicians at our Shure Sponsored open mic that was recently voted “Chicago’s best open mic” by the Chicago reader. Ours is a competition where the winners of each week are entered into the semi-finals, and the winners from the semis are entered into the finale. Prizes from the finale have been many things of value to musicians in the past such as Shure microphones, studio time, and cash prizes. If you think you have what it takes to be our next open mic winner, come on down and give it a shot!

Kate Sikora (vocals) comes from an opera background and has a BIG voice, while multi-instrumentalist Brian Evans creates arrangements of all your favorite classics, often with an aim to make a single guitar play the role of a full band with rhythm, percussion, and melody, all simultaneously!

Specializing in timeless classics by artists like Etta James, Sinatra, Nina Simon, Amy Winehouse, Sam Cook, Elvis, & The Beatles, there's something for everyone to enjoy!

Aimont Moon drifts at the edge of genres, blending alt-rock grit with indie soul and a shimmer of jazz. Fronted by singer-songwriter Patrick Gemkow, whose soulful voice carries both raw ache and luminous power, the band creates music that is as moving as it is electrifying. Co-founders Alex Austin (jazz-fusion-rock bassist) and Oliver Hunt (multi-instrumentalist and percussionist) weave intricate rhythms and pulses that push each song to soaring heights. This time, they’re joined by the brilliant jazz guitarist Tony Richards, bringing new color and energy to the stage for an intimate, unforgettable acoustic performance. Don’t miss this show.

Shannon Baker is a singer-songwriter with a voice that stops you in your tracks. It carries that rare blend of power and warmth, confidence and vulnerability. Instantly unforgettable, her sound feels both timeless and fresh - as if you’ve known it for years, even on first listen. Beyond her stunning vocals, Baker is a gifted songwriter, crafting Americana that’s smart, soulful, and steeped in nostalgia.

Melanie Pierce is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer. She is driven to create music that will capture the hearts of masses, all the while remaining unapologetic about who she is. Her alt pop sound blends elements of Pop and Americana, and her lyrical content examines traditional themes of love, lust, angst and heartbreak, while also getting vulnerable about anxiety, self-doubt, and insecurity. As a young, pop artist, Pierce is an embodiment of self-assurance and her purpose in making music is to create a ripple effect.

Joey Viola grew up and currently resides in a small section of Columbus, Ohio (Clintonville and is the lead singer of Magnolia. His solo works stem from his life experience in themes that people can relate to. Love and loss, growth, the socio-political climate. There’s even some bullshit about throwing a stone or two. Thanks for the listen. - Joey

An indie pop project unafraid to stretch and play with labels, LINE weaves singer-songwriter sensibilities with multi-genre arrangements. After playing with a full band for several years, vocalist/songwriter Maddie Batzli and guitarist/producer Charlie Koz are releasing The Woodside Sessions EP as an acoustic duo in September 2025. By sharing the vulnerability of holding multiple truths at once, LINE aims to invite listeners to live more deeply into their own experiences.

Luscia Jane is a Chicago-based Forest Funk project. “Forest Funk” is a term which best describes our dynamic style that mixes jazz, psychedelic rock, soul, world, and folk styles with inspiration from nature in the form of musical arrangement, lyrical content, natural samples, and passion for environmental activism.

Sign up at 4:00pm | open mic starts at 5:00pm

Join us for our Shure sponsored Open Mic! For over 25 years, we have hosted Chicago’s up and coming musicians at our Shure Sponsored open mic that was recently voted “Chicago’s best open mic” by the Chicago reader. Ours is a competition where the winners of each week are entered into the semi-finals, and the winners from the semis are entered into the finale. Prizes from the finale have been many things of value to musicians in the past such as Shure microphones, studio time, and cash prizes. If you think you have what it takes to be our next open mic winner, come on down and give it a shot!

Zach Pietrini’s Midwestern, indie americana songwriting aesthetic is the sonic embodiment of a well-worn denim jacket. At the forefront of the Americana resurgence, Pietrini—lead vocalist and guitarist for his namesake band—takes an everyman’s approach to the genre with a knack for honest storytelling and a wistfulness that comes across in both the music and lyrics.www.zachpietrini.com

Paige Hargrove is a singer/songwriter from the Chicago suburbs. Taking inspiration from artists like David Ramirez, Jade Bird, and Jason Isbell, Paige has a dynamic and lyrically driven sound. She’s had the pleasure of sharing the stage with many, including Lily Rose, Andrea Von Kampen, and Chuck Cannon. https://paigehargrovemusic.com/epk

Come meet head brewer Brandon Stern as he shows you around the brewery & the organic brewing process. Taste through some seasonal beer & then head over to the Cubs Game. #GoCubsGo

With a retro-soul vibe, hints of jazz, and a voice critics describe as “sitting somewhere between Diana Ross and Kacey Musgraves” (FATEA), Abbie delivers a fun and dynamic show with songs that are lyrically rich—tugging at heartstrings while carrying a thread of resilience and hope. For fans of Raye, Norah Jones, and Carole King, with support from Michigan songwriter Jon Hayes, whose music appeals to fans of John Mayer, NEEDTOBREATHE, and the soulful tones of Allen Stone.

Lisa P. Medina is a contemporary folk singer-songwriter whose sound is seasoned with a dash of Latin rhythm and flair. Lisa’s musical journey began in church choirs and theater stages, evolving into a vibrant career that’s taken her from intimate duos and bands to fronting a Grammy-nominated Latin jazz big band. She has graced iconic stages like the Petrillo Bandshell at the Chicago Jazz Festival, Park West, the Old Town School’s Folk & Roots Festival, the Adler Planetarium, and even Wrigley Field—where she sang the National Anthem for Cubs games. After stepping away from the spotlight to focus on raising her children, Lisa returned with fresh energy and heartfelt songs that resonate with audiences of all ages. Lisa’s debut full-length album “Wishes,” was released in May 2024.

Do you wish you could have more of the kinds of conversations you have late at night where for some reason, you feel safe talking about the things you actually care about?

We'll be offering "big talk" conversational prompts on them to get you started, and we'll have lots of structure to make sure that you actually talk to people and that it's not awkward. Not feeling like answering a particular question? No worries, we'll have plenty to choose from, like, "When are you the happiest?" and, "If you were going to become close friends with me, what would I need to know about you?" We'll give you ground rules to make sure you feel comfortable and safe sharing as much of yourself as possible while still feeling in complete control of how much you divulge.

Sign up at 4:00pm | open mic starts at 5:00pm

Join us for our Shure sponsored Open Mic! For over 25 years, we have hosted Chicago’s up and coming musicians at our Shure Sponsored open mic that was recently voted “Chicago’s best open mic” by the Chicago reader. Ours is a competition where the winners of each week are entered into the semi-finals, and the winners from the semis are entered into the finale. Prizes from the finale have been many things of value to musicians in the past such as Shure microphones, studio time, and cash prizes. If you think you have what it takes to be our next open mic winner, come on down and give it a shot!

BSerpa is an artist from Humboldt Park,Chicago who speaks for those in the struggle and finding the deeper purposes in life while keeping the art of hip hop alive.

Guests will be served food and beverage throughout the show by one of our attentive servers. Check in starts 30 minutes before the show. Upon arrival, the music coordinator will receive and show you to your correct seats based on the ticket you have purchased. Once sat, please do not move to a different seat, as it may have been bought by a different guest. We are excited to host a night of delicious food and amazing music for you!

Iris And The Shade met at a random bar, on a random late night, on a random whim, after two decades of circling each other unknowingly in their hometown Dana Point. Their meeting began with a trip (Chase aka “The Shade” tripped Iris with his foot to meet her) and that began a love story full of grace and grit and lots and lots of music. Their porch singing and mutual musings pushed them to create the indie folk-rock duo called Iris And The Shade. They sound like the ebb and flow of the ocean; sweet and calm or rough and storming.

Their mission is to connect with others through the music, while positively contributing to the causes they care about. Iris and the Shade are passionate about the welfare of animals, de-crowding and increased funding of dog shelters, and the cleaning of their local beaches and oceans. 

Also joining is Suzy Lee (trio)

Step into a world of electrifying talent and vibrant performances at Uncommon Ground's Open Mic Final Competition! Join us for an unforgettable night of music as we celebrate the rising stars of the arts community.

The Finals include all of the individual winners from each week of this season. Performers get two songs. The two songs must be original songs written by the performer in order to advance to the Finals.

We will begin promptly at 6pm.

Free Admission