Winnetka Music Festival will be June 19 and June 20, 2026. Click the “reserve tickets” button below to be directed to the festival website where we will post the lineup and other details in the coming months.
The Sullivan Sisters have dazzled audiences since childhood with their unique blend of fast bluegrass picking and captivating sibling harmonies, with music ranging from lyrical originals to timeless folk classics to blazing instrumentals.
The sisters have recently formed a five-piece band by joining forces with three phenomenal teen pickers and longtime friends: Gabe Zinser on mandolin, Finn McGuinness on fiddle, and Sammy Mougin on bass. Doors @ 3:30pm.
Hotel Fiction is an indie rock band from Athens, Georgia, comprised of Jade Long (vocals, keys), Jessica Thompson (vocals, lead guitar), Aaron Daugherty (lead guitar, synth), Aidan Hill (bass), and Gideon Johnston (drums). Their sound has often been described as genre-fluid, with indie, pop, folk, and rock influences. Doors @ 6:30pm.
Hailing from all across the northern hemisphere, this Costa Rican-born band is here to shake up the status quo with high-voltage energy, emotional grit, and rhythm that hits hard. In a world where rock legends like Bowie and Hendrix once ruled, The Saint Cecilia channels that same fearless spirit to honor their legacy and fill a void for music lovers - fueling a sound that's built for those craving raw, unfiltered music that moves. If you've been missing muisc that truly moves you, this is your new soundtrack. Doors @ 6:30.
The Dead Bolts are a six-piece South Side outfit that shill a wonderfully native-feeling brand of indie rock. This is music for drifters, both of a cerebral and transient persuasion, that attends the growing pains of adulthood with scrappy poetry and classical indie rock ‘n’ roll.. Doors @ 6:30.
Rundown is a Chicago-based alternative Americana band. They blend vibrant rock and grassroots folk to create an exciting live show that accumulates sounds and stories from past lives in dive bars and back porches across the country. They are planning to release their debut EP in the Spring of 2026 that brings indie and country into the same garage. Doors @ 6:30PM.
The Riverside is a traditional melodic and harmony-driven folk string band hailing from Southern California. The highly engaging trio dramatically performs around one microphone, where each instrument and voice crafts a specific part of each story; creating intimate, savory, folk music that warms the heart and feeds the soul. Doors @ 3:30.
Juice is a six-piece band currently based in Brooklyn, NY. Juice blends several genres, including rock, pop, hip-hop, and R&B. Each member draws on a diverse array of influences. With three vocalists, Juice is known to incorporate elaborate harmonies. Juice also incorporates extended electric violin and guitar solos in their live performance . Doors @ 6:30.
Brett Sheroky started as a songwriter in Nashville. His songs have been singled to country radio, hit #1 on Texas radio, and have been featured on both The Voice and American Idol. Brett released his debut album, Rock Paper Scissors in 2025. Brett’s sound walks an unbeaten path that exists somewhere between 90s country and 70s rock. Brett’s natural ability to engage an audience creates an atmosphere where his live performances feel less like shows and more like a good hang with friends. Doors @ 3:30.
Lonely Parrots is a rising Folk-Pop duo based in the San Francisco Bay Area, made up of singer-songwriters Michael Martinez and Max Embers. Known for their catchy melodies and emotionally honest lyrics, the two artists blend introspection with uplifting messages, exploring themes of love, loss, growth, and self-discovery. Both Max and Michael come from successful solo careers—with appearances on NBC’s Songland and American Idol, and collaborations with artists like Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Ryan Tedder, Naika, and John Oates. Doors @ 3:30pm.
Pieta Brown is an American singer-songwriter, artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who has released eight albums and five EPs. She is considered a folk/indie singer-songwriter whose musical style has been influenced by country, blues, and jazz. Doors @ 6:30pm.
J Roddy Walston and The Automatic Band base their sound around the piano. To the singer/piano player/guitarist, J Roddy, it's no different than an electric guitar. His sound is way more Jerry Lee Lewis than Ben Folds. It's a nod to the genre's originators. Roddy plays the piano as if his life depended on it. And the lyrics? They're tainted by his Southern upbringing- clever, gritty, dirty, witty and punchy. Doors @ 6:30pm.
Raised on Stevie Nicks and Taylor Swift, Gatlin has been cultivating her musical acumen since she was young. After heading to Nashville to study songwriting, she released her first solo music in 2020, and has been thrilling audiences with emotionally open songs like the swirling "2000 Miles" and the strutting "Talking To Myself," and her breakout 2021 single "What If I Love You". Gatlin is unafraid to speak truths about romantic love's highs and lows. Doors @ 3:30.
The Book Stall in partnership with Valslist Just Listen Foundation is pleased to present an evening of discussion and music with Gaelynn Lea, author of the new book It Wasn’t Meant to Be Perfect. Folk musician, Broadway composer, and disability advocate Gaelynn Lea’s warm, funny, poignant memoir is a love letter to every kind of body, to music, and to making it work — inviting us to embrace all of life’s experiences with heart and determination. Ms. Lea will be in conversation with author Leigh Stein. Following the talk, Gaelynn will perform a few songs for the audience. Doors @ 6:30pm. Valslist guests will attend free of charge (special ticket link below) and Gaelynn's book will be available for purchase at the event. ADA accessibility will be provided.
A Chicago based band known for weaving tales of heartache, existential questioning, aimless drifting, and the need to belong, Champions’ distinct sound blends tension and dynamics with relatable melodies and gritty fuzz guitar tones. Doors @ 3:30.
***THIS SHOW HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FROM 3/29***
Jordan Caiola (CAI•OLA) is a songwriter/musician/producer based out of Philadelphia. He founded the indie rock band Mo Lowda & The Humble in 2010. During the lockdown in 2020, he recorded a collection of folk songs for his first solo album, “Only Real When Shared”. He now tours year-round with both Mo Lowda and his solo project. Doors @ 3:30.
Midnight Canyon is an Americana-flavored band that originated in 2020 during the pandemic, when three well-respected Chicago artists had free time on their hands. Their sound inspired by '70's artists like Fleetwood Mac and Jackson Browne as well as Dire Straits and Bruce Springsteen. Doors @ 6:30.
Supertaste is an indie dance band from Brooklyn, NY, consisting of duo members Zach Britt and Lucas Feigenbaum. Their music is characterized by nu-disco, funk, and dance music influences, with a sound that features synths, disco-inspired guitar, and energetic live performances. The band was formed after an impromptu DJ set and is known for creating a "colossal atmosphere" with its instrumentation and hooks. Doors @ 3:30pm
Bluesy, Smoky, Sexy, and Raw. wht.rbbt.obj ("White Rabbit Object") is a femme fatale fronted, guitar driven, alternative rock outfit from Chicago, Illinois. What started as a secret side project for a married couple, Frank & River Rabbitte, wht.rbbt.obj has grown into a four piece musical tour de force. Doors @ 3:30.
Join us for an intimate evening with Pat McKillen, joined by violinist Phil Roach and pianist Nate Warren, for a cozy night of songs and stories spanning a 15-year career. Pat McKillen is a Valslist favorite, having performed at Val’s original house concert series in 2011 and 2013 and at the Winnetka Music Fest in 2018, 2023, and this past summer. You may have also seen him as the lead singer of The Gold Coast All Stars, Trippin’ Billies, and Midnight Canyon.
Anne Harris is a Chicago-based singer-songwriter and fiddle player who has performed with the band Cracker and is known for her unique, physical performing style and extensive collaborations in the blues and American roots music scene. She is also a solo artist who has released several independent albums and has toured and recorded with a wide range of artists, including Otis Taylor, Taj Mahal, and Jefferson Starship. Doors @ 3:30pm
Grace Humphries is an emerging country artist from Austin, TX who has quickly gained recognition for her soulful and emotionally charged music. Grace’s music often reflects on her personal experiences, including the loss of her brother and growing up in the Texas Hill Country. Doors @ 6:30pm.
Elizabeth Moen is a guitarist and singer-songwriter based in Chicago, IL. Elizabeth’s voice is big, beautiful, and impossible to ignore - it’s an instrument of raw power that can just as easily pull you in with a whisper. Doors @ 6:30pm.
Valslist presents an evening of music reflections - a deeper look at spiritual lyrics in popular music from the voice of two generations - with Paul Agase and Hope Agase Van Alstyne, and special guest, musical journalist and author, Selena Fragassi. Doors @ 6:30pm
American singer-songwriter in the pop/folk genre who has acquired more than one million fans in 65 countries. He has shocking talent and a unique purpose in today's oversaturated music scene. Doors 3:30pm
Josh Spinner is a Chicago-based singer-songwriter who grew up in Glencoe, Illinois and is now building a name as one of the city’s most promising new artists. His career as a songwriter began while earning his jazz degree at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he was as inspired by the tight arrangements and harmonic complexity of Steely Dan as he was by the classic storytelling of The Eagles and Jackson Browne. He started out playing in living rooms that gradually turned into full-scale venues in the underground Chicago scene. Later transferring to the University of Illinois Chicago to pursue a Music Business degree, he used the move to expand his network and deepen his ties to the city’s music community. His sound blends those jazz-rooted influences with the drive and grit of modern indie rock and Americana.
Josh’s music is driven by connection. He’s played everywhere from campus shows to stages like Schubas Tavern, Lincoln Hall, the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, and the Raccoon Motel in Davenport, to festivals like Winnetka Music Fest just minutes from his hometown. His songs often center on personal turning points, the small details that stick in your memory, and the ways people find their way through change.
When he’s not writing or performing, Josh is usually on the road through the Midwest, catching up with friends, or spending time alone to recharge — the kinds of experiences that end up in his lyrics.
Doors 3:30pm
This Chicago-born rising folk-rock star has appeared on The Voice and played Summerfest, Taste of Chicago and Mile of Music. Influenced by artists like Paul Simon and Glen Hansard, he continues to evolve into the bold storyteller he's always wanted to be. Doors 6:30pm
The music of these Austin natives is characterized by its unique and innovative nature, constantly evolving and pushing boundaries with their love of dark synths, Afrobeat rhythms and a potent blend of electro-soul instrumentation. Their live performances include Lollapalooza and opening for Aerosmith, Osees and The Flaming Lips. Doors 4:30pm
The founders of this folk/rock/Americana band met as camp counselors in Northern Wisconsin in 2011. Over a decade and four albums later, they are following a new trajectory, combining their signature take on folk-grass and American with teh comfort on electric instruments and playing rock and roll. Named often as a "band to watch," they won Bluegrass/American Band of the year by the Wisconsin Area Music Industry. Doors 6:30pm
Born and raised in Chicago, Graham meshes South Side blues with Nashville Americana. Soulful and steady, his guitar conveys heartbreak, his lyrics soulful regret, but his rich vocal delivery offers the remedy. Doors 6:30pm
Kamel has garnered praise throughout the music world for his unique approach to performing, writing and recording leading to a Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Record. his shows showcase his versatility as a multi-instrumentalist and compelling storyteller; he finds a way to punch up with the folks he is in the room with. Doors 3:30pm
Valslist presents an evening of music reflections - a deeper look at spiritual lyrics in modern popular music. Hosted by Paul Agasse, former WXRT General Manager and guest host Crane Kennedy, President Chicago Cubs. Doors @ 6:30pm
