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Established in 1937, we're Humboldt Park’s longest-standing neighborhood bar with a classic Chicago tavern vibe, seasonal cocktails, live music, and DJ sets in our speakeasy dance club.
Established in 1937, we're Humboldt Park’s longest-standing neighborhood bar with a classic Chicago tavern vibe, seasonal cocktails, live music, and DJ sets in our speakeasy dance club.
The California Clipper would be honored to provide our services for your next event. Each event is bespoke to your tastes and needs, to provide the best experience possible for you and your guests.
Every Third Tuesday we partner with Cafe Mustache to bring you to greatest karaoke night in all of Chicago. Come sing the hits on our stage, all renditions welcome!
Hidden Currents is a series that features Chicago's Ambient and Jazz Artists.
vondrum
Special Effect (Sarah Clausen & Tyler Wagner)
Tromblau & Friends
Free
partywatcher embraces the nighttime island sounds of his youth and backs them with inspired Soul rhythms. Splitting his youth between the Dominican Republic and Texas, partywatcher has spent the past decade blending his love of Bachata, Latin Pop, and Classic R&B into original grooves made for those who walk the seedier side of life but seek the light.
https://partywatcher809.bandcamp.com
Rosalba Valdez is a Mexican singer/songwriter from Chicago. Regularly singing and playing guitar for Sunday church services, community events, rallies, and protests, from the age of five, Rosalba grew up in an activist environment advocating for immigrant rights.
Rosalba recognized her passion for music early on and also learned about the importance of speaking out against the injustices in her community. Her new single, "LUCHA DE FAMILIAS," reflects different stories in the immigrant community and calls on the Latine diaspora to stand united for social change. Rosalba continues to showcase her debut ep, "Yo Soy Mexicana," and newest singles in 2023 at festivals and other cultural events throughout the chicagoland area. subscribe below and follow her social channels to keep up to date with her upcoming projects and collaborations.
$5
Charlie Baran has lived a life of music. Before moving to the United States he was a founding member of the legendary Honduran musical group Banda Blanca, who’s song “Sopa de Caracol” became the #1 Billboard Top Latin Songs hit in 1992. Now a maintenance man at a Catholic grade school by day, Charlie has kept his musical flame glowing largely through acoustic solo performances around Chicago for the past ten years. Charlie Baran is a true virtuoso. No one sees him perform without recognizing the presence of a true master – an heir to a rich tradition of Honduran music, as well as a guitar slinging showman and a gifted songwriter whose skill transcends all genres. But throughout most of his career he has existed in the shadows – until the formation of Radio Free Honduras. Radio Free Honduras is a diverse collective of Chicago musicians, all united under one goal – supporting the artistry of Charlie Baran and bringing this tremendous talent into the spotlight where it belongs. Founded by Dan Abu-Absi, longtime guitarist for JT and the Clouds and Birds of Chicago, Radio Free Honduras plays mostly Baran originals, but their live shows often feature a wide variety of reimagined cover songs. This band provides Charlie with the wide musical pallet his talent (and songs) deserve. Abu-Absi has gathered a large, revolving collective of some of Chicago’s most talented musicians; lively percussion, eclectic instrumentation, and rich harmonies all provide the backdrop, allowing Charlie to do what he does best – stunning guitar work, tapping into what seems a limitless supply of energy and enthusiasm for music. Charlie Baran has lived a long and storied musical life – but very few are familiar with his side of the story. Radio Free Honduras has made it their mission to change that.
$5
While visiting his parents in Madison, Chicago-based bassist Jakob Heinemenn encountered a box full of strange tchotchkes on the street. The most curious offering was a songbook called New and Original Favorite Songs of Famous Hill Billies: Songs of Heart and Home, Romance, Pathos, and Comedy—a compendium of country and faux-traditional songs written by radio musicians and songwriters at the turn of the 1930s. The titles were alternately nostalgic, mournful, and goofy (i.e. “Rock Me to Sleep in the Rockies”); the plaintive melodies often consisted of just a simple repeating phrase or two. The music reminded Heinemann, somehow, of his friends and collaborators Chet Zenor (guitar) and Andy Danstrom (drums). Subsequently, Alta Vista was formed—an experimental instrumental trio eager to tear down the dividing lines between American musical idioms. On their debut self-titled album—comprised almost entirely of Songs of Heart and Home selections—they import earnest inspiration and inventive modern gestures into these lost compositions.
https://alta-vista.bandcamp.com/album/alta-vista
Free
Sahn Ecstatik is a series curated by Darien Sea and Liv Mershon, celebrating the DIY scene they both come from. Taking place in the back of The California Clipper, Sahn Ecstatik is an homage to the Chicago basements where they saw some of the greatest bands of all time. This month features:
Patter
Anthony Janas
Cancer House
$5
Matt Gold is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer based in Chicago, IL. His work pulls from diverse traditions of electric and acoustic music. Matt has played in venues across North America, Europe, and Asia, and has written music for film as well. His work has been praised for being “accessible, yet healthily unconstrained by genre and sure of its own identity” (UK Vibe) and for "effortlessly embodying its own dialect—defined by varied, spacious soundscapes, innovative improvisational flourishes and rich harmony" (Downbeat Magazine). In 2020 Gold released Imagined Sky (Whirlwind Recordings), displaying his penchant for concise melody and a nuanced, exploratory palette of abstracted Americana. His latest solo release, Midnight Choir, delves more explicitly into Gold’s deft songwriting and imaginative production. He also releases music as part of the instrumental duo Sun Speak and the singer/songwriter duo Storm Jameson. As an instrumentalist and collaborator, Gold performs and records with a wide array of creative artists including Makaya McCraven, Greg Ward, Marquis Hill, Sara Serpa, Hood Smoke, and Jamila Woods. He co-curates the Flood Music concert series and record label.
http://mattgoldmusic.com/videos
$5
When you look at Joey J. Saye, you see a promising, young musician with his entire life ahead of him. When you hear him, his sound and his musicianship far surpass his age. The way he attacks the strings with finesse embodies the roots of blues as if he was around when the Blues were born. He is making a name for himself throughout the US, abroad, and becoming an international artist with audiences embracing him with open arms. His love of blues is infectious and he shows the audience that the blues are alive and well!
Free
Get a purple Martian and sit down in a booth, you won't regret it! Local acts nearly every night
This is a cool place to hang out and have a drink. Love the atmosphere and the staff if awesome! It has a cool setup for live music too.
My favorite bar in the city. The atmosphere is chill and vibey. The cocktails are delicious too! There's always live music—usually house or disco.
Old school Jazz bar with a great ambiance and good performances. Can't go wrong with this place
Incredible music, ambiance, kind and helpful staff, reasonable cover charge. Age range was quite varied. Will definitely come back.