Tophouse

Tophouse is a Chicago concert by an act working in blues, country and folk, presented at Thalia Hall. Here is what the musical identity and the venue offer.

Tophouse works across blues, country and folk, three roots traditions that draw on shared storytelling and song forms. Blues grew from African American musical practice in the American South and is built on repeated forms and expressive vocal phrasing. Country grew out of rural string-band and folk sources in the 1920s, and the 1927 Bristol sessions are often cited as a starting point for its recorded history. Folk music in the American sense carries forward ballads and songs passed from singer to singer, which is why the three genres overlap in repertoire.

Thalia Hall hosts concerts and shows in Chicago, and this booking places Tophouse on its stage. The night suits listeners who follow roots music, whether they already know the act's songs or are hearing them for the first time.