I was looking for something to do on a Thursday night and decided to check out Jon Mclaughlin. SPACE is located on the corner of Dempster/Chicago Ave. There is street parking that don't require meter payment after 6pm. Union Pizzeria and Space are in the same building. Once you walk in the pizzeria is to the left of the host stand and SPACE is straight ahead. My brother and I bought tickets, ordered 2 pizzas, and stood in line as General Admission for this event was first come first serve with seating. Shrimp/Bacon + Lamb sausage pizza ($15 each) were ready in approximately 10 minutes. Setup for this event was table tickets in the middle and chairs for general admission to the left/right/sides of the stage. The crowd for Jon Mclaughlin ranged from NW students to 40+. There is a full bar with servers inside with drinks in the $6-9 range. It is an intimate space that does not have a bad seat in the house. The only distracting part was the drunk couple talking loudly throughout the concert who yelled at a lady that kindly asked them to quiet down. Come for a chill night if you want to actually want to listen to music. Go somewhere else if you want to talk with your friends. Pizza was delicious Great staff - professional, helpful, easy going Fun/engaging performance by Jon Mclaughlin read more

This is one of my favorite music venues in the Chicagoland area. The venue is small, intimate and has great sound. The crowd that attends shows here truly enjoys music and are respectful to the musicians. In other words, not on cellphones or talking during the performance. The beer list is decent with several local craft beers. We have been here several times and have always had a great experience. Ticket prices vary depending on if you purchase GA or reserved table seating. Street or a parking garage is nearby. One of my top 3 music venues in the Chicagoland area. read more

Best acoustics in Chicago! Great bands, great crowds, great times. GO SEE LIVE MUSIC!!! read more

One of the best live music venues in Chicago. Definitely the most family friendly and parking-convenient. There's a great pizza place attached to the club, so you can bring the kids (and feed the family without breaking the bank). Every show is all ages. Intimate setting with excellent sight lines and acoustics. Owned by Delmark recording artist and Chicago guitar veteran, Dave Specter. This is my new favorite place to see a live show! Period. read more

Evanston Space - Dave Specter with Donald Kinsey and "Brother John" Katke. - Performing Arts Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

As Space's response to my review says, their general manager approached me at the end of the concert and apologized, and we followed up by email. Nobody's perfect. I still don't think they handled the particular situation as well as they should have, and the GM acknowledged that. I am feeling much better about the venue overall. They are usually quite timely about starting shows, which is maybe part of why I was so disappointed by the delay this time. Their follow up made up for a lot. read more

I've been here twice and had 2 different experiences. The first show I attended had seats set up in the entire room. I was seated off to the left of the stage and thought it was a little too cramped and close together. The other show I went to had no chairs and they did a good job of not stuffing the floor with the maximum people allowed. It was a sold out show but there was still room to move around and adjust my sight line to the stage without getting the way. They have interesting acts perform here often so I know I'll be back. I'm just glad they seem to care (unlike places like the Congress Theatre) read more

Happy to have SPace in my back yard! Finally caught a show here and loved the atmosphere. Looking forward to going back for another show in a couple of weeks! One tiny gripe - it was a little hard to hear the vocals. read more

I've been to 6 dinners (at Union Pizza) & concerts here. Each one made me feel happier!

I'd pay good money to see my favorite musicians perform here. Great, intimate venue. That is all. read more

Went to a concert on Friday and enjoyed listening to the musicians at the venue. It's such an intimate space that does have limited seating and a full bar. I like the fact that you can order pizza in 10-20 minutes up front and bring it with you to the venue. (It'd be even better if they deliver it to you inside) Sound quality was awesome for this place. Street parking was easy and it was free (it was only a block away from where we parked - sorry that I can't remember the street name). I look forward to hitting this place for another concert in the future. read more

Concert in the suburbs? Meh. WRONG. SPACE is a fantastic concert venue, dare I say my favorite??? It's intimate, inviting and grown up (no sticky floors here). There is seating along the wall and tables you can reserve in the center. The bar has a good variety of wine, microbrews and cocktails. The best part is the server who brings it to you, you don't have to miss a second of your show! Combine the fact that you can carry in pizza from Union, and you've got yourself a great night. read more

Things I like about SPACE: - sound is usually excellent - I can reserve a table - intimate, good sight-lines - Union Pizzeria is right there - free on-street parking - staff is generally cordial Things I don't like: - the A/C can be chilly, and the fans dty my eyes - lighting too dim for me pre-show and at intermission - tables crowded, chairs uncomfortable For me, the Old Town School of Folk Music is still tops: better sound, greater comfort, more reservable seats. read more

SPACE is amazing. I usually go to 1-2 shows per month here and would happily come more often. Evening parking is free and easy around the venue, reserved seating guarantees a great view of the stage, the sound quality is sensational. I can't say enough, I absolutely love this venue! They also treat the musicians great (happy musicians = great performances and frequent visits). read more

I saw Meklit and the sold-out Joshua Radin. Both awesome performances. Both set up very well. The audio does great things:) They do serve alcohol free beer- yes, you can go there while you can't drink! You can bring in your pizza and enjoy it while the show lasts. You can enjoy some great, great music....Ant they have concerts almost every day, so your slow winter weekdays might turn into yet just another experience:) And yes, every night might be great there. The parking in between the houses is not perfect, but it could be worse.It is free(so far), which is obviously better then the Chicago venues offer. Oh, they limit the number of tickets.It allows you to actually get on their website and score tickets for some very popular performances. read more

This place is awesome! I really love the intimate setting. They have a lot of great quality musicians including our hometown favorites. Being able to reserve a table is a major bonus for me as a newer Mom who doesn't get to go out as much. It's really a beautiful place. I have been able to actually talk with some of my favorite performers after the show. The food is very good at the restaurant too. It is a great place to meet friends before a show for dinner & drinks. I would highly recommend Space to music lovers. read more

Overall a great venue. At times, I felt the acoustics were a little suspect, hence the four stars, but for the most part, a nice place for developing groups or comedians to do a show. Not too big or small. Bar has a decent number of offerings. Seating isn't crowded. Thumbs up read more

Love Love Love Evanston Space. Went there with a group of friends for one of their private shows (current COVID protocol, pre- opening at a capacity). The bartender Milan was a hero! She was nice, personable, and fun. My group of friends like good tequila and they only had 2 bottles......which disappeared quickly. Rather than disappoint us with well tequila she jumped into action and had someone go to the liquor store and get more of our brand. We didn't miss a round. The food was great, the band was AMAZING, and with a bartender focused on customer happiness it couldn't have been a better night. Booking another show there with our small group soon. read more

What a fantastic venue. I absolutely love the smaller intimate spaces. There is no bad view...well except when you're 5'3 & a 6'2 man decides to park himself in front of you. That's just bad luck. Solid bar, but lines can be long bc it's the only bar available. Waitress service available too. We saw Andersen East who I'm crushing on more after seeing him at Space! Will definitely be back...probably numerous times! read more

Evanston Space - Andersen East jamming the night away - Performing Arts Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I saw Trevor Hall here last week, and the venue was beyond amazing. Great size, great sound, and awesome food. My 2 friends and I split the shrimp, pineapple and jalapeño pizza, the mushroom pizza and the butter lettuce salad, and everything was delicious, fast and moderately priced. If you like brick oven pizza, this is definitely a great stop. I live about an hour away from Evanston, but it's well worth the drive. read more

I've been here for three concerts. Never the restaraunt/bar but it is ALWAYS packed there. Sometimes when you're in line for a show the line sneaks out the door, so during the winter it's awful if you're not super early to stand in line! When you get in the door finally and are still in line, it can be rather stuffy, but the entire venue is cozy to begin with. The concert room isn't huge, and for some shows they have several tables set up for reservations. Personally the only reason I would get a table is if I was with maybe 3 other people and we wanted to comfortably eat pizza (out of a box, they're medium-small sized) and have drinks. Otherwise, I don't think it's really worth the extra money. Especially if you have a reserved table in the back. Sometimes even with seated shows you'll need to stand if you're not early. I've personally always grabbed a seat toward the front on the aisle and it's been amazing. I saw Zoe Keating twice here and Dick Dale once. The Zoe Keating shows were two of my favorite of all time. the ambiance and dim lighting added to the experience so much, and the accent on the stage was beautiful. For Dick Dale there were no tables, but still some seating. Nothing reserved. People were moving around and jamming to the surfer music and it was GREAT! Sitting on the side of the stage was comfortable and fun to see everyone on stage rocking out. Dick even played a little to either side of the stage for everyone's pleasure. Drinks are pricier than other venues, and the pizza isn't cheap either (you also need to order at the front desk, and then run back up to get it. They don't bring it to you.) but being able to snack on something before a show is a nice touch. I hope that we find something to see there again soon! read more

I cannot believe that I waited so long to finally go and see a concert at Space. I guess having two kids that are 4 and 7 cut down on the number of concerts one can attend, but this place is perhaps one of the best places to go see a performance. So many great acts come in every month. You can pretty much throw a dart at their calendar and hit a great show. I happened to go see Michelle Shocked. The sound is great in the room, had a great seat (get there early), great beer selection, and you can even have a pizza at your seat before the show. I will definitely be going back to see Rory Block when she performs there in a few weeks. read more

Perfect intimate setting for seeing a live performance. Venue is small so there is not a bad seat in the house. Really good acoustics, too. The drink prices are a bit steep in my opinion. They have a full restaurant in front and the stage is in another room in the back. Menu looked really good. Need to go back and check out the restaurant side. They don't have food waiter service in the performance area, but you can order a pizza from the restaurant and bring it back with you. They do have wait staff for drinks. All in all, a terrific place to catch a show. I definitely recommend it. read more

I've always wanted to attend a concert here, and finally got the chance when me and my bf got tickets to see Jay Nash. What a beautiful venue. I love the hanging ceiling mushroom lights. I give props to Evanston, this place is beyond classy. And water is $1/bottle. I'm used to places that try to rip you off for water, so space gets brownie points for this. read more

Sound proof doors, amazing acoustics in the room, friendly staff. The only reason i took a star off is cuz it is a little small. Union Pizzeria is not a part of this review read more

Great intimate little venue (though I'm sure I'm not the first to say that). The tables in front of the stage are extra but the seats on the side are totally fine. They hardly have people come through here that I'm interested in seeing....though I am by no means the most well read music fan. Saw Marc Broussard with the girlfriend and friends and had a really fun time though. I plan on keeping an eye out for others!!! read more

SPACE is a great venue for a variety of things. I've attended two concerts there, and had a great experience both time. The venue is small enough to feel intimate but I never had a problem grabbing a table. The sound quality was good for both shows. I've also been to a few ZUMBA parties at SPACE. This is a great venue for a group work out class due to the sound system (a live DJ is used for the class) and the instructors use the slightly raised stage so the entire group can see. SPACE is a must-visit! read more

I completely fell in love with this venue when I saw Theo Katzman on 5/31/12. The back room has incredible acoustics - there isn't a "bad seat" if you're there for sound. We ordered pizza from the front and took it back with us (yes, you can do that!), and it was fairly priced and absolutely delicious. The cocktail waitress was very sweet and attentive, trying her very best to navigate through the crowd while not disturbing anyone. Long story short, I can't wait to go back! read more

Space is an intimate music venue with reasonably priced tickets. The Zydeco Blues band we saw Sunday night was amazing. We will definitely be back for another show. Didn't get a chance to try the pizza at Union in the adjoining space, but will get there early next time. read more

Evanston Space - Performing Arts Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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I have been here once before and had to remove my review from pressure from the owner of the establishment. A second time around, my review stands. Meh, I have experienced better. We drank at the bar and had pizza before which was great. The prices were fair as well as the service. Inside this venue the crowd is overwhelmed with suburban couples quietly sitting at their tables, applauding pleasantly and at their best behavior. Which may be exactly what you are looking for. I however enjoy a bit more life and appreciation for the artist belting out her heart and soul to the audience. the coup de grace of my evening at space, was the rude patron behind me who pushed me physically out of her way so that she could take a picture of the performer. I am totally turned off from this stale venue and uptight crowd. you've been warned. PS: the beer inside the venue goes up to $7 a pint.... read more

I love Space! Unfortunately, I am going to their outdoor show tonight and the line to get in... just to get in, is over 40 minutes long. It is barely moving. We got here super early and will likely miss the opening act starting. We have barely moved in 15 minutes. read more

A nice venue for Moth story slam. But get there early!!! Very limited seating, and they let everyone in. The good news is they don't sell out and sell tickets at the door. The bad news is it's standing room only and an agoraphobic claustrophobe's nightmare. read more

Great Lighting, and some incredible acts. But this place could use some serious, cool signage outside, and their website / ticket purchase selection process is not at all easy to navigate nor understand, e.g. You can't see what 'seats' are unsold, just what 'tables' have sold all of the tables' seats. Very frustrating. Intimate venue with great sound, good drinks and a chance sometimes to meet the performers.....a big plus. We saw one of the best performances on 8/17: Claire Lynch Band....and what a loss those who missed it.....this performance Houle have been sold out. I wonder how many people 'gave up' on the ticket purchasing, due to the website or their funky 'APP'....... read more

If you have ever day dreamed about your favorite band or artist playing a private concert in your house come to SPACE. It is the most intimate venue I have experienced, but unlike your "dream home concert" it has amazing acoustics and thoughtfully crafted cocktails too add to the experience. I would recommend purchasing a seat just so you can guarantee the spot you want, but the set up is good enough that you can see from everywhere. Support your favorite artists and check out SPACE! read more

SPACE is awesome. My friends and I saw a band there recently and we all had a blast. The servers were fantastic. Very quick, efficient, professional. Drinks were good--not heavily watered down. I have to agree with the other reviewers on the acoustics. Just awesome. I also liked the crowd. Not too young, no drunken louts spoiling the show for everyone else. I can't give five stars only because you can't order anything except pizza from the restaurant in their building. Sometimes you just want a salad or something light, ya know? read more

I recently came to SPACE for a concert and I'll probably never return. Allow me to itemize the reasons that SPACE spiritually burped in my face: The ticket options were two-tiered: GA or seated at a table. Apparently, SPACE crammed in as many of these tables as humanly possible, giving the show a really embarrassing/uncomfortable "dinner theater for affluent baby boomers" vibe. Combined with the constant, panicked table service (nothing goes with an intimate engagement with your favorite artist like bored, dead-eyed slatterns constantly hustling boomers for drinks while blocking everyone's view!), things were off to a bad start. But wait, it gets worse; for the lowly general admission attendees, seats were provided - but only enough seats to leave the last 20 people or so standing around like second-class citizens even though they paid the same price as the other GA people. So the end result was almost everyone sitting in one form or another except for the last 20 people in the door, who got to stand around awkwardly for 2 hours. I was standing right next to a seated boomer at a table, who kept nervously glancing at me as though to say, "why is this person lurking next to me? Nurse? Nurse!" What the hell, SPACE? I could understand either providing no seats for the GA people, or providing enough non-table seats to cover all of the tickets you sold, but turning it into a weird game of musical chairs and leaving the last 20 to just uncomfortably loiter around for 2 hours next to all of the other seated people was an unforgivable move. And anyone who reads Yelp should know by now that when an establishment makes an unforgivable, indefensible, anti-customer move...Nas. T's GON' GETCHA! The actual "space" is pretty cute, like living in a PBS special conjured straight from the sweat-soaked dreams of the boomer attendees' pocketbooks...I'll be honest. Oh, but the sound guy seemed to have dialed up the worst "Tears 4 Fears 1985 World Tour Soaking Wet Digital 'Cathedral' Reverb + Slapback Delay with the decay set to infinity" effect that he had on the lead vocals. It sounded like the voice of the metatron fronting My Bloody Valentine, which would have been awesome if this wasn't an acoustic singer/songwriter. "MOAR PREVERB? SURE!" That might not be all his fault, though, because usually the artists have awful live sound preferences...but damn, dude. Oh yeah, and the parking situation is heeeeeeeeelarious. read more

Kermit only played for 60 minutes at last night's 7 PM show. Very disappointing that they ended 75 minutes before the next show. Don't know if that is on the Kermit or the venue. Not a good value for my $44 seat. Usually Space is usually an excellent deal, but watch out when the artist puts on two shows in a night. My bad I should have waited a day to catch Kermit at Fitzgeralds the on Saturday for $25. read more

While I really like the music, It seems apparent after years of attending that owners do not care about patrons. If they did, they would fix the HVAC system so you do not freeze. read more

Great space! However, whoever booked The Saint Johns, might want to actually attend the show. The volume level was ridiculous and this band is more suited to out of doors or a much larger venue...if they could fill one. I'd like to see the two vocalists alone without the back-up band. Overkill. And what is with that blinding light stick show?! Gimmicky, weirdness and, did I say, blinding? They appeared to not give a s**t about the audience. We suffered through two songs and left. read more

The first time I visited this relatively new venue, it was busy-busy (Tuesday? Really? Nice!) and could only find a spot at the comfortable bar deep in the bowels of the front room next to the wait station, which wasn't a bad thing as I ordered a club soda and was provided with rapid refills. I was a bit nervous, as I was actually meeting with a new companion and hoped I was dressed right for the occasion. Sip. Oh crap, what's wrong with my phone? Man... power down. Power on. Try to text again. Hm. What's wrong with this thing? Suddenly, boom! There she was - smiling and looking great - I laughed. I had to - I was spending so much time fucking around with my idiot tether I hadn't noticed her come in. We ordered martinis. They were excellent, and soon we were joined by another friend, and before we knew it, it was time to see the show. As we made our way down the hall to the music room, I was unsure what to expect - was this going to be a noisy barn? A theater? Thankfully, neither - the music room is exceptionally roomy, with cocktail tables here and there, and room to move in front of the stage. Not too big, not too small - just about right. As the band started, I noticed that even though the room was full, it was nowhere near crowded, with easy access to the bar for libations ($3 PBR? Sure, why not?) from our comfortable standing spot. Being a huge fan of the artist, I kept getting blown away by the prime acoustics in the room, with tha' quiet being subtle and tha' loud actually rocking. The crowd was great - all fans obviously, and as the setlist churned on my enthusiasm increased. I'm liking this place! After the show concluded, the artists made their way through the crowd to the back greenroom, alternately shaking hands, hugging, high-fiving and generally interacting with the audience in a really great and moving way... My new companion and I were psyched to return...which we planned to do the very next week. The second time I visited, I sat at the slightly less crowded front bar waiting for my new (and fun!) companion again (I was WAY early - hey, traffic is a fickle bitch in this town) and took in the admirable thought and effort that went into this place. With the stylish facade out front, artful lighting (hmm...maybe too trendy? maybe not), and the view I had right into the flaming mouth of a real wood oven that apparently is where the pizzas get DONE put me at ease again as I sipped on a soda with lime. Lots of people chatting amiably, plenty of good-lookin' food moving out of the kitchen and attentive bartenders made for a great people watchin' experience. My companion arrived, and we naturally ordered martinis again - I was impressed that they actually offer multiple gin options, as I'm 'one of those that love gin' - a rare breed these days. Or ahead of the curve. Whatever. This time, we decided to get right up on top of the stage and nitpicked the equipment, discussed the potential setlist and joked around. As the room filled, more and more fan talk was had around us and before we knew it, they started! It started getting hot, thankfully we had ditched our winter coats on the back wall coathooks and were soon dancing and bopping to the ska. Even being right in front, the sound was still impeccable and the audience interaction with the artists was easy and free-flowing chatter. I'd like to say that the band hadn't lost its step, but that would be too fanboy - hey, I'm no spring chicken either, but a half beat up would've really charged the room even more. Regardless, we were charged up and by the end of the show feeling really good and pleased with the performance and venue. It was time to leave the SPACE - it was after all a 'school night'... With easy parking, not outrageous prices, great atmosphere and outstanding acoustics, SPACE has a good thing going on - a return visit is definitely warranted for this guy and his companion soon. read more

Evanston's Space is one of the best small venues I have been to in many years. It is super intimate, cozy, and welcoming. The staff is very pleasant and helpful. The sound provides amazing acoustics. The venue is connected to Union, a restaurant with a large bar. The entire establishment provides an intimate experience of great food and wonderful music. read more