This article originally appeared in The Daily Page.
Co-owner Steve Manley may not look a day over 30, but B-Side Records on State Street celebrates its 25th anniversary this month. To commemorate the event, the B-Side family will have a bash at the High Noon Saloon on Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 5 to 8 p.m. Musical guests include MaeRae and the Runners Up. The public is welcome. MP3s are not.
The Chicago Afrobeat Project has planned a series of shows in Madison through the end of 2007. A staple of the Chicago live music scene, the Project fuses African rhythms with rock and experimental jazz. The group will perform the first Thursday of each month at Café Montmartre through December.
Speaking of Café Montmartre, step inside after work some Thursday (5:30 to 7:30 p.m.) for the best-kept secret in local music: Ben Sidran playing organ in an intimate setting. Sidran is an international star of jazz and pop, and you can hear him here for free.