Evanston S.P.A.C.E. facts for kids
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Address | 1245 Chicago Avenue |
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Location | Evanston, Illinois |
Coordinates | 42°02′27″N 87°40′49″W / 42.04089°N 87.68034°W |
Type | small folk concert venue, music and music podcast production facility, visual arts and literary events meeting space, bar+café |
Seating type | café, small round tables, candle-lit |
Capacity | 250 |
Opened | 2008 |
Evanston S.P.A.C.E. (also called Evanston SPACE) is a cool place in Evanston, Illinois. It's a small concert hall where you can enjoy live music. It's also a place where people record live shows and create podcasts. You can find it at 1245 Chicago Avenue, close to Chicago.
SPACE is near the Dempster train station on the CTA Purple Line. It first opened its doors in the spring of 2008. In the same building, there's also a restaurant called Union Pizzeria.
This venue is well-known in the Chicago area for its small, cozy feel. About 250 people can sit at small, candle-lit tables or stand to watch the shows. Many famous folk music artists have performed here. For example, in 2014-2015, artists like Suzanne Vega and Leo Kottke played at SPACE.
The name S.P.A.C.E. is actually a special code! It stands for the Society for the Preservation of Art and Culture in Evanston. As of 2018, Bruce Finkelman and Craig Golden help run SPACE. They also manage other music spots and restaurants in and around Chicago.
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What is Evanston SPACE?
This special room is designed for listening to music. It can hold about 250 guests. You can often choose from different types of tickets. Some tickets let you reserve a table, while others are for general seating or standing.
All ages are welcome to attend shows at SPACE. There's a bar that sells different kinds of drinks. If you're old enough, you get a special stamp on your hand.
Live Music and Shows

SPACE is a popular spot for both local and national touring artists. You can hear many types of music here. This includes rock, blues, jazz, folk, and country. They also feature singer-songwriters and R&B artists.
Many famous musicians have played at SPACE over the years. Some of these include Brandi Carlile, Nick Lowe, and The Lumineers. Other well-known artists like Billy Bragg and Lucinda Williams have also performed here.
Making Music and Podcasts
Evanston SPACE is not just for live shows. It's also used for broadcasting live music. Sometimes, shows from SPACE are played on the local National Public Radio station, WBEZ FM 91.5.
The venue also helps create a regular series of podcasts. These podcasts are available for people to listen to through Apple's iTunes Store. This means you can enjoy performances and talks from SPACE even if you can't be there in person.
Awards and Recognition
Evanston SPACE has received some special honors. In 2013, it was recognized in the WXRT Listener Poll. It was voted as the 4th "Best Venue" by listeners. This shows that many people in the area enjoy going to SPACE for music and events.