Tomorrow Never Knows 2020: The 10 must-see acts

Before Pitchfork and Lollapalooza and all the street festivals take over the city this summer, Chicago’s annual winter music festival Tomorrow Never Knows warms up local stages for five days with a showcase of emerging talent in music and comedy.

The 15th anniversary of this yearly gem, founded in 2005, is no less impressive with a slew of national, international and local talent taking over Schubas (3159 N. Southport), Lincoln Hall (2424 N. Lincoln), The Hideout (1354 W. Wabansia), Metro (3730 N. Clark) and Sleeping Village (3734 W. Belmont).

Here are our picks for shows you don’t want to miss:

Taylor McFerrin

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Multi-talented instrumentalist is just one way to describe this Brooklyn-based producer/composer/vocalist and percussive beatboxer who seamlessly fuses ethereal visions of R&B, electronica and free-form jazz. The son of accomplished vocalist Bobby McFerrin, Taylor is likewise experimental in his take on music, borrowing snippets from ’60s and ’70s soul, the Beat Generation and the modern avant-garde like Flying Lotus, who released McFerrin’s debut album on his Brainfeeder label. Jan. 15 at Schubas, 8 p.m.

Born Days

Chicago-based artist Melissa Harris is a captivating mix of Lana Del Rey and Grimes with sensual darkwave electro tunes featured on her latest album, “Where We Live,” that she writes and produces from the DIY studio built into her North Side dining room. She opens for the equally talented Caroline Polachek, who has gone solo after years with the 2000s-era dream pop act Chairlift that found fame with the Apple commercial hit “Bruises.” Jan. 15 at Lincoln Hall, 9 p.m.

The New Negroes with Baron Vaughn & Open Mike Eagle

The popular Comedy Central series goes live at The Hideout with a night featuring the show’s co-hosts, including Chicago native Open Mike Eagle. Borrowing its name from “The New Negro” by Alain Locke, a term that came to signify the Harlem Renaissance, the socially conscious stand-up/musical revue is a platform for a variety of black artistic expression and has previously featured Lizzo, George Wallace, Method Man, Hannibal Buress and others. Don’t be surprised if special guests drop by. Jan. 16 at The Hideout, 7 p.m.

Jude Shuma

While his psychedelic tunes like “Float” sound ripped straight from a summer playlist — with equal parts Beach Boys and Tame Impala for inspiration — the low-key Chicago artist brings the warm, fuzzy tones in stride to this winter festival. Already featured on shows like “Quantico,” “Riverdale” and “Ballers,” Shuma is connecting the dots to more definitive exposure in 2020. He opens for likewise chill songwriter Goth Babe. Jan. 16 at Lincoln Hall, 9 p.m.

Stella Donnelly

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The blunt, fearlessly feminist songwriter has written the de facto 2019 version of “Exile In Guyville” with her 2019 debut “Beware of the Dogs” that shines a spotlight on misogyny and the patriarchal nexus of rock music all the while having a lighthearted indie pop-rock sound reminiscent of another popular Aussie, Courtney Barnett. Expect more great things from this young visionary, nominated for Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the 2019 ARIA Music Awards. Jan. 17 at Lincoln Hall, 9 p.m.

NoV3L

For fans of Gang Of Four, Joy Division, Devo, The Strokes and Interpol, this Vancouver music collective creates catchy, dancey tunes spun into a nostalgia spider web. Their debut EP, released last February, clocks in at only 21 minutes but is full of politically charged anthems and some pleasing saxophone accompaniments. Go early for the groovy punk time warp of CB Radio Gorgeous. Jan. 17 at Sleeping Village, 9 p.m.

Three Busy Debras

Adult Swim

Sandy Honig, Mitra Jouhari and Alyssa Stonoha are the three Debras in mock “Stepford Wives” skits that follow the deranged trio’s daily lives in the humdrum capital of Lemoncurd, Connecticut. Their deadpan humor caught the attention of Amy Poehler, who is currently helping to produce the troupe’s comedy series for Adult Swim. Jan. 18 at The Hideout, 9 p.m.

Black Marble

One of the only Tomorrow Never Knows shows at Metro this year is a must-see. Black Marble hails from New York with a gloomy sound that has been hailed as a throwback to the best of the cold-wave genre combined with slinky synth-pop attitude that pays homage to New Order. Lo-fi indie rockers Hoops gets things started. Jan. 18 at Metro, 8 p.m.

Liza Treyger

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From roasting Miley Cyrus’ teenage fans to thoughts on pregnant women and not buying gifts for babies, nothing is conventional for this funny lady who was hailed by Variety as one of the Top 10 Comics to watch out for in recent years. Treyger cut her teeth in the Chicago scene and is currently working on a show related to her formative years in the city while also appearing in Comedy Central and Netflix specials. Jan. 19 at The Hideout, 6 p.m.

Frances Quinlan

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Best known as the unequivocally charming frontwoman of Philadelphia indie band Hop Along, Frances Quinlan releases a new solo album Jan. 31 with songs like “Now That I’m Back” that imbue her same narrative, highly literate songwriting style cushioned with soft keyboards and guitars that really let her one-of-a-kind vocals shine. Jan. 19 at Sleeping Village, 9 p.m.

Selena Fragassi is a local freelance writer.