Free Songwriting Workshop @ Old Town School

The Old town School of Folk Music presents a series of free songwriting workshops with school instructor Charles Kim every Monday evening in February. Tonight's kick-off workshop is an introduction to the process of songwriting. These workshops are free, and no registration is required. The workshops will be held at 6:45 PM in the concert hall of the school's main building at 4544 N. Lincoln. Call the school at (773) 728-6000 for more information.

Hui-min Tsen @ HP Art Center

The Hyde Park Art Center's monthly "Talking Point" series features Hui-min Tsen's work with maps and video to expose the diversity of people's relationship to Chicago by focusing on their attachment to and fear of spaces within the city.

The discussion begins at 6PM at the Hyde Park Art Center (5020 S. Cornell Avenue, 773-324-5520). Admission is free. Beer & Pizza are provided by the HPAC.

More about Hui-min Tsen:

Hui-min Tsen is an interdisciplinary artist whose work explores the act of exploration itself with an emphasis on the individual's everyday relationship with place, wonder, learning, and the culture of the unknown. In 2005 she received an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has remained based in Chicago where she is best known for being one half of the collaboration "The Mt. Baldy Expedition" which has exhibited and performed at Dogmatic Gallery, Mess Hall, VONZWECK, Musicircus at the MCA, and on WLUW. She teaches photography and video at Wright College.

Guitar Hero Contest @ Betty's Blue Star Lounge

If facing another week at the cubicle farm has given you a case of the Mondays, head over to Betty's Blue Star Lounge and indulge your inner rock god or goddess at the weekly Guitar Hero competition. Signup starts at 9pm. 21+. 1600 W. Grand Ave. 312-243-1699.

Singer @ Hideout

Tonight's show at the Hideout marks an all-luminary lineup of Chicago indie-/avant-rock veterans and their current side-projects of note. First there's the new ensemble Singer (about which, see our Transmission page), whose debut album will be out on the Drag City label in March. Joining them on the bill is fFlashlights; which includes -- among many others -- former members of Codeine, Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments, and Doug McCombs of Tortoise and Eleventh Day Dream. 1354 W. Wabansia. Admission is $8, show starts at 9:30.