"A Dream Deferred or a Dream Come True?" @ DuSable Museum

The DuSable Museum, 740 E. 56th Pl., presents "A Dream Deferred or a Dream Come True?," tonight from 7pm-9pm. Held in conjunction with the Illinois Amistad Commission and supported by the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the event is centered on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "dream," and will feature performances by jazz great Ernest Dawkins and spoken word by noted artist, "Discopoet Khari B." Tickets are $20; for more information, call 773-947-0600.

Shamekia Copeland @ SPACE

Shamekia Copeland plays tonight and Saturday at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave. in Evanston, with the Lucky 3 Blues Band opening. Tickets are $22-42. Doors are at 7pm, show's at 8pm. The show is part of the Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival, running Jan. 10-Feb. 1.

Fillet of Solo Festival

Lifeline Theatre's 17th annual Fillet of Solo Festival of solo performances and storytelling runs Jan. 3-19. Performances are held at the Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., and the Heartland Studio Theatre, 7016 N. Glenwood Ave. Tickets are $10 per show, or $30 for a festival pass, and are available online or at the Lifeline box office.

Lifeline Theatre
7pm - "Friends with Words: Building Creativity and Community Through Storytelling" Panel (7-8pm)
9pm - the kates

Heartland Studio Theatre
8pm - Kim Morris & Andrew Reilly
10pm - enSOLO

Global Dance Party @ Old Town School of Folk Music

The Old Town School of Folk Music present an evening of go-go music and dancing tonight in their new school building at 4545 North Lincoln Avenue. Free lessons, dance performances, and an amateur dancing contest are on the schedule for the evening. Full details at the Old Town School Website, or call the school's front desk at (773) 728-6000.

Office Pizza Party/Reading @ Chicago Publisher's Resource Center

The Chicago Publisher's Resource Center, 858 N. Ashland Ave., hosts a pizza party and reading tonight at 8pm, featuring Mason Johnson, Thrillary T. Cat, Cean Gamalinda and Susan Lanier, among others. Free.

Sketchfest

The 13th annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, aka Sketchfest, runs Jan. 9-19 at Stage773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tonight's schedule includes more than a dozen shows on four stages, beginning at 8pm. Tickets are $14 per show (or $150 for an all-festival pass) and are available online, at the box office or by calling 773-327-5252.

Justin Townes Earle @ Concord

Justin Townes Earle headlines at Concord Music Hall, 2047 N. Milwaukee Ave., tonight as part of the Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival, running Jan. 10-Feb. 1. The Felice Brothers and Drew Holcomb open. Tickets are $25-72. Doors open at 8:30pm. 17+

Mortified Nation premiere @ Gene Siskel Film Center

The teen angst reading series Mortified! comes to the big screen in this documentary featuring live performances from around the country, including Chicago. Q&A after the film with director, Mike Mayer, producers Shay DeGrandis and Neil Katcher, and co-producer Annette Ferrara of the Chicago live "Mortified" shows, who will be present for audience discussion at both screenings. Screening Friday at 8:30pm, Saturday at 3pm at the Gene Siskel Film Center (164 N. State)Tickets are $11 for general admission and can be purchased at the Gene Siskel Film Center.

Day Three: Tomorrow Never Knows Fest

The third night of Tomorrow Never Knows Festival at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., features Mutual Benefit , Kopecky Family Band and Rural Alberta Advantage. This show starts at 9pm and is 18+. Tickets are $15.

At the Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., Darkside headlines, with High Water opening. Tickets are $19 in advance, $21 in advance. Doors open at 8pm. 21 and over.

Ghosthouse @ Empty Bottle

Ghosthouse, BAATHHAUS and White Gold and 1WO of Banjee Report fill the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., with electronic beats tonight, starting at 9pm. Tickets are $10. 21+

Weekend @ Schubas

Tomorrow Never Knows continues at Schubas with San Francisco's post-punk rockers Weekend, whose second album Jinx is full of layer upon layer of guitars. And they're a dynamic live act, as witnessed last year at the Empty Bottle. Also on the bill is Chicago's Bare Mutants, whose debut album The Affliction was one of last year's most anticipated and delivered mighty well. Weekend headlines Tomorrow Never Knows with Bare Mutants, Nothing and StarTropics opening at 9PM. The show's 18+ and $15. Schubas is at Belmont & Southport.