Josh Spinner is a Chicago-based singer-songwriter who grew up in Glencoe, Illinois and is now building a name as one of the city’s most promising new artists. His career as a songwriter began while earning his jazz degree at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he was as inspired by the tight arrangements and harmonic complexity of Steely Dan as he was by the classic storytelling of The Eagles and Jackson Browne. He started out playing in living rooms that gradually turned into full-scale venues in the underground Chicago scene. Later transferring to the University of Illinois Chicago to pursue a Music Business degree, he used the move to expand his network and deepen his ties to the city’s music community. His sound blends those jazz-rooted influences with the drive and grit of modern indie rock and Americana.
Josh’s music is driven by connection. He’s played everywhere from campus shows to stages like Schubas Tavern, Lincoln Hall, the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, and the Raccoon Motel in Davenport, to festivals like Winnetka Music Fest just minutes from his hometown. His songs often center on personal turning points, the small details that stick in your memory, and the ways people find their way through change.
When he’s not writing or performing, Josh is usually on the road through the Midwest, catching up with friends, or spending time alone to recharge — the kinds of experiences that end up in his lyrics.
Doors 3:30pm