Picnic After Dark with Dana Maragos
Date and Time:
Date: 02/20/2026
Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location:
Picnic Wine & Provisions
7301 Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60626
Join us for another special live performance and curated cocktail menu.
This week’s PAD will feature performances by Dana Maragos from her album, Unimaginable Things.
About Unimaginable Things
“It’s the exceptional 4th studio album …dedicated to her late brother Danny and includes songs inspired by conversations, stories & reflections of troubles, & triumph.
There are plenty of finely tuned lyrical tales offered by Ms. Maragos with prodigious guitars framing each well-written tale (“The Playground”). Dana doesn’t, through her music, try to sound like others. However, she does approach the richness of voice similar to the Midwest’s wonderful Carrie Newcomer. Dana’s songs are spare on this set with little in the way of bombastic arrangements. The songs are more drawn into a web of poignancy, truthfulness & emotional clarity.
“The Heavy” is just that. Heavy. Excellent lyrics, sensitive vocalizing, self-assured, meticulous guitar interplay. Quite marvelous. Nothing silly, tedious or posturing. Certainly, a standout tune. If you’re not a folk music fan because of its activism, hokum or reputation as protest music — this song alone should be the exception. This album could be the exception.”
—excepts from the album review of Unimaginable Things by John Alpice, Americana Highways (Dec 2025. Read complete review HERE
About Dana Maragos
Her grandmother bought her a $25 guitar in Chicago’s Old Town when she was 6 years old. She spent her early years in south Chicago, singing and learning chords from a teenage neighbor learning the songs of Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Eric Andersen. She began writing poems in 2nd grade for her mother and wrote her first song at 14.
After graduating from Libertyville High School (bands and choirs), from U of I at Urbana-Champaign, and WPGU-FM, she was/is/will always be a cable tv “gypsy” living in the south, northeast, and west before moving back to Chicago. She married to George and has two sons, and lives in Chicago’s north side. Sunday church choir is part of her routine.
More reviews and music are available at Dana’s website. Buy music on BANDCAMP
