Whatever your musical preference, whether it be mainstream pop, indie rock, hip hop, punk, blues, or jazz, you can hear it live in Chicago any night of the week. Chicago is a great tourist destination because it has so many amazing venues, from small neighborhood bars to large, historic concert halls.
Chicago is well-known as a music mecca, and as such, the city is home to several clubs dedicated to jazz and blues, as well as countless bars where you can catch live performances every night. Our top picks for venues of live music in Chicago that also serve delicious food or drinks.
Smoke Daddy BBQ
Smoke Daddy is more of a restaurant than a bar, but it makes the cut because it features live music seven nights a week and serves some of the greatest barbeques in town. Expect to hear a wide variety of music on weeknights and Sunday afternoons, including blues, jazz, alternative rock, folk, country, and bluegrass.
Jazz Showcase
Since its founding in 1947, this Chicago jazz institution has played host to the city’s and the world’s finest jazz musicians. Because of the club’s devoted following, these swanky new digs in South Loop are a must for anyone looking to spend an upscale evening in the town.
Schubas
One of Lakeview’s most endearing features is the Schlitz Public House, a quaint building that was once used by the brewery as a pub. The small, cozy concert hall inside is famous for its chill vibe, excellent acoustics, and top-notch indie rock, honky tonk, folk, and country performances. Since Tied House is linked to Schubas, there is even more of an incentive to stop over for some food and music.
The Bassment
Live music can be found at the basement bar The Bassment on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. You can hear a wide range of music, from R&B to funk to country, for just $10 at this club. The dance floor is often busy, but if you like to sit back and relax, there’s a comfortable couch in the back room where you can listen to the tunes surrounded by paintings of Tupac, Biggie, Jimi Hendrix, and taxidermied deer heads. In addition, the bar provides bottle service for those who anticipate a very wild weekend.
Martyrs’
We like to think of this North Side hangout as the physical embodiment of our Discover playlist on Spotify. Martyr’s features both emerging and known artists from a wide variety of genres. One of the best elements is the element of surprise; we’ve walked in on a country music set and a teen rock band performing in a crowded house after the members rushed to finish their math homework.
The bar serves up tasty pizza, and the dance floor is spacious enough for a night out.
Green Mill Cocktail Lounge
Jazz fans and the fashionably hip frequent this hip hangout. Al Capone, Charlie Chaplin, and Gloria Swanson all frequented this establishment in its heyday, so you know it has some history. Since Green Mill was also a speakeasy during Prohibition, it has a nostalgic feel for the era. There is swing music on Tuesdays and Thursdays, a gypsy jazz band (including guitar, violin, oud, reeds, cimbalom, and drums) on Wednesday nights, and poetry slams and late-night jazz on Sundays. Green Mill has affordable cocktails, but if you want to enjoy them at a table, you’ll want to arrive early, preferably before the bands start playing.
Tonic Room
Tonic Room is a popular music venue among performers and music fans alike. The little club has been hosting live music for nearly twenty years, and its loyal following of customers loves being so close to the artists. When visiting Chicago for the first time on tour, many bands and musicians book a show at the Tonic Room. Look over there (is that Chance the Rapper?) because this Lincoln Park bar is home to a close-knit community of musicians from Chicago.
Enjoy live music and concerts in Chicago, and check the respective schedules by visiting Eventsfy to make your time worthwhile!
