For more than a century, Chicago has had an extraordinarily varied and influential art scene with deep roots in gospel, jazz, blues and hip hop that still continues to grow, open to any possible combination of genres in the name of music entirely to enjoy and appreciate year round. Music festivals and venues are a guarantee in this sense, offering first-rate talent with a wide variety of styles and an unparalleled cultural experience for both locals and tourists.
Every year Millennium Park becomes the stage of the Chicago Jazz Festival which paves the way for the epic Chicago Blues Festival in June, while in August the large space of Grant Park becomes home to the alternative rock of Lollapalooza, just to name some of the most internationally well-known festivals.
The industrial development of the 20th century attracted young workers from all over the United States and parts of the world, who brought with them the demand for musical entertainment, giving impetus to a proliferation of clubs and concert and dance halls. Chicago's magnetism was particularly powerful for musicians from New Orleans and the Mississippi Delta. The reputation as the capital of blues and then of jazz is also given by the typical style of Chicago: more urbanized and electrified, and then more electronic and digital; the rural sound of the 1920s evolved and gained strength.
Music has been a vital expression of Chicago's cultural diversity and cosmopolitan culture, carrying on into the 21st century. From the relaxed atmosphere of the Uptown clubs where you can still savor the echo of the roaring 20s, to the colors of a Latin quarter like Pilsen, to the cozy atmosphere of old jazz clubs and blues houses hidden everywhere in the metropolis, there really is something for everyone.
Buddy Guy's Legends
700 S Wabash Ave
Blues in Chicago are a real life experience made by people who share their energy every night of the week with a spirit that makes this musical genre present and alive, as happens in Buddy Guy's Legends. Buddy Guy's club, the legendary seven Grammy Award-winning musician who has influenced the style of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan, is located a stone's throw from the Jazz Showcase and is a true temple of music starting from its decor. The walls display the guitars of Keith Richards, BB King, John Lee Hooker, Robert Cray, Muddy Waters, Carlos Santana and other unforgettable legends of rock and blues. Many tourists come here, but there is nothing fake or for show, just to make money. Simply real music and the chance to meet Buddy Guy himself, who likes to join his guests on stage. The main concert starts at 11 pm, and before that you can enjoy excellent soul food, traditional African-American cuisine. You can be sure to find gumbo on the menu, a spicy soup made with rice, chicken, celery, peppers and onions.
Jazz Showcase
806 South Plymouth Court
One of Chicago's oldest jazz clubs is located on a side of the rebuilt Dearborn Station. The club founded by Joe Segal in 1947 has never stopped hosting the best musicians in the city. Its incredible list of great stars includes the likes of Count Basie, Herbie Hancock, Sun Ra, Sonny Stitt, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon and Art Blakey. Joe passed away on August 20, 2020; his work continues thanks to his son Wayne. The family secret is its passion for jazz, which has made Joe the longest-serving concert organizer and presenter in town. The refined, welcoming club reflects the commitment of a man who was one of the promoters of the Jazz Institute of Chicago, an organization at the forefront of promoting jazz as a cultural heritage to be protected in the name of its history and the search for new audiences. There are no equals to spending an evening at the Jazz Showcase to understand what it means to keep music alive.
Rosa's Lounge
3420 West Armitage Avenue
"You never know who you'll meet in a blues club in this city," says Jim Christopolus, a Greek-born drummer who has been playing in one of Chicago's biggest bands, Howard and White Boys, for more than 25 years. “From the stage of Rosa's Lounge I've seen movie and music stars like Johnny Depp, Mel Gibson, Ron Wood, Robert Randolph, and I've been lucky enough to play with Koko Taylor, Albert King, Junior Wells, Lonnie Brooks and Chuck Berry." These words help explain the greatness of this small, intimate club that offers cocktails, good wines and particular appetizers but, above all, the excellent old-school blues, alongside excellent novelties in the purest Chicago style.