Chicago Blues Guide

Chicago's Best Blues Clubs

Rosa's Lounge (3420 Armitage Ave)
A good distance from downtown,  serious blues fans will be happy  that they made the trek. Rosa's is generally acknowledged as Chicago’s finest blues room.  The owner, who emigrated from Italy to open the club, named the place after his mother. Rosa’s raises above the others by putting the emphasis where it belongs - on the music. The lounge is just the right size for a blues room - cozy without being cramped, with excellent sight lines and sound system. Check the schedule and don't miss Melvin Taylor and the Slack Band if they are in town.  Melvin is an amazing guitarist, conjuring up riffs from Jimi Hendrix, Charlie Christian, and Link Wray - ALL IN THE SAME SOLO! If you only have time to visit one Chicago blues club, make it Rosa’s.
Getting There: public transportation is spotty, it is best to take a cab. From the loop it is about 15 minutes and $15.

Buddy Guy’s Legends (754 S. Wabash Ave)
If you just want to hear some solid blues and don't want to travel far from downtown, than Buddy's is the place. This is the blues club closest to the loop and it is always packed with tourists.
Getting there: The club is near the Red Line Harrison stop and is within walking distance of most downtown hotels. 

Kingston Mines and B.L.U.E.S. (2500 block of Halsted)
These two long established blues clubs are located right down the street from each other in Lincoln Park and make for an excellent night of blues bar hopping. B.L.U.E.S. is the smaller of the two, a cozy little bar that has room for about 150 people, and is the better blues experience. Kingston Mines is a nice sized club with two stages for live music and is also worth a visit, check them both out.
Getting there: These clubs can be reached via the Brown Line to Diversey and a short walk.

Blue Chicago (736 N. Clark) and Blue Chicago on Clark (536 N. Clark)
One admission will get you into both of these clubs which are two blocks apart near downtown. Like Buddy's, a good choice if you are staying nearby and don't feel like traveling.

House of Blues (329 N. Dearborn St)
Don’t be fooled by the name, HOB presents acts from across the musical spectrum.
Getting there: These clubs are located in the Near North entertainment district within walking distance of all downtown hotels or take the Red line to Grand.

Lee’s Unleaded (7401 S. Chicago Ave)
This is the last of the Southside blues joints and is an essential visit for the serious blues fan. Lee’s attracts a mostly local crowd but tourists are not out of place here. The southside can be a rough area but don’t let its reputation stop you. Getting there by cab is not a problem.

Listings

The Chicago Reader is the best alt-weekly in town and has useful listings for all music happenings. Check out "The Treatment" for staff picks of the week.

Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven (2120 S. Michigan Ave. Phone 312-808-1286 ) is a must visit for any blues fan. This was the home of Chess Records during the years that some of the finest music in American history was recorded. Willie Dixon and his wife purchased the building, saved it from demolition and set up a nonprofit organization to promote the legacy of Chicago blues and Willie's educational and musician welfare programs.

Open for tours ($10 admission) from noon until 3:00PM Monday - Friday, and noon until 2:00PM on Saturday, make sure to call before going.

If you are in town on a Thursday during the summer, there are free concerts in the small park beside the building at 6:00PM.

Getting There: It is easily reached via the Red Line to the Cemark-Chinatown stop. At the bottom of the steps, turn left to Michigan Ave. and then another left