If you’re a blues fan, you need to add a trip to Chicago to our bucket list. No one sings the blues quite like Chicago, from our historic music venues to our legendary Chicago Blues Festival. Learn more about Chicago style blues and where to hear distinct sounds of electrified, urban blues in the city where it was born.
In this article
Chicago blues history
As thousands of African Americans moved northward during the Great Migration, they brought with them the soulful sounds of the Delta blues. These migrants introduced the city to a new kind of music — one that spoke of trials and tribulations, sorrows and successes. But musicians had to adapt to compete with all that urban noise, giving rise to an amplified version that would become known as Chicago-style blues.
Chicago’s blues scene quickly became a melting pot of musical influences, developing its own signature sound. Venues across the south and west sides like the Checkerboard Lounge in Bronzeville and the outdoor Maxwell Street Market became the beating heart of the Chicago blues scene, where legends like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Willie Dixon crafted the soundtrack of the city (which was often captured by the legendary Chess Records Studio).
The music crafted by these artists went on to provide fundamental elements of genres like soul and rock and roll. Today, the Chicago blues scene still looms large in the city’s music scene and continues to influence popular music today.
Chicago Blues Festival
In June, there’s no better place to be than the free Chicago Blues Festival. For more than two decades, more than 500,000 blues fans gather in Chicago’s Millennium Park and venues across the city for multiple days of performances. The three-day line up celebrates the past, present, and future of the genre — including its influence on soul, R&B, gospel, rock, pop, and hip hop music. The festival has been a Chicago tradition for more than three decades, so you know it’s seen some all-time blues greats — B.B. King, Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Etta James, and more.
Chicago blues venues
The Bassment: This subterranean speakeasy features live music every night they’re open, with an emphasis on the blues. Just find the secret door inside The Hampton Social, then head down the stairs into the sleek lounge filled with gold accents and leather couches. Grab a spot by the stage to be close to the action, or hang out in the back and sip on The Bassment’s signature cocktails. Either way, you’re guaranteed to hear some great blues.
Blue Chicago: Sing the blues in River North at this casual, late-night hang out. Showcasing Chicago’s signature electrified blues and other blues styles, Blue Chicago has hosted greats like Koko Taylor, Willie Kent, Johnny B. Moore, Magic Slim, Eddie Clearwater, and Eddie Shaw over the years. Known for high-energy performances and a welcoming atmosphere, Blue Chicago is a must for any blues fan.
Explore more: Discover more favorite Chicago blues venues from the iconic Wayne Baker Brooks.
Buddy Guy’s Legends: It doesn’t get much more legendary than Buddy Guy. He’s a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a multi-GRAMMY Award winner, and an early adopter of Chicago’s electrified blues sound. His Chicago club, Buddy Guy’s Legends, is a bucket list stop for blues fans from all over. You can even catch Buddy perform there live every January. The rest of the year, you’ll still hear incredible live blues every night of the week, plus free acoustic sessions over the lunch and dinner hours.
House of Blues: The House of Blues brings the spirit of the Mississippi Delta to Chicago. Located in the heart of downtown at the iconic Marina City, the House of Blues features an intimate atmosphere, state-of-the-art sound, a restaurant with Southern-inspired fare, VIP accommodations, and more. You’ll find a solid calendar of renowned blues musicians, along with local and national acts across genres.
Kingston Mines: An epicenter of local blues, Kingston Mines is known for its non-stop blues shows every night of the week. The long-time fixture in the Lincoln Park neighborhood got its start back in 1968, making it Chicago’s oldest and largest continuously running blues club. The venue features two stages where bands’ alternating sets keep the music going past well past 3 a.m. each night.
Rosa’s Lounge: Both new and seasoned blues fans will feel right at home in Rosa’s Lounge, a great blues club and classic neighborhood bar in Logan Sqaure. Rosa’s was founded by an Italian immigrant who traveled to Chicago in 1978 after a life-changing meeting with Junior Wells and Buddy Guy in Milan. The family-owned lounge, inspired by the spirit of the south-side clubs where Chicago blues was born, welcomes both traditional and modern performers to its stage.
