While blues music is known for its rural roots in the Mississippi Delta, it also has a rich urban tradition in the city of Chicago. The Midwestern metropolis is known as a breeding ground of stellar musicians who gained experience playing in the city's blues bars and clubs. Some of those legendary establishments are still in existence.
Kingston Mines is the city's oldest bar and club dedicated solely to blues. The large venue on the city's North Side boasts two stages and a seven-day a week performance schedule. Legends of the genre as well as up and coming musicians grace its stages and sometimes co-mingle during late-night jam sessions. The club has won the best blues club accolade from the Chicago Music awards over a dozen times. The club's clientele is diverse and includes nearby college students lured by cheap drink specials, blues aficionados and tourists. Kingston Mines has a restaurant specializing in Southern cuisine. The club is open seven nights a week and its calendar is on its website.
Kingston Mines
2548 North Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60614
773-477-4646
kingstonmines.com
World-famous Chicago blues legend Buddy Guy opened his establishment in 1989. The list of performers at the club is akin to reading a who's who of blues and rock history--from B.B. King to the Rolling Stones and Buddy Guy himself. The club also serves as a music museum with rare artifacts hanging on its walls, including a display of a gown worn by blues queen Koko Taylor in 1957, photos from the late Stevie Ray Vaughan's final concert and Muddy Waters' credit cards. It is not uncommon to see other blues legends in the audience at the club. The venue is also a restaurant specializing in Cajun soul food. It is open seven nights a week. Patrons must be at least 21 to enter. The club's calendar is on its website.
Buddy Guy's Legends
754 South Wabash Ave.
Chicago, IL 60605
312-427-1190
buddyguy.com
Family-owned FitzGerald's in Chicago's Oak Park neighborhood has the feel of an old-school roadhouse bar. The well-worn interior gives it a cozy feel. The main room of the venue has a small stage and a surround-sound speaker system. Built in the 1920s and considered a local institution, it was designated a "musical gem" by Chicago magazine. It has an extensive beer menu with a broad selection of microbrews. The bar does not have a drink minimum during performances, no dress code or reserved seating. It is open six days a week, closed on Mondays. The club's calendar is on its website.
FitzGerald's
6615 Roosevelt Road
Berwyn, IL 60402
708-788-2118
fitzgeraldsnightclub.com
