Illustration by Meghan Sim
Whether you’re new to live music or just new to Chicago, you might find yourself heading to a music venue sometime in the next semester. With so many music venues in Chicago, it can be confusing to navigate them all. Here’s a brief guide highlighting some local venues you might want to check out while you’re here.
Small venues (under 1,000 capacity)
The Subterranean
2011 W. North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647
The Subterranean is a venue and bar in Wicker Park located right next to the Damen stop on the Blue Line. It is on the smaller side, with a 400-person capacity and has three floors. The stage for this venue is on the second floor. The first floor is the bar, and the venue has a balcony overlooking the stage as the third floor, which is not sold as a separate ticket. The Subterranean is one of my favorite Chicago venues, but be warned: There is no air conditioning in the building. Shows get hot. The venue does provide free water and has many ceiling fans to counteract the sweltering heat. According to its website, the Subterranean has “limitations to accessibility” given the age of the building, which was constructed in 1889. The website also says that “guests who require accessible accommodation please contact [email protected] at least one week prior to the event.”
Bottom Lounge
1375 W. Lake Street, Chicago, IL 60607
Bottom Lounge is a smaller venue with all the charm of your average dive bar venue. With a 700-person capacity, it’s a cozy spot. You walk into a bar that leads to a second room where the stage is. The venue is a short walk from the Ashland stop on the Green Line. Bottom Lounge was fairly warm when I went, but most dive bar style venues get pretty hot. The Lounge only has one floor and a short incline with a ramp, making it fairly accessible.
Medium size venues (1,000 to 5,000 capacity)
Metro
3730 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613
Metro is one of the most popular venues in Chicago. It’s like the upgraded dive bar, with one larger pit area, but with an actually nice-looking interior. Metro has a 1,100-person capacity. It’s located in Wrigleyville, about a 10-minute walk from the Addison stop on the Red Line. The venue has three floors: the first is the main entrance, the second has the stage and pit, and the third is the GA-accessible balcony. Unfortunately, Metro does not have an elevator, so wheelchair users are asked to notify the venue ahead of time. They can arrive 15 to 30 minutes early to be carried up the stairs by Metro staff.
House of Blues Chicago
329 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60654
I have mixed feelings about the House of Blues Chicago. Its size feels awkward at best, as the main floor is an odd conversation pit directly in front of a lifted stage. The venue itself is fine; it’s located across a bridge from the State and Lake stop in the Loop. It has a 1,800-person capacity. The venue has two floors: The first floor is a small bar/restaurant, and the second floor is the stage area with a lowered pit accessible by stairs. It also has a GA-accessible balcony. Accessibility-wise, House of Blues has many stair-accessible levels, but lacks a convenient elevator. There is an elevator that people with disabilities can access by calling ahead of a show and informing the venue. It’s a decent spot.
Auditorium Theater
50 E Ida B Wells Dr, Chicago, IL 60605
The Auditorium Theater is basically an opera house. It’s located in the South Loop and is a five-minute walk from the Harold Washington stop in the Loop, or the Jackson stop on either the Red or Blue Lines. It has a 3,900-person capacity with 10 floors. The entrance is on the second floor, with pathways down to the main floor with the stage. There are eight different floors of balconies of various sizes. This venue is fully seated, so different floors cost different amounts. The Auditorium Theater is fully accessible, with multiple elevators, but the elevators are slow and small, so plan accordingly.
The Salt Shed
1357 Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
The Salt Shed is just weird. The venue is located in Bucktown and is about a 15-minute walk from the Division stop on the Blue Line. It’s an indoor/outdoor venue with two-stage locations. The outdoor side of the venue, called “The Fairgrounds,” has a 5,000-person capacity, and the indoor side, called “The Shed,” has a 3,600-person capacity. The Fairground is an outdoor standing-room venue. There’s a stage and a large parking lot-esque area. I haven’t been inside The Shed, but it’s a partially standing-room and partially seated venue. They have an elevator. They also got Lil’ Salty,their cartoonish salt shaker themed mascot.
Byline Bank Presents The Aragon Ballroom
1106 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
The Aragon Ballroom is quite possibly the strangest venue I’ve ever been to. It’s located in Margate Park, and is about a 10-minute walk from the Wilson stop on the Red Line. They have a 5,000-person capacity with a main entrance floor, a huge GA floor pit with the stage on the second floor, and a separately ticketed balcony (that also has two ADA-accessible balcony box seats). The walls are modeled after Spanish Baroque architecture, so they feel like they’re straight out of a theme park. The ceiling is a painted galaxy with a ridiculously small disco ball. The front entrance has also been and continues to be indefinitely under construction.
Large Venues (over 5,000)
Radius
640 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616
The Radius is a very odd place. It looks nothing like any venue I’ve ever been to before. It has a 5,800-person capacity, it’s in Chinatown, and it’s a 15-minute walk from the Cermak-Chinatown stop on the Red Line. The Radius is an emptied-out warehouse with a stage and a sound system. It’s all on one floor (so it has very high ceilings) and, similar to an outdoor venue, it has a sound booth in the middle of the floor. This venue is covered in lights, so it might not be the best for people with light sensitivities.
United Center
1901 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60612
You get exactly what you pay for with the United Center. It’s just like every other stadium with a huge number of seats and a large open pit. It has a 23,500-person capacity Your experience at United will vary a lot depending on what price ticket you buy. The venue is wheelchair accessible with several elevators and an ADA section. It’s located in Near West Side and is a 15-minute walk from the Illinois Medical District stop on the Blue Line. It’s also worth noting that the venue has an Uber lounge.
Have fun. See a show. Call the venue beforehand if you have accessibility needs.
