Find Blues in Illinois
Back to Regional BluesWe aren't perfect! One of us was wrong about something once. So if we missed a Blues club, museum, landmark, etc... Let us know!
Illinois Blues Bands and Illinois Blues Artists
Illinois Blues Styles
Blues Style - Chicago Blues
Unique to
Illinois (Chicago)
Chicago Blues was, in essence, an electrified version of the Delta Blues sound. Many Bluesmen brought their music from the American South to Chicago, where it was harder to hear an acoustic guitar because of the city noise. Acoustics were soon traded in favor of electric guitars and the Chicago Blues was born. Soon the famous Blues label Chess Records was the epicenter of the Chicago sound, and at the center of Chess were names Blues and music fans alike know and love; Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, John Lee Hooker, and many others.
More information can be found in our Blues Styles Section
More information can be found in our Blues Styles Section
Illinois Blues Societies
Blues Blowtorch Society
P.O. Box 1092
Bloomington, Illinois
61702
309-531-2533
rd.hoffman@verizon.net
P.O. Box 1092
Bloomington, Illinois
61702
309-531-2533
rd.hoffman@verizon.net
Illinois Blues Coalition
2130 Sunset Drive
Pekin, Illinois
61554
309.208.4300
Illinois_Blues_Coalition@jaytv.com
2130 Sunset Drive
Pekin, Illinois
61554
309.208.4300
Illinois_Blues_Coalition@jaytv.com
Illinois Central Blues Club
P.O. Box 603
Springfield, Illinois
62705
217-622-0340
markredmiston@msn.com
P.O. Box 603
Springfield, Illinois
62705
217-622-0340
markredmiston@msn.com
Crossroads Blues Society of Illinois
PO Box 722
Freeport, Illinois
61032
414-416-1884
Kahunablues@aol.com
PO Box 722
Freeport, Illinois
61032
414-416-1884
Kahunablues@aol.com
River City Blues Society (IL)
PO Box 463
Peoria, Illinois
61651
309.360-8773
president@rivercityblues.com
PO Box 463
Peoria, Illinois
61651
309.360-8773
president@rivercityblues.com
Illinois Blues Clubs
Harlem Avenue Lounge
3701 South Harlem Ave
(Berwyn)
Chicago, Illinois 60402
708-484-3610
info@harlemavenuelounge.com
Matt's Notes: If you want the blues, check this out! This is not your average tourist trap. Harlem is one bona fide neighborhood blues club! They've got strictly Blues Bands Friday & Saturday & a solo/duet front porch style show on Tuesday. It doesn't get much better than that! They've been presenting live Chicago blues artists for almost 20 years! Folks like Lil Ed, Jimmy Johnson, Joanna Connor, John Primer, Barrelhouse Chuck, Willie"Big Eyes" Smith, Marty Sammon (Buddy Guy's pianist).AND if you're a Windy City Blues Society member you get a special discount! Thanks to our friends at Windy City Blues Society for the recommendation!
3701 South Harlem Ave
(Berwyn)
Chicago, Illinois 60402
708-484-3610
info@harlemavenuelounge.com
Matt's Notes: If you want the blues, check this out! This is not your average tourist trap. Harlem is one bona fide neighborhood blues club! They've got strictly Blues Bands Friday & Saturday & a solo/duet front porch style show on Tuesday. It doesn't get much better than that! They've been presenting live Chicago blues artists for almost 20 years! Folks like Lil Ed, Jimmy Johnson, Joanna Connor, John Primer, Barrelhouse Chuck, Willie"Big Eyes" Smith, Marty Sammon (Buddy Guy's pianist).AND if you're a Windy City Blues Society member you get a special discount! Thanks to our friends at Windy City Blues Society for the recommendation!
Rosas Lounge
3420 W Armitage Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60647
773-342-0452
tony@rosaslounge.com
Matt's Notes: Rosas has Blues Bands on Friday and Saturday, sometimes Thursday and usually a house band on Tuesday/Thursday. AND if you're a Windy City Blues Society member you get a special discount! Thanks to our friends at Windy City Blues Society for the recommendation!
3420 W Armitage Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60647
773-342-0452
tony@rosaslounge.com
Matt's Notes: Rosas has Blues Bands on Friday and Saturday, sometimes Thursday and usually a house band on Tuesday/Thursday. AND if you're a Windy City Blues Society member you get a special discount! Thanks to our friends at Windy City Blues Society for the recommendation!
Blues Island Blues Club
2100 W. Vermont Ave.
(Blue Island)
Chicago, Illinois
708-203-6151
Matt's Notes: They've got Blues from Wed. to Sat., with Killer Ray Allison on Wednesdays & Nick Charles & the Sons of Blues Band on Thursdays - Go with Friends. AND if you're a Windy City Blues Society member you get a special discount! Thanks to our friends at Windy City Blues Society for the recommendation!
2100 W. Vermont Ave.
(Blue Island)
Chicago, Illinois
708-203-6151
Matt's Notes: They've got Blues from Wed. to Sat., with Killer Ray Allison on Wednesdays & Nick Charles & the Sons of Blues Band on Thursdays - Go with Friends. AND if you're a Windy City Blues Society member you get a special discount! Thanks to our friends at Windy City Blues Society for the recommendation!
Kingston Mines
2548 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, Illinois
773-477-4646
Matt's Notes: Just what we like to see!! Kingston Mines has Blues each and every darn night! - Usually 2 or more bands. Thanks to our friends at Windy City Blues Society for the recommendation!
2548 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, Illinois
773-477-4646
Matt's Notes: Just what we like to see!! Kingston Mines has Blues each and every darn night! - Usually 2 or more bands. Thanks to our friends at Windy City Blues Society for the recommendation!
Rooster’s Palace (a.k.a. Rooster’s Place)
4501 W. Madison
Chicago, Illinois
773-678-0739
Matt's Notes: West side blues on Saturday nights with the likes of Tail Dragger & sometimes Rockin’ Johnny. Run by Bossman’s brother. Bring yourself a friend! Thanks to the windy City blues Society fo rthe recommendation!
4501 W. Madison
Chicago, Illinois
773-678-0739
Matt's Notes: West side blues on Saturday nights with the likes of Tail Dragger & sometimes Rockin’ Johnny. Run by Bossman’s brother. Bring yourself a friend! Thanks to the windy City blues Society fo rthe recommendation!
FitzGerald's Nightclub
6615 Roosevelt Road
Berwyn, Illinois
708-788-2118
info@fitzgeraldsnightclub.com
Matt's Notes: FitzGerald's was built in the 1920s and has always been a gathering spot, from the early days as a hunting club and watering hole through its teen years as a jazz club during the '50s and '60s, featuring acts like Bob Scobey, Turk Murphy, Lil Armstrong, and the Original Salty Dogs. The FitzGerald family bought and renovated the building in 1980, and since then its reputation for great music in a casual, comfortable, unpretentious atmosphere has grown steadily. Chicago Magazine calls it "a musical gem," and the club has consistently found itself in the top 5 in Chicago polls of favorite venues.
6615 Roosevelt Road
Berwyn, Illinois
708-788-2118
info@fitzgeraldsnightclub.com
Matt's Notes: FitzGerald's was built in the 1920s and has always been a gathering spot, from the early days as a hunting club and watering hole through its teen years as a jazz club during the '50s and '60s, featuring acts like Bob Scobey, Turk Murphy, Lil Armstrong, and the Original Salty Dogs. The FitzGerald family bought and renovated the building in 1980, and since then its reputation for great music in a casual, comfortable, unpretentious atmosphere has grown steadily. Chicago Magazine calls it "a musical gem," and the club has consistently found itself in the top 5 in Chicago polls of favorite venues.
Illinois Blues Landmarks, Museums and Places of Interest
Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation
2120 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60616
(312) 808-1286
Matt's Notes:
Hours are from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and 12:00 to 2:00 Saturday. It costs $10 per person.
2120 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60616
(312) 808-1286
Matt's Notes:
Hours are from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and 12:00 to 2:00 Saturday. It costs $10 per person.
