Ring in the New Year with the Blues!!!

Blues Clubs offer deals that won’t give your wallet the blues

Jimmy Johnson / photo: Jennifer Wheeler

BLUE CHICAGO

Neighborhood: River North

536 N. Clark (at Ohio)

Chicago, IL

312-661-0100

Linsey Alexander Blues Band with vocalist Patricia Scott

Cover: $20, includes champagne toast at midnight and party favors.

Seating: first come, first serve

Hours: 8 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.

This longtime River North club, located in an historic building, is conveniently located to all the action. The intimate venue is very tourist friendly and provides a warm atmosphere with female vocalists singing good-time blues.

B.L.U.E.S.

Neighborhood: North Side/Lincoln Park

2519 N. Halsted, Chicago

773-528-1012

Jimmy Johnson Blues Band

Cover:  $25, includes party favors

Seating: Limited, call for reservation

Hours:  8 p.m. – 2 a.m.

This cozy club, known as “Blues on Halsted,” has a great atmosphere where blues drips off the walls. The club seats about 100, with standing room for more. B.L.U.E.S. is accepting reservations for these limited seats, so call and make yours today. If you don’t reserve ahead, you can still get in to the show and be part of the dancing and standing crowd.

BUDDY GUY’S LEGENDS

Neighborhood: South Loop

700 S. Wabash, Chicago

312-427-1190

Cover: $30, includes champagne toast at midnight.

Seating: Limited

Hours: 11 a.m. – 3 a.m.

The club’s namesake won’t be playing there until he begins his annual month-long run from January 6th – 29th.  But this legendary blues club, full service restaurant and bar has a great lineup for New Year’s Eve. It will be the first New Year’s Eve at Legends’ much larger new location. Advance tickets are available at eTix  or via the club’s website. There is limited seating so get there early and settle in.

5:30 p.m – Joanna Connor

9:00 p.m. – John Primer

10:30 p.m. – Magic Slim & the Teardrops

HOUSE OF BLUES

Neighborhood: River North

329 N. Dearborn

312-923-2000

Robert  Randolph & the Family Band, North Mississippi Allstars, Steepwater Band

Cover: Tickets are $53 advance, $58 day of show, $63 opera box. All are general admission. Available through Ticketmaster or HOB’s website.

Seating: very limited, mostly standing room

Hours: Door at 8 p.m., Show at 9 p.m.

House of Blues usually hosts blues acts in its Back Porch stage/restaurant on the first floor. In this case, the bands will perform upstairs in the concert hall.

Vance Kelly / photo: Tim Holek

KINGSTON MINES

Neighborhood: North Side/Lincoln Park

2548 N. Halsted, Chicago

773-477-4646

Vance Kelly, Big James & the Chicago Playboys

Cover: $25, includes party favors. Advance tickets are available at the club’s website, at www.ticketweb.com   or over the phone.

Seating: there is seating in both rooms, but you’ll want to move around to see both bands.

Hours: 7 p.m. – 4 a.m.

Chicago’s longest running blues club, The Mines puts the “unk in the funk.”  With two stages, the music never stops.

PETE MILLER’S

Neighborhood: NW suburb

412 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Wheeling, IL

847-243-3700

Although Pete Miller’s Seafood & Steak restaurants (one in Wheeling, one in Evanston) are known for  live jazz, they recently began booking blues acts. Delmark recording artists Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames will entertain the late night diners on New Year’s Eve. Band plays from 8 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. Reservations are required.

ROSA’S BLUES LOUNGE

Neighborhood: West Side

3420 W. Armitage, Chicago

773-342-0452

Billy Branch & Sons of the Blues

Cover: $25, includes party favors, champagne toast at midnight. Advance tickets are suggested. Buy them through the club’s website.

Hours: 8 p.m. – 2 a.m.

Seating: first come, first serve, limited seating.

Rosa’s is a great place to hear and see the blues.  Chicago’s “friendliest blues bar” always has a stellar lineup.

SHAW’S CRABHOUSE

Neighborhood: Downtown

21 E. Hubbard

Chicago, IL

312-527-2722

This Lettuce Entertain You seafood restaurant features live blues three days a week in the Oyster Bar. For December 31, the appropriately named Fabulous Fish Heads will perform for the New Year’s Eve diners from 7 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. There will be a champagne toast at midnight and party favors. Call for reservations.

S.P.A.C.E.

Neighborhood: Near North suburb

1245 Chicago Ave. (at Dempster)

Evanston, IL

847-492-8860

Shemekia Copeland

Cover: $40 advance, $45 day of show, $60 reserved table seating.

Hours: 10 p.m. - ?

Seating: limited, $60 for table seats. The rest is general admission, standing room.

The North Shore’s hippest, most eclectic nightclub will ring in the New Year with award-winning young blues star Shemekia Copeland. Champagne toast at midnight for all.

Lil' Ed / photo: Jennifer Wheeler

THIS MUST BE THE PLACE

Neighborhood: SW suburb

206 Main Street

Lemont, IL

630-243-1500

Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials

Cover: $15

Hours:  9 p.m. - ?

Located near the Lemont train depot, This Must Be The Place, a.k.a. The Place, features casual dining and live music:  everything from rock and pop to jazz and blues, to folk and comedy. For New Year’s Eve, it’s house-rockin’ blues with Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials. Call for dinner and show packages.

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