Ring in the New Year with the Blues!!!

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

December 31, 2012

Mike Wheeler will headline at Buddy Guy's Legends for New Year's Eve 2012 (see below for info) photo: Jennifer Noble

BLUE CHICAGO

Neighborhood: River North

536 N. Clark (at Ohio)

Chicago, IL

312-661-0100

Charlie Love & the Silky Smooth Blues Band w/ Peaches Staten

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 with Big Ray, Corey Dennison, Ari Seder

Cover:  $20 advance /$25 door, 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

Mike Wheeler (10:30 p.m.), NuBlu Band (9 p.m.), Eddie Taylor, Jr. (5:30 – 8 p.m.)

Cover: $30, includes champagne toast at midnight, party favors.

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 residency in January.  But this legendary blues club, full service restaurant and bar has a great lineup for New Year’s Eve. Advance tickets are available at eTix  or via the club’s website. There is limited seating so get there early and settle in.

FRENCH QUARTER NEW ORLEANS KITCHEN

Neighborhood: Western suburbs

44 Yorktown Centre, Lombard, IL

630-495-2700

Nigel Mack & the Blues Attack

This suburban Nawlins themed restaurant will offer dinner packages at $55 per person, which includes a champagne toast and party favors. The eatery specializes in authentic Creole and Cajun cuisine and often has live blues on the weekend.

HOUSE OF BLUES

Neighborhood: River North

329 N. Dearborn

312-923-2000

Steepwater Band, Paige & the Reverent Few

Cover: $10 (early bird), $20 (advance), $25 (day of)

Seating: yes

Hours:  doors 10 pm, show 10:30 p.m.

House of Blues regularly hosts blues acts on its Back Porch stage, which has a full service restaurant, on the first floor. The concert hall is upstairs, where Third Eye Blind will perform on 12/31. And for the morning after, if you’re in need of sustenance (both spiritual and physical), there’s the New Year’s Day Sunday Gospel Brunch

KINGSTON MINES

Neighborhood: North Side/Lincoln Park

2548 N. Halsted, Chicago

773-477-4646

Magic Slim, Vance Kelly

Cover: $30, 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.

MAYNE STAGE

Neighborhood: Rogers Park/ Far North

1328 Morse Ave., Chicago

773-381-4551

JC Brooks & Uptown Sound

Cover: $45 (general admission)/ $65 (reserved seats), includes champagne toast and party favors. 18 years and older only.

Hours: 9 p.m. doors, 10:30 p.m. show

Seating: for both reserved and GA

JC Brooks & Uptown Sound

This beautifully restored art deco theater dates back to the vaudeville era. There is nightclub style seating on the main floor, the mezzanine and balcony. The front of the building features a cozy “gastropub”, Act One, so you can dine or nosh before, during or after the show.

ROSA’S BLUES LOUNGE

Neighborhood: West Side

3420 W. Armitage, Chicago

773-342-0452

Jimmy Burns

Cover: $25 advance/$30 door, 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 St., Chicago

312-527-2722

Fabulous Fish Heads

SHAW’S SCHAUMBURG

Neighborhood: NW suburbs

1900 E. Higgins Rd, Schaumburg, IL

847-517-2722

Marty “Big Dog” Mercer

Lettuce Entertain You’s premier seafood and steakhouse has two locations for you to ring in the New Year with the blues and fine dining.  Call for showtimes and reservations. There are a variety of options to choose from.

Here are more ideas for your New Year’s Eve blues party:

Rockin’ Johnny Band at Nick’s Beer Garden, Chicago.

Brother John Band w/ Gerald McClendon at Pinstripes (Bowling, Bocce, Bistro), South Barrington, IL

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM

 CHICAGO BLUES GUIDE!!!

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