Where you see a concert matters. For that reason alone, be grateful we’re in an area teeming with superb options and savvy talent bookers that help make Chicago an anchor point for live music.

Granted, the venue may not be the first thing on your mind when an artist announces dates, but the place shapes how you experience a show. Sight lines, sound systems, seating, accessibility, lighting and acoustics play pivotal roles. Ditto history, reputation, atmosphere, friendliness and focus.

Since the start of the 21st century, the local music scene has undergone immense changes. Double Door , Abbey Pub , Fireside Bowl , Elbo Room, Lounge Ax , HotHouse and the Congress Theater all shuttered. The Promontory in Hyde Park will join that list when it closes in December. Venerable rooms

See Full Page