indie travel guide home |
a city by city guide to the best indie clubs, bars, record shops and local bands |
Chicago, USA |
By Jennifer Reiter with Kevin Smith Chicago. Once the hog butcher to the world. Then the city of big shoulders. And many other decidedly masculine phrases. But if you look beneath the mounds of Old Style beer, you’ll find a warm and welcoming city that supports many underground scenes. A city this diverse has been home to record labels like Wax Trax, Thrill Jockey, Touch & Go, Minty Fresh, Kranky, Divot, and Bloodshot. In addition, the city boasts a roster of venues in which to see local, national, and international bands. Other than its musical attractions, Chicago can entertain you no matter what time of year or what your hobbies or persuasions are. Walk along Lake Michigan’s lake front and get lost in Lincoln Park, stroll down Michigan Avenue, aka “The Magnificent Mile” and gaze into designer store windows/crash into tourists (depending on your perspective), or go ice skating in the heart of downtown in winter at Millennium Park, also home to Frank Gehry's latest architectural masterpiece. And while you're at it, explore the rest of the Windy City's world-famous architecture, from Frank Lloyd Wright to Mies Van Der Rohe to Rem Koolhaus. Chicago also boasts one of the world's premiere art museums in the Art Institute. So while you may have to dig for some of your indie needs, this city hosts lots that's sure to take your fancy. |
Clubs
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Panic Windy City Soul Club |
Venues
Empty Bottle |
Bars
|
Delilah’s Rainbo Club Club Foot Late Bar |
Record Shops
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Dusty Groove America |
Local Bands |
The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir |
Miscellaneous
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If you'd like to recommend a club, bar,
record shop, band or any indie delight for inclusion in the Indie Travel
Guide, please email us. If we've included a link to your band/shop etc,
it would be lovely if you could link back to us. Thank you! |