Where can I find live, low-key music in (North) Chicago?

July 24, 2009 11:17 AM

Where can I find live, low-key music in (North) Chicago?

I'm lookin' for live, low-key-- uh, make that low(er) volume, any key :^)-- music in north Chicago.

M'girlfriend gets really nasty headaches from loud music (so we're trying to avoid loud amplification, and we're trying to find a place to go somewhere between the Northern Suburbs (where she lives) and probably about Wrigleyville.
(Sure, most places'll have some kind of sound system, but we're tryin' to get away from loud-bar/Flogging-Molly-on-St-Paddy's-Day noise. I'd be curious about other places closer to downtown, but admit they won't be quite as useful in this particular situation)

Jazz, blues, swing, big-band, lounge (Sinatra/Darin), that sort of thing is what I'm lookin' for, but any suggestions would be appreciated

Any suggestions?
Thanks!

posted by Seeba to sports, hobbies, & recreation (13 comments total)

Oops. I forgot there was a city called North Chicago... I meant to type northern Chicago.
posted by Seeba at 11:19 AM on July 24

Lots of interesting and diverse gigs fitting your description are performed at the Old Town School Of Folk Music --And no, it's not just a place for folk music. You and your partner may also enjoy the live jazz shows at the historic Green Mill in Uptown. p.s. I see live gigs all over Chicago and have never encountered an obnoxiously loud show or obnoxiously rowdy crowd at either of the above venues.
posted by applemeat at 11:29 AM on July 24 [1 favorite has favorites]

Can't help you with jazz/blues, but if you're at all interested in acoustic folk music, consider checking your local Irish pubs for a "traditional session". Usually unamplified fiddle and guitar, occasional songs, 5-10 musicians of quality from professional to enthusiastic amateur. Not always well-advertized, but ask your local pub if you're interested, and don't let them send you to some band performance.
Chief O'Neill's (addison&Elston) Sundays and Tuesdays
Celtic Crossings (downtown) Sunday nights
Nevin's in Evanston.
also the Grafton, the Abbey, and assorted other places; they tend to migrate a bit, thus come and go from any given spot.
posted by aimedwander at 11:40 AM on July 24

I came in specifically to mention the Green Mill too. We left Chicago for Los Angeles about a year ago now, and the Green Mill is one of the places I miss the most in Chi-town.

Still looking for a comperable place in La-La-Land, but it's definitely a different kind of music scene.
posted by HenryGale at 2:24 PM on July 24

what about the hideout?
they have a pretty neat bluegrass night on tuesdays which is fairly quiet.
and it is quite literally hidden-out

i've been to a few of their (mostly indie) shows and none have been particularly loud
don't forget your ear-plugs just in case!
posted by chickadee at 4:11 PM on July 24

Adding to the mix (I totally agree on the Green Mill and Old Town School)...

Katerina's has nice, lowish-key music.

Also check out the Edgewater Lounge on Sunday and Tuesday nights -- doesn't get much more low-key than that place. :-)
posted by adrian_h at 4:29 PM on July 24

Another vote for the Green Mill. I miss it all the time, and I live in New York!
posted by billtron at 5:06 PM on July 24

The Heartland Cafe has a nice mix of acoustic stuff, and a good sound mix. On Glenwood in Rogers Park.
posted by timsteil at 1:01 PM on July 26

Uncommon Ground -- really low-key music and really yummy food and drink. Two locations: One in Edgewater and one in Wrigleyville. The former is more pleasant, in my opinion, and has a Honky Tonk Happy Hour on Friday nights.
posted by pfafflin at 7:42 PM on July 27

i also came here to say Uncommon Ground
posted by Jason and Laszlo at 2:36 PM on July 30

Sunday nights there's a jazz series at The Hungry Brain.

Not my cup of tea, but it's never terribly loud.
posted by kpmcguire at 4:58 PM on July 30

Chicago Acoustic Underground shows off local chicago bands and host the occasional show.
posted by garlic at 1:35 PM on July 31

The Entertaining Julia show on Sunday nights at 8:30 is an eclectic mix of music and comedy and is good fun.
posted by garlic at 1:37 PM on July 31 [1 favorite has favorites]