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Best Places To Discover New Music In Chicago

By Sara Lugardo

Chicago is known for its eclectic culture of diverse nationalities and backgrounds. Whether it's the thriving Chinatown or the fact that Chicago has the highest number of Polish people outside of Poland, Chicago is full of different communities and cultures that come together to form a melting pot of residents. With the mixture of different cultures, there is inevitably the mix of different foods, events and music. Check out these spots for discovering new artists.

The Mutiny
(credit: The Mutiny's Facebook)

The Mutiny
2428 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 486-7774
www.themutinychicago.com

The Mutiny offers free shows four nights a week and is known for being a combination of a bar and a music venue. The shows feature up-and-coming rock, punk and metal bands. This venue offers bands access to bookings through its website so there is always a good mix of local artists with new music or bands putting their own spin on classic favorites. Stop in for a show and see what talent Mutiny has to offer.

Related: Best Live Latin Music In Chicago

Green Mill
(credit: www.greenmilljazz.com)

Green Mill Cocktail Lounge
4802 N. Broadway Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 878-5552
www.greenmilljazz.com

The Green Mill Cocktail Lounge puts on live music performances six nights a week, with a long list of world-famous singers who have once donned its stage. This club has an extensive history since its first opening in 1907, but it still maintains an aura of nostalgia related to the 40s in terms of décor and ambience. The music that is performed here is usually swing, bebop, Dixieland or jazz. There is a free parking lot one block west of the Green Mill at Lawrence and Magnolia but patrons parked outside of that parking zone may be towed.

Old School
(Credit: oldtownschool.org)

Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 728-6000
www.oldtownschool.org

The Old Town School houses three separate facilities that include a 425-seat concert hall or a 150-seat concert hall. Concerts performed here range from nationwide popular artists to unknown local artists. This venue's selection of music boasts diverse local and internationally recognized artists, and some successful artists made their first break on these stages. SamaSama Project, a Filipino folk fusion band, began its career at an Old Town School of Folk Music concert back in 2008 and has gone on to tour internationally with concerts in Madrid and the Philippines.

Bottom Lounge
(credit: Bottom Lounge's Facebook)

Bottom Lounge
1375 W. Lake St.
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 666-6775
www.bottomlounge.com

Bottom Lounge has two floors and a patio that seats 120 people. This is not only a music venue for concerts and new artists but it is also a restaurant/bar. Make a trip to Bottom Lounge if you're looking for more underground music like Silverstein, Every Avenue or New Found Glory. Concert tickets generally stay around $15 but there are occasional headliners that comes in with steeper-priced tickets. Music lovers will enjoy hearing a diverse range of musical genres with new artists that don't fit into the neat box of pop music.

Related: Best Live Band Karaoke In Chicago

Jazz
(Credit: jazzshowcase.com)

Jazz Showcase
806 S. Plymouth Court
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 360-0234
www.jazzshowcase.com

Jazz Showcase has featured legendary jazz artists and local artists as well. This is a popular spot for hosting CD release parties for emerging artists and there are both matinee and evening shows for concerts and events. Jazz Showcase takes no reservations as it is a first-come, first-served venue. Showtimes are typically 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. with a Sunday matinee at 4 p.m. The Sunday matinee is geared toward children and if they are 12 or under, there is no cover charge. Typical shows are around $10 but guests are usually welcome to stay for both shows without an additional fee.

Sara Lugardo is a Korean American who thrives in writing about Asian community news in Chicago. She has a Bachelor's in Communication and is currently working on her Master's. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.

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