Around The Loop, Magnificent Mile, Navy Pier, Gold Coast and River North districts, there’s no problem finding music in Chicago. Although blues and jazz dominated the music scene in the Windy City for many years, these days there’s plenty of hot rock, spicy salsa, the insurgent country sound and Irish jigs. Any night is a good time to dust off your dancing shoes and try some of these unique Chicago favorite clubs. The House of Blues is the largest national chain in the blues venue. The Funky Buddha lives up to its name. Red lighting and lots of black leather and fake leopard skin sofas, great DJs and non-stop eclectic music pack the place. A three-room, nine-level design and celebrity sighting make Vision a popular people-watching nightspot. Metro, a premier spot for alternative and rock acts, has put some top names on the map. REM, Pearl Jam and Smashing Pumpkins got their start at Metro.
Rich in tradition, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs over 200 events each year and numerous chamber groups keep classical music alive and well in Chicago. Indoors and outdoors, day and night, year-round, there’s a music festival somewhere in Chicago. The Chicago Jazz Festival, Blues Festival and Country Music Festival are three not-to-be-missed festivals in the U.S.