Chicago is home to a vibrant music scene with concerts happening every night across the city. As one of the top destinations for live music in the United States, Chicago attracts major headliners and up-and-coming artists to its legendary venues. For music lovers looking for the next can’t-miss concert, Chicago has something amazing to offer whatever your musical tastes.
What are the most popular music venues in Chicago?
Chicago has some of the most iconic and renowned music venues in the world. Here are some of the top places to catch a concert in Chicago:
- United Center – Home to the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, the United Center also hosts major concerts from artists like Paul McCartney, Beyonce, and many more. With a capacity of over 20,000, it’s one of the largest indoor venues in the city.
- Wrigley Field – The historic baseball stadium transforms into a concert arena during the summer, hosting acts like Foo Fighters, Jimmy Buffett, and Dead & Company. Nothing beats seeing your favorite band with the ivy-covered walls as a backdrop.
- Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island – This outdoor amphitheater right on Lake Michigan provides incredible skyline views and has featured artists like Lorde, Zac Brown Band, and Vampire Weekend.
- House of Blues – Part of the famous chain of concert halls, the Chicago location has hosted everyone from Chance the Rapper to John Mayer in an intimate, club-like setting.
- Aragon Ballroom – This Uptown concert hall opened in 1926 and oozes history, with artists from every genre gracing its stage through the decades, from Duke Ellington to Kendrick Lamar.
- Riviera Theatre – From the Grateful Dead in the 60s to Kendrick Lamar today, the Riviera Theatre spans generations of iconic concerts in an ornate, early 20th century building.
- Vic Theatre – Vic Theatre has emerged as a premier mid-sized venue for major touring acts across all genres, located in the bustling Lakeview neighborhood.
- Thalia Hall – This historic Pilsen venue hosts rock, indie, hip hop, and more in an intimate concert hall plus has great restaurants onsite.
- The Chicago Theatre – Having originally opened in 1921, the gorgeously restored Chicago Theatre presents big name comedy, Broadway shows, and musicians in the heart of the Loop.
- Park West – Intimate historic Park West has earned a reputation as one of the best places in the city to catch rising stars before they get famous.
With world-famous stages like the United Center rubbing shoulders with tiny hole-in-the-wall clubs, concertgoers can find just about any atmosphere and audience size in Chicago.
What are the upcoming concerts in Chicago for each major music genre?
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most highly anticipated upcoming concerts in Chicago by genre:
Pop Music
- Taylor Swift – Soldier Field, June 2-3
- Sam Smith – United Center, July 14
- Mariah Carey – Chicago Theatre, August 23
Rock Music
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – Soldier Field, July 29
- The Smashing Pumpkins – Wrigley Field, August 6
- blink-182 – Huntington Bank Pavilion, August 8
Hip Hop/R&B
- Drake & Lil Baby – United Center, August 26-27
- Lizzo – Huntington Bank Pavilion, September 18
- Eric Church – United Center, October 13-14
Jazz/Blues
- Herbie Hancock – Symphony Center, November 3
- Buddy Guy – Rosa’s Lounge, November 17
- Gregory Porter – Chicago Theatre, December 15
Heavy Metal
- Slipknot – Huntington Bank Pavilion, July 25
- Megadeth & Lamb of God – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, August 5
- Disturbed – Allstate Arena, August 11
EDM/Electronic
- Deadmau5 – Navy Pier, May 27
- Kygo – Huntington Bank Pavilion, June 24
- Odesza – Soldier Field, July 30-31
Indie Rock
- Death Cab for Cutie – Chicago Theatre, May 12
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Huntington Bank Pavilion, May 22
- The National – Auditorium Theatre, June 3
Country Music
- Kenny Chesney – Soldier Field, June 23-24
- Chris Stapleton – Wrigley Field, June 30
- Shania Twain – United Center, July 26
As you can see, Chicago has a loaded calendar of concerts spanning all musical genres throughout the year. The city’s diversity of venues allows fans to enjoy these acts in everything from massive stadiums to intimate clubs with incredible acoustics.
What are the best ways to get tickets to sold out concerts in Chicago?
Scoring tickets to the hottest concerts can definitely take some work in a city like Chicago. Here are some of the best techniques for scoring seats to sold out and in-demand shows:
- Join fan clubs – Most major artists have official fan clubs that give members access to presales before the general public can buy tickets.
- Follow venues/promoters on social media – Venues will often announce presales on their social channels first.
- Check secondary markets – Sites like StubHub and SeatGeek are reliable sources for resale tickets.
- Enter radio contests – Local radio stations will frequently give away tickets to major concerts.
- Sign up for Verified Fan presales – For very popular artists like Taylor Swift, you can try registering for presale offers through Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan platform.
- Line up early – If all else fails, you can always try securing general admission pit tickets by lining up extremely early before the doors open.
Persistence and monitoring all possible avenues to get tickets are key. The most in-demand shows will take effort, but great seats can be secured if you are diligent!
How do you predict which newly announced concerts will sell out fastest in Chicago?
Determining which newly announced Chicago concerts are likely to sell out first comes down to a few key factors:
- Artist popularity – More famous artists with devoted fanbases (like Beyonce or Harry Styles) sell out quicker.
- Venue size – Smaller venues sell out faster than larger ones.
- Tour buzz – Is it a long-awaited reunion or special one-off show?
- Tour routing – If it’s the artist’s only Midwest stop it’ll be in higher demand.
- On-sale access – Are there presales, fan clubs, etc. that limit public on-sale tickets?
- Price point – More expensive tickets move faster than inexpensive ones.
- Timing – Summer weekends sell quicker than school nights.
Monitoring social media engagement as soon as a show is announced can also be very telling of demand. Shows that immediately have fans buzzing with excitement are destined to sell out fast!
What tips do you have for getting cheap tickets to concerts in Chicago?
While popular shows can get pricey, here are some ways savvy fans can still score cheap concert tickets in Chicago:
- Join fan clubs and Presales – Fan clubs and artist presales often have access to face value ticket prices before brokers can grab them.
- Check venue box offices – Box office prices don’t have the same fees as many online ticket sellers.
- Go on weeknights – Weeknight shows are typically cheaper than weekend dates.
- Buy upper level or obstructed view seats – You can still have an amazing experience without sitting right next to the stage.
- Wait until last minute – Prices usually drop on secondary markets leading up to the event once sellers panic.
- Enter radio contests – Radio often provides free tickets or fan club membership giveaways.
- See up-and-coming acts – Smaller venues and rising artists are very affordable compared to headliners at arenas.
With the right timing and persistence, you can absolutely find deals and save money on seeing live music in Chicago.
How far in advance should you buy concert tickets for the best deals in Chicago?
Navigating the best time to buy concert tickets in Chicago to maximize value involves a delicate balance. Here are some general guidelines on timing:
- During presales – Buying during presales for fan club members or venue/promoter partners a few days before the general on-sale often provides access to the lowest initial ticket prices.
- Immediately at on-sale – Right as tickets go on sale to the general public, prices are usually at their face value baseline before demand drives resale prices up.
- 1-3 months out – Earlier than one month out, prices are often still high from initial demand. Waiting a few months can mean more tickets were released from holds, allowing more inventory. Too close to the show date though, and selection is limited.
- 6-8 weeks out – As you get within 2 months of the show, look for unsold seated tickets and newly released blocks of seats to get deals before prices spike at the end.
- 2 weeks out – Prices tend to come down slightly as resellers panic that they may eat the cost of unsold tickets.
- Day of show – Like flyers wait for last minute flight deals, some procurement tactics like waiting in on-sale lines or checking resale sites right before the show can yield big discounts.
While every show is different, a mix of buying early through presales and then monitoring prices closely as the event approaches is often a winning strategy.
Conclusion
Catching a concert in Chicago can be an unforgettable experience. The city offers seemingly endless live music opportunities, but getting the perfect seats still requires a bit of strategy and effort. Following tips like joining fan clubs for presale access, monitoring secondary markets for deals, targeting mid-week performances, and carefully tracking price movements around the on-sale date can all help you land affordable tickets to see your favorite artists at Chicago’s legendary venues. Always keep the big picture in mind too – Chicago’s electric music scene means that even if you miss out on that had-to-have show, another amazing concert experience awaits just around the corner!