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The Southside is home to many music venues, from the legendary to the obscure. This list is certainly not exhaustive, but it’s a good place to start.
Buddy Guy’s Legends, 754 S. Wabash: This is the internationally famous club owned by Chicago blues titan Buddy Guy. It plays host to nightly music and a fair number of famous patrons who drop by.
Checkerboard Lounge, 5201 S. Harper: This is the new Hyde Park incarnation of the legendary 43rd street blues bar. Jazz is part of the line-up now in addition to mainstays of the Chicago blues scene.
The New Apartment Lounge, 504 E. 75th: Every Tuesday night, the great post-bop saxophonist Von Freeman plays a free set here.
Rosa’s, 3420 W. Armitage: Not on the Southside, this lounge is a venerable stop on the city’s blues scene and hosts national acts on a regular basis.
The Velvet Lounge, 67 E. Cermak: This is the new home of a famous modern-jazz venue. The owner is saxophonist Fred Anderson.
Lee’s Unleaded Blues (7401 S. South Chicago)
Artis’s Lounge, 1249 E. 87th
East of the Ryan, 914 E. 79th
Flamingo, 6644 S. Cottage Grove
Linda’s Place, 1044 W. 51st
Red Peppers Lounge, 428 E. 87th
50 Yard Line, 69 E. 75th
Negro League Café, 4301 S. Prairie
Weather Mark Tavern, 1503 S. Michigan
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©2007 The University of Chicago® 5801 South Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60637 773-702-1234
©2007 The University of Chicago® 5801 South Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60637 773-702-1234