Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
to hear the so-called insurgent country sound (country music meets rock and
punk) pioneered by local indie record label Bloodshot Records and bands such
as Wilco, Robbie Fulks, and the Waco Brothers.
Baby Doll Polka Club
Polka is alive and kicking in Chicago at the Baby Doll
Polka Club, located across the street from the runways at Midway airport. Relive
those golden memories of Lawrence Welk, and skip-step to the magic accordion
of the house band, the Merry Makers. It's open daily, with live music on week-
ends only (the bands start at 9:30pm Sat and 6pm Sun—which is when the joint
really hops).
6100 S. Central Ave.
&
773/582-9706.
Subway/El: Orange Line to Midway Air-
port, then a 10-min. cab ride.
Exedus II
Like its flashier neighbor, the Wild Hare (see below), Exedus offers
nightly reggae shows; the specialty here is Jamaican dancehall, performed live or
by DJs. Although this small storefront tavern gets smoky and crowded, the music's
good and the attitude of the international crowd is very laid back. In general, it's
more authentic than the competition, which tends to draw more of the frat-party
element.
3477 N. Clark St. (between Newport Ave. and Roscoe St.).
&
773/348-3998.
Cover usu-
ally under $10. Subway/El: Red Line to Addison.
The Hideout
This friendly tavern's
OLD STYLE BEER
sign shines like a
beacon, guiding roots music fans through the grimy industrial neighborhood
that surrounds it. The owners' beer-can collection and some eclectic “celebrity”
memorabilia are on display in the front room. In back, local musicians play
country, rock, and bluesy tunes on a smallish stage backed by an impressive
stuffed sailfish. It's no-frills all right. But the Hideout also books one of the best
lineups of folk and “alt country” bands in the city, including the Blacks, the Pine
Valley Cosmonauts, the Handsome Family, Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco), the Rachels,
Devil in a Woodpile, and Kelly Hogan.
1354 W. Wabansia Ave. (between Elston Ave. and
Throop St.).
&
773/227-4433.
www.hideoutchicago.com. Cover usually $5-$10. Subway/El: Blue
Line to Damen.
HotHouse
This “Center for International Performance and Exhibition”
schedules some of the most eclectic programming in the city, attracting well-
known jazz and avant-garde musicians from around the world. When the heavy
hitters aren't booked, you'll see anything from local musicians improvising on
“invented instruments” to Afro-Cuban dance troupes to Japanese blues singers.
31 E. Balbo Dr. (at S. Wabash Ave.).
&
312/362-9707.
www.hothouse.net. Cover $10-$20. Sub-
way/El: Red Line to Harrison.
Old Town School of Folk Music
Country, folk, bluegrass, Latin,
Celtic—the Old Town School of Folk Music covers a spectrum of indigenous
musical forms. The school is best known as a training center offering a slate of
music classes, but it also hosts everyone from the legendary Pete Seeger to blue-
grass phenom Alison Krauss. The school's home, in a former 1930s library, is the
world's largest facility dedicated to the preservation and presentation of tradi-
tional and contemporary folk music. The Old Town School also houses an art
gallery showcasing exhibitions of works by local, national, and international
artists; a music store offering an exquisite selection of instruments, sheet music,
and hard-to-find recordings; and a cafe. In midsummer, it sponsors the popular
Folk and Roots outdoor music festival. The school maintains another retail store
and a schedule of children's classes at its first location, 909 W. Armitage Ave.
4544 N. Lincoln Ave. (between Wilson and Montrose aves.).
&
773/728-6000.
www.oldtown
school.org. Tickets $10-$25. Subway/El: Blue Line to Western.
Value
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