DJ Events in Chicago

DJ events in Chicago tend to be in two categories: flashy DJs spinning general club music for scenesters at luxurious lounges, and serious DJs in dark clubs full of music and dance fanatics. All of the city’s clubs, and most of its see-and-be-seen lounges feature nightly DJs – usually one or two regulars or famous guests from around the country. Some of these DJs are seriously talented, but the music is usually just a backdrop for all the cocktails and flirting for VIPs. Still, clubs promote any special nights and recurring weekly concepts, like hip-hop Thursdays and the like.

Chicago DJ events also take place at grimier locations like Sound Bar, Evil Olive, and Berlin. Here, people who really know their music or just want to dance to something really good show up for an unpretentious rumpus. House music was born in Chicago and is still heavily represented in the scene. Green Dolphin Street has popular house music on Mondays, and Spy Bar and Sound Bar usually bring in house DJs on weekends. Niche genres like Afrobeat and synthpop are well represented around town, whether in clubs that cater to certain crowds or in more general dance clubs that have specialty nights for different kinds of music.

Two places where you’re always guaranteed a DJ are gay clubs and big music festivals. For the former, there’s Spin, Berlin, and Hydrate, which will likely have a DJ every night of the week. For the latter, there’s Lollapalooza with its stage dedicated to electronic music, and the North Coast Music Festival, which emphasizes a rave-like scene.