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Tue / Jan 26
Party Earth Review A maze of function rooms, dining areas, and two stages support the House of Blues’ reputation for great music, good grub, and a packed house practically every night. Swaggering locals may decry the chain aspect – there... ... read full review
329 North Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60654
Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple Express Lines: State/Lake
312-923–2000
Restaurant: M–Th 11:30am–1am, F–Sa 11:30am–1:30am, Su 4pm–1am
Concerts: Schedule can vary, but most shows nightly from 8pm. Check venue calendar
River North, Chicago –
A maze of function rooms, dining areas, and two stages support the House of Blues’ reputation for great music, good grub, and a packed house practically every night.
Swaggering locals may decry the chain aspect – there are thirteen locations and counting – but seeing as the venue pulls in big names covering a range of musical styles, it would be hard for anyone to dismiss HoB as just another tourist trap.
The arching, Gaudí-esque façade is easy to spot amid the surrounding high-rises, while the intimate main stage features two balconies and opera boxes for a little regal appeal – the better to witness Danzig’s guttural howls one night and the sweet riffs of the Yonder Mountain String Band the next.
Hungry concert-goers grab assorted American and International cuisine at the casual Crossroads restaurant, where there’s also a smaller second stage dedicated to blues every night of the week. Visitors looking for more refined fare, meanwhile, can head to the upscale Foundation Room on the third floor, home to velvety high-backs and curtained booths far more hoity Gentlemen’s Club than sorrowful blues palace.
Bars on every level mean that libations – with customary concert mark-ups – are never far away, while the elegant top floor lounge is known to host DJs and lots of private parties.
Co-founded by Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd back in 1992, House of Blues may have evolved into a corporate machine, but that doesn’t mean a lot of wide-eyed musicians aren’t vying to grace its many stages.
Varied crowd depending on the night. Large showing of tourists is guaranteed, especially during the day, with a diverse mix of music lovers for the nightly shows. All ages, some shows 17+ or 21+.
Scheduled acts include blues, jazz, metal, punk, post-punk, hippie bluegrass, gospel, hip-hop, rap, and more.
Crossroads menu includes a mix of International and American dishes including seafood, lobster mac and cheese, rib-eye, and jambalaya. Foundation Dining Room menu includes an assortment of charcuterie and small plates, seafood, double-thick pork chops, and rack of lamb.
All-you-can-eat brunch on Sundays during Gospel Brunch, which features live gospel at 10am and 12:30pm.
Reservations suggested for dinner. Tickets are required for Gospel Brunch and can be purchased on the website.
Tickets $10–$40+/always cheaper in advance. All-you-can-eat buffet brunch $37.50–$42.50, appetizers $5–$15, entrées $12–$35+.
Beer $5–$6+, wine $7–$10+/glass and $25–$45+/bottle, cocktails $6–$11+.
Parking in House of Blues lot $25/one to two hours or $28/two to six hours.
Casual to trendy: everything from multicolored punk-branded garb to more formal attire on folks in the Foundation dining room and lounge.
Any night a band of interest is on the stage.
Andy’s Jazz Club (11 East Hubbard Street) serves up multiple live sets of jazz and blues seven nights a week.
House of Blues Chicago User Reviews