Blue Chicago Competitors

Mission: Old Town School of Folk Music teaches and celebrates music and cultural expressions rooted in the traditions of diverse American and global communities. Founded in 1957, the Old Town School provides a wide range of music, dance, theater, and visual arts courses to people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds with 650 class offerings, private lessons, and workshops that span a wide range of artistic genres. The School is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community & Precollegiate Arts Schools, one of only a dozen accredited community arts schools in the nation and the only one dedicated to teaching traditional and popular art forms from around the world. The School’s critically acclaimed concerts showcase some of the finest and most diverse local and touring artists in our intimate and acoustically superb hall. Ticket prices remain among the most affordable in the city and special events like the Square Roots Festival and World Music Wednesdays make music accessible to all with free and reduced-priced programs. The Old Town School is the largest independent community arts school in the United States with 300 staff and faculty members who serve an average 6,000 students per week, and is supported by 3,000 members, 400 active volunteers, and an events audience of 85,000 per year. Outreach programs serve 2,000 children in 20 public schools and care facilities across Chicago, and field trip concerts attract 9,000 students and teachers annually with interactive and educational performances. The School owns and operates three facilities situated in Lincoln Square and Lincoln Park that include 425-seat and 150-seat concert halls, 47 classrooms, a music store, café, and resource center. Children’s classes are also held at suburban satellite locations.

Schubas Tavern: "This small club books some of the best indie touring acts around, but leaning toward the acoustic singer-songwriter end of the spectrum, and month-long residencies from local groups with a national profile. You can hang out in the front bar area without paying cover for the shows; if you’re under 21, go straight to the back room, which stages plenty of all-ages and over-18 shows. The Harmony Grill serves up a mean brunch on weekends." - Timeout Chicago Lincoln Hall was built and opened in October 2009 and has a capacity of 500 people, 300 more than its older sister Schubas. It won Chicago Reader's "Best Of Chicago" Best Music Venue in 2011 and 2012. Some of the biggest acts to play Lincoln Hall so far include Wilco, Fiona Apple, James Blake, The Weeknd, M83, Mumford & Sons, and The Walkmen.

Metro's mission is to bring a cross-platform of the best local, regional and national emerging artists to Chicago. Since, 1982, Metro has accomplished this goal repeatedly and established itself as one of the country's premier, cutting edge new music venues. It's an exciting time in the club's history; a time that proves New Music does matter and has mattered for over 40 years.