JPF Home Page Forums Just Plain Folks Roadtrips Music Venue Forum Chicago venues

chicagoland venue start,

Like a lot of people in JPF, I'm a performer as well as a songwriting enthusiast who has been investigating venues to play in and around town.

Those venues particularly of interest to me are those welcoming to the inexperienced (ie, me) one man band and willing to give them (me) a shot. For the last few weeks, I've been gathering info on the clubs and which ones to give that particularly rough demo.
Well, I figure that since I'm not the only one out here in this position, it would be beneficial to discuss which bars are more open to new acts. Here's the list I have so far....(all are in chicago proper unless noted)

small
Nevin's in Evanston
Durty Nellie's in Palatine
The Glenview House in Glenview???
Lilly's on Lincoln???

somewhat bigger
Coyle's Tippling House
Abbey Pub
Shuba's
Hideout
Uncommon Ground Cafe

rock clubs (less, one m/w band stuff)
gunther murphy's
elbo room
beat kitchen

Does anyone else have any ideas about where to shop our wares???

Miles Maxwell
milesmaxwell.com

the first reply comes from the original poster! after posting, I thought what a good idea it would be to add the KCWilkerson list of Chicago open mics.
http://www.risingstarmusic.com/openmics.xhtml

I don't know this guy but it's extremely comprehensive if you really are just starting out. Good places to cut your teeth...

Also, I'm running an open mic with Eamon Knuff at Irish Eyes on Lincoln (near Fullerton and Halsted) in Chicago on Sundays if anyone wants to meet there and talk about the Chicago scene...

good luck to all!
milesmaxwell
www.milesmaxwell.com

Miles..

What would be the chances you could post some email addresses, phone numbers, website URLs, etc. for any of those venues?

Thanks

Large Al

No prob.

I'll post some of the websites, which should all have phone numbers and email adresses, for these venues during my lunchbreak although they are all fairly easy to find.

As far as contact names go though, I'm still compiling that list myself. The way I have been doing it, I've been going to each place and talking to the bartenders and tried to get them to introduce me to the booking manager...It also looks like you're down the road a piece from these places so I'll do my best to share what I learn when I learn it.

So Big A, what kind of music do you do? Do you have a webpage?

Miles Maxwell

small
Nevin's in Evanston http://centerstage.net/restaurants/nevins.html
Durty Nellie's in Palatine www.durtynellies.com
The Glenview House in Glenview??? www.glenviewhouse.com/entertainment.shtml
somewhat bigger
Coyle's Tippling House www.coylestipplinghouse.com
Abbey Pub www.abbeypub.com
Shuba's www.schubas.com
Hideout www.hideoutchicago.com
Uncommon Ground Cafe www.uncommonground.com
Subterranean www.barsonline.com/chicago/subterranean
rock clubs (less, one man/woman band stuff)
gunther murphy's
elbo room
beat kitchen

For the bigger venues, just check out www.chicago-music-scene.com

Miles..

My primary Focus is Faith Based Blues, our new CD is in that field, however I have been playing everything from Fingerstyle folk to bluegrass to Classic Rock to Jazz to you name it for over 35 years...

My favorite guitarist is Phil Keaggy, my favorite group (musically) is Little Feat, especially during the "Waiting for Columbus" era..

Our website URL is www.bludbros.com

How Bout you?

Large Al

Large A,

I dig your vibe. I went and checked out the webpage. Never heard of Phil Kreaggy though. Looked him up and he seems to be in line with your kind of music.

My music style fluctuates between intensely personal story songs in a folk medium (harry chapin's my favorite), and daringly (I think) perverse comedy tunes. When I am in a band, they seem to come and go so easily for me, I'll do nineties indie rock (think Pixies).

I have to admit though that, like you, one of the big reasons I'm so passionate about songwriting was religion but in a different way. For me, I had my dream girl picked out back when I was in college and watched our relationship change gears over religious issues.

Long story really short;
She=jewish...
me=only a little jewish...
we=no more...

It's been the basis for a good six songs (three comedy, three intensely personal) and a musical I'm writing so the anguish and critical thinking has paid me back in kind!

Anyway, I'm interested in CCM stuff but have no experience in openly Christ embracing modern music. Do you find it difficult to communicate your message? (Please don't be offended on this one but...) so many people lump evangelizing Christian music with the kind of nagging telemarketers do, how do you find people willing to listen?
I won't lie to you, I'm relatively self centered when I write but only because I feel like if I write honestly about myself, maybe a little of my life's experience will resonate with the listener. Most songwriting books I've read suggest that all an audience wants to hear is someone explain their own life. To speak for them so that can relate to it and say, "hey! that's me!"

Well, now that I've asked such a good question, I wanna sit back and hear your answer. Tell me, if you will, how you get people to listen on such a touchy subject? (also, please excuse my verbocity. I carry on sometimes... )

Miles Maxwell
www.milesmaxwell.com