Find a Blues Jam – Low-reen's Live Blues

Blues Jams Chicago to Milwaukee…..and then some…..

Low-reen’s Live Blues List March 2023

In memory of Dirty Otis …join a Band, not a Gang…

JAM TIME! Got your picks & sticks? Gotta Go Jam? Then you are in the right place! Blues jams come & go, I started this list to try to keep up! If you hear of one that’s not on the list, or have a correction, please let me know. Low-reen’s Live Blues List is updated at least monthly. Call ahead: these things change minute-to-minute!! Also be sure to drop a few bucks at the establishments that hosts these jams: buy a drink – if you don’t drink, buy some food or buy your friend a drink – otherwise the jams go away, and NO ONE wants that!

Join the Mailing List / Updates / Corrections / List your Jam: BlackCatBones@sbcGlobal.net

Quick Updates & Jam Pictures: www.Facebook.com/LowreensLiveBlues

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Here’s the Skinny:

Blues Jam: Generally a set-up for a full band including drummer, focus on Blues

Open Jam: Generally a set-up for a full band including drummer, all music types, not necessarily focus on Blues

Open Mic: Generally a set-up for individual or duo musicians, usually not a drummer, usually focused on music only, but sometimes open to spoken work ie poetry

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Blues Jams (call ahead, they change frequently!)

Sundays —–”Let dat boy boogie woogie! It’s in ‘im, and it got to come out!” – John Lee Hooker

03 on 83 Saloon (formerly Hawg Heaven), 10306 Antioch Rd/Rt 83, Salem, WI (262) 862-7777, 8pm
Back Forty, 77 N Main, Manteno, IL, host Susan Williams, Darryl Wright, & Andrew Duncanson, 4-7pm
Bender’s, 409 E Northwater St, Silver Lake, WI, host Mark Ricky, Ronnie 2x, 3-7pm
Coaches Sports Bar & Grill, 14650 Waverly Ave, Midlothian, IL (708) 629-0685
Cuzin’s Neighborhood Bar, 17704 Oak Park Ave, Tinley Park, IL (708) 633-1144, host The Fabulous Kings, 4-8pm (No jam if 3pm Bears Game)
Duck Inn, 15225 W Wadsworth Rd, Wadsworth, IL, host Kent Lewis, 1pm (Last Sun, May-Oct three season weather permitting, Open mic)
Fireman Ted’s, 2771 Black Rd, Joliet, IL (815) 582-4656, host T-Bird Huck & the MVPs, 6pm
Gallery Cabaret, 2020 N Oakley, Chicago, IL (773) 489-5471, 9pm (Open Mic)
The Grove, 2008 Main St, Spring Grove, IL (815) 675-0220, host Marie Martens, 2-5pm, May-Nov three season weather permitting- outside with indoor/outdoor patio
The Law Office Pub & Music Hall, 226 S Bridge, Yorkville, IL (630) 882-9559. Hosted by Al Spear’s Hurricane Project, 230-530pm
Leroy’s Hot Stuff, 333 W US Hwy 20, Porter, IN (219) 926-6211. Host Corey Dennison, 7-10pm
Live Wire Lounge, 3394 N Milwaukee, Chicago, IL (Rock jam)
Main St Exchange, 25346 S Dixie Hwy, Crete, IL, host Susan Williams (2nd Sun)
Main St Outfitters, 513 S Main St, Wauconda, IL (847) 526-7433, 2pm (Acoustic open mic)
Madcats, 117 W Slade St, Palatine, IL, 847-485-8093, www.MadcatsLive.com, host Dave Levit, 5:15-9pm (last Sun)
Paulie’s Pub & Eatery, 8031 Greenfield, Wauwatosa, WI. Host Josh Becker & Michael James Grassman, 7-10pm
Pour House, 9031 N 1200 W, DeMotte, IN (219) 345-7687, host Bob Mandarino
Red’s Steak & BBQ, 11011 N Main St (US Rt 12), Richmond, IL (815) 678-4637, host Glenn Davis, 2-6pm
Rockstar Saloon, 5826 W Burnham, West Allis, WI, host Wizard hammer, 7pm
Sollitt Tap, 11830 Sollitt Rd, Beecher, IL (815) 465-6419, host Big Dog Mercer, 8pm (Fall, Winter, Spring)
Union Park Tavern, 4520 8th Ave, Kenosha, WI (262) 652-6454, host Cy Costabile, Piano jam, 4-7pm
Woodlawn Tap, 1172 E 55th St, Chicago, IL, host The Woodlawn Four (Scott Dirks, Willie Greason, Dave Waldman), 2-7pm (1st & 3rd Sundays)

Mondays —–”A bad rendition of you is better than a good rendition of somebody else.” – Willie Dixon

Da Bar, 1902 S 60th St, West Allis, WI, host Ricky Orta Jr & Mike Bucholtz, 7-11pm
Drew’s On Halsted, 3201 N Halsted, Chicago, IL (773) 244-9191, host Mark Burnell, 830-1030pm (Open mic, 3rd Monday, $25 food/bev minimum)
Four Treys Tavern, 3333 N Damen, Chicago, IL (773) 549-8845, host Jon Buschner, 845pm-1230 (Open mic)
Johnny’s Blitz, 20 N Cass, Westmont, IL (630) 541-9015, host Larry Mac 7pm (Open mic)
Rustic Road Brewing, 5706 Sixth Ave, Kenosha, WI (262) 320-7623, host Miss B Haven, 8-11pm (Open Mic)
The Store, 2002 N Halsted, Chicago, IL (773) 327-7766, host Garrett Lane, 8-11pm. You get a free CD of your performance (Open mic)

Tuesdays —–”I stone got crazy when I saw somebody run down them strings with a bottleneck. My eyes lit up like a Christmas tree and I said that I had to learn” – Muddy Waters

Brewtown Eatery, 5121 W Howard, Milwaukee, WI (414) 321-3900, hosts Dave Miller, Jeff Stoll, & Joe Zarcone, 6-9pm, all ages, blues & jazz
Finnegan’s Pub, 1074 Joliet St, Dyer, IN (219) 865-9896, host Jack Whittle, 9pm
Fritzy’s 6156 N Clark, Chicago, IL (773) 743-1797, host Eddie & the Tuesday Blues Band, 8-11pm
Looney’s Pub, 40805 N Illinois 83, Antioch, IL (224) 788-8672, 8pm, 1/2 price pizza (Open jam)
Madcats, 117 W Slade St, Palatine, IL (847) 485-8093, www.MadcatsLive.com, 730pm (Open mic)
Mad Steintist, 200 Madison St, Waukesha, WI (262) 309-6840, host Bill Paige, 8-11pm
O’s Tap, 2044 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL, host Ann Marie, 630-1030pm (Open Jam)
Paddy Macs 4157 N Pulaski, Chicago, IL, host Jon Buschner, 9pm (Open mic)
The Vixen, 1208 N Green St, McHenry, IL (815) 271-5010, 7pm-12 (1st Tues, Open mic)
Wooden Nickel, 444 Lakeview, Highwood, IL (847) 266-0550, 7-10pm (2nd Tues Roger Sosa, 3rd Tues Low-reen & Harpdog)

Wednesdays —– “Music is so naturally united with us that we cannot be free from it even if we so desired” -Boethius

Ballydoyle, 5157 Main St, Downer’s Grove, IL (630) 969-0600, 8pm (Open mic)
Bilda’s Friess Lake Pub, 4493 Hwy 167, Hubertus, WI (262) 628-3454, host DJ & the Bluesers, 6-9pm
Blarney Stone, 15400 S Cicero, Oak Forest, IL, host Mondo Cortez, 7-10pm. 1/2 price pizza (On hold July & August, resumes September)
Boyd’s Hideout, 25344 Richmond Ave, Antioch, IL (847) 838-9121, Host Lightnin’ George, 7-10pm
Broken Spoke, 332 Fellows Rd, Genoa City, WI (262) 295-8535, host Abby Kay
Buddy Guy’s Legends, 700 S Wabash, Chicago, IL (312) 427-1190, www.BuddyGuys.com, host Jimmy Burns alternating with Brother John, 9:00pm, $15 cover (free for jammers)
Cedarburg Cultural Center, W62 N546 Washington Rd, Cedarburg, WI www.CedarburgCulturalCenter.org, host Drew Hayes, 7-9pm (1st Wed, Open mic)
Celebrity Lounge, 2020 E 83rd St, Chicago, IL, host Best 2U R&B Band, 7-11pm
Club Belmont, 7844 W Belmont, Chicago, IL (847) 260-5318, host Osvaldo Paese, 7-11pm (2x / mo, Open jam)
Elements Wine Bar, 23 Washington St, Valparaiso, IN, host Jack Whittle, 7-10pm
Evergreen Pub, 1400 W Main, St Charles, IL, host Noah Gabriel & Sam Wyatt, 7-11pm (Open mic)
Fuller’s Pub, 3203 W Irving Park, Chicago, IL (773) 478-8060, 8:30pm-12 (3rd Wed)
Hairpin Arts Center, 2810 N Milwaukee, 2nd floor, Chicago, IL, hosts Fury & Big Ole Lil Young Blaise 8-11pm (Open mic)
Harlem Avenue Lounge, 3701 S Harlem Ave, Berwyn, IL (708) 484-3610, host Miles Minor, 830pm
Hogs & Kisses, 149 Broad St, Lake Geneva, WI (262) 248-7447, host Glenn Davis, 9pm-12
Liquid Blues, 126 N Benton St, Woodstock, IL (815) 337-7254, www.LiquidBluesBar.com hosted by the Stumblers, 9pm-12:30
Liquid Love, Buffalo Grove, IL, host Rob Lane, 6-9pm
Magoo’s On Mound, 5841 W Bluemound, Milwaukee, WI (414) 837-6125, host Idle Minds, 6-9pm (1st & 3rd Wed)
Miss Kitty’s Saloon, 634 E Ogden, Naperville, IL, host Rich Matz, 9pm-1230 (Open mic)
Mr Brown’s Lounge, 2301 W Chicago, Chicago, IL, host Anna Marie, 7-11pm
Oak Trail Taphouse, 408 N Lake, Mundelein, IL, host Amanda Leigh Karchmer, 6pm (Open mic)
The Point, in the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1565 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, host Jared Jones, 8pm (Open mic)
PS Pub, 771 W Dundee, Wheeling, IL (847) 279-8919, host Earl Rosen, 8-1145pm
Saloon on Calhoun, 17000 W Capitol Dr, Brookfield, WI (262) 783-0222, various hosts, 730pm
Shanahan’s Food & Spirits, 1999 W 75th St, Woodridge, IL (630) 985-5945 host Shukin, 8-11pm
Thornton Distilling Co, 400 E Margaret St, Thornton, IL (708) 877-6222, host Jack Whittle, 7-10pm (2x / mo)
Union Park Tavern, 4520 8th Ave, Kenosha, WI (262) 652-6454, host Mark Paffrath, 8pm-12 (Open mic)
The Water Hole Lounge, 1400 S Western, Chicago, IL (312) 243-7988, host Low-reen & the Maxwell St Market Blues Band & special guests, 8pm-12, no cover, free street parking (1st & 3rd Wednesdays) *on hold due to music room renovation*

Thursdays —–

Alibi Pub & Grub, 4117 E Wonder Lake Rd, Wonder Lake, IL (779) 444-2292, host Lightnin’ George, 7-11pm
Arlington Ale House, 111 W Campbell, 3rd floor, Arlington Heights, IL (224) 735-2450, 830pm (Open mic)
Black Lung Brewing, 2217 N IL Rt 83, Round Lake Beach, IL, host Kent Lewis, 8pm (Open mic)
Bootleggers, 25491 W Old Grass Lake Rd, Antioch, IL (847) 395-0050, host Bobby Miller, 7-10pm
Candy’s Pub, 6936 County Rd W, West Bend, WI, host Rhonda Jean & Friends, 7-10pm
Captain Mike’s, 5118- 6th Ave, Kenosha, WI (262) 764-8889, hosts Matt Meyer, Ivy Ford, Rogers Randall
Copper Fiddle, Lake Zurich, host Rob Rosenberg, 7-1030pm
Das Barrel Room, W201 N10466 Appleton Ave, Germantown, WI, host Chuck Benedon, 7-10pm
Elder Brewing Co, 218 E Cass St, Joliet, IL (815) 651-4200, 730-1030pm (Open mic)
Fuller’s Pub, 3203 W Irving Park, Chicago, IL (773) 478-8060, 8:30pm-12 (Open mic)
Gallery Cabaret, 2020 N Oakley, Chicago, IL (773) 489-5471, 9pm (Open Mic)
Greenfield Pub, 16461 W Greenfield, New Berlin, WI (262) 202-8066, host Robert Allen Jr, 8-11pm
Harlem Avenue Lounge, 3701 S Harlem, Berwyn, IL (708) 484-3610, www.HarlemAvenueLounge.com, hosted by Miles Minor, 8:30pm-12:30
Jesse’s Tavern, 10501 S Ridgeland, Chicago Heights, IL (708) 499-0048, various hosts, 8pm
Johnny’s Blitz, 20 N Cass, Westmont, IL (630) 541-9015, host Wes, 7pm (Open mic)
Kief’s Reef, 3505 S Wright Rd, McHenry, IL (815) 455- 1444, various hosts, 7-11pm
Landmark Pub 5135 N Oriole, Harwood Heights, IL
Mad Steintist, 200 Madison St, Waukesha, WI (262) 309-6840, host Tallan Latz, 730-1030pm
Nice Ash, 323 W Main, Waukesha, WI (262) 547-9009, host DJ & the Bluesers, 7-10pm
O’Connor’s Perfect Pint, 8423 W Greenfield, West Allis, WI (414) 395-7468, host Ricky & Mike, 8pm-12
The Outta Space, 6840- 32nd St, Berwyn, IL (773) 972-3307, host Aaron Mitchell, 730pm
Ray’s Lincoln Pub, 512 Lincoln Ave, Waukesha, WI (262) 349-9170, 6-10pm (Open jam)
ROCKS Northcenter, 4138 N Lincoln, Chicago, IL, 7-10pm
The Rooster, 2513 Seiferth Rd, Madison, WI (608) 285-2951, host James Earl & 008 Band, 8pm
Rosa’s Lounge, 3420 W Armitage, Chicago, IL (773) 342-0452, www.RosasLounge.com, James Wheeler Blues Jam hosted by Little Ed, 9:30pm-1:30
Shanahan’s Food & Spirits, 1999 W 75th St, Woodridge, IL (630) 985-5945 host John Kattke, 7-10pm (Pro jam)
Stretch’s Sports Bar & Grill, 200 N Green Bay Rd, Waukegan, IL host Step & Friends, Big Drew, 8-11pm
Stuckey’s, 4000 N Johnsburg Rd, Johnsburg, IL, host Jim Jam Jim Sieg, 6-10pm
The Studio, 900 S State, Lockport, IL (815) 905-0195, 7pm (Open mic)
Tavern On the Row, 17 N Wabash, Chicago, IL, host Susan Williams & Daryl Wright, 9pm
Union Park Tavern, 4520 8th Ave, Kenosha, WI (262) 652-6454, 1st Thurs Pat Garrett (Open Jam). Rhythm Dogs every other Thurs (Blues jam), 8pm-12
Uptown Tap & Eatery, 24035 Lockport, Plainfield, IL (815) 436-9395
Valpo Verona’s Pizza & Wings, 1689 Morthland Dr, Valparaiso, IN (219) 707-5429, 7pm
Venue OverDrive (former Motor Row) 2337 S Michigan, Chicago, IL host Freddie Dixon Band, 7pm, $5 cover includes a drink
West on North, 2509 W North Ave, Chicago, IL (773) 278-7710, host Nate Manos Band, 8pm (Pro jam)
Wooden Nickel, 444 Lakeview, Highwood, IL (847) 266-0550, 1st, 2nd, 4th Thursdays hosts Barry, Mark, Tom, & Danny, 8-11pm

Fridays —-

Bender’s, 409 E Northwater St, Silver Lake, WI, host Mark Anderson (Open jam)
Delavan Lake Store & Lounge, 2001 North Shore Drive, Delavan, WI (262) 725-6747, 7pm (Open mic)
Kegler’s Crest Hill, 905 Theodore St, Crest Hill, IL (815) 722-1089, host Brad Jackson, 8-11pm, (Open mic)
Kickstand, 9622 Camp Lake Rd, Camp Lake, WI host Lightnin’ George, 8pm-12
Route 20, 14001 Washington Ave, Sturtevant, WI (262) 898-7900, host Tallan Latz, 8-11pm, 1st Fridays
The Station Pizzeria, 151 N Glenwood Ave, Glenwood, IL (708) 758-6110, host Susan Williams, 6pm
Warp Corps, 114 N Benton, Woodstock, IL, host Grumpy Old Men, 630-830pm (last Fri)
ZumBier, 3232 W Monroe, Waukegan, IL (847) 420-7313 hosts Low-reen & Analog Anthony, 630-10pm, 1st & 3rd Fridays (Open mic)

Saturdays —-

Muggs & Manor, 437 Addison Rd, Addison, IL (630) 833-2570, host Liquid Fun, all ages (1st Sat, Open mic)

Out of the Area Jams: check with local blues societies!