Young teenagers in Chicago can experience walking into a venue with music blasting, people dancing, performers jamming – and that’s what makes Chicago’s music scene so special. Chicago welcomes all kinds of people, from every neighborhood, background, and age group to experience the city’s rich culture of music.
Many concert-goers, as well as band members, are under eighteen. Young people give a fresh twist to iconic sounds, transforming New Wave Emo to Midwest Emo, or Pop to Hyperpop. Chicago has become a center for new artists to blend genres and create new sounds.
Local Chicago band Dehd has explored a subgenre called Dream Pop. A genre that takes the dream-like vocals from Indie Pop and distorted instrumentals from Shoegaze and combines them to build ethereal music. Some earlier bands, like the Cocteau Twins and Mazzy Star, have also made ‘Dream Pop’ music, but in recent years it has been modernized by bands including TV Girl, Men I Trust, and Japanese Breakfast.
Dehd is not the only Chicago band making waves. SML, Fluorescents, and Friko are all bands that have recently released new music.
SML’s new album ‘How You Been’ was released last November. The album features 13 tracks, three of which have become some of their most popular songs on Spotify: Taking out the Trash, Chicago Three, and Chicago Four.
Fluorescent and Friko have both released new music in the past few months. In fact, Friko celebrated their new album ‘Something Worth Waiting For’ with a release show at Metro on April 24th.
Fluorescents is one of the many Chicago bands that was formed by teenagers, all members of the band are in their late teens or early adulthood.
Accessing Chicago’s Music Scene
Countless venues, such as Metro, Salt Shed, Aragon Ballroom, Thalia Hall, Beat Kitchen, and more, often allow teens under eighteen to enjoy music alongside adults. English Department teacher Ms. Monik Flores said, “Growing up, I went to a lot of shows at the Aragon, and that was great. There are so many new venues coming around…The Hideout, Outset, and Salt Shed too [are teen-friendly].”
“I think what people don’t realize is that there are so many cheap shows going on in the city, especially for newer artists,” said Ms. Flores.
Chicago hosts countless free concerts throughout the city, especially over the summer. This summer, from June 15 – August 6, Millennium Park will host their annual Summer Music Series; from June 24 – August 26, the Museum of Contemporary Art will host Tuesdays on the Terrace with live music; and from May 24 – August 30, Navy Pier will host weekly performances every Saturday. From August 27 -30, teens can experience Chicago’s own invention: House music at the Chicago House Music Festival.
Eden Weiss, a sophomore at Northside, spoke about her experience going to local shows: “I really like how the venues are smaller and more intimate…it feels more connected.”
Checking venues’ websites (linked above) is a great way to check for upcoming artists and shows.
How can I be involved in Chicago’s music scene?
Ms. Flores, who is a photographer for local shows in Chicago, said, “One of my first shows that I ever shot was Neptune’s Core, whose members are CPS students. Chicago Public Schools has long fostered creativity, including Horsegirl, as well as more mainstream artists like Ravyn Lenae and Chance the Rapper.
Countless Chicago teenagers have pursued careers in music, and thanks to the welcoming community that supports local bands, Chicago is the perfect place to do so. Don’t be afraid to start a band, go to concerts, or step outside of your comfort zone and explore new genres. Chicago welcomes everybody, of any age, to experience its rich musical atmosphere.
