A Music Lover’s Guide to Chicago

Chicago’s vibrant music scene traces back to the early 20th century when it became the go-to destination for jazz and blues musicians, artists who helped set the stage for the next century of popular music in America. More than half a century later, it was the home of house music, dubbed Chicago house, which originated under DJ Frankie Knuckles in the nightclub The Warehouse, now designated a city landmark.

With a population of more than 2.7 million (it’s the third-most populous city in the United States), Chicago caters to a wide-ranging, diverse community of music lovers, which means its scene is as eclectic as it gets, offering something for everyone year-round. Spreading across the North, South and West Side, the Windy City is known for its epic summer festivals, including the global event Lollapalooza, which officially made Chicago its home in 2005. Today, Lolla — which takes place in the city’s Grant Park in downtown — draws more than 500,000 people across four days with a lineup that features acts ranging from alt-rock, hip-hop, pop, Latin and electronic dance music. One of Chicago’s newer festivals, Sueños, became the biggest Latin music festival in the U.S., with headliners from Shakira to Don Omar and Grupo Firme.

Besides its lively summer fests, which truly capture that Midwestern summer euphoria, Chicago has a multitude of live music venues — like United Center and Soldier Field — that host massive tour stops by stars like Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar, to name a few.

From concert venues to record stores and must-attend festivals, check out Billboard‘s music lover’s guide to Chicago.