5.Chicago
Even with all the violence you hear about in Chicago, it is literally like Charles Dicken’s “A Tale of Two Cities.” The indie music scene in Chicago is quite active. From the Double Door, City Winery, Lincoln Hall, to the Promontory, Chicago is buzzing with local talent. Chitown native, Chance the Rapper even hosts an open mic from time to time to showcase local talent. For all the fancy downtown restaurants, you can actually eat pretty cheap in the city but beware you may gain a few pounds as the food is awesome. The cost of living isn’t the greatest but there are few neighborhoods that you can still sneak into for an affordable price and not have to worry about the bullets flying. Pilsen and Bronzeville are two up and coming neighborhoods that are still in the city that might bode well for an aspiring musician. Besides that, the city is home to some of the best music festivals in the world where you can actually connect with the artists. Trust me, I know! One last tidbit, even some of the local radio stations still honor “Music Mondays” where artists can actually come to play their music for the music director. There is a sign-up process but they will actually listen.
(Click Next for New City)
