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Windy City Guide.com Cover Article By Russ Hoefer In the '60s and '70s, Chicago piano bars continued a brisk business, and were often to be found in sleepy hotel bars or seedy “joints.” An example of this was JoAnne’s, which was located on North Clark Street until the early '90s. These days the types of clubs in Chicago are much more diverse. Clubs vary from live music venues to dance clubs to “South Beach”-type clubs. Visiting a club can take a major commitment of time and money. Some require guests to buy tables and bottles at $300 each and most have high cover charges. Clubs with D.J.s, loud music and dancing attract a young crowd and can be fun but exhausting – forget conversing in these clubs. Chicago has great jazz & blues clubs, but many are not set up for talking, and in a few of them, talking is frowned upon! So where do you go to have a good time with your friends or business associates while enjoying great music?
The Redhead Piano Bar opened over 14 years ago with the goal of bringing back the traditional upscale piano bar that would appeal to well-dressed neighborhood residents, suburbanites, business people and tourists. At The Redhead guests can sing along at the piano, grab a table or hang out at the bar. Owner Art Bryan and his staff are friendly and make a conscious effort to welcome all of their guests, whether they are locals or from out of town. In fact, recently I observed an out-of-town guest stop by to pick up a cell phone that he had left there the night before. The manager on duty had saved it for him.
The Redhead Piano Bar © Copyright by Windy City Guide.com |
The “club scene” in Chicago from the Golden Era through the '70s often revolved around live music, from big bands to piano bars.
The River North area hosts a very popular and enduring piano bar on Ontario Street just west of State. Here you can talk, enjoy excellent live music, and relax. It’s easy; there is no cover charge and no over-priced drinks, and they welcome you as a regular. The Redhead Piano Bar follows in the rich tradition of past piano bars with a comfortable feel and live music every night highlighting upbeat standards and pop and rock hits in an upscale setting. It is popular with the baby boomers that are moving back into the city as well as younger patrons looking for a comfortable yet upbeat atmosphere.
The Redhead musicians perform live every night of the week. And like the piano bars of the past, The Redhead is open late – Sunday through Friday until 4:00 am and until 5:00 am on Saturday nights! Unlike the past, though, at The Redhead you are just as likely to see a 20-something as you are a 50 year old enjoying the music and atmosphere. The Redhead entertainers are some of the best in Chicago with repertoires also including music theatre, jazz, blues, jump swing and rockabilly, therefore appealing to all ages.