Goth and Alt Scene in Chicago: Clubs, Shows and Industrial History

Goth Chicago punches way above its weight. This is the city that gave the world Wax Trax! Records and a huge chunk of industrial music, and it still has one of the friendliest dark scenes in the country. Nights are spread across the North Side and West Side, winters are long (which is great for wearing every coat you own), and the people are welcoming.

Club nights move rooms and change dates, so check socials before you head out.

Chicago's industrial history

You can't talk about Chicago goth without Wax Trax! It started as a record store run by Jim Nash and Dannie Flesher, who moved it from Denver to Chicago in 1978, and it became a label in the 1980s, putting out records by Ministry, Front 242, KMFDM, Revolting Cocks and lots more. Chicago's industrial and EBM sound shaped dark dance floors around the world.

That history still shows on local dance floors, where you'll hear industrial right next to goth rock and post-punk. If you want to brush up, read our industrial music guide.

Club nights

Nocturna at Metro

The big one. Nocturna was co-founded in 1988 by DJ Scary Lady Sarah and is one of the longest-running goth nights in the US. These days it's an 18+ night held every six to eight weeks or so at Metro, the historic rock venue on Clark Street in Wrigleyville. Expect goth, darkwave, industrial, post-punk and ethereal music, plenty of requests and big seasonal parties like a spring ball, a summer ball and Halloween. Dress up. People really do.

Late Bar (Avondale)

A small, dark, beloved bar on Belmont Avenue with a dance floor that's been a home for new wave and goth for years. It hosts Planet Earth, a long-running new wave dance night, plus regular goth and dark music DJ nights. It's open late, as the name says, and has a real neighborhood feel. A great place for your first night out in the city.

Nightshade at Liar's Club

Liar's Club on Fullerton Avenue is a scrappy, fun rock bar, and it's home to Nightshade, a queer goth dance and cabaret party with drag, performers and DJ sets. It's one of the most welcoming nights in town and draws a great mix of people.

Dark nights at Cell Block

Cell Block in Boystown hosts goth, industrial and darkwave nights like The Process, alongside its fetish-friendly parties. Check the night before you go so you know what you're walking into.

Live music and festivals

Metro and Smart Bar

Metro has been one of Chicago's most important rock venues since the early 1980s, and Smart Bar downstairs is a legendary dance club. Between the two, lots of touring goth, post-punk, industrial and darkwave acts come through.

Riot Fest

Every September, Riot Fest takes over Douglass Park on the West Side for a weekend of punk, emo, metal and alternative bands, usually with a few goth and post-punk legends mixed in. It's a massive meeting spot for the whole alt scene. Bring comfy boots, plenty of water and a plan for meeting your friends when phones stop working near the stages.

Cemeteries and daytime hangs

Graceland Cemetery

A gorgeous Victorian-era cemetery in Uptown with famous monuments, a pond and quiet paths. Its most famous statue is a dark, hooded bronze figure nicknamed "Eternal Silence." It's a lovely daytime walk, and a classic goth first date. Please be respectful, since it's still a working cemetery.

Record shopping

• Reckless Records. A Chicago institution with several stores around the city, including Wicker Park. Great for post-punk, goth and industrial vinyl, plus used CDs.
• Wicker Park and Logan Square. The neighborhoods around Milwaukee Avenue are full of vintage shops, thrift stores and independent record shops.

For shopping tips, see goth on a budget.

A first weekend in goth Chicago

New in town, or just visiting? Here's an easy plan that hits the highlights.

1. Saturday afternoon: walk through Graceland Cemetery, then head to Wicker Park to dig through records and vintage racks.
2. Saturday night: check whether Nocturna is on. If not, Late Bar is usually a safe bet for a dark dance floor on a Saturday.
3. Sunday: recover with a long brunch, then catch whatever touring post-punk or darkwave band is at Metro or another North Side venue.

Dressing for Chicago weather

Chicago winters are serious, which is great news if you love coats. Long wool coats, faux fur collars, big scarves and lace-up boots with good grip all look great and keep you alive on an icy walk from the train. Leave the delicate platforms at home in January, since sidewalks get slushy. Summer is the opposite, hot and humid, so mesh, linen and light black cotton are your friends.

Who you'll meet

Chicago's scene is a lovely mix: industrial lifers who remember the Wax Trax! days, young goths on their first Nocturna, punks, metalheads, queer performers, artists, nurses and teachers who dress up after work. The city has a big Latino goth community too, so you'll hear plenty of rock en español and post-punk from Mexico and Latin America on the right nights.

Midwesterners really are friendly. If you're standing alone at the bar, odds are good someone will come and talk to you about your coat.

Meeting alt people in Chicago

Nights here are spread out and some only happen every few weeks, so it helps to find people before the party. On Alt Chat you can swipe through goth and alt people nearby in Meet, join a live chat room, or post in Realm to ask who's going to the next Nocturna. If you just moved here, our guide on finding the alt scene in a new city can help.

Road-tripping? Check out the alt scene in Denver or head east to the goth scene in New York.

FAQ

Is there a goth club in Chicago?

Chicago doesn't have one big weekly goth club anymore, but it has great regular nights. Nocturna at Metro is the city's legendary goth party, Late Bar in Avondale hosts long-running new wave and goth dance nights, and Liar's Club and Cell Block host dark parties too.

What is Nocturna in Chicago?

Nocturna is one of the longest-running goth nights in the US, co-founded in 1988 by DJ Scary Lady Sarah. It's an 18+ dark alternative dance night held every couple of months, usually at Metro in Wrigleyville.

Why is Chicago important for industrial music?

Wax Trax! Records, a record store that moved to Chicago in 1978 and became a label in the 1980s, released music by Ministry, Front 242, KMFDM and many others. That made Chicago one of the birthplaces of industrial dance music.

When is Riot Fest?

Riot Fest is a big punk, emo, metal and alternative festival held in Douglass Park on Chicago's West Side. It usually happens over a weekend in September.