Home > Chicago Music > Blues > Kingston Mines

A Chicago blues institution that encourages its patrons to "hear the blues, drink booze and talk loud," Kingston Mines is a prime site forviewing celebrities out for a night on the town. With 35 years in the business, and a multitude of blues clubs following in its wake, the Mines feels like an elder statesman -- albeit a somewhat eccentric, rough-edged statesman. After an ambitious recent expansion, it now encompasses three storefronts and a kitchen. Two stages in adjoining rooms present nonstop blues all night long (anticipate a round of musical chairs at the end of every set, as the crowd scrambles over to the other side). The Mines is the only blues haunt with a 4 a.m. license (5 a.m. on Saturday) -- meaning you might bump into your favorite blues artists relaxing after they complete their own gigs, and the crowd can be a bit boisterous after 2 a.m., when patrons migrate in from other establishments. J.W. Williams often holds down the fort on weekdays, while well-known names such as A.C. Reed, Jimmy Johnson, Eddie C. Campbell and Billy Branch star on weekends on the main stage. An array of souvenirs is displayed near the door. If you don't like what you hear here, B.L.U.E.S. is directly across the street.

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