The Empty Bottle, located at 1035 N. Western Avenue, is the place to be to catch alternative bands on the west side of Chicago. Located in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood, The Empty Bottle typically has a line outside of their doors with people waiting to see the live bands. But don’t worry, you’ll fit right in with the young crowd as this venue is wildly popular with people in their early 20’s.

The inside of The Empty Bottle has a unique touch to it that separates it from a traditional music venue. Whereas bigger music venues are styled to be more visually appealing, The Empty Bottle has a different ambience. You will find a wall of plastic doll heads that brings out a creepy aura. There is also a police squad car door hanging on top of the entrance wall. A piano that has been modified into a DJ booth is next to the bar. A photo booth is also located inside, which is a nice touch for someone who is trying to capture their experience.

Why You Should Go: The Empty Bottle has a great atmosphere and caters to people who want to get the best musical experience. Their main stage is located on the back part of the bar, which is standing room only, and is so close to the bands that you get an intimate live experience. Not only that, but the surround system’s acoustics give you the big venue feel while being feet away from the artists.

One of this perks that you will find at this venue is their pricing. They have a lot of free shows and tickets to see bands are almost always cheaper than $10. I, personally, have gone several times and enjoy the big time atmosphere from the smaller venue mainly because you get better views of the artists and actual live music and not pre-recorded audio tracks.

Check out their upcoming schedule of artists that are slated to perform at The Empty Bottle here.