Empty Bottle

Empty Bottle Music, Friendly, Dancing
7 nights/week
(4789)

n 1992 the Empty Bottle started out as a cat-ridden hole-in-the-wall bar in Ukrainian Village (just south of Wicker Park) where you could get any one of nine beers for a buck-fifty or less, play pool for 50 cents, and find everything from Monster Magnet to Bill Monroe on the jukebox. On Halloween of 1993, we moved two blocks up the street and threw open the doors to our new, sound-equipped, slight

ly larger hole with three nights of great shows, culminating with a SCRAWL performance that could have been a scene out of “Carrie.”

We’ve done a bunch of shows since then; in fact, we’ve been anything but empty these last 20 or so years, thanks to the same low prices, lack of attitude, and dedicated regulars that made the original bar such a success.

08/20/2026

Tuesday, August 25th we welcome Deb Never to the Empty Bottle with special guest Juliet Ivy.

An intimate, cinematic amalgamation of alternative rock, electronic & melodic R&B music from Spokane, Washington— stripped-back, refined. Deb Never is an extremely talented & experimental songwriter, as well as collaborator with artists such as BROCKHAMPTON, Dominic Fike and slowthai. We’re psyched to see it live & in-person. C’mon.

Let us welcome Deb to Chicago and revel in a wonderful evening. Tix on sale now. Go to them.

WEDDING BELLS - 10.3.26. 💒🛎️💞We are getting married and want to celebrate with all of you after our nuptials at the one ...
08/19/2026

WEDDING BELLS - 10.3.26. 💒🛎️💞

We are getting married and want to celebrate with all of you after our nuptials at the one & only Empty Bottle with this star-studded lineup of hosts and the craziest lineup of DJs on this side of the Mississippi!!

Hosted by THE COUPLE - MISS TOTO CLERMONT GAYNZ DION ♡ & Kamela_anderson
ft: Kareka Mamadou Alex Jenny Abhijeet OTTO BAMBI GAY RIGHTS PECK Virginia SlimJim Jassy VISQUEEN STRAPPED Irregular Girl 🦋 Siichele

DJ sets by THE COUPLE - MISS TOTO CLERMONT GAYNZ DION ♡ b2b Kamela_anderson
rika
Ameer Roberts
Maddy Mokes
SUPERSLUT - Stasney b2b koren :-)
BIPANIC - sarah b2b Valeria Fride
Tsarahly CeValeria Fride mary k
FlCenk Atacan Evenmary kCIA Miami b2b trEvents at CIA Miami SALEtrsaEE YOU AT THE ALTAR 💒

08/15/2026

What’s Peg’s favorite karaoke song?

08/14/2026

Consensus Madness. Great band. Fantastic, even. They’re celebrating a new record titled ‘Endeavors’ tomorrow - Saturday, August 15th at the Empty Bottle with special guests The Hell, Bungee Jumpers and Navaja. F**k yes.

‘Endeavors’ is a love letter to proto-punk, first wave and hardcore as a whole. Consensus Madness hits with a playful ferocity, a raucous pogo, a feel-good wholehearted enthusiasm for the spirit & essence of punk rock music. They are OGs. Champions of independent art. Real ones. We are very stoked to have them back. Tix online or at the door.

See you in the damn pit.

🎥 Derrick Alexander 🐐

08/13/2026

The World’s Largest World’s Largest Karaoke Sticker has found a home at the one & only Wiener’s Circle. Go pay your respects. A big thank you to jeremyfield1 for your suggestion, The Wiener’s Circle for the hot dogs & yelling at us and Busy Beaver for the big ass sticker & generally being the best in the biz.

The World’s Largest Karaoke takes place at the Salt Shed this Saturday, August 15th from 4pm-10pm. Free! Sign up to sing when you arrive. Let’s party. C’mon.

RSVP at the link in bio.

07/31/2026

We’ve once again hit the damn streets– this time at Wicker Park Fest, chattin’ with folks about all things karaoke with our expert in the field, World’s Largest Karaoke correspondent Brian DeHeer. Da goat. What’s your fav go-to karaoke song? Is it “Dingleberry”? We hope not.

August 15th. 4pm-10pm. Salt Shed. You just have to show up and sign up like you would at Alice’s, or Cafe Mustache, or any establishment as such, the only exception is that there will be thousands of people there. RSVP at the link in our bio.

07/29/2026

On August 8th, we’ll gather to celebrate Latinx culture and community in support of the international Lit & Luz Festival and its artists, writers and performers, as well as Make Lit’s ongoing work to build bridges between Chicago and Mexico. Yes!!

Performances by the great Cabeza De Chivo (performing on this here video during our 33 ⅓ anniversary series), artists Selina Trepp, Flor Flores, and DJ’s selective listening, Jordan Knecht, and Señor Eddy. Hosted by Disc Jacqui & Kost.

Art raffles! Merchandise! Books! And more!

MAKE Lit is a non-profit organization that produces the international Lit & Luz Festival of Language, Literature, and Art, a one-of-a-kind series of events featuring renowned authors, artists, and musicians from Chicago and Mexico in cultural exchange and conversation. This series of readings, conversations, artist talks, and performances, including our signature event, the Live Magazine Show, highlights artistic collaborations and new translations —showcasing some of the most innovative contemporary artists from both countries. The festival takes place in Chicago in the fall, followed by the Lit & Luz Festival in Mexico City in the spring.

100% of ticket sales, raffle sales, and donations will go toward producing the Lit & Luz Festival and compensating the performing artists.

On sale now!
📹 Derrick Alexander 🐐

07/24/2026

Cel Ray celebrates the release of their fantastic new record titled ‘Cel Rayzer’ tonight at Empty Bottle with very special guests Negative Scanner, Fruit Looops & Bric-a-Brac DJs. Hallelujah. Praise be.

For years our friends in Cel Ray (short for Cellular Raymond) have been climbing and clawing the ranks of Chicago punk with a ferocity, energy, sense of humor and earworm acumen that is unparalleled & unmatched. Thrilling, sick as hell songs at breakneck speeds, bruv. Tightrope walking, death-defying-type s**t. Not to mention a rousing, theatrical live show to boot.

We’d be remiss to not mention the return of the incredible Negative Scanner who we missed so very much. We’re so damn psyched. Fruit Looops & Bric-a-Brac DJs join us as well (c’mon). Best Friday ever, c’mon now. Tix available on our site or at the door– choose your fighter.

🎥 Derrick Alexander 🐐

07/23/2026

Our World’s Largest Karaoke correspondent Brian DeHeer was on-site at West Fest last weekend chopping it up with the beautiful people of Chicago about the pressing issues: what’s your go-to karaoke song? How does it make you feel? Can you sing it to a stranger right this second? This is your warning to start making some decisions on what you’re gonna sing on the big day. Thanks to all the cool, hilarious, awesome people that partook in our content farm.

The World’s Largest Karaoke is comin’ up! Saturday, August 15th at the Salt Shed. RSVP at the link in our bio. P.S. Join us at Cafe Mustache this Sunday, July 24th for another Pre-Party. C’mon!

07/21/2026

ON SALE NOW – An additional Automatic show on September 30th with special guest Accessory. Hell yes.

Y’all sold out the first show so we must do another, yes? Deviant, irreverent pop that cuts through the malaise. New record ‘For Is It Now?’ has them primed for the big leagues– make sure to catch them at your favorite intimate neighborhood venue the Empty Bottle, yes? Let’s have some fun.

On sale now at emptybottle.com!

Address

1035 N Western Avenue
Chicago, IL
60622

Opening Hours

Monday 5pm - 2am
Tuesday 5pm - 2am
Wednesday 5pm - 2am
Thursday 5pm - 2am
Friday 5pm - 2am
Saturday 5pm - 2am
Sunday 5pm - 2am

Telephone

+17732763600

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