Daytime DJ parties are catching on in Chicago
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
A new trend is emerging targeting older folks who love live music: Daytime DJ sets.
Why it matters: Folks who grew up on club nights and indie dance parties now have jobs, kids and earlier bedtimes. Daytime DJ sets offer the same communal experience without the late-night commitment.
The latest: This weekend, two different sets are taking place at GMan Tavern in Lakeview and Friend of Friends in West Town.
- The GMan set will feature DJ Lo-Fi, DJ Con Mas Sabor (John Soss) and GMan and Metro owner DJ Joe Shanahan.
- Friends of Friends will host MCD Soundsystem, which includes former Schubas/Lincoln Hall booker Matt Rucins, former Pitchfork president Chris Kaskie and Blackhawks owner Danny Wirtz.
What they're saying: Shanahan, who was one of the original DJs when Smartbar first opened, says the idea sprang out of the pandemic. "At GMan, we sold beer through the window and I kept the bartender company by playing records. After COVID was over, I just kept doing it, because it's great to hang out with friends over a cold beverage."
- MCD Soundsystem says its ethos is simple: "Hanging out still matters. Real life still matters. Music sounds better when experienced together."
- The group plays "records loud enough to pull you in, never loud enough to kill a conversation."
If you go: Ambitious music fans can hit both events on Saturday.
- Jam Deejays Vinyl Sessions runs from 1-5pm at GMan Tavern, while MCD Soundsystem spins from 2-6pm at Friend of Friends.