Asleep at the wheel concert ... An intimate venue.. They are a fine band

They book the best acts, charge reasonable amounts for tix and plenty of parking and restaurants nearby. Great acoustics too.

Went Sunday night to see Molly Tuttle who was great - along with her bassist and drummer. Supposedly first live performance there since March, 2020. Although masks were required and vaccination cards + ID were checked, many folks near me in the balcony had removed their masks. Also it was quiet warm and humid which meant the HVAC was not working. Old Town is great, but with the surge of the Delta Variant, they must do better to protect the health of everyone if they intend to continue with live performance indoors.

Great service, beautiful instrument filled space. I go to old town for any stringed instrument needs. Keep up the good work!

Excellent place to see a show. Small theatre with good acoustics, friendly staff, and clean. Parking directly across the street.

Very nice selection of banjos and mandolins. Decent mixture of luthiers/brands to try and friendly staff made the trip a pleasant experience.

Great bunch of FOLKS here. Came in to get a mandolin fixed up at the store and left incredibly happy. I will be taking classes here in the coming weeks!

We love Wiggle Worms! My son and I have been attending classes for over a year now. When the pandemic started, Old Town School of Folk Music pivoted quickly and we’ve been able to keep up with Wiggle Worms (remotely) this whole time. Miss Tisa and Miss Julie are WONDERFUL treasures. Seriously, if you’re able to enrich your child’s life by attending even one of their classes, it’s so worth it.

Theres no place in the states quite like this.

Back with live music, with Molly Tuttle.

Great music teachers.

Excellent place! My kids has enjoyed guitar lessons at Old Town for a long time. Now my family and I have been taking Samba classes there with Trish and Dill Costa and we love it!

I am in after school sitter and one of the girls I take care of has done ukulele and voice lessons here for over a year. Most of the teachers she has had she really enjoys and the space is welcoming. The wiggles class is great too! I’ve taken my son before.

Amazing venue. Went before the Pandemic began! Cant wait to go back and enjoy the atmosphere!

I love this place! I wish Id known of it when I was in grad school I would have come down more regularly. The concerts are intimate, brilliantly curated and moving. The space is a historic throwback and so awesome to have preserved. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Put their calendar on your regularly bookmarked pages and take a chance on a musician you may not even know. Its a great way to learn and be entertained. Reasonably priced snacks and drinks from their small cafe stand help keep you satiated too.

Been taking classes on and off here for more than 15 years, and have loved each and every one of them! The instructors (Sherpas) are all top-notch and passionately share their love of music.

Great venue for a concert. Not a bad seat in the house. Friendly, accommodating staff - nice neighborhood vibe. Highly recommended.

Fantastic group of people with a desire to enrich lives through music! Would recommend to anybody who likes music, regardless of skill level.

Great venue for world music. I saw some decent Sufi/Western mashup here. Its a great old building. No idea about their scholastics.

Great venue, sound was amazing.. only issue is the volunteer staff dont know much and arent very friendly.. besides that its an awesome place to see a show!

Probably my favorite venue in the city in terms of sound, and viewing angles. Show ended just before the seat (wood I assume with padding) itself started getting uncomfortable. Volunteer staff was helpful and friendly

Very nice, intimate music venue. You can really feel connected to the performers, especially when seated on the main floor. We recently attended a Darlingside concert here, a group which weve enjoyed following since November 2013. One of the groups members grew up in the suburbs with our kids. Darlingside is achieving well-deserved growing fame for their amazing music. That nights opening band was Lula Wiles, a female trio who also feature wonderful harmonies in their songs.

Chicago icon. Took many classes here over the years and right from the beginning you get the feel like your hanging out with friends. This is not just a folk school anymore. They even have dance classes. Play everything from bluegrass to rock. Guitar,bass,bango drums and probably more instruments to choose from. Where else can you go to school and drink a beer at the same time. It doesnt matter your level of experience theres something for everyone. Seeing people from all levels just making music together in the hallways is normal. Just an amazing place to have fun.

We started taking guitar lessons four years ago. We progressed from knowing nothing, to strumming some songs and now we are in an ensemble where we regularly play shows in bars. The teachers, facilities, programs, you name it are all great. If you are looking to have a second adolescence or just a lot of fun. Sign up. You will have a great time.

No better place to experience real music and real people than Old Town. They have and endless assortment of genres and abnormal instruments that you cannot find anywhere else. Their Teen Open Mic every month is the perfect location for high school singer/songwriters and bands to perform there music in a completely non-judging and supportive environment. I loved the lessons I took there and have been going back for years. A great place for muscians.

Im so lucky to have this place so close by! I took a class here in 2008 and loved it.. moved away for several years and just got back to it a few months ago. I enjoy the classes, teachers, classmates, jams, and the community very much. Come check it out if you havent before. Its a perfect place to make new friends, grow as an artist, and empower yourself as a person!

This is very good venue to listen great music. On Wednesdays they have free concerts, but donations are very welcome. The hall has very good acoustic and audience also was great. There is small shop too

One of Chicagos truly unique treasures. They moved from Old Town to Lincoln Square a decade ago and have really grown. Yes they still give plenty of music and dance classes, but they also have great concerts in a very nicely designed theater spaces. The annual street fest is one not to be missed.

ORIGINAL! This place is history on steroids protecting the true hipster origins. They are always putting on quirky cool concerts, promoting everyone to enjoy music in whatever way possible and they have no pretense. You dont have to have the best to enjoy the music. A true Oasis of what Chicago music is about!

Fantastic performances throughout the neighborhood are put on by this mainstay of Lincoln Square. I recently attended a dance performance here on a Saturday morning and had a BLAST. I cant recommend it high enough.

I always use the word magical when describing the Old Town School of Folk Music. Their venue is extremely intimate and perfect for the acts they bring in. I feel you have an even deeper connection with the artists. The only thing cooler than seeing a show here is taking classes. All of the teachers are super friendly and do an incredible job making learning an instrument a great overall experience. I took classes at the Armitage location and they have open jam sessions on Tuesday nights and then everyone heads over to Shoes for more jamming. As a beginner, I always felt very welcomed for all jams which was the most encouraging part of my musical development.

Great intimate theater with awesome acoustics and sight lines. I like the beer selection at the bar too although lines can be long and kinda slow. Just gotta deal with that minor downside.

Love seeing shows Old Town School of Folk, although not musically inclined I cant speak to the classes but their programming lineup is awesome and they offer entertainment at all price points for every musical genre. Their theatre is intimate and awesome. Only seats a few hundred and they have comfy benches and a really awesome sound.

Great place as a music venue - intimate space for concerts and they get some good bluegrass and folk bands. If you have a little one look into their wiggleworms music classes, for the most part have been very impressed with the instructors. They have a lot of kids programs and concerts. Great place to have in the neighborhood.

I have been taking guitar lessons at the Old Town School of Folk since the beginning of 2013 and I cant get enough. After sitting behind a computer screen for most of my workday, coming to Olf Town school of Folk is refreshing and lets me exercise my creative side!Cathy is an excellent teacher for beginners, making it fun and interactive. She also offers a lot of comedic relief.

Good mix of performers to appeal to many varieties of taste.

Ive been a student at this school since January 2012 (Im currently taking the new session off for varying reasons), and the class offerings they have here are just wonderful - I love to sing and play guitar and the instructors here are wonderful. Gwen Pippin is the BEST voice teacher I have - she is beyond amazing, and the guitar instructors I have had (Tommi Zender, Andrea Bunch, Randy Morris, etc) make guitar learning fun - they add songs that I either like right away or it grows on me! ^_^

My journey with the Old Town School began in September 2012. I kept passing a shop advertising a banjo for sale in the loop and it stuck in my brain enough to make me consider banjo lessons. When I googled banjo lessons in Chicago, Old Town was the answer again and again.Ive been in group classes since September 2012 and love them. The group classes provide a fun, welcoming environment and allow you to meet other people at the same musical level/some similar interest. Honestly, its become my favorite part of the week.Ive yet to attend a concert so I cant comment on that, but I rented and purchased a banjo from the music store and the staff is knowledgeable, patient and friendly. Theyll answer questions, exchange banjokes and help you make an informed decision without being pushy.

Ive seen a few concerts here and had a great time. The school is also running an excellent program for aspiring or seasoned musicians. Great staff, great sound and a staple within the Chicago Music Scene.

All around awesome place. Highly recommend taking classes here, great instructors and facilities. Also, they have good concerts!

This is a great place to learn guitar. All the teachers are so friendly. I initially didnt know how to play guitar and they made playing it so much fun

The Old Town School of Folk Music is a valuable not-for-profit that truly supports our community. They provide reasonably priced concerts, music lessons, an awesome summer festivals. You cant go wrong by investing in this organization.

Been going to school here for the past 11 months =. One of the best experiences of my life. I have taken guitar 1 thru 3 and then taking Beatles for Beginners. Party Time!

A fun educational place worth going to. They have many great teachers and shows filled with passion for music. Its a lovely place.

Invested instructors who truly care about a childs progress in learning a new instrument. I also love the cafe! Very friendly place.

Saw Nancy and Beth here with the fiancé and had a great time. Small and intimate, which is great for seeing shows.

Love the Old Town School of Folk Music. We have had great teachers for our daughters Wiggleworms classes and their support staff is fantastic as well. Great organization and we are proud to support them and their efforts.

Fantastic, facilities. The rooms are fully equipped, and clean. The staff is helpful and knowledgeable. The concert venue is one of the best in Chicago.

The acoustics in the concert hall are amazing. I wish I could see shows here more often.

We signed up both our children for Wiggleworms when they were younger, an d both kids loved their classes there. I wish they had more group singing/movement classes for older kids, but other than that, I highly recommend the kids classes here. Also, their music concerts are fantastic; Ive been able to see some of my favorite musicians at their intimate venue on Lincoln AVe.

I was a student at OTS taking Taiko lessons. The level of instruction is simply stupendous. Percussion classes take place in the new building where the acoustics are phenomenal. I love that every way you turn at the school there is always music playing. The concert hall is intimate which I appreciate.

My daughter and I are taking their Wiggleworms class for 6-12 month olds this fall (Sept-Dec 2012). Our instructor Mary is very patient and energetic... definitely important skills when you are dealing with a room of 10 infants and their parents :) I have not yet attended and of their concerts but based on the reviews and my impression of the school so far, I feel pretty certain they will be fun and engaging.

Literally THE PLACE to take music lessons in Chicago for young people and for adults. Their classes are fun to take, and they have interesting performances in their theater.

I took my first guitar lessons here a few years ago, the instructor was very good, great attitude, very interested in students success.I would recommend old town to anyone

What a great place to see a show. Small venue, great sound, good sight lines & tasty beers. Will definitely be back to see a show here again.

I went here on a class trip and it was great. The classes seem small and easy to learn in. They also provide a large variety of classes to choose from.

This review is overdue. I play bass and I took The Beatles group ensemble class a few winters and we learned the entire Revolver Album. It was super fun and something I looked forward to busy myself on your typical Wednesday weeknight for 8 weeks. At the end of the session, our entire class (20ish people) played a gig at a bar up north that some friends and family came to. The instructor was Steve Levitt and hes super knowledgeable. Not only about the Fab four but all things music.

A friend of mine has been taking classes here for years. This is also a good place to see a show. Great performers and performances.

Get your ying and yang in balance at Old Town School of Music. Charma off? Take a yoga class. Lots of energy? Take one of their many hip hop, and other dance classes. Want to sing, or play a tune about life? Take a voice or instrument lesson? Feel low on a Friday night? Stop in for a free concert.

The best Music Venue in the world!

Really tiny venue, smaller than most. Good sound. You could hear a pin drop. In a really nice neighborhood.

Havent been here in a while but its unreal and i love it. the music is realy good and so are the people. customer service is really good and i cant imagine having a bad time there. people of all ages will have a great time and it is great for the family as well.

Lovely place to visit and watch/play/buy musical instruments.

Great place for kids music classes! Amazing teachers and great learning environment.

JigJam was a great booking choice!

The music in this place is fantastic! I love the beer choices. The crowd and people are great!

Ive seen some great performances here. It has an old fashion feel to it, but its a great experience.

Good fest. Small crowd. 16 candles band rocked. Man strength game was rigged.

A chicago institution! wonderful classes for all levels and interests. beautiful, cozy theater with regular performances by big names like bela fleck as well as local artists, and world music.

Not only is this a great place to learn how to play a new instrument, they put on wonderful concerts and dances! Their recently expanded building is full of kind and talented people- get out there and hear everything from folk to flamenco.

A treasure of talent to learn from. Great place for music classes!

My wife takes uke classes there and our 9 month old baby has been going to Wiggleworms her entire life. Awesome place, great people and so many things to do. A cornerstone of the neighborhood.

They have great classes for kids. they perform at the target tent over the summer which is super fun for kdis

Free world music Wednesdays are great. Theres group and private classes as well with great instructors.

I take classes here. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and professional. It also has a very open community and feels like one big family.

Great school !! :) The teachers are awesome and the athmospere is very funky, great place to learn and interact with other Interesting/free spirit persons.

Wonderful place it is for you for your kids and fir your entertainment. Went there many times, enroll to their events list, you will not be dissapointed

Great place for kids.. Leaned the basics in no time on my guitar. Had a recital in less then 4 days of taking leessons

A terrific place to learn to play almost any instrument, learn to dance, or otherwise express yourself -- all in a social, supportive atmosphere.

Their stuff is pretty flame. I got a ton of info about the store and its history. THe people really know what theyre doing

Very good teachers and helpful programs that help students learn fast.great music to pratice on classes.also the people who works there very friendly

First started taking banjo classes here in 2009, now the boys are in wiggleworms and piano. Love it!

Always have a great time here, never a bad show!

I went to this venue and had a blast! Great place for a date.

Great cozy venue for shows, no bad seating. A little difficult to find street parking nearby.

Wow! this place is amazing i cant wait to go back ! so much to see and do so great

Good local feel. Great bathrooms.

Amazing community, great class offerings, wonderful concerts, decently stocked bar!!

This place is the real deal -- a Chicago classic. Bring some friends and have a great evening.

Youll have a great evening enjoying the super folk music events!

Old town school of folk music i had a greate experience,last winter, we had a special event o chicago international salsa congress. where people enjoyed dancing the best beats of multicultural latinafrojazz. colled mambo,salsa,chacha,rumba.place where the people go and learn how to dance every single beat and also right after put in practice what they learned. best experience ever.that is very addictive beats ones you go in to it you want to go back and stay.

Ah, the memories! I took my son here for Wiggleworms, art classes, etc for several years. We love Mr. Singer and the Sharp Cookies!! It is also entertaining to watch the trixies in their lululemon ensembles and starbucks - a parade of blonde moneyed mommies.

Great staff. great bread sticks. great service.

What a fun experience! Attended the Open Friday for fun.

Great staff // volunteers // great sound & comfortable seating.

I love folk music and this sounds like so much fun!!

Take a class here! You will love it!

The theater is perfect for intimate shows.

Square roots fest was fun!

I have stayed away too longWhat a great time to be hadhere!