smartbar

smartbar is a Chicago club in the Lake View neighbourhood, operating at 3730 N Clark St. Joe Shanahan opened it as a dance venue in July 1982, above Metro; it later moved to its present downstairs position. The building dates from 1927, and the club has a capacity of 400 and a Funktion-One sound system.

Its early programme ranged across house, techno, alternative and industrial music, alongside synth pop and new wave. Its music policy is open-format, with records picked for the dance floor. Frankie Knuckles was the first DJ Shanahan hired and played the opening weekend; Derrick Carter and Colette have also held residencies, alongside The Black Madonna and Michael Serafini.

Queen! is a weekly Sunday house and LGBTQ+ party hosted by Lucy Stoole and Nico, with resident DJs including Derrick Carter, Michael Serafini and Shaun J. Wright. The Chicago techno brand Format is connected to smartbar events, Format Recordings and the Format FM podcast; its team comprises Mark Angel, Adam Curtis and Brenda. smartbar launched its own record label in 2015, and its events have also taken place at Metro in Chicago. Shanahan opened smartbar to recreate the feeling of parties he had experienced at Chicago’s Warehouse.