The Salt Shed

2026年11月1日

The Salt Shed: A New Hub for Live Music in Chicago

The Salt Shed is a dynamic indoor and outdoor music venue located in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago, United States. This venue occupies a historic site that was once owned by Morton Salt, a company that relocated its packaging and warehousing facility in 2015, leaving the building vacant. The transformation of this space into a vibrant entertainment hub was driven by a collaboration between Chicago-based hospitality collective 16″ on Center, Blue Star Properties, R2, and Sky Deck. Their vision was to create a “multi-purpose creative hub, with music as its beating heart.”

The property was sold in 2017 for $15 million and subsequently designated as an official City of Chicago Landmark. This designation paved the way for a significant $50 million renovation, designed by Aric Lasher of HBRA Architects, which preserved the site’s historical significance while adapting it for modern use. The venue is divided into two main sections: “The Fairgrounds,” an outdoor area adjacent to the Chicago River and Goose Island with a capacity of 5,500 people, and “The Shed,” an indoor space that can accommodate 3,600 attendees.

The Fairgrounds opened to the public on August 3, 2022, with a performance by the indie folk band Fleet Foxes, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the site. Following the completion of renovations, The Shed opened on February 18, 2023, with a performance by electronic music duo Big Gigantic. These openings have established The Salt Shed as a key player in Chicago’s live music scene.

Since its inception, The Salt Shed has hosted a diverse array of musical acts, including Big Gigantic, Bishop Briggs, Brent Faiyaz, Cigarettes After Sex, Death Cab for Cutie, Fleet Foxes, Galantis, Japanese Breakfast, Run the Jewels, The Postal Service, The Roots, Thundercat, Tove Lo, Tycho, Ween, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Bladee, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Panda Bear, and Toro y Moi. The venue’s versatility is further demonstrated by its hosting of events beyond music, such as EEEEEATSCON, a food festival, and The Eric Andre Explosion, a stand-up comedy show presented by Eric Andre.

In addition to live performances, The Salt Shed has become a site for recording and broadcasting. The Australian band King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard recorded their live album ‘Live in Chicago ’23’ during performances at the venue from June 11 to 13, 2023. Similarly, Swedish post-punk band Viagra Boys recorded a concert film at their show on February 23, 2023, which was later streamed and released on YouTube.

Looking ahead, The Salt Shed continues to innovate with its announcement in January 2025 of a two-year partnership with Green Thumb Industries to sell THC products on-site, including marijuana, gummies, chocolates, and THC Margaritas. This move reflects the venue’s commitment to offering a unique and comprehensive entertainment experience.