BASS MUSIC REPORT
CHICAGO 2026 OUTLOOK | 2025 RETROSPECTIVE
THE HEAVY STATE
Chicago's Dominance in North American Bass Culture
2026 CONFIRMED INVASION
The first quarter of 2026 is already looking lethal for the Windy City. After a record-breaking 2025, promoters like Auris, Collectiv, and Brew City Bass have secured some of the most anticipated tours of the year.
| Date | Artist | Venue | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 10, 2026 | Borgore (360 Set) | Concord Music Hall | CONFIRMED |
| Jan 16-17, 2026 | Alleycvt (9 Lives Tour) | Concord Music Hall | SOLD OUT (NIGHT 1) |
| Jan 23, 2026 | Dr. Fresch (Bass Operation) | The Salt Shed | CONFIRMED |
| Jan 24, 2026 | Ghengar (Ghastly) | Ramova Theatre | CONFIRMED |
| Feb 13, 2026 | Wooli x Trivecta | Radius Chicago | CONFIRMED |
| March 2026 | Excision (Nexus 2.0?) | Navy Pier | HIGHLY RUMORED |
| May 2026 | Subtronics (Cyclops Dome II) | Aragon Ballroom | RUMORED |
The Rumor Mill: ATLiens & Crankdat
Industry insiders suggest a massive ATLiens headline show is slated for late April at Radius, potentially bringing their "Abduction" tour visuals to the 3,800-capacity room. Meanwhile, Crankdat—who arguably had the biggest year in Chicago during 2025—is rumored to be a surprise addition to a major spring festival lineup in the Chicagoland area.
2025 BY THE NUMBERS
2025 was a fiscal juggernaut for Chicago bass music. Total ticket sales for electronic events in Chicago surpassed an estimated $84 Million, with Bass music (Dubstep, Trap, Mid-tempo) accounting for 42% of all electronic music revenue in the city.
Market Share by Genre
Average Venue Capacity Used
92%
Shows at Radius, Concord, and Aragon consistently hit near-capacity, driving a 15% increase in VIP table demand since 2024.
Notably, the "Excision Nexus Tour" stop at Navy Pier generated an estimated $1.2 Million in single-night revenue, including merch and concessions, marking it as one of the most profitable single-night electronic shows in the venue's history.
2025 YEAR IN REVIEW: SPECIAL MOMENTS
The Return of the Undergrowth
What made 2025 special wasn't just the stadium shows. It was the rise of venue-specific cultures. Smartbar and Spybar began integrating more "Leftfield Bass" and "UK Dubstep" into their rotations, bridging the gap between the head-banging rail culture and the underground heads.
The Subtronics Effect
In December 2025, Jesse Kardon (Subtronics) performed a sold-out marathon set at Navy Pier. Data shows that 35% of the attendees traveled from outside of Illinois (specifically Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan), proving that Chicago acts as the "Bass Hub" for the entire Midwest. This regional pull has led to hotels in the Loop seeing a 12% uptick in bookings during major bass event weekends.
Emerging News: The Bass/Techno Hybrid
2025 saw the "Hard Techno" explosion bleed into the bass scene. Artists like Sara Landry and HOL! shared fanbases in Chicago, leading to a new sub-culture often called "Trench Techno." This crossover is expected to be the defining sound of 2026, with venues like Radius and Cermak Hall already booking hybrid lineups for the spring.
© 2026 HYPRVYPR.NET | DATA PROVIDED BY CHICAGO EVENT ANALYTICS & COLLECTIV RECORDS.
All dates and rumor details are subject to change. Please refer to official venue sites for final ticketing.
