Our Mission

The Barn’s mission is to offer a differentiated live entertainment experience in an environment that specifically caters to adults with a passion for music.  Our approach to promotion and even creation is rooted in deep respect for both the artist and the audience.  But make no mistake, The Barn is for grown-ups that can still have fun.  Just because we are based in the suburbs, it doesn’t mean we still can’t be subversive.

We intend to promote a diverse array of live music — we’ll find the audience for the best of what’s out there.  Allow us to be your hosts as we attempt to bring an energy and excitement to downtown La Grange which complements its distinct character.

A show presented by The Barn is guaranteed to be a memorable time away from home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are you doing this?  What are you trying to prove?

As true music lovers and connoisseurs of the live experience, The Barn is 100% fuled by our passion.  We seek to present live entertainment in the manner that we love to consume it.  The Barn is performance as it should be, in a clean, comfortable setting, with top quality production values and reasonable prices.  We value each aspect of the concert going experience, and believe that every interaction with our audience is a reflection on our ability to create an outstanding and unique event.

We believe that music is best experienced as a part of a thriving and engaged community.  We intend to extend the live show beyond the hours spent in the venue, giving our audience a place to gather online to relive and discuss their experience at The Barn’s events.  Harnessing the power of technology and social networks, The Barn offers downloads, photos, and compelling previews and reviews of each of our events.

Why La Grange?

The Barn’s principals live and raise families in La Grange.  We are proud of our community and are committed to add a missing element to its existing commercial environment that complements its established character and values.  We believe the people and attitude of La Grange and its business leaders make this an ideal place to achieve our mission.

What kind of music can be expected from The Barn?

Is it cliche to say that we like all sorts of music?  Okay.  It probably is, so let’s try to answer this as best as possible.  Regardless of genre, if the music is genuine (not formulaic), is played with passion, and inspires the audience, we’ve got ourselves a start.

Sometimes that inspiration will take the form of opening up one’s mind, sometimes it’ll be ass-shaking grooves.  We appreciate music that has at least some element of improvisation or spontaneity — playing it safe rarely resonates with us.  You can leave the mindless fluff and banal pop at home; The Barn’s music sometimes takes a bit to wrap your head around, but its is well worth the psychic investment.

Within this framework, we intend to program The Barn events with variety in mind.  Our plans call for booking rock, jazz, funk and acoustic acts — but we won’t stop there if the mood strikes and the artist is right.  We’ll do a fair mix of original music and cover-oriented acts and, in any case, we will attempt to bring together unique combinations of complimentary acts in double and triple bills.  We encourage special guests, sit-ins, collaborations or anything that makes your experience at The Barn something to remember.

We’d love to encourage and spotlight local artists (of all kinds) as well.

Why “The Barn”?  Please say farmyard animals will not be involved in any way.

The Barn is the literal translation of La Grange from French.  We think it has a nice connotation for a gathering place with just the right hint of raucousness and unpredictability.  Don’t you?

What differentiates The Barn from other entertainment options?

The last thing we want The Barn to be is just another bar with a band.  The Barn is a promoter of events and as such, hopes to create memorable experiences for our audience to share with other like-minded people.

How can I get involved?

We encourage you to participate in our community!  We will set the wheels in motion, but The Barn will ultimately be shaped by the will of its audience.  Got an act you’d like to see?  Tell us.  Got suggestions for how we can improve or a question about what we do?  Please offer it.  Want to comment about the last (or next) show?   Visit the blog portion of this site and join the community in our comments sections or stay connected by becoming a fan on Facebook.

And of course, you can come to the shows!