Outset

Outset is a 750-capacity Chicago music venue built for close-range club shows with large-room production. Opened in 2024, it occupies a redeveloped industrial building near the North Branch corridor. Its clearest calling card is the wraparound balcony: paired with a main-floor view and a d&b XSL sound system, it gives a compact room a broader visual and sonic footprint. A 10,000-square-foot patio extends the pre-show hang beyond the performance space.

A reset at 1675

The address carried a tougher previous chapter. Koncrete, the nightclub that operated here, was shut down by the city in December 2015 following a shooting outside the club; the building then sat vacant for years. In July 2023, Chicago City Council approved zoning for a new music and entertainment venue, with 1675 Holdings LLC—managed by nightlife operator Nick Karounos—behind the project. The plan called for a $2 million conversion of the two-story building.

Outset opened in 2024 under Auris Presents, the team led by Karounos, Stuart Hackley, and John Curley. The launch calendar made its intentions plain: two-night runs by Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton with Dumpstaphunk, Thievery Corporation, Rawayana, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra placed veteran draws beside developing acts and international bookings. That mix remains the useful frame for choosing a show here.

The room in practice

Outset books established artists alongside rising talent, with current programming reaching across electronic, country, Latin, rock, and metal. The floor is general-admission and standing-room-only, while select special events add seating; patio seating is available outside. Inside, multiple bars serve both levels, and the balcony curves around the room for elevated views. Arrive early if the outdoor portion of the night matters: the patio opens an hour before doors and hosts food trucks, drinks, merchandise, and occasional community programming.