The Green Mill, Uptown’s storied jazz club that has defined Chicago’s late-night scene for decades, is back in the wee-hours game. After a quieter stretch with earlier closing times, longtime staffers Jason Cole and Jill Skintges, now co-owners, have restored the after-midnight jam sessions that once rolled into the early morning on Fridays and Saturdays. Neighborhood regulars and touring musicians are again stretching sets into the small hours, bringing that familiar late-night charge back to the club’s intimate room.
Late-night lineup and cover
According to Green Mill, the revived late-night schedule kicked off June 19 as part of the venue’s 40th-anniversary celebrations in its current incarnation. Friday nights now feature a “Green Mill Jam Session” led by Marquis Hill from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m., while Saturdays belong to the Righteous Rooster organ trio, holding court from 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. The club notes a $5 cover after 1 a.m., a relatively gentle hit to the wallet for an after-hours hang.
New owners keep tradition alive
As reported by Preservation Chicago, longtime managers Jason Cole and Jill Skintges officially took over stewardship of the club this summer. With that ownership change, the Green Mill had a clearer path to restore the late closing times that were trimmed back during the pandemic, keeping the club’s long-running tradition of after-hours jazz from slipping away.
Who's playing and what to expect
Local listings confirm the new old routine. WDCB lists regular late-night Jam Sessions with Marquis Hill on its events calendar, and ticket pages on Bandsintown show Righteous Rooster locked into the post-midnight Saturday slot. Expect organ-driven grooves on Saturdays and rotating, stretched-out Friday jams, with the modest cover keeping the room open to night owls rather than just big spenders.
Why it matters
The return to after-hours programming restores one of Chicago’s last true late-night jazz rooms and gives Uptown a dependable late-night anchor for live music, a boost for both working musicians and the neighborhood’s night-time economy. CBS News Chicago noted that co-owners Jill Skintges and Jason Cole recently brought back the late-night weekend hours that helped build the club’s reputation, and the updated calendar suggests those after-hours sets are here for the summer.
