Zeds Dead have been a force in the bass music scene for well over a decade, and their sets in Chicago every winter continue to be an annual tradition.
Chicago and Zeds Dead might seem like an unexpected combination at first, but the birthplace of house music and the iconic Canadian dubstep duo have had a unique chemistry for over a decade.
Zeds Dead Chicago 2025 Lineup [tickets]
Zeds Dead’s legacy in Chicago dates back to the days of the Congress Theater, where they made several appearances including The Living Dead tour in 2012. They’ve also been mainstays in the region’s festival scene. Zeds Dead performed at Lollapalooza the same year, a festival which they returned to in 2017 and 2024.
We first attended a Zeds Dead headlining show in Chicago at Aragon Ballroom in 2014, where they played two nights from December 30th to December 31st. They returned a couple years later to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Chicago again, this time performing at Reaction NYE festival.
Zeds Dead have continued to return to Chicago throughout the years, often selling out two nights at Aragon Ballroom as well as afters at venues like Concord Music Hall and House of Blues. The party was elevated significantly in 2023 and 2024, graduating from the classic Aragon Ballroom to the modern and higher capacity Salt Shed. This move was a huge step up for Zeds Dead’s legacy in Chicago. Now held at a newer and larger venue, Zeds Dead simply kept selling out shows for multiple nights.
The Zeds Dead and Chicago partnership is growing bigger again in 2025. Now moving to Wintrust Arena, the venue will feature a new production concept with a cutting-edge design for their most ambitious multi-night run yet. The ‘Arena of Intergalactic Happiness’ afterparty is Saturday at Ramova Theatre, a venue they recently performed at after North Coast Music Festival 2025.
Tickets to Zeds Dead at Wintrust Arena are still available. Openers on Friday, December 12th are Jade Cicada, Esseks, and Canvas. The supporting acts on Saturday, December 13th are Apashe, Delta Heavy, and Axel Boy. Both nights will provide high-quality bass music with funky and heavier vibes.
Zeds Dead are simultaneously pioneers and current trendsetters in the dubstep scene. It doesn’t get much better than their headlining shows in Chicago, and the move to Wintrust Arena this year will be another Zeds Dead moment to remember.
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