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Check out these five great small music venues in the suburbs

There's nothing quite like getting wrapped up in the heat and emotion of a concert where 20,000 people are all in tune.

But you can't beat a smaller venue for being assured of a good view of the stage and close-up look at your favorite band. The suburbs have plenty of these smaller music venues to offer. Here's a look at some worth checking out:

<h3 class="leadin">Arcada Theatre

The Arcada Theatre is a former vaudeville house in downtown St. Charles that now specializes in music and comedy shows in an intimate setting. The 900-seat venue has plenty of history and is considered one of the centerpieces of the downtown by city officials. The Arcada books a number of bands from the '60s, '70s and '80s in a variety of genres.

Among the notable shows set for 2016 are Poison frontman Brett Michaels on March 10 and Vince Neil of Mötley Crüe on July 16.

The Arcada is located at 105 E. Main St. in St. Charles. A full listing of shows can be found at oshows.com.

<h3 class="leadin">Metropolis Performing Arts Centre

This 350-seat theater is busy year-round. It hosts more than 300 performances each year and is connected to a performing arts school that enrolls more than 2,500 students. Some of the bigger names heading to the venue in 2016 include WAR on April 22 and 23, and The Ides of March on May 14.

A full lineup and ticket information is available at metropolisarts.com or by calling (847) 577-2121. The theater is located in downtown Arlington Heights at 111 W. Campbell St.

<h3 class="leadin">Durty Nellie's

The stage at Durty Nellie's in Palatine has hosted a mix of local and nationally touring acts. Daily Herald File Photo

Durty Nellie's is a bar first, complete with bag tournaments, trivia nights and salsa dancing. But the Palatine establishment is also known for attracting a number of Chicago-based bands and other groups that you'll already know by name, if not sound.

Notable appearances at the beginning of 2016 include Mike & Joe on Jan. 16 and Reel Big Fish on Feb. 12.

Durty Nellie's is located at 180 N. Smith St. in Palatine. For the full concert lineup visit durtynellies.com or call (847) 358-9150.

<h3 class="leadin">Austin's Fuel Room

This is the place to be if you're a fan of live music in Lake County. Austin's draws a mix of cover bands and national acts with songs that you've probably heard on TV or the radio at some point in the past decade. Notable bookings to start 2016 include Adelitas Way on Feb. 8 and Bella Cain on Feb. 26.

Austin's is located at 481 Peterson Road in Libertyville. For more info, visit fuelroom.com.

<h3 class="leadin">Brauer House Lombard

If you like to rock loud and hard, this is the venue for you. Notable concerts to start the year include Guttermouth on Feb. 24, with opening band The Bollweevils, and Michale Graves Band (former lead singer of The Misfits).

The Brauer House is located at 1000 N. Rohlwing Road #13 in Lombard. For a full list of acts visit brauerhouse.com

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