The Flaming Lips and Snoop Dogg are among the eclectic acts that have performed at Iron City Bham, an iconic venue housed in two connected 1920s buildings that were once key to the city’s car industry. With three stages, two bars and a restaurant across two floors, the venue is hugely popular even when there isn’t a big concert on. People come for the seasonal Southern food served at Iron City Grill and the bottomless brunches – often accompanied by live music.
Red Dog Saloon is the oldest man-made attraction in Juneau and you can sense the history as you burst through the swinging doors. Dating back to the Gold Rush era, it’s had several different locations and was moved to its current spot, fully intact, in 1988. Expect a fun, dive-bar atmosphere, pub-style food, good beer and live country music at weekends. The setting, in historic downtown and surrounded by wilderness, is also glorious, while customers love the display of artefacts, most notably a pistol supposedly left here by Wyatt Earp.
Phoenix has a lively and eclectic music scene and more than its share of top venues, though Celebrity Theatre stands out as a real stalwart in the city. Here since 1963, it manages to be simultaneously epic – attracting stars like Diana Ross, Billy Joel, David Bowie and B.B. King – and intimate, with musicians and other acts performing on a revolving circular stage.
Some of the best live music in Arkansas can be enjoyed while having dinner at South on Main. The Little Rock venue combines upscale dining with lively performances, with music on most Friday and Saturday nights. Local and global music acts provide the soundtrack to delicious dishes like crawfish and chorizo hushpuppies, brisket and curried yams. People love the fun atmosphere and seasonal Southern cuisine.
With its smooth, sculptural steel curves, the Walt Disney Concert Hall ranks among the world’s most striking buildings – and it more than meets expectations as a concert venue too. The structure, designed by Frank Gehry and completed in 2003, is considered among the most advanced in both acoustics and visuals. The Downtown Los Angeles landmark hosts a variety of bands and solo artists, but is most famously home to the LA Philharmonic orchestra, which puts on soul-soaring performances in keeping with the stunning location.
Red Rocks, just outside Denver, features on an iconic album cover: U2 filmed their 1983 live album, Under a Blood Red Sky, right here. They’re among a roster of famous performers to have graced the dramatically beautiful, open-air concert space, which is tucked between two sandstone monoliths with views of alpine valleys. The Beatles, Coldplay and Jimi Hendrix are among others to have played in this naturally occurring and acoustically perfect amphitheatre.
With live blues, jazz, rock and soul music and a menu of tender, perfectly prepared barbecue and Southern-style food, Black-Eyed Sally’s has the feel of a classic roadhouse or juke joint, which is exactly why people love it so much. There’s music on every Friday and Saturday night, while the century-old building – filled with original details like the wooden floors and pressed tin walls alongside blues memorabilia – adds to the convivial atmosphere.
The Queen has only been a live music venue since 2011, though it’s been around a lot longer. The early 19th-century building was built as a hotel before becoming a movie theatre in 1916, and it now hosts music acts from classic rock bands to contemporary singers like Courtney Barnett. The space itself is beautiful, with original murals and ornate details like balconies and boxes. It also runs outreach programmes for local schools and non-profit organisations.
Ball & Chain was among the first night spots to open on Calle Ocho, which is now the heart of Miami’s Little Havana. It opened as a saloon in 1935 and, by the 1950s, was a musical hotpot hosting artists such as Billie Holiday, Count Basie and Chet Baker. It closed in 1958 and was the Copa Lounge Tavern and then the rather less glamorous Futurama Furniture Store before being restored to its roots with salsa, jazz and mambo shows, performed in the intimate nightclub or on the outdoor pineapple stage (pictured).
Opened as a cinema in the 1940s, Variety Playhouse has focused primarily on live music since the 1980s and remains a beloved spot to catch favourite or new favourite artists. Praised for its fabulous acoustics, the venue – in Atlanta’s Little Five Points neighbourhood – was sensitively renovated in 2016 and still has theatre-style seating along with areas for standing (or, more likely, dancing).
An outpost of the flagship music venue in New York City, Blue Note Hawaii is located inside Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort and has grown a reputation as the island’s best place for live music, from local and regional acts to globally famous artists. It wins accolades for its state-of-the-art acoustics and stage set-up, as well as the eclectic twice-nightly roster of music from jazz to traditional Hawaiian. The beautiful beachside location obviously helps too.
Big enough not to feel crowded yet with a wonderfully intimate atmosphere, Knitting Factory is known for hosting a mix of globally known acts, rock and jazz musicians and performers who verge on the experimental, as well as huge, thumping dance parties. The concert house also offers a dinner service, so there’s pretty much an experience to suit everyone. The small chain has locations in New York City and Spokane, Washington too.
Designed by architect Frank Gehry, who also designed Los Angeles’ Walt Disney Concert Hall and several other striking structures in Chicago, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion is a stunner all year round, but really comes to life in the warmer months. The outdoor stage’s steel roof curls like ribbons and creates a sculptural, acoustically perfect setting for musicians who perform free concerts in the summer. It’s located in Millennium Park in the heart of Chicago’s downtown, and people can book seats or picnic on the grass while enjoying big-name acts and orchestral performances.
Proving that the smaller, low-key venues can often be the best, Slippery Noodle Inn has been described as one of the country’s top blues bars by Rolling Stone magazine. It’s also the state’s oldest continuously operating bar, founded in 1850 as Tremont House, and had several names before becoming Slippery Noodle Inn – often shortened to The Noodle – in 1963. People come, of course, for the live blues performances, with the extensive bar food menu and historic setting adding to the experience.
Surf Ballroom is a living piece of music history. Built in 1933, this is where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. ‘The Big Bopper’ Richardson performed their last concert in February 1959 before their plane crashed on the way home, killing all three performers. The National Historic Landmark, which has a museum, has also been graced by stars including Alice Cooper, The Doobie Brothers and ZZ Top. It still hosts regular concerts.
People love the mix of fabulous acoustics and history at The Granada – originally opened in the 1930s as a silent movie theatre, it retains vintage vibes and balcony seating. The venue has hosted, and still hosts, an eclectic range of artists too, such as The Flaming Lips, Marilyn Manson, The Killers and Smashing Pumpkins.
Kentucky claims to be the birthplace of bluegrass, a genre of music that was named after Bill Monroe’s 1940s band, the Blue Grass Boys – itself named for the bluegrass of the state. The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, opened in 2018, is just a few miles from where Monroe lived. Alongside museum exhibits it hosts regular concerts and jam sessions, plus the annual ROMP Fest, which showcases established and up-and-coming acts.
The entire city of New Orleans is one big concert hall, with performers in bars and parks and on pretty much every street corner. It also has a range of venues from tiny clubs and vintage theatres to the high Caesars Superdome. But nowhere quite matches the skin-prickling atmosphere at Preservation Hall, just off busy Bourbon Street. The revered house band, which usually performs to a hushed audience thrice daily, has been filling the low-lit, stone-walled space with masterful jazz since 1961.
On the edge of Portland’s Arts District, One Longfellow Square is a wonderfully intimate venue that describes itself as a “listening room”. It has the capacity for around 200 people, but it often brings in acts used to playing at bigger arenas. Robyn Hitchcock, Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre and the Portland Jazz Orchestra (which regularly plays here) are among the acts to have flooded the cosy space with their music. People praise the acoustics and warm atmosphere.
Named one of the country’s best live music venues by Rolling Stone magazine, Ottobar is a must for anyone who loves a good dive bar and an intimate atmosphere. People love the small-town vibe of the place, the colourful, quirky decor and the fact that you can get so close to the stage. The bar has hosted some big names, such as The White Stripes and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, as well as local acts, and also puts on regular themed dance nights.
Symphony Hall is the home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which has been performing soaring classic concerts since 1881. The elegant venue opened in 1900 and, though it has kept many of its original details, has been updated with new audio technology to make the acoustics even more impressive. The hall is also home to the Boston Pops, a spin-off of the original orchestra that plays a broader range of styles from jazz and rock to pop and big band.
Beyond the red-brick road: discover more of Boston's creative side
You can take your pick of iconic music venues in Detroit, the birthplace of Motown Records. But Fox Theatre soars above the others with its combination of vintage opulence, fabulous acoustics and record of pulling in the big names. The storied stage sees everything from Broadway musicals to globally famous performers like Blondie and Van Morrison, with the plush velvet and gold backdrop adding to the sense of occasion at every show.
Opened in 1970, First Avenue is one of the longest-running independent venues in the US and has seen some legendary performers including Lizzo, Cypress Hill, Emmylou Harris and Prince, who kicked off his career here. Famous for launching many acts, the venue has become so legendary that it now attracts many established artists. Attached to the main venue is 7th First Entry, a tiny bar that hosts more intimate shows.
You might want to pack a felt-tip pen when you visit Ground Zero Blues Club in the small town of Clarksdale – signing your name somewhere is pretty much a requirement here. Aside from the scrawls on the walls and a collection of music memorabilia, the space is pretty simple with a long bar and a stage where mostly local Delta Blues musicians perform. A popular stop along the Blues Highway, the club is co-owned by legendary actor Morgan Freeman, who regularly hangs out here.
The building that now houses The Phoenix has been a saloon, a speakeasy and a boarding house since it was built in 1888, and all that history just adds to the atmosphere. Since 1990, the locally owned and operated venue has hosted live jazz and blues music most nights of the week. Customers love the food too and the weekend jazz brunch is particularly recommended.
It’s tough to imagine a more beautiful setting than that of KettleHouse Amphitheater, by the Blackfoot River and surrounded by mountains. Next to the KettleHouse Brewing Company, the striking outdoor venue can pack in up to 4,250 people in stadium seating, a standing pit and the lawn area. Unsurprisingly, the venue tends to attract huge names like Foreigner, Sheryl Crow, Bastille and Goo Goo Dolls.
The 1920s-built former car dealership that now houses The Waiting Room Lounge has been a live music hub here since the early 1980s, when it was the legendary Lift Ticket Lounge – once hosting Nirvana. It’s still a vibrant venue, with local, national and globally known acts playing in the industrial space. It’s also a craft beer hub, with 26 rotating ales on tap.
Las Vegas is bursting with music venues, from flashy concert halls and opulent theatres on The Strip to more intimate spots in Downtown. House of Blues, inside Mandalay Bay Hotel & Resort, is an enduring favourite, both for the music and the Southern-style food. They often go hand-in-hand, particularly at the legendary gospel brunch, and you can feast on po’ boys, barbecue nachos and jambalaya while enjoying live rock and blues performances.
The Press Room is the kind of bar where conversation tends to flow as easily as the booze, with customers saying the convivial atmosphere and live music gets strangers talking. Opened in 1976, it’s recently been renovated but has kept its intimate, community-focused feel. Expect great beers and cocktails, delicious pub-style food, lots of dancing and a range of music from jazz jams to indie bands.
The Stone Pony didn’t exactly launch Bruce Springsteen’s career, though the success of the bar and New Jersey's most famous son are inextricably intertwined. Springsteen first performed here in 1976, two years after the club opened, helping to propel this spot into rock ’n’ roll history. Among the many other notables to play here are Elvis Costello, Jon Bon Jovi, Blondie, Joan Jett and Jimmy Cliff. It’s still a class act, and considered a must for music fans travelling through Ashbury Park. There’s an outdoor stage in summer too.
Opened in late 2018, this relatively new venue has quickly earned a reputation as the funkiest coffee shop around. Owned and operated by a DJ and his wife, REMIX is the place to go for perfect brews and incredible music – fans describe being surrounded by sound in the best possible way. Decorated with framed records and with DJ and broadcasting equipment that people can rent out, it’s the type of place that people love to (or wish they could) call their local.
Like many of the best and most storied venues, Cafe Wha? doesn’t look like much from the outside. This unassuming spot was the humming, happening heart of Greenwich Village in the 1960s. Jimi Hendrix, The Velvet Underground and Bruce Springsteen are just some of the acts to have launched their careers here. Perhaps most famously, a 19-year-old Bob Dylan played an early New York gig right here in 1961. Today, it’s understandably a popular stop for music lovers thanks to its rich heritage and talented house band.
Named one of the top five rock clubs in the US by Rolling Stone magazine, The Orange Peel combines a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system with a down-to-earth atmosphere. Some pretty big names have played here, including Bob Dylan, The Black Keys, Lauryn Hill, Smashing Pumpkins and Blondie. The downstairs bar, PULP, also hosts exhibits by local artists.
In the heart of downtown Fargo, The Aquarium claims to host more music acts than any other venue in the state, and there’s certainly an impressive roster of names on its gig list. Father John Misty, The Melvins and Bon Iver are among those to have performed here, and the intimate venue – where fans can pretty much belly up to the stage – also showcases local talent. Downstairs, Irish pub Dempsey’s also has jazz nights and karaoke.
This striking outdoor amphitheatre is where the big stars tend to come in Ohio. Rod Stewart, Wu-Tang Clan, Josh Groban and The Black Keys are just a few of the artists to appear at Blossom Music Center recently, while Herb Alpert, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Liberace and Meatloaf are among legendary names to have graced the stage since it opened in 1968. It’s also the summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra.
R'n'B and jazz are the bedrocks of Oklahoma City’s music scene, especially in the Deep Deuce District – the heart of African-American culture here in the 1920s and 30s. Count Basie, Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington are among those who performed in the neighbourhood and, while most of the iconic venues have since closed, Stag Lounge keeps a part of the original spirit alive with speakeasy-style vibes and live jazz, complemented by classic cocktails and a huge whiskey menu.
The owners of Doug Fir Lounge describe the decor as somewhere between Twin Peaks and The Jetsons, which goes some way to describing the uniqueness of the place. The popular spot, opened in 2004, combines old-school charm with state-of-the-art acoustics and lighting, resulting in spectacular yet intimate shows. People love the eclectic feel of the place, great line-up of indie music and tasty comfort food.
An outpost of the famed San Francisco venue, The Fillmore Philadelphia overshadows other venues in the musical city both in size, stature and style. The beautiful, industrial space is home to three venues in one, with an enormous main room fitting 2,500 people for big shows, the Ajax Hall for drinks and The Foundry, an upstairs club within a club for smaller, more intimate concerts and DJ sets.
The VETS, or Veterans Memorial Auditorium, is a beloved spot for live music in Providence. Home to the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and Festival Ballet Providence, the impeccably restored theatre has also hosted greats including Tony Bennett and Pavarotti. It’s a glorious venue, with fabulous acoustics and opulent original details including a domed ceiling featuring the shields of Rhode Island’s original 39 communities. Despite the theatre having close to 2,000 seats, people comment on the intimate feel.
Those who have been lucky enough to catch a concert at Charleston Music Hall say there isn’t a bad seat in the house. The venue, housed in a circa-1850 Gothic Revival–style building, hosts live music as well as comedy, dance and theatre. It’s been a performance space since 1995, with stars such as Joan Baez gracing the stage and showcases a range of musical genres from bluegrass and rock to pop and tribute acts.
These two century-old buildings recently reopened after painstaking renovations, with the Music Hall quickly becoming a favourite for concerts, barn dances – soundtracked by a live band – and the regular Dakota Prairie Wild West Show, a rip-roaring performance accompanied by a live band and played out while people enjoy a three-course meal. The three-bedroom lodge, right next door, is a great option for out-of-towners.
The Grand Ole Opry is the ultimate venue for country music fans. This showcase for country music and bluegrass was first broadcast as a barn dance in the National Life Building in 1925 and has been in its current home, the purpose-built Opry House, since 1974. In addition to weekly shows with global stars, people can take behind-the-scenes tours with the chance to stand in the famous circle and hear stories of past performers including Hank Williams and Dolly Parton.
Founded in the 1840s by German farmers, the tiny enclave of Luckenbach was purchased in the 1970s by John ‘Hondo’ Crouch and friends with the sole aim to create a country music hub. It worked, with Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett among regular performers. The charmingly ramshackle area, with original buildings including a saloon and general store, hosts almost constant live music and line dancing, both of which visitors can enjoy inside or under the shade of live oak trees.
Ever fancied hosting a concert in your backyard? Kilby Court might just be the closest thing to that, without the hassle of booking acts, setting up the stage or clearing up afterwards. Its basic, stripped-back atmosphere and ramshackle looks add to the charm, and the all-ages venue is known as one of the city’s top springboard stages for local and touring musicians. With a capacity of just 200 people, it has a uniquely intimate atmosphere. There’s no alcohol served but the venue is within walking distance of downtown’s bars and restaurants.
Shows are typically spectacular at Higher Ground, which has excellent acoustics and great special effects. It's also a relatively small and old-school venue – all factors adding up to a fantastic atmosphere no matter what type of music is playing out on stage. The calendar tends to be packed with a broad variety of genres, from Rock and Roll Hall of Famers like Jackson Browne to modern punk bands and 1960s tribute shows.
There’s just something special about Floyd Country Store. Perhaps it’s the novelty of hanging out in a country store, its shelves stocked with old-fashioned sweets, toys and local provisions while dancing to authentic Appalachian music. Musicians and dancers gather here weekly for the Friday Night Jamboree, a tradition that’s been going here since the 1990s, and there are often shows on other nights of the week too. The dancing tends to spill out on to the street.
Opened in 1907, The Moore Theatre combines an elegant, vintage setting with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems and some of the best gigs in the city. Seattle’s oldest theatre has hosted acts including Louis Armstrong, David Bowie, Nirvana and k.d. lang, and offers theatre tours as well as continuing to showcase a range of incredible talent in genres from jazz to rock.
This tucked-away gem, housed in an old general store, draws people in with acts from blues to bluegrass and pretty much everything else in between. Purple Fiddle hosts acoustic performances by local and touring acts every weekend, while serving a menu of deli items and craft beers. It’s a popular stop along the Mountain Music Trail, which links up stops showcasing Appalachian music and dance.
High Noon Saloon had a good pedigree before it even opened. The large, stripped-back space was founded by the former owner of revered O’Cayz Corral, one of Madison’s most beloved rock venues until it was destroyed by fire in 2001. The newer venue opened in 2004 and has been played by Vampire Weekend, Foals, Charles Bradley and Father John Misty.
Inside the Wort Hotel, Silver Dollar Bar & Grill has live music several days a week and also hosts regular events like its Bluegrass Tuesday, headlined by a six-piece progressive bluegrass band, and Jackson Hole Hootenanny, a long-running gathering of local musicians and out-of-town stars. The grill serves a mean burger too.