Live Music entertainment in North America
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Birchmere
Known as ‘America’s Legendary Music Hall,’ this is the DC area’s premier venue for folk, country, Celtic and bluegrass music. The talent that graces the stage is reason enough to come, but the venue is pretty great too: it sort of looks like a warehouse that collided with an army of LSD-savvy muralists. Located north of Old Town Alexandria off Glebe Rd.
reviewed
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A
Savanna Jazz
The carpets are sticky, the lights dim, the drinks strong and the music hot at this midsized black-box showroom and bar. It's mostly swing and bebop, and the place jumps Wednesday evenings for ever-popular Lindy-hop parties (lesson kicks off at 6:30pm).
reviewed
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B
Bowery Ballroom
This terrific, medium-sized venue has the perfect sound and feel for more blown-up indie-rock acts (The Shins, Stephen Malkmus, Patti Smith).
reviewed
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C
Carrollton Station
An old stalwart on the Riverbend club scene, Carrollton Station has the tumbledown exterior you’d expect from a Mississippi Delta juke joint. The club’s musical offerings don’t really deliver on that promise, unfortunately. You’ll generally encounter a very young, white crowd shakin’ it to bluesy bar bands. Just a good co-ed party atmosphere.
reviewed
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D
Pianos
Nobody's bothered to change the sign at the door, a leftover from the location's previous incarnation as a piano shop. Now it's a musical mix of genres and styles, leaning more toward pop, punk and new wave, but throwing in some hip-hop and indie bands for good measure. Sometimes you get a double feature – one act upstairs and another below.
reviewed
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E
Blues Alley
The classy Georgetown jazz supper club attracts some big-name players, as well as some forgettable proponents of smooth jazz. Enter through the alley just off M, south of Wisconsin.
reviewed
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F
Cantab Lounge
The Cantab is one of the neighborhood's divier dives (and that's saying something in Central Sq). But the eclectic music line-up attracts an awesome mixed crowd that likes to get its groove on. Tuesday night is the area's best bluegrass night, Wednesday is the poetry slam, and Thursday to Friday is a get-down, old-timer sweaty dance party.
reviewed
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G
Shrine
All kinds of people pack in here every night for the vivacious happy hour, plus the eclectic live music, which can be reggae, rock or jazzy/bluesy tunes, even karaoke or poetry depending what night you visit. It's a big draw for Harlem's West African community, but everyone is welcome to enjoy the cover-free bands and amiable atmosphere. Bar food and weekend brunch served.
reviewed
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H
Enrico’s
The last old-school swank joint on Broadway has a big, heated sidewalk patio (ideal for smokers) opening into a white-tablecloth restaurant and bar with swoop-back booths, high cocktail tables, and a baby grand piano. Musical bookings run the gamut from classical guitar to R&B, with local chanteuses singing the Great American Songbook other nights. Shine your shoes.
reviewed
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I
Schubas
Something of an alt-country legend, Schubas presents a host of twangy acoustic artists, plus indie rock acts on their way up (like My Morning Jacket and the Shins in their early days). Bands play nightly in the cozy back-room club, which is noted for its great sound, thanks to the all-wood construction. A friendly, boisterous bar pours microbrews in the front room.
reviewed
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J
La Covacha
Drive out about halfway to the Everglades (just kidding, but only just) and you'll find Covacha, the most hidden, most hip Latin scene in Miami. Actually, it's not hidden; all the young Latinos know about Covacha and love it well, and we do too. It's an excellent spot to see new bands, upcoming DJs (almost all local), an enormous crowd and few tourists. Covacha is out in Doral, a good 14 miles west of Downtown Miami.
reviewed
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Café Finca la Chiquilla
This place, directly across from Don Pepés, is one of a kind, a great little spot with occasional live music, a full bar, and coffee that is not only freshly ground and roasted, but even grown and picked by the owners from their coffee plantation in Puebla. It's very popular with locals and tourists alike. Meals are also served for around $40 to $70.
reviewed
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K
New Apartment Lounge
The only night to come to this storefront venue on the far South Side is Tuesday, when octogenarian saxophonist Von Freeman leads his long-running, roof-raising jam to rousing calls from the ultracasual, deep-listening audience. The session starts at 10:30pm, but if you want to get into the tiny room, come early. Brave audience members can sit in with the legend.
reviewed
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L
Little Radio Warehouse
Another Downtown underground club, this one even has its own internet radio station. It's still pretty improvised but you know they're onto something if bands like Sonic Youth stop by for on-the-QT concerts. Otherwise, it's the usual roster of hopeful garage rock bands. With cheap drinks and parties till sunrise, the place definitely feels more Berlin than LA.
reviewed
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M
Lakeside Lounge
This battered East Village stalwart is a great spot to start the night when you’re looking for a welcoming watering hole with one of the city’s best jukeboxes. Some folks come for the free bands – indie rock and rockabilly four or five nights a week – others for the photo booths ($4 for four pics) and happy-hour drink specials.
reviewed
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N
Zebulon
Ever arty and experimental, the Zeb is an unlikely tight space for reliably engaging shows of voodoo funk, dub, jazz and poetry – even Super Bowl parties come with a DJ spinning things you don’t recognize. It’s wee for its draw (we’ve seen an 18-piece band spilling off the stage), but there’s alcohol and snacks.
reviewed
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O
Whistler
Hometown indie bands and DJs rock this arty bar most nights. There’s never a cover charge, but you’d be a weenie if you didn’t order at least one of the swanky cocktails to keep the scene going. Whistler hosts the very fun ‘movieoke’ the first Monday of the month (like karaoke, only you act along with the movie scenes playing on the screen behind you).
reviewed
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P
Fontana's
Kitschy posters on teal-colored walls, and red booths in front of the bar give Fontana's a faded, 1960s appeal that seems to have hit a chord with neighborhood drinkers. The three-level bar packs in the best live bands (in the basement) and the spinning-est DJs (main floor), and a knowledgeable and friendly crowd unassumingly nods along to the beats.
reviewed
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Q
Iota
With shows almost every night of the week, Iota is the best venue for live music in Clarendon’s music strip. Tickets are available at the door only (no advance sales) and this place packs ‘em in (the seating is first come, first served). Open-mic Wednesdays can be lots of fun or painfully self-important, as these things are wont to be.
reviewed
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R
Barbes
This bar and performance space, owned by two French musicians and longtime Brooklyn residents, has a world music vibe, offering eclectic music, ranging from Lebanese diva Asmahan to Mexican bandas, Venezuelan joropos and Romanian brass bands. There are readings and film screenings, too.
reviewed
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S
Viper Room
This hip Art Deco club used to be the Melody Room, frequented by gangster Bugsy Siegel, and retains the style of that era. Infamously, it was once owned by Johnny Depp and is the spot where River Phoenix overdosed on Halloween night, 1993. The door policy is tough and drinks are pricey, but once inside chances of spotting a celeb are pretty good.
reviewed
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T
Black Cat
A pillar of DC's music scene since the 1990s, the battered Black Cat has hosted all the greats of years past (White Stripes, the Strokes, Arcade Fire among others). If you don't want to pony up for $20-a-ticket bands on the upstairs main stage (or the smaller Backstage below), head to the Red Room for jukebox, pool and strong cocktails.
reviewed
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U
Main on Main
Complete with a restaurant serving good Greek comfort food, the warm and welcoming Main is one of Vancouver’s liveliest folk and roots music venues. Professional performers – usually heartfelt local soloists or guitar-wielding singer-songwriters – hit the stage Thursday to Saturday, delivering an ideal accompaniment to your souvlaki or moussaka.
reviewed
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V
Symphony Space
Home to National Public Radio’s renowned literary readings, Symphony Space is a multidisciplinary gem supported by the local community. It often hosts three-day series that are dedicated to one musician, and has an affinity for world music, theater, film and dance.
reviewed
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W
Sushi & Blues
Only in Hanalei will you find the Abercrombie & Fitch set working as sushi chefs and bartenders at a blues club! Staff displays the nonchalance of youth, but the open-air room and tables set with cobalt goblets are quite pleasant. Diverse drink menu includes martinis, beers, wines, sake and tropical favorites. Live music Tuesday to Friday.
reviewed