Live Music entertainment in South America
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A
7 Angelitos
This tiny hillside haunt is the city’s unofficial hipster lounge and late-night backup: when everything else has closed and the sun has come up, knock on the door. Happy hours are 7:30pm to 9:30pm and 11pm to 11:30pm.
reviewed
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B
Peña Marka Tambo
A less expensive - and some claim more traditional - peña. The food is okay, but the music is better.
reviewed
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C
Sacadura
A new addition to Rio’s nightlife, Sacadura is located a few doors down from Trapiche Gamboa in an otherwise fairly deserted stretch of Gamboa. It offers a mix of Música Popular Brasileria (MPB), samba-rock and jazz in a big open venue with exposed masonry and dim lighting. Despite the loud rock pounding from onstage, the crowd was fairly staid when last we stopped by. It’s located north of Centro – take a taxi.
reviewed
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D
Ukuku’s
The most consistently popular nightspot in town, Ukuku’s plays a winning combination of crowd pleasers – Latin and Western rock, reggae and reggaetón (a blend of Puerto Rican bomba, dancehall and hip-hop), salsa, hip-hop et al – and often hosts live bands. Usually full to bursting after midnight with as many Peruvians as foreign tourists, it’s good, sweaty, dance-a-thon fun. Happy hour is 8pm to 10:30pm.
reviewed
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E
Clan Café
Set against the hillside of Corcovado, the unmarked door of Clan Café hides a large open-air patio covered with abundant greenery. Slow-paced waiters shuffle between the many tables as talented musicians fill the air with sound. Tuesday belongs to chorinho, (romantic, intimate samba) while Música Popular Brasileria (MPB) rules on Wednesday, and jazz on Saturday. The music starts around 9pm.
reviewed
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F
Centro Cultural Telemar
One of Rio's intriguing new additions, Centro Cultural Telemar is a six-story ultra-modern exhibition space featuring multimedia installations focusing on architecture, urban design and video art. The top floor auditorium has a regular line-up of film screenings and concerts. The first floor functions as a library where visitors can peruse art books and design mags; a listening station features eclectic music.
reviewed
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Lapa Capadócia
Watched over by an enormous statue of São Jorge (St George, an important saint/deity in the Afro-Brazilian pantheon), Lapa Capadócia offers a combination of live music, tasty appetizers and ever-flowing chope (draft beer) to small, chatty crowds. There’s an outdoor space in the back (that may eventually host a small creperie) and an upstairs, though overall the place feels small and intimate.
reviewed
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Clube Guanabara
Located on the edge of Guanabara Bay, this laid-back space provides a great setting for live samba and choro (romantic, intimate samba). Musicians gather around a few plastic tables, while young and old dance and mingle over tall bottles of Skol beer. Best of all is the pier at the end of the club, where you can take a break from the music and get an eyeful of the city coastline.
reviewed
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Casa do Gilson
Frequently voted as having Belém’s best live music, to no one’s surprise. Opened in 1987, Gilson’s draws intellectuals and hipsters alike with first-rate samba, choro (improvised samba-like music) and other music, and terrific food and atmosphere to boot – don’t miss the patinha de carenguejo (crab cake). It’s between Ruas Nova and Tambés.
reviewed
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Arena Futebol Clube
It’s well worth the taxi fare to the Setor de Clubes Esportivos Sul, southwest of Praça dos Trés Poderes, for this live-music mecca that takes over the football (soccer) club on weekends. Daughters of ministers and politicos sweat out to hip-shaking forró (popular Northeastern music), samba and samba-funk. The best we’ve seen outside Rio.
reviewed
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J
Kamikase
Kamikase is an old, intimate bar that doesn’t offer free drinks, but does have a disarmingly large variety of music that can switch from seductive salsa to live música folklórica (folkloric music) in an instant. Happy hour runs from 8pm to 10pm, and there’s often a live show beginning at 10:45pm.
reviewed
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K
Passarela do Álcool
At night, the Passarela do Álcool has craft stalls and street performers, with live music spilling onto the plazas. Look for fresh-fruit cocktail stands making capeta (guaraná, cocoa powder, cinnamon, sweetened condensed milk and vodka), just the thing to bring a bang to the evening.
reviewed
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La Trastienda
This happening live-music venue hosts acts from Latin America and beyond – highly anticipated gigs have included Damien Rice, Kevin Johansen and the Nada, Bright Eyes and Argentine-born indie darling José Gonzalez. The theater has standing room for up to 1000 downstairs and another 350 seats on the upper level.
reviewed
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Trapiche Gamboa
A charming live samba joint, Trapiche Gamboa is set in a multistory colonial edifice in Gamboa (just north of Centro) and has a welcoming vibe, with samba musicians gathering around a table on the ground floor, and dancers spilling out around them. It’s best reached by taxi (around R$25 from the Zona Sul).
reviewed
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A Casa Pub
This lively British-cum-Brazilian-style pub sits opposite Musique, with an airy verandah and live music most nights, ranging from samba and axé (a contemporary Afro-Brazilian pop style, incorporating samba, rock, soul and other influences) to forró and rock.
reviewed
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O
La Chimenea
One of the best places in Santiago for live music and events, La Chimenea gets packed to the rafters - and not just on weekends. Bands vary from local indie to traditional bolero. There's always a fun crowd here so arrive early for a seat near the stage. It occasionally shows movies.
reviewed
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P
N'Aitun
N'Aitun takes its name taken from a Mapuche word for free, and this atmospheric, intimate little venue was a regular gathering spot for leftists opposed to the dictatorship during the 1980s. It has live music on Fridays, when acts range from indie bands to bolero and tango duets.
reviewed
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Q
Costumbres Argentinas
Though the address seems like a contradiction in terms, this unusual, popular and welcoming bar has an arty bohemian vibe and sometimes puts on live music. There’s a big two-level beer garden out the back, which is the place to be on summer nights. Simple food is also available.
reviewed
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R
El Maní es Así
This is one of Caracas’ longest-standing and hottest salsa spots, where everything revolves around the dance floor and the live combos. The intense rhythmic ensembles that perform here regularly will inspire rump shaking in the staunchest lead-footers. Take a taxi in and out.
reviewed
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Sacrilégio
Sacrilégio is a major spot for catching live bands in an intimate setting. The outdoor garden makes a fine spot for imbibing a few cold chopes while the music filters through the windows. In addition to samba, Sacrilégio hosts choro, forró and MPB bands.
reviewed
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Guayana
For great local working-class flavor, try this nondescript confitería (cafe offering light meals) with cheap food and surprisingly good music. Live tango and folk tunes play from 10pm on Friday and Saturday night. Reserve a table on Saturday night.
reviewed
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Blues Special Club
Fridays are good for jam sessions, while on Saturdays at midnight the shows really start rockin’. This is a good-sized, semi-artsy venue, and international blues stars such as Dave Meyers, Phil Guy, Eddie King and Aaron Burton have all played here.
reviewed
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V
Mongo’s
Mongo’s is La Paz’s long-standing hip, hot (it gets crowded) and happening spot that seems to stand the test of time for both tourists and locals alike. There’s after-dinner music, and live salsa music on Tuesdays.
reviewed
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Mitos Argentinos
This cozy old brick house in San Telmo has lots of tables, a perfectly sized stage and a small balcony above. Known for its tributes to rock nacional (Argentine rock) bands; good for scouting out upcoming new talent. Limited dinner options.
reviewed
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X
Km 0
This convivial bar just off Plaza San Blas has a bit of everything. It serves good Thai food in the evening, and there’s live music late every night – local musicians come here to jam after their regular gigs. Happy hour is 9pm to midnight.
reviewed
