Live Music entertainment in Florida
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Café Eleven
At night, the tables of this slick beach cafe get shoved aside and the place transmogrifies into a theater for some of indie rock's biggest names.
reviewed
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Posey's Oyster Bar
Perhaps the highlight of the Tallahassee-St Marks Historic Railroad State Trail; is just to the left of the St Marks trailhead (which also has a rest area and facilities). Posey's Oyster Bar is an absolute pearl of an old-time oyster shack on the water, with an outdoor courtyard, great bar and bands rocking the joint Friday to Sunday... so you may want to arrange for alternative transport on the way back.
reviewed
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A
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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B
Respectable Street
Respectables has kept South Florida jamming to great bands for two decades; it also organizes October's MoonFest, the city's best block party. Great DJs, strong drinks and a breezy chill-out patio are added bonuses. See if you can find the hole that the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Anthony Kiedis punched in the wall when they played here.
reviewed
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C
Back Booth
A totally chilled venue where Belgian Hoogarten ales live in harmony with Pabst Blue Ribbon cans. 'A cross between a frat party dance floor and an English pub' doesn't begin to sum up the unusual decor here. You just have to be here to get it. In addition to theme nights and karaoke, bands with cool names play live and loud.
reviewed
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Mill Top Tavern
Grooving to live music at the open-air Mill Top, on the 2nd story of a 19th-century mill that's hugged by a huge oak, is like hanging out in a treehouse – one that has a full bar and kitchen.
reviewed
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1982
Cramped, dingy and musty, this sweet spot boasts both local and national bands, and a great beer selection. If the band sucks, you can play classic Nintendo games on one of four TVs behind the bar. Duck Hunt FTW!
reviewed
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D
Backstreet Coffee House & Lounge
Hidden on a throughway one block west of St George St, this bohemian haunt with mismatched lounges has great rock and alternative bands. If you hurry, you might still get to decorate one of the ceiling tiles.
reviewed
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E
Centennial Square
Centennial Square offers Clematis by Night, staging all sorts of local bands from 17:30 to 21:00 Thursday, and Friday Night Live!, with local pop and rock bands, from 18:00 to 23:00 Friday.
reviewed
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F
Free Outdoor Concerts
For free outdoor concerts year-round, visit CityPlace, which hosts live jazz from 12:30 to 14:30 Sunday and City Jams, featuring blues, acoustic rock and other musicians, from 19:00 to 23:00 Friday.
reviewed
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Floyd’s Music Store
The only thing for sale at this warehouse-style venue is straight-up live rock and blues. Catch up-and-coming national acts like Falling at Will, Core and Egypt Central.
reviewed
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G
Buddha Nightclub
It can get rowdy in here, but past the bikers and the guys on the pool table are some of the edgier acts playing around Fort Myers.
reviewed
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Will's Pub
With $2 Pabst on tap, a permanent layer of smoke hovering over the pool tables, Ms PacMan and pinball and vintage pin-ups on the walls, this is Orlando's less polished music scene. It's an established institution as the spot to catch local and nationally touring indie music. Will's is on Mills Ave, just over a mile north of Thornton Park.
reviewed
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H
Schooners
Billing itself as the 'last local beach club, ' Schooners is good for a low-key beer on the beach.
reviewed
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I
Shooters
It’s old-school Lauderdale raucousness here, with great live music, waterfront views and strong drinks.
reviewed
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J
Daytona Beach Bandshell
Constructed in 1937 from coquina shell, this landmark beachfront venue stages a summer concert series and summer outdoor movies.
reviewed
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K
One-Eyed Jack's
A serious drinkers' bar with gimmicky 'shot wheel' and live music on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
reviewed
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L
Twisted Martini
The Twisted Martini has live music from 7pm to 10pm Thursday to Saturday.
reviewed
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M
Dirty Harry’s Pub
Regular live music and an impressive collection of automatic weapons on the wall.
reviewed
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Sluggo's
The punk bar Sluggo's is among the best spots to see live music.
reviewed
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N
Social
Matchbox 20 got their start at this Orlando favorite for live music on stage. Vaulted ceilings, an enormous bar and VIP lounges give it a South Beach flair. Note that the smoking policy is determined by the band, allowed on some nights and not allowed others.
reviewed
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O
Hoy Como Ayer
This Cuban hot spot – with authentic music, unstylish wood paneling and a small dance floor – is enhanced by cigar smoke and Havana transplants. Stop in nightly for son (a salsalike dance that originated in Oriente, Cuba), boleros (a Spanish dance in triple meter) and modern Cuban beats.
reviewed
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The Stage
The Stage is many things: edgy art gallery, live music venue, arts and crafts bazaar, occasional bar, and sometimes all of these things at once. Check the website to see what shows are playing and try to catch a party here – you may see a more bohemian, creative side of Miami than you initially expected (on our last visit a one-man folk-bluegrass-punk band played for a crowd dressed in rockabilly chic). On Sunday afternoon The Stage hosts family-friendly all-ages shows starting at 2pm.
reviewed
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BB King's
One of bluesman BB King's stable of clubs, this Mississippi Delta–themed nightspot in CityPlace has a menu of (mediocre) Southern soul food and an excellent lineup of blues and jazz bands.
reviewed
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P
Tootsie's Orchid Lounge
A sister to the legendary Nashville honky tonk of the same name, this Tootsie's may lack the dusty character of the original, but the nonstop live country music is still plenty boot stompin'.
reviewed