The 12 Best Small Music Venues in America

Rockwood Music Hall

New York , NYNew York ’s premier locus for roots - orient euphony , this Lower East Side space hosts around 300 euphony fans and is approximately the size of it of a hall elbow room . But it also boast three intimate stages and has played innkeeper to popular local acts and pre - fame up - and - comer like Lady Gaga . It ’s also one of Gotham ’s go - to spots for rowdy concert after - parties for megastars like Mumford and Sons .

The Silent Barn

New York , NYIf you miss the raucous , helter-skelter days of CBGBs , this Buswhick locale render the best simulation of those heady , late-70s evenings in NYC . This out - of - the - way space looks like a abandoned fallout protection but it reserve the best under - the - radio detection and ranging punk and indie - rock acts . Silent Barn is also home to a residency and caparison program for creative person working on music and other projection ( indie - pop wunderkind Shamir is an alum ) .

Le Poisson Rouge

New York , NYWith astronomical rents forcing out renter of the metropolis ’s sought after Greenwich Village neighborhood , it ’s awful that such an arts - driven space even exist . But since 2008 , this multi - level " fine art nightspot " has kept the spirit of ' 60s counterculture alive with improper , left - leaning programming and more mainstream medicine booking : only at LPR can you take in an artistic production verandah while retard out a set from vocaliser - songwriter Jack Garratt .

The Smell

Los Angeles , CAOne of the few reasons to venture to seedy Downtown Los Angeles : this all - age , alcohol - destitute hole - in - the - wall , where the nation ’s respectable punk and experimental band perform for little more than a $ 5 accounting entry fee .

Troubadour

Los Angeles , CAThere ’s a grounds Guns N ' Roses picked this West Hollywood psychiatric hospital to complain off their 2016 reunion tour : since 1957 , the 500 - person - capacity elbow room has been one of LA ’s most sexual venues . It ’s also madly historic : Lenny Bruce was arrested in ' 57 for obscenity charges , the Byrds perform " Tambourine Man " for the first clip in ' 65 , and icon like Miles Davis , Elton John , Bruce Springsteen , Billy Joel , and rafts more have all graced its point over the year .

Schubas Tavern

Chicago , ILThis historical landmark , which fits less than 600 people , is the Windy City ’s most easy - work locus for grab a bite and scoping out artists on the salary increase . Dave Matthews , Neko Case , Norah Jones , and others all used Schubas as a establish pad for huge careers . They also get bonus points for a delicious gut - wear menu that include cheese curd battered in beer .

Metro

Chicago , ILDuring the acclivity of grunge and option in the ' XC , many of the midwest ’s best Acts of the Apostles ( Smashing Pumpkins , Liz Phair , Urge Overkill ) kickstarted their career at this business district venue . And while it has the capability for over 1,000 concert - goer , it still has that intimate sense you ’re seem for . While it boasts many of the bigger acts , it is still an approachable must - visit for up - and - comer like Parquet Courts as well as New Wave pioneers like Gary Numan .

The Stone Pony

Asbury Park , NJLocal Jersey Shore acts still populate the stage of this beachside venue , but it ’s an essential pilgrim’s journey for one reason only : Bruce Springsteen witness his vocalization at this low - key bar . He may not be a fixture anymore , but The Stone Pony is the Jersey Shore ’s crucial terminus for rowdy bros look to hear the honest amped - up punk rock .

The Ryman Auditorium

Nashville , TNSince World War II , nation buff have flocked to the Carnegie Hall of the South to see the genre ’s greats execute in this former church . But even though the Grand Ole Opry has moved on from its sacred entrance hall , it persist a Mecca for seeing Nashville ’s biggest endowment . It ’s also a preferred fossa - stop for non - country acts like Adam Lambert and Foo Fighters . Those seeking an adrenaline hurry might also desire to take line : the ghost of Hank Williams is rumored to have been see in the locus ’s back alley elbow room .

Bluebird Cafe

Nashville , TNIf the Ryman is Nashville ’s most gilded locus , the Bluebird is the city ’s most low - key and intimate . Since 1982 , this 90 - seat locus has been a preferred performance outer space for the country industry ’s most venerable songwriters and studio apartment pros , while telecasting rooter may need to take note : ABC ’s strike series Nashville has filmed in this space .

Wild Bill’s

Memphis , TNPerhaps the only place in America where you’re able to get a predilection of true Delta blues , Wild Bill ’s is the state ’s last outlive juke joint . It ’s the good venue equivalent to hanging in a buddy ’s bedraggled basement , complete with plastic table - coverings , photos capturing its epic history , and a flyspeck space in the way ’s turning point for the band .

The Trocadero

Philadelphia , PAOnce a democratic spot for vaudeville , burlesque , and movies , this business district venue is the metropolis ’s best address for the hot hoodlum and indie acts . And they ’ve held on tight to their roots : Movie Mondays at the Balcony express screenings of everything fromBeerfesttoIndiana Jones .