The Most Underrated Music Cities in America

Everyone knows Austin , NYC , and Nashville are among America ’s good live - music urban center ( or , at least you do now ) . But you do n’t have to live in one of those Ithiel Town – or Athens , Chicago , or LA for that matter – to see a killer live show every night . Nope . egress music scenes with bass pools of homegrown talent are popping up under the microwave radar in smaller cities all over the land , including in some somewhat unexpected places . Here are nine worth mark out .

Richmond, VA

Known as " the punk rock capital of the East Coast , " Richmond is a fertile breeding ground for one of the most participating punk scenes in the commonwealth and is far-famed as the provenance of heavy acts like GWAR and Lamb of God . But it ’s also a hotbed of emerging talent in the wind and R&B space as well , with non - laborious turn like Aimee Mann , Jason Mraz , and D’Angelo hailing from the area .

Check out hardcore and metal show at locale like The Camel , The National , and Hippodrome Theater , and , while you ’re in the domain , take a side tripper to Norfolk to visit NorVA , named the No . 1 concert venue in the country by aRolling Stonereaders ' poll .

Palm Desert, CA

Long a refuge for creative person and flake who did n’t fit in with the airbrush LA life-style , the desert valley experienced a pronounced turn spot in 1999 with the arrival of a little - live festival name Coachella . But even before that , sandwiched between Palm Springs and Coachella ’s Indio fix was the far - flung outpost of Palm Desert , a hotbed of sludgy stoner rock put on the map in the early ' XC by band like Kyuss and their whacked - out , drug - fueled " generator parties . "

The Palm Desert scene did n’t formally germinate into the " Palm Desert sound , " however , until the more recent arrival of bands like Josh Homme ’s Queens of the Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal , with fabled recordings like the famedDesert Sessionsgoing down at Joshua Tree ’s iconic studio apartment Rancho de la Luna . Even Anthony Bourdain could n’t refuse its dusty criminal , edge - of - the - Earth good luck charm .

Denton, TX

You ca n’t swing a drumstick without hitting a musician inthis underrated political party townof 110,000 located about an hour north of Dallas ; it ’s home plate to over 100 combat-ready banding and boasts 25 venues within walking distance of the town square . Once named the estimable euphony setting in the nation byPastemagazine , the music community here was built from the primer up with documentation from local station like DentonRadio.com and one of the best music schools in the nation at University of North Texas .

you may catch bands at venue like Dan ’s Silver Leaf or Abbey Underground , as well as at random places all over townspeople , from fast - food strand to sinker shops . Further solidifying Denton ’s burgeoning reputation as the next Austin , the townsfolk hosts the annual SXSW - style 35 Denton walkable music fete every March at bars , studios , and pizza parlors all over townspeople .

Provo, UT

Made famous in recent twelvemonth by hometown deed like Imagine Dragons and Neon Trees , Provo ’s stentorian medicine scene was bring up by the city in 2009 when a series of growing projects helped revitalise a Downtown district now overflow with music selection . With 15 - plus venues in town , you’re able to get dinner party with your live tunes at Guru ’s , check out exposed mic Night at Muse Music Cafe , or arrest disc jockey and local acts at office like The Madison .

While Provo ’s most famous rock venue is the Velour alive Music Gallery , the finest show in town is no doubt the annual Provo Rooftop Concert Series , where Utah acts play free circle under the stars atop edifice across townspeople . Provo venues are typically packed class - round and the metropolis ’s close proximity to the also - underrated Salt Lake City view help give the metro area a strong one - two punch .

Olympia, WA

harmonise to a study from Saint Martin ’s University , the historically avant - garde scene of Washington ’s capital city get a stunning $ 88.3 million a year . This Ithiel Town of around 50,000 is know as the birthplace of the " riot grrrl " underground feminist punk movement of the ' 90s and abode base of fabled indie label like K Records , Bikini Kill , and Kill Rock Stars ( which is based in both Olympia and Portland ) . Not a net ton of touring acts come this way despite its history as a famous Kurt Cobain resort , and thus the majority of its 15 - or - so shows a hebdomad are powered by the strong local scenery .

From the fringe weirdness of the Olympia Experimental Music Fest to the fiddle fix of the Olympia Old - Time Music Fest , there ’s always some band play somewhere in this city ( including locale like the all - ages Northern and Rhythm & Rye ) . But the coolest by far is Music on the Mounds , which raises finances for local musicians by hosting shows and campouts on 10 estate of land with the speech kept secret until tickets are purchase .

Madison, WI

Second only to Austin in " sway show - to - residents ratio , " Madison’sMidwestern niceaesthetic cultivates a welcome vibration where it ’s not rare for fans to corrupt a round of drinks of beers for the striation or invite them home to toy appearance in their living way . And according to a work by Martin Prosperity Institute , Wisconsin ’s capital letter city has the fifth - highest absorption of record labels , record studio , distributors , and euphony publishers in the nation . It ’s also the fourthly - least - expensive urban center in the country for average slate cost .

While most famous for producing ' 90s alt - tilt lot Garbage and legendary Nirvana / Smashing Pumpkins / Green Day producer Butch Vig , the townspeople is also a hotbed of indie talent , from former University of Wisconsin student Zola Jesus to solidly under - the - radar recording label Crustacean Records and Kind Turkey Records . grab rock acts at places like the Majestic Theatre , High Noon Saloon , and Orpheum Theater , or direct into Ithiel Town for more highbrow oblation during the yearly Isthmus Jazz Festival .

Portland, OR

Long eclipsed by Seattle ’s perennially prolonged shadow , it should come as no surprisal to anyone familiar withPortlandiathat Oregon ’s largest city is home to a thriving medicine shot sartor - made for tight-fitting jeans and climb mustache . Most well known for bands like The Decemberists , The Shins ( who , yes , we roll in the hay , go in Albuquerque ) , The Dandy Warhols , Blitzen Trapper , and many more too legion to name , the city ’s deep share to the indie - rock scene is so prevalent it was nicknamed " Indie City " bySlate .

Yet despite all the bands we evidently are n’t cool enough to know about , the Portland scene remain receive and place - back , regardless of it ranking 6th gamy in something called the Metro Music Index , a stat measuring the telephone number of concert and medicine business in a metropolis . control out acts at one of 100 - plus locus like Doug Fir Lounge and Dante ’s ( which also hosts typically Portland - uncanny showcases like the long - die hard Sinferno Cabaret ) or at festivals including the SXSW - style MusicfestNW and Portland Lights .

Research Triangle, NC

The towns of Chapel Hill , Raleigh , and Durham that make up North Carolina ’s university - centrical Research Triangle share more than just a sexual love of college basketball . The area overflows with a palmy music shot as bands perform at over 100 venues like Cat ’s Cradle , Pour House , and Local 506 , in addition to under - the - radar festival like Hopscotch Music Festival .

The domain is home to act such as Ryan Adams and Ben Folds Five , but its real power center is Merge Records , one of indie rock ’s specify euphony labels , and its standout roster of iconic local turn like Superchunk , Squirrel Nut Zippers , and Archers of Loaf . If that ’s not enough , the more blues / country - orient Yep Roc Records is base in nearby Hillsborough with oecumenical distributor Redeye Distribution also close by in Haw River .

Omaha, NE

With historical roots as a hub for African - American jazz and blues in the 1920s and ' 30s at places like the fabled Dreamland Ballroom , these days Omaha ’s strong presence on the indie - rock music scene can be traced flat to 1993 when famed indie recording label Saddle Creek Records was founded by Conor Oberst ’s brother and local manufacturer Mike Mogis . More than just a label , the imprint refer after a local street is household to a stack card of Omaha greats including Bright Eyes , The Faint , and Cursive ( singer / songwriter Elliott Smith was also born in Omaha ) .

Saddle Creek ’s emergence and the evolution of the " Omaha sound " have facilitate encourage more young pro and originative types to move to the city and take in shows at place like Slowdown , founded by Saddle Creek cobalt - owner Robb Nansel in 2007 . you could also go over out acts at venues like Barley Street Tavern and The Waiting Room , dig through disc at Homer ’s , or channelize into townsfolk for festivals such as Riverfront , Hullabaloo , and Maha Music Festival .

The National in Richmond