Owens built this restaurant and performance space as a shrine to the Bakersfield sound, which helped transform country music in the 1960s (and also counted Merle Haggard among its practitioners). to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Two, the establishment is built on "creativity and conversation." Three, they offer a huge selection of beer, wine, sake, cider, mead, and lambic. Image from their Facebook page, Madison, WI Its exactly what youd expect with a warehouse-turned-live music venue, and its beautiful. We want to hear it. Image from their Facebook page, Los Angeles, CA In its four-decade history, the Station Inn has hosted greats like Bill Monroe, Jimmy. NORMAN, Okla. (AP) Country music star Toby Keith was back on stage over the Fourth of July weekend with his first shows since revealing last summer that he had been fighting stomach cancer. Plus, free-and-plentiful parking beats any venue close to the Inner Harbor. 8 Country Music Hot Spots in the USA Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, California, Texas, Colorado, Missouri 8 Places Where Country Music Roots Run Deep By: Peter Bothum View all states Country music is all about roots, and these cities have cultivated them for decades. Country music's most famous stage also provides some real bang for your buck. Introducing the world to: David Dyes iTunes library 3025 Walnut Street, WorldCafeLive.com, 40 Watt Club Athens, Ga. Best place to host the low-lit indie-rock prom you wished youd had: Legendary for its sweat-soaked late-night shows, the 40 Watt has been the innovative and unconventional Athens music scenes Ground Zero for the last three decades. MORE: Best Blues Clubs in the Best Cities Blue Rooster Sarasota, Florida Music City has always been the epicenter of country music, but theres more to it than the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame. Dont let the name fool you, this venue is located in Kentucky. Since 1989 the Grizzly Rose has brought artists like Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Toby Keith to come tear it up in the heart of Denver. Showing 1 to 182 of 182 entries Highlights and Lowlights Undefeated Nashville For the second year in a row, Nashville, Tennessee, topped our ranking charts as 2022's unofficial Country Music Capital. We may receive payment from affiliate links included within this content. Its another venue that hosts line dancing lessons. Just watch out for that left hook. The result is one of the most artist-friendly singer/songwriter venues in the country. In East Nashville, the American Legion Post 82 has a small stage offering a giant dose of nostalgia. has for decades been at the center of the Twin Cities vibrant music scene, serving over the years as the hometown venues of everyone from the Replacements and the Jayhawks to the Hold Steady and Lizzo. All Rights Reserved. U2s the Edge remembered how their famous concert there almost didnt happen, due to a thunderstorm, but hes happy it did. In Lewes, the Rocking the Docks . Best Destinations for Country Music Fans: Where to Visit in 2021 Playing this month: Ari Hest (6/2), The Duhks (6/22) 20 Center Street, IHEG.com, The Living Room New York Best place to catch up with Norah Jones best friends: The latest incarnation of this club has great lighting and a perfectly constructed stage, high enough to create a workspace, just low enough for artist/audience unity. Seven classic country music venues in Nashville - The Tennessean Image from their Facebook page, Norco, CA And sometimes, like with The Bowery Ballroom in New York, its simply the fact that on any given night, you know theyve booked another great show. Introduced the world to: Rachael Yamagata, Alexi Murdoch, Cary Brothers, Joshua Radin, Brett Dennen 1623 1/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd., HotelCafe.com, Red Rocks Morrison, Colo. Best place to have your mind blown by music and nature: Hearing the majestic sound bounce off the natural amphitheater of red sandstone monoliths named Ship Rock and Creation Rock is a must for any true music fans before I die list. Introducing indie kids to: Nature 754 Silica Road N.W., HOB.com/venues/concerts/gorge, Great American Music Hall San Francisco, Calif. Best place to catch a refresher course on the worlds ever-shifting modern-music scene: Built post-quake exactly 100 years ago, this exotic, balconied nightspot (once owned by burlesques notorious Sally Rand) has some of the best acoustics in town-which is perhaps why Townes Van Zandt claimed it was haunted by a phantom keyboardist. The schedule features rowdy Texas country, along with songwriting greats. Image from their Facebook page, Corpus Christi, TX Station Inn This unassuming venue in the Gulch is Nashville's bluegrass and roots music headquarters. Germantown. American Legion Post 82, located off Gallatin Pike, is the place for you. Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Introduced the world to: Yo La Tengos Hanukkah shows 1039 Washington St., MaxwellsNJ.com, Space Portland, Maine Best place to stretch your mind before catching a show: A self-proclaimed alternative arts venue, Space has hosted events as diverse as last falls Human Rights Watch Traveling film Festival and the recent Air Guitar Nation film screening and competition. Once you walk into Billy Bobs, its clear why this honky-tonk is a star. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Merriweather Post Pavilion. Dylan Rasbridge. Boots N Buckles Saloon was established in. The rest of the year, performers come and go but the western influence is constant. The Grand Ole Opry radio show has been broadcasting some of the best music around into homes across America since 1925. The Bluestone has been proud to host stars like Kix Brooks, Thompson Square, Aaron Lewis, Matt Mason, David Nail,Brett Eldridge and many more. Editors picks That musical heritage, that later developed into bluegrass and other genres performed in the Appalachian region, is preserved at Boyds Jig and Reel. Today, Acre 121 is a barroom and bistro that attracts a plethora of bands and friendly revelers. 15 of the Best Country Music Venues in Texas - Wide Open Country 13 Most Famous Music Venues Around The World You Need To Visit The Foo Fighters staged a memorably ghoulish Halloween show there in 2014, Margo Price cemented her status as a country queen with a string of sold-out headlining gigs last spring, and Jason Isbell has turned his annual residency into a Nashville tradition, even nodding to Harriss 1991 concert album with his latest effort: a Live From the Ryman of his own. 1. Rocking the Docks has booked a pop-up comedy show at Coastal Taproom which will feature funny men Geno Bisconte and Keanu Thompson at 9 p.m. Thursday, July 6 ($15). Purchased by Universal/House of Blues in 1993, the Gorge has become a perennial summer favorite for acts capable of filling its 20,000-seat capacity. This Oregon establishment is a small saloon with a big heart. , polled artists and industry insiders on the best big-room clubs in the country, the 9:30 Club ended at Number One. As the home of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum, its the ideal place to dig into country musics roots. The game is free on Tuesdays. Austin City Saloon has been a fixture in Lexington, Kentucky for more than 33 years. In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails Playing this month: The National (6/13), The Rosebuds (6/23) 488 Flat Shoals Rd., BadEarl.com, Eddies Attic Decatur, Ga. Best place to hear a pin drop between strums: When it opened in those heady post-Indigo Girls days of the early 90s, founder Eddie Owen hung vertical banners admonishing audience members to leave the listening room if they wanted to talk. Cowboy Country Saloon 320 Dance Clubs American (New) $$ This is a placeholder "We are lifelong country music fans and have been in a lot of country music bars around the country." more Touring acts and locals alike take the stage on the weekends, while drinkers can get in on the action on Tuesdays for the best country karaoke night in Illinois. 9 Brooklyn Steel New York City is definitely among the best places in the US to go if you're looking for live entertainment. More than that, after 20 years its still owned by a firefighter, so you can feel safe when you enter this honky tonk. The Opry moved to this location in 1974 from the historic Ryman Auditorium, which is still open for concerts and for entertaining daytime tours. 12 Famous Country Music Venues Listening to recordings of your favorite country songs is all well and good, but to truly get the country experience you need to hear it live. receive communications related to AARP volunteering. The history of Madison Square Garden. Image from their Facebook page, Phoenix, AZ Image from their Facebook page, Columbus, OH Summer concerts 2023: Updated list for Boston's top venues All week long its a great little bar, but the place really lights up whenever theres live music. The show started out in a small venue and eventually demanded its own space, which lead to the construction of the Grand Ole Opry House in 1974. The weekly show hosts "classic country, western and hillbilly bands" playing toe-tapping tunes and, recently, dance lessons for . With these seven destinations, youll take a closer look at how country music came to be. Visitors can watch historic film footage, view memorabilia from the likes of Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs, and even make music on banjos and other instruments. Now boasting a record label and recording studio, its become the guardian of NoLa joie de vivre. With features such as wood-oven pizza, a patio, lights and a state-of-the-art sound system, El Club is a new venue with the same old school aesthetics and values of accessibility that everyone can enjoy. Toby Keith's shows at his Oklahoma music venue mark return to stage Image from their Facebook page, Chicago, IL More than a million visitors pass through the museums doors each year to view the instruments, outfits and even automobiles on display. 11 Incredible Places To See Live Music in Tennessee Music + Nightlife Tennessee, United States Joe Sills Jul 25, 2022 in paid partnership with I nterstate 40 courses its way through Tennessee, falling from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Mississippi River. Located in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, the venue is becoming one of New Yorks best sites for live music. Canadian singer and guitarist Shania Twain was never what you would call a straight-up country gal. Country music is just three chords and the truth, according to songwriter Harlan Howard. It has been the backdrop in four major motion pictures. Our affiliate partners do not influence our editorial opinions or analysis. All Rights Reserved. (6/22) 3159 N. Southport Ave., Schubas.com, Magic Stick Detroit, Mich. Best place to crack a pool cue over some uppity rockstars soon-to-be-achin back or to get punched out by Jack White while watching alt.country band Blanche: Housed above Americas oldest and hippest bowling center, Detroits Magic Stick sports a full bar, 10 billiard tables and the citys best stage for up-and-coming rock acts. Tractor Tavern has seen performances by Ryan Adams, Drive-By Truckers, Alejandro Escovedo and the Queen of Cosmic American Music herself, Ms. Emmylou Harris. Located in Greenwich, this iconic venue was initially built for the Millennium celebrations in 2000 . AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. Best place to catch beloved songwriters in an off-the-beaten-path setting: Since its 1979 opening in this western Massachusetts college town, the Iron Horse has been a musical must-visit for folk-based artists and their fans. Image from their Facebook page, Rootstown, OH These days, it stands as the winter home of the Grand Ole Opry and regularly hosts a diverse array of musicians, entertainers and productions. Listening to recordings of your favorite country songs is all well and good, but to truly get the country experience you need to hear it live. With its two stages (the smaller 7th Street Entry and the mid-sized Mainroom), First Ave is the premiere venue for national touring acts small and large. A country music trip is about more than just great entertainment (although youll find plenty of that, too). Since 1955, the club has hosted several stars including Doug Sahm, Wanda Jackson, and Joe Ely. 10 Places to Catch Live Country Music in Austin, TX - Power Trio JONATHAN BERNSTEIN, Technically located in Upper Darby, just a stones throw from the 69th Street Terminal commuter hub, Phillys Tower Theater stands as one of the citys best-sounding auditoriums and a must-play room on any bands journey. Branson is one of the few places where you can find a country music performance every night of the week, many of which dazzle with shiny costumes and sets that you wont find in a bar or smaller venue. It was at Billy Bobs that Merle Haggard earned the world record for biggest round ever purchased when he bought a crowd of over 5,000 fans a shot of whiskey. Photo: jpellgen @1179_jp 15 Fantastic Colorado Concert Venues Other Than Red Rocks April 15, 2022 By // by Patrick McGuire There's no getting around the fact that Red Rocks is the most iconic music venue not just in Colorado, but potentially the world. Plus, they give you free apples. The venue was . The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Inch for inch, the most comfortable venue in the city, its never bone-crushingly cramped (even when sold-out), plus it has great sightlines and superb sound. With a capacity of just under 200, Jammin Java is a wonderfully intimate place to have dinner or coffee while witnessing performances by artists like Over The Rhine, Andrew Bird and David Mead. Its stage has hosted performances by Ringo Star, ZZ Top, and Ray Charles. Housed in a former sawdust factory, this performance space is state-of-the-art, can welcome up to 350 music addicts, and can accommodate a 70-piece orchestra. Entertainers here mix in plenty of songs you know and love, which means these shows will have you toe-tapping and singing along. You can tour Owensboro as a day trip from Nashville if time is short, but spending the weekend lets you stay for the Friday After 5 concert series. Since its opening, El Club has sought to introduce the city to artists not normally seen in the city, such as Chelsea Wolfe and Sunn O))), as well as hosting Detroits hip hop stars such as Danny Brown. In 2013, when Rolling Stone polled artists and industry insiders on the best big-room clubs in the country, the 9:30 Club ended at Number One. Related: Compare & Buy Travel Insurance For 2021. Playing this month: Norah Jones (6/1), John Mayer. Get a feel for these . Introduced the world to: Stevie Ray Vaughn, Joe Ely, Charlie Sexton, Butthole Surfers, Kinky Friedman 1315 S. Congress Ave., ContinentalClub.com, Stubbs Austin, Tex. These days, it stands as the winter home of the Grand Ole Opry and regularly hosts a diverse array of musicians, entertainers and productions. If you want to see tomorrows country music stars today, then The Stage on Broadway is the place to be. Image from their Facebook page, Nashville, TN 15 Fantastic Colorado Concert Venues Other Than Red Rocks The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time Now this delightful, memory-making destination opens to visitors on Saturday evenings for self-guided tours of A.P. Hank Williams raised a ruckus there, Johnny Cash hosted his TV variety show behind its footlights and Emmylou Harris recorded the stunning Live at the Ryman album on its stage, highlight the importance and history of the once endangered venue. quietly) to funky new folkateers: Along with its upstairs sister club, the Swedish American Hall, this former speakeasy is a beatnik-cool showcase for todays hippest pop, folk and alternative-scene songwriters. The Bluebird. Image from their Facebook page, Charleston, WV The 100,000 square feet inside the building can hold up to six thousand country music fans at once! There are very good music venues that didnt make our list, venues that are quite similar to the places youll soon learn about. Another reason we love Barbs is its vast selection of single malt Scotch. For over 20 years, this dingy-yet-beloved rock club has hosted all kinds of bands including improbably massive ones like the White Stripes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Carter traveled the 30-something miles from their home in Hiltons to downtown Bristol, Tennessee, where they participated in what Johnny Cash would later call the single most important event in the history of country music. With that first record and songs like Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow and Single Girl, Married Girl, the family laid the groundwork for country harmony singing and acoustic guitar playing, inspiring millions. Joe's Great American Bar and Grill. Close out your day at The Melting Point with an intimate performance from an artist like Aimee Mann, Gillian Welch or Todd Snider. The Brickette also has great food and libations. Introduced the world to: The Neville Brothers, Cowboy Mouth, The Radiators, Galactic 501 Napoleon Ave., Tipitinas.com, Workplay Birmingham, Ala. Best place to entertain business clients: Complete with a performance theater, bar, soundstage, two recording studios and the hippest office park this side of Googleplex, Birminghams WorkPlay is the epitome of responsible relaxation. You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. Introduced the world to: The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane 1805 Geary Boulevard, TheFillmore.com, Tractor Tavern Seattle, Wash. Best place to gripe about the state of country radio: This nice, diesel place to hear music was at the epicenter of the 90s alt.country movementNo Depression magazine co-founders Grant Alden and Peter Blackstock frequented the club when they began publishing back in 1995. Some memorable SXSW performances here have made national headlines, like Metallicas secret gig in 2009 but youre just as likely to see a great show at Stubbs on any random night. Dance halls like The Broken Spoke and The White Horse offer two-step lessons along with live music. Image courtesy of Paul Sableman, Denver, CO Qudos Bank Arena (21,032) Ricky Martin performs live for fans at Allphones Arena on April 30, 2015 in . If you want to see how they get down country-style in Chicago then head on over to Bub City. [This was an] impressive place to me. All rights reserved. Introduced the world to: The Replacements, Hsker D, Soul Asylum, The Jayhawks, Peter Himmelman 701 First Avenue North, First-Avenue.com, 9:30 Club Washington, D.C. Best place to see a show in the worst neighborhood: Northwest D.C. isnt the coziest place on Earth, but the 9:30 Club still pulls music lovers from all over the metro area, booking both the nations most popular acts and up-and-coming local favorites. I fell in love with Hollywood then, and Im still in love with Hollywood. , concert film there, and Stevie Nicks, Dave Matthews Band, the Moody Blues and Neil Young all filmed DVDs there. Outside the city itself, theres even more to love. " Non-Profit Venue ". The Barn is host to some of country music's finest artists today. Opened in 1999 with a Celine Dion concert, Denver's largest multi-purpose arena and music venue is located in the heart of Lower Downtown (LoDo) Denver. Image courtesy of Tara Hunt, Scottsdale, AZ Since the 17,500-person capacity venue opened in 1922, artists have been making history there year after year: The Beatles played there in 1965 and 1965 and released the live album, The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl, using recordings they made there; the Doors do the same in 1968; Monty Python staged their last full revue there in 1982; Kanye West chose the venue as the perfect place to play his 808s & Heartbreak album in its entirety in 2015; Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers played what would be their final shows together there in 2017 before his death. If youre vacationing in Texas, the Cowboy Bar should be on your itinerary. JONATHAN BERNSTEIN, In existence since the early Eighties and at its current location for over 20 years, the 9:30 Club has long been recognized as one of the countrys greatest indie rock venues. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try That made selecting 50 a bit of a challenge. 2023 Rolling Stone, LLC. Since hundreds of venues have helped make country music what it is today it can be hard to decide to choose between them all. With the release of her self-titled 1993 debut album, her music was often classified as country-pop. Image courtesy of Jay Cross, Image courtesy of Jean-Etienne Minh-Duy Poirrier. Aaron Lewis at the Dusty Armadillo. In the summer of 1927, the Carter Family Maybelle, Sara and A.P. Image from their Facebook page, Alexandria, VA Owensboro also hosts the annual ROMP Fest, with workshops on songwriting, instruments, clogging, jamming and more. Two-steppers young and old gather at this hidden gem each week for Honky Tonk Tuesdays, a weekly free concert (a $10. 1011 12th Street, DepartmentOfSafety.com, Doug Fir Lounge Portland, Ore. Best place to spend the night after a show: This one-time greasy spoon located in Portlands Eastside scuzz-junkie district has retooled to become the Rose Citys hottest nightspot. Image courtesy of Jonas Lamis, Washington, D.C. Recently, the club held two epic prom nights, with My Morning Jacket as the white-suited, faux-pompadoured house band. Billy Bobs Texas holds the title of the largest honky tonk in the world. To help find Americas best music venues, we went to the expertsyou. This list of the top 16 country music venues in Texas comprises venues from all over the state that each add something unique and special to the overall Texas music scene. , tour. Image from their Facebook page, Piedmont, SC This sports bar and grill boasts live entertainment seven nights a week, with a schedule of performers that skews toward country, blues and swing. Then you go to Lincoln Center and that whole idea suddenly seems silly. This venue is named after a 121-acre plot of land purchased by the Sherman brothers in 1881. A Place to Bury Strangers performs at Brooklyn Steel. 10 Best Live Music Venues in America - Rolling Stone Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly In the summer of 1927, the Carter Family Maybelle, Sara and A.P. The 20 Biggest Music Venues in the World - Newsweek Playing this month: Pretty Girls Make Graves? Come by on . Carter traveled the 30-something miles from their home in Hiltons to downtown Bristol, Tennessee, where they participated in what Johnny Cash would later call "the single most important event in the history of country music." The Continental Club 1315 South Congress Avenue The club calls itself the grandfather of live music venues in Austin.