3 Best Venues for Live Music in Seattle

Seattle is home to some of the most famous music legends, including Nirvana and Pearl Jam. It’s no surprise that there are plenty of venues for live music all around the city. When you’re in the mood for live music, make sure to check out these venues.

The Showbox at The Market

Located downtown right across from Pike Place Market, this venue is a legend around the city. It first opened its doors in 1939, and everyone from Pearl Jam to Muddy Waters has played in this theater. With a capacity of only 1,100, it’s hard to imagine all these famous bands playing in a small venue when they now sell out huge arenas. You can find live music most nights of the week, and they have national and international bands play on their stages. Some of the most popular nights are when the local bands play, however.

There are two bars in the venue which are at different levels, so you’ll always be able to have a view of the stage. Concert-goers of all ages will enjoy the main floor, where mosh pits can be found for rock shows.

Columbia City Theater

This is the oldest vaudeville theater in Washington state, as it was built in 1917. Many famous jazz musicians played here in the 1940s, including Ella Fitzergald and Duke Ellington. In the 1980s it became the home of the punk movement, and in the 1990s it turned into an underground rave house and art commune. After closing and getting renovated, it opened back up in 2010 and had the honor of being named the finest-sounding room in Seattle by Spin magazine.

The Columbia City Theater now has an elegant look to it with exposed brick walls, soaring ceilings, and red velvet curtains. You can now find many local musicians playing there, with the genre being everything from hip-hop to acoustic Americana to burlesque revue.

The Highline

If you like vegan food and metal music, you’ll love The Highline. It has a divey and dark ambiance and is in the middle of the busy Capitol Hill neighborhood. Even if you’re a carnivore, you’ll be impressed with how tasty the options are that they offer, such as Buffalo wings and country fried tofu. They also have 25 beers on tap to choose from as well as a booze infusion they make themselves. You can find live music from Wednesdays to Sundays, and it’s normally very loud. If you want to give singing a shot, stop by on Tuesdays for “cakearoke” to test your skills.

When you want to see a live show in Seattle, you’ll have no shortage of venues to go to. Check out the local bands to see what’s up and coming in the area, as you never know who will be the next big thing. You’ll also be treated to an assortment of popular bands coming through the area and playing on the same stages where some of the greatest musicians in history have set foot.

Photo by Heather | Licensed by CC BY 2.0

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