These 8 Cool Concert Venues Look As Great As They Sound
April 22, 2015
When you hear “cool concert venues,” what do you expect? Dancing crowds? The chance to see your favorite musicians in the flesh? Reverberating basslines? How about chandeliers? Or bowling alleys? Or barbecue?
Those last ones might sound strange to the average concertgoer, but if you’re on your way to one of these eight cool concert venues, it’s only to be expected. From nature-made amphitheatres surrounded by incredible scenery to refurbished venues reborn as live music spaces, these one-of-a-kind concert halls are worthy of your next big night out.
RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE, MORRISON, CO: A bit of al fresco tuneage in the summer is always enjoyable – but head for a concert at the
Red Rocks Amphitheatre and the band onstage won't be the only show. In fact, it might be hard to keep your eyes glued to the musicians given the setting. The venue is, incredibly, the world's only naturally formed and acoustically flawless amphitheatre. And it's pretty, too.
Image courtesy of Stevie Crecelius
JAY PRITZKER PAVILION, CHICAGO, IL: What's it like to go for a show inside a starchitect-designed venue? Head to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chi-Town's
Millennium Park and you'll quickly find out that, well, it's darn cool. Designed by the iconic Frank Gehry, the outdoor venue bears his characteristic swoops and swirls – all complemented by picnic-ready grassy lawns.
Image courtesy of Patrick Pyszka
THE TABERNACLE, ATLANTA, GA: Heading for a night out at
The Tabby? Be prepared for some serious visual splendor: This is no beer-doused old music hall. Still equipped with its original, 1910 features – including painted balconies, ornately decorated ceilings, and even a crystal chandelier – this building started out as a religious institution but has an entirely more secular vibe these days.
Image courtesy of Perry Julien Photography
PAPPY & HARRIET'S, PIONEERTOWN, CA: On the edge of Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California stands
Pappy & Harriet's. A cursory glance and it looks like you've rolled up to an Old Western saloon, but venture inside and you'll find the sheriffs and cowpokes have been replaced with awesome acts like Jamie XX, Neutral Milk Hotel, and The Mountain Goats. You can still show up with a cowboy hat if you want.
Image courtesy of Pappy & Harriet’s
ASBURY LANES, ASBURY PARK, NJ: It's a bowling alley! It's a retro landmark! It's a concert venue! Fact is,
Asbury Lanes is all three, and while its unassuming exterior doesn't look like anything special, the venue is the stuff of local legend for its awesome kitschy décor, its roster of punk and noise bands, and its burlesque nights. If you want to do your best Big Lebowski, you can also hit the lanes when the bands aren't around.
Image courtesy of
Flickr4Jazz
STUBBS BBQ, AUSTIN, TX: Is
Stubbs a barbecue restaurant with live music or a music venue with some killer barbecue? Don't spend too long puzzling it over and instead make a beeline for this beloved Austin joint. The brisket is smoking, the sauce is serious, and the bands are legit – legends the likes of Sleater-Kinney, They Might be Giants, Ben Folds, and Built to Spill are the caliber of artist you can expect to catch here.
Image courtesy of Merrick Ales
MASONIC TEMPLE THEATRE, DETROIT, MI: The
Masonic Temple Theatre, an icon of Detroit architecture, has a rock-solid place on our list of cool concert venues. For one, it's the largest Masonic temple in the U.S. – and still active. There's the fact that it was saved from bankruptcy by Jack White in 2013. And then there's the incredible stage – the second largest in the country. Now that's some pretty special concert-going.
Image courtesy of Masonic Temple Theatre
SEATTLE LIVING ROOM SHOWS, SEATTLE, WA: So you can catch awesome bands in barbecue restaurants, refurbished churches, and bowling alleys. Next up: your neighbor's living room (or a number of other secret spots across the city). Courtesy of the decidedly quirky
Seattle Living Room Shows, you can experience the best of the local music scene all from the intimate comfort of a cushion-strewn sofa. Gives new meaning to "house music," doesn't it?
Image courtesy of Jason Tang
RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE, MORRISON, CO: A bit of al fresco tuneage in the summer is always enjoyable – but head for a concert at the
Red Rocks Amphitheatre and the band onstage won't be the only show. In fact, it might be hard to keep your eyes glued to the musicians given the setting. The venue is, incredibly, the world's only naturally formed and acoustically flawless amphitheatre. And it's pretty, too.
Image courtesy of Stevie Crecelius
JAY PRITZKER PAVILION, CHICAGO, IL: What's it like to go for a show inside a starchitect-designed venue? Head to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chi-Town's
Millennium Park and you'll quickly find out that, well, it's darn cool. Designed by the iconic Frank Gehry, the outdoor venue bears his characteristic swoops and swirls – all complemented by picnic-ready grassy lawns.
Image courtesy of Patrick Pyszka
THE TABERNACLE, ATLANTA, GA: Heading for a night out at
The Tabby? Be prepared for some serious visual splendor: This is no beer-doused old music hall. Still equipped with its original, 1910 features – including painted balconies, ornately decorated ceilings, and even a crystal chandelier – this building started out as a religious institution but has an entirely more secular vibe these days.
Image courtesy of Perry Julien Photography
PAPPY & HARRIET'S, PIONEERTOWN, CA: On the edge of Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California stands
Pappy & Harriet's. A cursory glance and it looks like you've rolled up to an Old Western saloon, but venture inside and you'll find the sheriffs and cowpokes have been replaced with awesome acts like Jamie XX, Neutral Milk Hotel, and The Mountain Goats. You can still show up with a cowboy hat if you want.
Image courtesy of Pappy & Harriet’s
ASBURY LANES, ASBURY PARK, NJ: It's a bowling alley! It's a retro landmark! It's a concert venue! Fact is,
Asbury Lanes is all three, and while its unassuming exterior doesn't look like anything special, the venue is the stuff of local legend for its awesome kitschy décor, its roster of punk and noise bands, and its burlesque nights. If you want to do your best Big Lebowski, you can also hit the lanes when the bands aren't around.
Image courtesy of
Flickr4Jazz
STUBBS BBQ, AUSTIN, TX: Is
Stubbs a barbecue restaurant with live music or a music venue with some killer barbecue? Don't spend too long puzzling it over and instead make a beeline for this beloved Austin joint. The brisket is smoking, the sauce is serious, and the bands are legit – legends the likes of Sleater-Kinney, They Might be Giants, Ben Folds, and Built to Spill are the caliber of artist you can expect to catch here.
Image courtesy of Merrick Ales
MASONIC TEMPLE THEATRE, DETROIT, MI: The
Masonic Temple Theatre, an icon of Detroit architecture, has a rock-solid place on our list of cool concert venues. For one, it's the largest Masonic temple in the U.S. – and still active. There's the fact that it was saved from bankruptcy by Jack White in 2013. And then there's the incredible stage – the second largest in the country. Now that's some pretty special concert-going.
Image courtesy of Masonic Temple Theatre
SEATTLE LIVING ROOM SHOWS, SEATTLE, WA: So you can catch awesome bands in barbecue restaurants, refurbished churches, and bowling alleys. Next up: your neighbor's living room (or a number of other secret spots across the city). Courtesy of the decidedly quirky
Seattle Living Room Shows, you can experience the best of the local music scene all from the intimate comfort of a cushion-strewn sofa. Gives new meaning to "house music," doesn't it?
Image courtesy of Jason Tang
