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A live show is a one-time thing. You can remember and retell it once it’s over, but it is a single occasion, a one-off moment. Venues provide the spaces for such moments to occur, where the listening experience moves from a solitary pursuit to a shared one with a community of fans. Where you see bands shapes not only their shows—the atmosphere, the ambience, the sound quality—but also what you, as an audience member, get out of it. With so many historic venues scattered across America, we narrowed down a list of 10 places that are worthy of your eyes and ears, and a country-wide road trip.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre
There are few venues in the world that are as unique as Red Rocks. The setting, carved into the sandstone foothills of the Rocky Mountains, gives each performance its own, one-of-a-kind feel. For that reason, Red Rocks has been hosting performances for more than a hundred years. The Grateful Dead, U2, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, and Dave Matthews Band are just a few of the acts that have performed here. For its first rock concert, in 1964, the venue set the bar high and welcomed the Beatles to the stage.
Tipitina’s
Tipitina’s has played an important role in New Orleans’ rich music history. The club was started by local music fans and became the home of pianist Professor Longhair, who created the New Orleans samba-style piano rhythm. Tipitina’s music influence has only grown since. Socially, the Tipitina’s Foundation gives back to the community, providing instruments to local schools and hosting youth music workshops. Watching a show at Tipitina’s is an immersive experience, where visitors are able to dive into local music history and savor the richness of the scene.
The NorVa
The NorVa opened its doors in 2000 after receiving a $6 million renovation. Originally a Roaring Twenties movie hall, the venue got rebranded by owner A. William Reid, who saw promise in the strength of the local music scene and Norfolk’s rising downtown. Its music history was kicked off with an opening-night performance from James Brown. Since then it has hosted some of the biggest names in the industry, including Prince, Bob Dylan, and Justin Timberlake.
Ryman Auditorium
The Ryman stage is a monolith in music. It’s the former home of the Grand Ole Opry, from 1943 to 1974, and has hosted performances from Mae West to Elvis Presley to Johnny Cash. It’s a historic place, and its wooden pews and stained glass windows capture that mood. When you see a show here, you’re at the altar of one of the greatest venues in music history.
Metro
Formerly known as the Cabaret Metro, this Chicago landmark has been hosting shows for more than 30 years. It originally opened in the summer of 1982, kicking off with a show by R.E.M. Owner Joe Shanahan advertised the concert in the back pages of small local papers and sold tickets for $5. After that first night, a legendary venue was born. The space went on to host some of rock's biggest acts in the ’90s like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and the Smashing Pumpkins. You can’t tell from the street, with its reserved appearance, but inside sits a huge room with balcony seating overlooking the stage. The wide-open space invokes a sense of drama. For those lucky enough to travel here, each event is a spectacle to behold.
The Bowery Ballroom
The Bowery Ballroom opened its doors in 1998 and quickly become one of the most recognizable venues in the indie rock scene. Nondescript and located in the Lower East Side, it’s a historic building with excellent sound quality and open sightlines. It’s a small venue with a max capacity of 550, making the shows intimate and warm. Many great bands roll through Bowery on their way to stardom, so catching them here first makes for an unforgettable experience.
The Fillmore
The walls of The Fillmore in San Francisco are lined with original concert posters from past performers. The history of the venue is so rich that taking it all in can be intimidating. It opened in 1965, and allowed local acts Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead to make their names here. The venue played a key role in the birth of 1960s counterculture, hosting the Doors, Santana, Frank Zappa, the Who, and Pink Floyd, among others. In the span of four years, the Grateful Dead played 51 shows here. The performances were often accompanied by impressive and striking light shows and wild dancing, adding to The Fillmore’s legendary status.
Troubadour
The Troubadour was the place to be for prominent singer-songwriters in the 1960s. James Taylor, the Eagles, and Van Morrison are just a few of the names that have performed here. Elton John’s first concert on U.S. soil was performed at the Troubadour, and ever since, he has returned year after year for a series of anniversary concerts. In the ’70s and ’80s the venue became a hotspot for the rise of new wave and punk metal, welding acts such as Poison and Guns N’ Roses. Today, the legend carries on, with contemporary greats like Radiohead, Coldplay, and the Libertines gracing the fabled stage.
The Surf Ballroom
The Surf helped push forward the jazz movement in the 1940s, attracting acts like Duke Ellington and Count Basie. A fire destroyed the original location in 1947, but it reopened a year later, across the street from its original location. From there it continued to carve out its place in music history, hosting the Beach Boys, Waylon Jennings, Little River Band, and others. Legendary rock 'n' roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson gave their final performances at the Surf. Attached to the venue is a museum of music memorabilia and a Hall of Fame, paying homage to the artists who played the historic stage.
First Avenue
Originally operating as a Greyhound depot when its doors opened in 1937, First Avenue later became a regular venue for Prince in the 1980s. It also helped birth the Minneapolis punk and hardcore scene, with the Replacements, Soul Asylum, and Semisonic regularly performing. It was shuttered briefly in 2004, but has since reopened. Its acoustics, history, and reputation continue to draw in big name acts and fans from across the world.