There have been a lot of changes in the local music scene in the past few years. When the pandemic hit and everything shut down, some spots didn't come back. But, interestingly, some brand new spaces were dreamed up during that dark time that have now come to life.
Have you been out of the loop on what's been happening in the music scene? Don't worry, we're here to help.
This collection includes all of the best places to see live music in St. Louis. Big, small, wide and tall, these spaces will provide you with more music than your little ears can handle. Long live the mighty St. Louis music scene.
The Best Places to See Live Music in St. Louis
By Riverfront Times on Fri, Oct 13, 2023 at 9:08 am
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Steve Truesdell
THE SINKHOLE
(7423 South Broadway, sinkholerecords.com)
VIBE: Small punk club for up-and-coming locals and underground-famous touring bands
TIP: Wear whatever you feel most comfortable in but don’t leave anything of value in your car; the neighboring streets can be a bit crime-y.
(7423 South Broadway, sinkholerecords.com)
VIBE: Small punk club for up-and-coming locals and underground-famous touring bands
TIP: Wear whatever you feel most comfortable in but don’t leave anything of value in your car; the neighboring streets can be a bit crime-y.
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RFT file photo
THE FACTORY
(17105 North Outer 40 Road, Chesterfield; thefactorystl.com)
VIBE: Large new space with great sound and and efficient drinks options
TIP: Parking couldn’t be easier. But don’t bother paying for the VIP tables; they’re not worth it
(17105 North Outer 40 Road, Chesterfield; thefactorystl.com)
VIBE: Large new space with great sound and and efficient drinks options
TIP: Parking couldn’t be easier. But don’t bother paying for the VIP tables; they’re not worth it
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Todd Owyoung
THE PAGEANT
(6161 Delmar Boulevard, thepageant.com)
VIBE: Large venue with great sound system that’s known for hosting world-class touring performers
TIP: You can arrive late because sight lines are great throughout the whole venue so you don’t need to be worried about being stuck in a bad spot.
(6161 Delmar Boulevard, thepageant.com)
VIBE: Large venue with great sound system that’s known for hosting world-class touring performers
TIP: You can arrive late because sight lines are great throughout the whole venue so you don’t need to be worried about being stuck in a bad spot.
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Sharon Hall
THE FOCAL POINT
(2720 Sutton Boulevard, Maplewood; thefocalpoint.org)
VIBE: Intimate venue in Maplewood specializing in presenting folk music and songwriters
TIP: Make a night of it in Maplewood with a pre-show dinner at one of the many nearby restaurants and bowling at Saratoga Lanes after.
(2720 Sutton Boulevard, Maplewood; thefocalpoint.org)
VIBE: Intimate venue in Maplewood specializing in presenting folk music and songwriters
TIP: Make a night of it in Maplewood with a pre-show dinner at one of the many nearby restaurants and bowling at Saratoga Lanes after.
4 of 33
Casey Steinmiller
RED FLAG
(3040 Locust Street, redflagstl.com)
VIBE: Warehouse-like space known for hosting heavier live music — but they also do money-makers like Taylor Swift dance parties
TIP: Get your tickets early because the events here frequently sell out.
(3040 Locust Street, redflagstl.com)
VIBE: Warehouse-like space known for hosting heavier live music — but they also do money-makers like Taylor Swift dance parties
TIP: Get your tickets early because the events here frequently sell out.
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Todd Owyoung
THE FABULOUS FOX THEATRE
(527 North Grand Boulevard, fabulousfox.com)
VIBE: This gorgeous and historic spot does double duty as the best place to see a touring musical and the best place to see your favorite artist's concert
TIP: Dress up a bit. This is the most beautiful room in St. Louis so it's a great place to wear that new dress or suit.
(527 North Grand Boulevard, fabulousfox.com)
VIBE: This gorgeous and historic spot does double duty as the best place to see a touring musical and the best place to see your favorite artist's concert
TIP: Dress up a bit. This is the most beautiful room in St. Louis so it's a great place to wear that new dress or suit.
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RFT file photo
HOLLYWOOD CASINO AMPHITHEATRE (a.k.a “Riverport”)
(14141 Riverport Drive, Maryland Heights; hollywoodcasinostlouis.com)
VIBE: Large outdoor shed-type amphitheatre that hosts some of the biggest touring acts
TIP: Seats are cool and all, but everybody knows that the real party is out in the lawn.
(14141 Riverport Drive, Maryland Heights; hollywoodcasinostlouis.com)
VIBE: Large outdoor shed-type amphitheatre that hosts some of the biggest touring acts
TIP: Seats are cool and all, but everybody knows that the real party is out in the lawn.
7 of 33
JOE’S CAFE & ART GALLERY
(6104 Kingsbury Avenue, 314-862-2541)
VIBE: Speakeasy vibes (although it's a B.Y.O.B. venue) with great decorations and a chill atmosphere
TIP: Bring a little extra alcohol with you for your friends and table-neighbors. Somebody always forgets to bring their own booze.
(6104 Kingsbury Avenue, 314-862-2541)
VIBE: Speakeasy vibes (although it's a B.Y.O.B. venue) with great decorations and a chill atmosphere
TIP: Bring a little extra alcohol with you for your friends and table-neighbors. Somebody always forgets to bring their own booze.
8 of 33
Jessica Rogen
CITY WINERY
(3730 Foundry Way, Suite 158; citywinery.com)
VIBE: Depending on the night, it’s a rock club or a comedy club, only it’s not that kind of rock club. You’ll have an assigned seat and a server who brings you appetizers and keeps your water filled. And you’ll enjoy the band you loved in college — City Winery knows how to book ‘em for Gen Xers and older millennials.
TIP: City Winery generally hosts two shows each night, and there’s none of this Axl Rose shit — they start on time and end on time so as to get the next set of butts in the seats. Be prompt.
(3730 Foundry Way, Suite 158; citywinery.com)
VIBE: Depending on the night, it’s a rock club or a comedy club, only it’s not that kind of rock club. You’ll have an assigned seat and a server who brings you appetizers and keeps your water filled. And you’ll enjoy the band you loved in college — City Winery knows how to book ‘em for Gen Xers and older millennials.
TIP: City Winery generally hosts two shows each night, and there’s none of this Axl Rose shit — they start on time and end on time so as to get the next set of butts in the seats. Be prompt.
9 of 33
THE HEAVY ANCHOR
(5226 Gravois Avenue, theheavyanchor.com)
VIBE: Small show room with friendly owners and a perfect little back patio with picnic benches
TIP: They have lots of games here, so you'll have something to do if the show starts late or you're bored between bands.
(5226 Gravois Avenue, theheavyanchor.com)
VIBE: Small show room with friendly owners and a perfect little back patio with picnic benches
TIP: They have lots of games here, so you'll have something to do if the show starts late or you're bored between bands.
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Phuong Bui
SAINT LOUIS MUSIC PARK
(750 Casino Center Drive, Maryland Heights; centenecommunityicecenter.com/saint-louis-music-park)
VIBE: "Little Riverport" (and right near Riverport, too), but much more visitor-friendly
TIP: Arrive early to have a pre-show drink and play some of the fun yard games set up on a big field of Astroturf.
(750 Casino Center Drive, Maryland Heights; centenecommunityicecenter.com/saint-louis-music-park)
VIBE: "Little Riverport" (and right near Riverport, too), but much more visitor-friendly
TIP: Arrive early to have a pre-show drink and play some of the fun yard games set up on a big field of Astroturf.
11 of 33
Jason Stoff
OFF BROADWAY
(3509 Lemp Avenue, offbroadwaystl.com)
VIBE: Warm room with a small balcony and a great patio that hosts some of the best mid-level touring acts in the country
TIP: The balcony is a great spot to do some people-watching with your sweetie.
(3509 Lemp Avenue, offbroadwaystl.com)
VIBE: Warm room with a small balcony and a great patio that hosts some of the best mid-level touring acts in the country
TIP: The balcony is a great spot to do some people-watching with your sweetie.
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Jason Stoff
OLD ROCK HOUSE
(1200 South 7th Street, oldrockhouse.com)
VIBE: Long and pretty room with beautiful tiled floors and plenty of standing room, tables and a small balcony
TIP: Arrive early and grab a pre-show drink in the bar at 4 Hands Brewing Company just up the block.
(1200 South 7th Street, oldrockhouse.com)
VIBE: Long and pretty room with beautiful tiled floors and plenty of standing room, tables and a small balcony
TIP: Arrive early and grab a pre-show drink in the bar at 4 Hands Brewing Company just up the block.
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Holly Ravazzolo
DELMAR HALL
(6133 Delmar Boulevard, thepageant.com/venue-info/delmar-hall/)
VIBE: This is the little-sister venue of the Pageant, where bands with quickly growing audiences play
TIP: If you know where the Pageant is, you can easily figure out where Delmar Hall is, too. It’s right next door with just a little parking lot between.
(6133 Delmar Boulevard, thepageant.com/venue-info/delmar-hall/)
VIBE: This is the little-sister venue of the Pageant, where bands with quickly growing audiences play
TIP: If you know where the Pageant is, you can easily figure out where Delmar Hall is, too. It’s right next door with just a little parking lot between.
14 of 33
Jason Stoff
THE STIEFEL THEATRE
(1400 Market Street, stifeltheatre.com)
VIBE: Historic site with lots of little luxuries and great acoustics
TIP: Arrive super early if it's a show where they're locking up your phone as the entrance can get bottlenecked close to showtime.
(1400 Market Street, stifeltheatre.com)
VIBE: Historic site with lots of little luxuries and great acoustics
TIP: Arrive super early if it's a show where they're locking up your phone as the entrance can get bottlenecked close to showtime.
15 of 33
Holly Ravazzolo
BB’S JAZZ, BLUES AND SOUPS
(700 South Broadway, bbsjazzbluessoups.com)
VIBE: The perfect little blues club with amazing food, too
TIP: Make a night of it and go early for dinner. The soup really is great but so are the salads.
(700 South Broadway, bbsjazzbluessoups.com)
VIBE: The perfect little blues club with amazing food, too
TIP: Make a night of it and go early for dinner. The soup really is great but so are the salads.
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RFT file photo
THE DARK ROOM AT THE GRANDEL
(3610 Grandel Square, kranzbergartsfoundation.org/the-dark-room/)
VIBE: An art-filled, old-school jazz club tucked into the Grandel Theater’s lobby, where you can enjoy a meal at your table while musicians do their thing in a room with great acoustics.
TIP: The photos on the walls aren’t just decorations; they’re generally part of a rotating exhibit and very cool in their own right.
(3610 Grandel Square, kranzbergartsfoundation.org/the-dark-room/)
VIBE: An art-filled, old-school jazz club tucked into the Grandel Theater’s lobby, where you can enjoy a meal at your table while musicians do their thing in a room with great acoustics.
TIP: The photos on the walls aren’t just decorations; they’re generally part of a rotating exhibit and very cool in their own right.
17 of 33
Theo Welling
CBGB
(3163 South Grand Boulevard, no phone)
VIBE: A proudly disgusting, cheap little bar just like its namesake in NYC that hosts small punk bands (both local and touring)
TIP: Bring a friend with you to the bathroom. You'll see why once you get in there.
(3163 South Grand Boulevard, no phone)
VIBE: A proudly disgusting, cheap little bar just like its namesake in NYC that hosts small punk bands (both local and touring)
TIP: Bring a friend with you to the bathroom. You'll see why once you get in there.
18 of 33
Jon Gitchoff
WILLIAM A. KERR FOUNDATION
(21 O’Fallon Street, wakfoundation.org)
VIBE: Wonderfully weird little arty spot just north of Laclede's Landing downtown
TIP: Always attend any event you catch wind of in the Bob Cassilly-designed Rootwad Park beneath the Kerr building — it's where all the cool kids hang out.
(21 O’Fallon Street, wakfoundation.org)
VIBE: Wonderfully weird little arty spot just north of Laclede's Landing downtown
TIP: Always attend any event you catch wind of in the Bob Cassilly-designed Rootwad Park beneath the Kerr building — it's where all the cool kids hang out.
19 of 33
Mabel Suen
PLATYPUS
(4501 Manchester Avenue, drinkplatypus.com)
VIBE: Cool place to be for music or just to hang out because it’s also a celebrated bar
TIP: Definitely order some food from the Eat Duckbill window while you’re there (we recommend the Brussels sprouts) and see about getting a cocktail from famous mixologist (and Platypus co-owner) Meredith Barry.
(4501 Manchester Avenue, drinkplatypus.com)
VIBE: Cool place to be for music or just to hang out because it’s also a celebrated bar
TIP: Definitely order some food from the Eat Duckbill window while you’re there (we recommend the Brussels sprouts) and see about getting a cocktail from famous mixologist (and Platypus co-owner) Meredith Barry.
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