alt-country bars/venues in your area

Any clever band would use every inch of the podcast and alt-country radio show discussions, but what would really be handy is a list of good bars that host alt-country bands written by the people who know.

So speak up! When bands come to your town where should they play? What bars should they avoid and why.

My area : North Texas

Dallas

The Double Wide
Adairs
The Granada
House of Blues

Fort Worth

Lola's Sixth Street
Lola's Stockyards (there's two Lola's)
Longhorn Saloon
Fred's (smaller outdoor venue)
The Moon Bar

Denton

Dan's Silverleaf
Rubber Gloves (RGRS)

and you?

Tags: bars, tours

Views: 2107

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tom Jennings on September 30, 2009 at 5:02am
any suggestions for london, england?
Permalink Reply by TwangNation.com on September 30, 2009 at 9:58am
New York City:

The Rodeo Bar
The National Underground
The Living Room
Joe's Pub
Rockwood Music Hall
Hanks (Brooklyn)

San Francisco:
The Make Out Room
Red Devil Lounge
Thee Park Side
Cafe du Nord
Permalink Reply by Jeff from NH on September 30, 2009 at 6:41pm
In the Boston area, the clubs offer a diverse mix of music, but these are the places that host alt-country/roots rock/americana:

Boston
Paradise Rock Club (big rock shows)
Church of Boston

Cambridge/Somerville
Middle East (med rock shows)
Johnny D's
Lizard Lounge
Toad
Harper's Ferry
Sally O'Brien's
Permalink Reply by Jon Itkin on October 1, 2009 at 2:58pm
I've lived in Portland, OR, NYC and Rochester, NY.

Rochester:

Abilene. Great spot. Genuine roots bar. You won't make a dime, but you'll have fun.

The Bug Jar. All kindsa music there. I split the bill with Joe Pug and Horse Feathers not too long ago there.

NYC:

A lot of good ones have been mentioned, but for me the king of all is Banjo Jims...

PDX

The White Eagle
Duff's Garage
Permalink Reply by Will James on April 19, 2010 at 8:16am
Re: Boston, couple posts above: I'm surprised Jeff left out Precinct Bar in Cambridge/Somerville, home of the 3rd annual Gram National for two nights on Parsons' birthday, Friday, Nov. 5 and Saturday too, one of the great venues in town.

As for Harper's Ferry, you better be Big (on weekends anyway). Sally O'Brien's is probably the friendliest to Americana, but on the small side. Johnny D's almost demands a guarantee that you'll fill his room with 300 souls or he won't book you.
Permalink Reply by The Muckrakes on October 29, 2009 at 6:15am
The Taphouse in Norfolk, VA. as well as The Taphouse in Hampton, VA....that's it for Tidewater , VA.

Other than those 2 venues, Hampton Roads is a place for punk bands, shitty rock bands and cover bands...an occasional country "cover" band, but no REAL venues that's DEDICATED to Americana / Roots type music.

That's why it's important for us to play at any and every venue that we can...and it's hilarious b/c these venues and their management don't know how to advertise / classify us. Eh, to them, we guess it really dosen't matter HOW or WHAT "style" we are, just as long as we contine to bring in a crowd.

We'll also throw in The Cactus and The County Grill, both inYorktown, VA. Although these two venues like cover bands, they respect our type of music / crowd/ fanbase and treat us nicely and pay well.
Permalink Reply by Gavin Frazer on November 9, 2009 at 5:36pm
In Toronto, I've spent much time and money at The Cadilac Lounge.
The Dakota is real good too and I've seen some great live shows at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern.
Permalink Reply by Dino C on December 10, 2009 at 5:01pm
Boston/Cambridge/Somerville

Toad's
The Precinct
Sally O'Brien's
Lizard Lounge
Atwood's Tavern
Permalink Reply by Will James on April 19, 2010 at 8:25am
Thank you, Dino, I'd say this is a good list for this topic re: Boston area (having just dealt with these clubs trying to book Gram National 2010. Could I add Hugh's Room for Toronto above, where they host everyone up to Ian Tyson and will be the venue to see the theatrical Gram Parsons: The Legend of Grievous Angel (http://www.legendofgramparsons.com).
Permalink Reply by john hinckley on January 21, 2013 at 7:50pm

Hey All,

I'm in San Antonio for work next week.

Any recommendations for where the real Roots/Country/Americana/etal clubs are?

I'm more of an Austin type music fan, but I gotta go where they send me, and the ride is free...

(I assume Austin at 80 miles away is too far for one night (though maybe when I was younger...)

Thanks all! Looking forward to my first trip to TX.

john hinckley

huntington, VT

Permalink Reply by steviedal on January 23, 2013 at 10:22am

Small town Scotland UK , absolutely eff all.

A pub with local singers, some decent, doing covers of 60's 70's hits etc.

Very poor. Thanks for depressing me...............

Permalink Reply by Don (f/k/a DPR) on January 28, 2013 at 11:48am

Hey Steve, check out Stacie Collins (www.staciecollins.com).  She is a force of nature and puts on quite the live show.  More importantly, she routinely plays gigs in England and many are in the Midlands and farther north.  While granted, this is not Scotland, is still a lot closer than trekking all the way to London.  In May, she is playing gigs in Grimsby, Leicester, Kendal (closest to you), and Mansfield.

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Created by No Depression Feb 17, 2009 at 9:06pm. Last updated by No Depression Sep 24, 2012.