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Best Atlanta Music Venues

Atlanta Music, Atlanta Restaurants, Best Spinning Music, Jam Bands

Just moved to Atlanta and looking for a place to hear great live music? Atlanta has one of the best music scenes in the country, and venues offer a variety of local music, as well as big name national artists. Here’s a list of ten of our favorite music venues in Atlanta based on the talent and diversity of the performers, as well as the character, vibe and atmosphere of the club or bar.

1. The Variety Playhouse

1099 Euclid Avenue
www.variety-playhouse.com

Readers of Atlanta’s Creative Loafing voted the Variety Playhouse “Best Concert Venue” in 1997 and again every year from 1999 to 2008. Their streak was interrupted only once in 1998 when they were instead voted “Best Rock Club.” In recent years, they’ve also been honored with similar awards by Atlanta Magazine, Southern Voice, INsite Magazine and other noteworthy publications.

With 750 theatre seats, a dozen or so tables and chairs and plenty of room to stand or dance, the Variety Playhouse is large enough to host some famous acts, but intimate enough for fans to get close to the on-stage action. Performers are primarily of the indie-rock persuasion and include well-known national bands like Yo La Tengo and Sonic Youth, as well as local favorites and international treasures.

Over the years, this historic building with its 1940s movie theatre facade barely escaped destruction and was thankfully saved and renovated to be the live music theatre it is today. Located in the culturally-rich, quirky Little Five Points neighborhood, the Variety Playhouse is within blocks of iconic Atlanta restaurants and bars, such as the Vortex and the Euclid Yacht Club.

2. The Masquerade

695 North Avenue NE
www.masq.com

Another music venue in a historic building is The Masquerade, which is housed in an old sawmill. The atmosphere of The Masquerade is very different than any other Atlanta music locale, though. There are three levels – heaven, hell and purgatory – and with a history of foam parties and cage dancers, the place can get kind of wild. It’s certainly never boring and always memorable. In recent years, they’ve opened the area behind the building, known as Masquerade Music Park, to outdoor concerts.

3. The Earl

488 Flat Shoals Avenue SE
www.badearl.com

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The Earl is a 21 and up venue located in the back of the restaurant and bar by the same name in the heart of the East Atlanta Village. If you’re looking for eclectic, creative music, including, but not limited to, indie-rock and experimental music, The Earl is the place for you. They are serious about booking talented, unique artists, and you won’t find cover bands here. You also won’t find commercial music, jam bands, neo-grunge or smooth jazz – among other common genres. Check their listings for upcoming performances, and even if you don’t recognize the band, give it a try anyway. They also have some tasty grub in the adjoining restaurant.

4. The Fox Theatre
660 Peachtree Street NE
www.foxtheatre.org

A National Historic Landmark, the Fox Theatre is one of the most revered buildings in Atlanta. Known more for hosting theatrical plays and musicals, including Broadway productions, they do feature amazing concerts on a somewhat regular basis. Talent that has graced the Fox Theatre’s magnificent stage includes Allison Krauss and Union Station, The Pixies, Modest Mouse and many others. There is nothing better than watching and listening as your favorite musicians play while surrounded by a scene of beautiful, majestic Egyptian architecture and décor covered by a vaulted ceiling of twinkling stars and moving clouds created by lights, crystals and projectors. With incredible acoustics that reach to the last row of orchestra section and up to the highest balcony, there’s not a bad seat in the house. A concert at the Fox Theatre is truly an amazing experience and one of the best and most memorable places to hear live music in Atlanta.

5. Door 44

44 12th Street
www.door44atlanta.com

Talk about atmosphere! The décor alone is worth the trip to Door 44. Designed by Patti Krohngold, who designed several other clubs, restaurants and businesses in Atlanta, the look is custom, chic, sexy and edgy down to every detail, including the dark red and black color scheme, the elegant wall paper, the unique accent pieces, the custom furniture, the tattoo-clad staff and more. But let’s get down to the music. And there’s a lot of music to get down to with two DJs – one upstairs spinning a variety of sounds from hip hop to rock and another one downstairs spinning vibrations of electronic and house music. They also sometimes feature live performances upstairs. Top all of that off with a patio that showcases amazing views of downtown, and this place is the place to be.

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6. Smith’s Olde Bar

1578 Piedmont Avenue
www.smithsoldebar.com

Smith’s Olde Bar is an Atlanta tradition with a large bar, plenty of booths and tables for drinking and dining, a spacious pool room, a music room and a recently added multi-purpose entertainment room. The music room is upstairs and features top-notch acoustics and lighting, as well as its own bar. Performances include local, regional and national talent, and past bands have included David Bowie, Drivin’ N’Cryin and King’s X – just to name a few. The Atlanta Room is more intimate and offers a variety of entertainment options from small, acoustical performances to sports-viewing on the big-screen TV.

7. The Tabernacle

152 Luckie Street NW
www.tabernacleatl.com

Atlantans love to turn old, interesting buildings into entertainment spaces, and The Tabernacle is no exception. Imagine a four-story church built in 1910 in the heart of Downtown Atlanta. Then imagine it lying vacant for years and then being renovated and converted into a music venue. What used to be the sanctuary of The Broughton Tabernacle is now the main performance area, which includes the stage and a huge open audience space that is usually standing room only. On the first and second floor balconies, you’ll find permanent seats that provide excellent views of the stage below. The Tabernacle holds up to 2,600 guests and hosts a variety of artists such as Muse, Mos Def and Jay Electronica, Snow Patrol and many others.

It’s worth noting that just below the Tabernacle is The Cotton Club, a more intimate venue that accommodates around 600 people. This is a great forum for upcoming artists, including local Atlanta bands, as well as national and international talents. It also boasts lighting and sound that’s on par with some of the best in the nation.

8. Chastain Park

4469 Stella Drive
www.classicchastain.com

Set in a park in the middle of a central Atlanta neighborhood, Chastain Park Amphitheatre is Atlanta’s best and most popular outdoor music venue. It isn’t a huge amphitheatre at a capacity of approximately 6,900 people, but it plays host to huge names like Beck, The Flaming Lips, Steely Dan, The Temptations, Duran Duran, Chris Issak and many others. You can sit in the permanent stadium-style seats, at a 6-person table by the stage or on a blanket in the general admission lawn area. You can even bring your own picnic dinner. This is truly the best place in Atlanta to see big-name bands in an intimate, outdoor setting.

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9. The Drunken Unicorn at the MJQ Concourse

736 Ponce de Leon Avenue
www.thedrunkenunicorn.net

Unless you’re with a local or get directions from one, you might have a hard time finding this place. You won’t find a sign, because there isn’t one. What you will find is a treasure of a music venue in the back of MJQ, an Atlanta tradition for late night dancing and drinking. Meander through the crowded dance floors, flashing lights and thumping dance beats of MJQ, and you’ll discover the Drunken Unicorn. At a capacity of 250 people, it’s a small room by many venue standards, but it’s a fun place to see talented, upcoming artists that span a wide range of musical genres. And when the final set comes to a close, chances are, the MJQ dance floor will still be hopping, so your partying doesn’t have to end there.

10. Lenny’s Bar

486 Decatur Street SE
www.lennysbar.com

Owned by the famous Clermont Lounge (an Atlanta landmark in its own right), Lenny’s Bar showcases live musical performances and DJs Monday through Saturday. In 2006, this no-frills bar was voted Best Rock Club in Atlanta by Creative Loafing readers. Bands like The Black Lips, Snowden, Boulevard and many others have played in this 400-capacity venue to a diverse audience of fans, including the strange, the hip, the young, the old, the new and the adoring.

Whether you’re thinking of moving to Atlanta or you’re already at home in Atlanta, we hope this list will help you find your favorite music venues.

Additional Sources:

www.atlantamusicguide.com
http://www.preserveatlanta.com/endangeredbuildingsupdate.htm