Live Music Venues in Hartford, CT

Hartford, CT. What can be said about this Connecticut City? It’s got great…insurance companies? It’s also close to New York and Boston. Hartford also, like any city, has a variety of live music venues big and small where visitors and locals can enjoy a show. And if you don’t care for music, well, some of those insurance companies probably give tours.

The Hartford Civic Center (One Civic Center Plaza, 860- 249-6333) is Hartford’s big venue for live music. All the big touring acts come through this 30-year old venue, from Sting to Beyonce/Alicia Keyes, Prince, Sarah Maclachlan and others. Billy Joel was among the acts scheduled for 2006. Luxury seating is available and tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster. Events in winter months are few and far between due to the use of the arena by the local AHL team the Hartford Wolf Pack and UCONN hockey.

The Webster Theater (31 Webster St.)is a former moviehouse (remember when we used to have movie houses? Neither do I, really…) This venue has two stages: the theater and the Underground. The Theater has some big name (or at least semi-known-name acts including groups like Bob Marley’s Wailers and Anthrax but mostly has names known probably just to people who follow what less high profile rock, including some scary bands with names like Circus of Dead Squirrels and others typically obscure alt. rock titles. The Underground has similar acts include second shows by people performing in the theater. There seem to be themes for each night in both rooms: femme fatals,for instance. Tickets are available at 860.525.5553 Room is available for private events. The Webster refers to itself as Hartford’s best venue for live music and was voted as such by a local newspaper five years running.

Black-Eyes Sallys BBQ & Blues(350 Asylum St, 860-278-7427) is just what its name suggest: a barbecue-serving,live blues-playing establishment in Hartford. Events range from open mic nights and open Blues jam sessions to appearances by local/regional and famous (Lucky Peterson) live blues bands and performers. They’ve also got 70’s rock, acid blues.

Sully’s Pub (2071 Park St, 860-231-) has a very (visually) loud website. But what’s the music like? Well, the place bills itself as “Hartford’s home of live, original music 7 nights a week,” so that tells us something. There’s rock, there’s acoustic rock, there’s open mic nights for both acoustic and electric acts. It’s also connected to Lena’s, a pizza place.

Club Blu (191 Ann St., 860.241.0332) bills itself as Hartford’s premiere nightclub. Why? It’s got cryogenics. What? Apparently it’s some system that releases nitrogen into the air to cool where you are. Anyhoo… Live bands here play on Friday. They are local and seem to be mixed in genre, some Latin, some hip-hop, some rock. I think they’ve got male dancers, too, but, that’s a different article.
Live music is also available at Standing Stone (11 Allyn Street/beneath The Brickyard, 860-249-2112) .

So, when traveling through or to Hartford, don’t forget to stop and enjoy the local talent or the visiting bigshot acts. And if you get to hot, don’t hesitate to try to cryogenics. If it’s good enough for Walt Disney, it’s good enough for you.