Looking for a live music venue in Charlotte? Here’s a guide to help you out
While Charlotte is well known for its breweries, sports bars and great restaurants, a thriving live music scene is also a huge staple in the community.
Locals have been listening at some of these spots for decades, getting a chance to hear their favorite local bands or see touring acts.
Sure, we have great venues like The Fillmore, The Underground and Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre, and even bigger venues like The Spectrum Center and PNC Music Pavilion. But if you’re looking for something a bit more intimate, you’ve come to the right spot.
Whatever your tastes are — rock, country, indie-pop or jazz — here are the best spots to catch quality live music in Charlotte:
Amos’ Southend
Location: 1423 S Tryon St, Charlotte NC 28203
Amos’ Southend brings new and established sounds to the city. This two-story venue opened its doors in 1990 and has had a great variety of artists perform, such as John Mayer, John Legend and Snoop Dogg.
Amos’ gives music lovers the opportunity to see big artists and local bands in a more intimate and comfortable setting.
Capacity: 750
Cajun Queen
Location: 1800 E 7th Street, Charlotte NC 28204
This Cajun restaurant stands in a 100-year-old historic house, located in the heart of the Elizabeth neighborhood. Its restored dining room features live jazz music and rooftop terraces, plus a bar with endless drinks. Enjoy the smooth sounds while eating favorite dishes like New Orleans BBQ Shrimp or Chicken Etouffee.
Capacity: 100+
Comet Grill
Location: 2224 Park Road, Charlotte NC 28203
Located in Dilworth Crossing, this neighborhood bar is known for its live music and juicy Comet Classic burgers. Comet Grill hosts free live music five days out of the week, making it hard to miss the sounds of this local venue.
Capacity: 50-100
Coyote Joe’s
Location: 4621 Wilkinson Blvd. Charlotte NC 28208
Fun fact: Country-music hot spot Coyote Joe’s was nominated as “Club of the Year” from the Academy of Country Music Awards. This venue offers line dancing, local and big-name country music acts, and a mechanical bull that ladies can ride for free. Get your cowboy boots and hat on to experience a nice country night out in Charlotte.
Capacity: 3,200
Crown Station Coffeehouse & Pub
Location: 3629 N Davidson St Suite 102, Charlotte NC 28205
The cozy environment at Crown Station Coffeehouse & Pub offers coffee, teas and a wide selection of well-crafted draft beers and custom cocktails. It also hosts entertainment every night, including live music from alt-pop to funk jam, karaoke and open mics.
Capacity: 150-200
Devil’s Logic Brewery
Location: 1426 E 4th St, Charlotte, NC 28204
Sitting at the edge of the Cherry and Elizabeth neighborhood, a nearly 100-year-old building is home to one of Charlotte’s favorite breweries, Devil’s Logic. This brewery may be known for its rooftop yoga, trivia nights and run club, but it’s also known for hosting live music that almost everyone can find themselves enjoying.
Capacity: 85+
The Evening Muse
Location: 3227 N Davidson St, Charlotte NC 28205
Sitting in the corner of the beloved NoDa neighborhood, The Evening Muse is hard to miss, especially from the creative artwork and music that this venue offers. The live music spot opened its doors in 2001, bringing more than 20 years of local and live music to Charlotte’s culture.
Capacity: 120
Free Range Brewery
Location: 2320 N Davidson St, Charlotte NC 28205
Every Sunday afternoon from 35 p.m., Free Range Brewery hosts live music from local bands and artists. Come find yourself enjoying a Cream of the Crop Carolina Cream Ale or a Therapy Session hazy IPA and listening to the tunes that Free Range Brewery has to offer.
Capacity: 1,500
Goldie’s
Location: 3601 South Blvd, Charlotte NC 28209
Goldie’s opened in late May and has quickly become one of the top spots to listen to live music in Charlotte. Musical talent comes in genres from good old-fashioned country to rock n’ roll. Customers can also enjoy one of Tina’s pizzas with a specialty house margarita to wash it down.
Capacity: 150+
Hattie’s Tap & Tavern
Location: 2918 The Plaza, Charlotte NC 28205
Dog-friendly Hattie’s Tap & Tavern is located in Plaza Hills, offering a variety of fun drinks and things to do. Inside the neighborhood bar, you can find a claw machine, darts and board games you can play while listening to live music and enjoying beer, liquor or wine inside or outside on the patio.
Capacity: 100-150
Jackbeagle’s NoDa
Location: 3213 N Davidson St, Charlotte NC 28205
This laid-back tavern hosts live music on the patio at the NoDa location, along with an open mic every Wednesday. Come and enjoy one of the customers’ favorites like Chili Mac n’ Cheese or the California Cheesesteak and pair it with a Dog House margarita.
Capacity: 100+
The Jazz Room: JazzArts Charlotte
Location: 700 N College St, Charlotte NC 28202
The Jazz Room provides a casual and intimate setting with a full bar, dedicating the space monthly to classical jazz in the heart of Uptown. This music venue provides live jazz performances from local, regional and national artists who bring their talent and sound to the Queen City. Sounds range from modern to early jazz.
Capacity: 200
The Milestone Club
Location: 3400 Tuckaseegee Rd, Charlotte NC 28208
The Milestone Club is Charlotte’s oldest active live music venue. It opened in 1969 and is still located in West Charlotte’s historic Enderly Park neighborhood. You can grab a cold beer and listen to one of the bands that The Milestone has hosted in its 54 years including Bad Brains, R.E.M., Bo Diddley and Nirvana.
The Milestone Club also showcases local bands with genres including indie-rock, heavy metal, rock and punk.
Capacity: 200
Middle C Jazz
Location: 300 South Brevard Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Upscale club Middle C Jazz offers intimate experiences with Southern hospitality. With regional and national acts such as Maria Howell and Noel Freidline, Ziad and Jazz is Phish, Middle C Jazz aims to inspire every kind of music-lover in Charlotte. Guests can also enjoy small plates and premium cocktails during their visit to the New York-style club.
Capacity: 200
The Music Yard at SouthBound
Location: 2433 South Blvd, Charlotte NC 28203
Nestled between Mac’s Speed Shop and Southbound, The Music Yard is a boutique outdoor music venue where you can see live music from bands and local artists. This venue also hosts comedians and DJs and serves as a venue where people can take a yoga or fitness class, making it one of the top favorites in the South End area.
Capacity: 400-500
Neighborhood Theatre
Location: 511 E 36th St, Charlotte NC 28205
One of Charlotte’s top independent venues, Neighborhood Theatre, opened in 1997 and has been a primary source for the Charlotte community to listen to live music. This venue crowds NoDa with its sounds and energy, making the area more alive than ever.
It offers elevated seating options and a diverse lineup of acts — plus easy access to the bars and restaurants that NoDa has to offer.
Capacity: 956
The Rabbit Hole
Location: 1801 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte NC 28205
The Rabbit Hole in Plaza Midwood offers a wide range of cocktails, drinks and live music. Its scene attracts live funk, punk, bluegrass, EDM, hip-hop and blues shows. The music venue holds 350 people, which creates a fun and social atmosphere.
Capacity: 350
The Rooster Gastonia
Location: 334 W. Main Ave Gastonia, NC
Just a short drive from Charlotte, the Rooster celebrates local and regional artists and bands. Music talents come in all varieties, such as country, reggae and blues. Married couple Michael and Kristy Carpenter opened The Rooster in hopes of bringing live entertainment to Gastonia and sharing their love of the arts.
Capacity: 190
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Snug Harbor
Location: 1228 Gordon St, Charlotte NC 28205
Snug Harbor recently celebrated 16 years in Plaza Midwood. This neighborhood bar and local music venue have hosted a variety of local and national artists since its opening in 2007, including country, folk, metal, rap and so much more.
Capacity: 175
Petra’s Bar
Location: 1919 Commonwealth Ave Charlotte NC 28205
Plaza Midwood bar Petra’s offers live music with a patio and a taproom, setting up guests to experience a great time. The down-to-earth venue puts out performances from genres including jazz and rock bands with an exceptional drink menu. Petra’s bar also hosts stand-up comedy, karaoke and queer variety shows that mix trivia and drag.
Capacity: 150
The Spoke Easy
Location: 1503 Elizabeth Ave #100, Charlotte NC 28204
Although The Spoke Easy may be a bicycle shop during the day, it turns into an underground music scene later on at night. This music space has hosted local bands from smooth jazz to hardcore punk legends. Come and find a show at this unique venue, located right down the street from Central Piedmont Community College, Central Campus.
Capacity: 250
Skylark Social Club
Location: 2131 Central Ave, Charlotte NC 28205
Skylark Social Club, a musician-owned social club known for “Brews, Booze, Rock N Roll,” provides a hardcore music experience with acts performing heavy metal and indie rock. Skylark Social Club also hosts karaoke nights, drag shows and comedy events.
Capacity: 100
Smokey Joe’s Cafe
Location: 510 Brair Creek Rd, Charlotte NC 28205
Funky local hangout Smokey Joe’s Cafe is located by Independence Blvd, providing an intimate space for live music. This laid-back rustic watering hole also features big TVs & pool tables in relaxed, kitsch-filled digs. Smokey Joe’s is known for creating a comfortable atmosphere to listen to live music.
Capacity: 100+
Starlight on 22nd
Location: 422 East 22nd Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28206
Located near the light rail, Starlight on 22nd hosts not only music but a variety of other artistic expressions, such as dance classes and comedy nights. Enjoy signature cocktails like the Starlight Spritz, and if you’re feeling a little hungry, you can get a charcuterie board or some spring rolls.
Capacity: 240
The Thirsty Beaver Saloon
Location: 1225 Central Ave, Charlotte NC 28204
The Thirsty Beaver Saloon — which has survived multiple failed attempts by developers to sell the property — is known for being a neighborhood bar where everyone from brick layers to lawyers can have a great time. The bar is also known for once hosting a very special guest, The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger. Come and check out the spot that the rock n’ roll legend enjoyed talking about with The Washington Post.
Capacity: 150
The Tipsy Burro Saloon & Cantina
Location: 2711 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC, United States, North Carolina
Live music plus Mexican food? Yes, please! The Tipsy Burro may be known for its Mexican favorites like chicken enchiladas or queso birria Tacos, but it’s also known as a venue for great entertainment and live music. This favorite spot offers live music from bluegrass to rock n’ roll.
Capacity: 50+
Tommy’s Pub
Location: 3124 Eastway Dr #710, Charlotte, NC 28205
Established in 1977, Tommy’s Pub has been a source of live entertainment for the Queen City for decades. This neighborhood pub offers live music and an open mic every Thursday, making it a comfortable place for people to hang out after work.
Capacity: 50-150
