The video above is a solid tour of where to go in Houston for live music, covering 12 different venues across several neighborhoods. David Bridwell hits the major spots and some lesser-known ones, giving you a real feel for what each place looks like on a given night — the crowds, the stages, the artists, and the general atmosphere. If you're trying to figure out where to spend your evenings in Houston, this is a good starting point.
What Are the Best Live Music Venues in Houston?
Here are the 12 venues featured in the video, spread across Houston's most music-friendly neighborhoods:
- The Heights Theater — A restored early 1900s movie theater in the Heights with a big stage and plenty of room; featured Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton rocking out on the night of filming
- House of Blues (Bronze Peacock Room) — Downtown Houston's well-known multi-room venue; the Bronze Peacock room hosted a fun, high-energy set of classic covers
- Continental Club — The Houston outpost of the famous Austin club, located in the Midtown area with a similarly packed, intimate feel; Keisha Pratt Band was playing
- Shoeshine Charlie's Big Top Lounge — Attached to the Continental Club and doing some really interesting things, including Honky Tonk Tuesdays with the Houston Honky Tonk Society featuring Christopher Seymour, Patrick B. Ray, and South Texas Tweak; eight bucks gets you a Lone Star, a shot of Jim Beam or tequila, and a loose cigarette — also brought in The Golden Roses from Austin
- MKT Bar — Located inside a specialty foods grocery store in downtown Houston, with afternoon and evening music including Swing Rendezvous playing jazz while swing dancers do their thing
- Rehab Bar — A bar on the bayou with outdoor tables right along the water; featured Eric Corb Band on a Wednesday hump night
- Shady Acres Saloon — A popular spot on 19th Street in the Heights with a dirt dance floor that fills up on weekends; Hard Luck Revival was playing
- Cottonwood — A northwest Houston venue with a big stage and strong music programming; featured the super talented Jess Schneider and friends
- Mercantile Montrose — Primarily a coffee spot in the Montrose neighborhood that hosts the Houston Ensemble for jazz on Monday nights
- Avant Garden — A laid-back hangout in an old house in Montrose with string lights and real atmosphere; hosts a songwriter symposium run by Joe Crump and featured Adam Peña and Julia Young
- McGonigel's Mucky Duck — A beloved intimate venue known for drawing big Texas songwriter acts; featured Wayne Wilkerson and Mark Zeus
- Armadillo Palace — A great spot with both indoor and outdoor stages; featured Johnny Falstaff opening the show and The Broken Spokes drawing a packed crowd of dancers
Best Houston Neighborhoods for Live Music
A few areas stand out if you're bar-hopping for music. The Heights and 19th Street corridor gives you The Heights Theater and Shady Acres Saloon within easy reach. Midtown has the Continental Club and Shoeshine Charlie's right next to each other — you can walk between them. Montrose is where you'll find the more intimate, artistic spots like Avant Garden and Mercantile Montrose. And downtown covers House of Blues and MKT Bar. Each neighborhood has its own feel, so where you end up depends on whether you want a big production, a songwriter round, a honky tonk night, or some jazz on a lazy afternoon.