Best Places To Enjoy Live Music in Houston
Houston is a large metropolis that is idyllic yet trendy. From century-old architecture to upscale restaurants, this urban jungle has it all.
When it comes to live music, Houston boasts an impressive set of options. Houston has it all, from sprawling music venues accommodating scores of people to snug pubs with a corner stage and a modest crowd.
If you’re looking for a fun place to chill, relax, and soak in some quality music while gorging on delicious food, we’ve rounded up the 10 best places in Houston for live music.
McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
Located in the Upper Kirby area, McGonigel’s Mucky Duck is a cozy, low-key music venue that is an Irish pub and a music hall at the same time.
It is a hotspot for upcoming singer-songwriters, featuring live music from folk, regional, and country musicians.
Equipped with a kitchen that whips up drool-worthy burgers, chips, and pies, it also has a wide selection of beer on tap. However, despite featuring a full menu of delectable dishes, the crowd’s din is kept to a minimum to let music lovers have their fill of melodies while allowing musicians to perform at their best.
If it gets a little too crowded indoors, you can always head for the back patio. With outdoor seating, there’s plenty of room to relax and unwind.
For those looking for emerging musicians, Mondays are open mic nights, and Wednesdays are designated Irish Sessions.
- Website: https://www.mcgonigels.com/
- Location: 2425 Norfolk Street, Houston, TX 77098
Last Concert Café
Situated in the Downtown Warehouse District and tucked away from the hustle and bustle, you’ll find the Last Concert Cafe amid a sea of studios, galleries, and acclaimed restaurants. While it’s not easy to spot, you’ll be well-rewarded with great music.
An authentic Houston icon that’s home to an eclectic mix of homegrown artists and musicians, the Last Concert Cafe radiates a down-to-Earth vibe that seeps into their music experience.
The place serves commendable Tex-Mex food and plenty of refreshing drinks. It features a pastel-colored dining room, a partially covered patio, a backyard stage for live music, and canopies of outstretched trees for warm, sultry nights.
That’s not all! Its unique, stand-out feature is the dance floor with a small patch of sand so you can dance the night away with the feel of sand under your feet.
- Website: https://www.lastconcert.com/
- Location: 1403 Nance Street, Houston, TX 77002
House Of Blues
The House of Blues is one of Houston’s most popular music spots. Located in central downtown and within the GreenStreet commercial district, this 47,000 square-foot party space is unlike any restaurant or musical venue.
From the freshest hip-hop artists to popular indie rock bands, the House of Blues is well-known for hosting up-and-coming talents and seasoned acts.
This high-profile venue has a two-tiered Music Hall upstairs meant for bigger shows and large gatherings of up to 1,500 music lovers. There’s also a smaller Bronze Peacock Room that hosts up to 200 people for more intimate groups and live music events.
Its maze of passageways and nooks adorned in beaded fabrics give out a soothing harem-chic effect while the cushy upstairs restaurant acts as a welcome respite from the teeming crowd downstairs.
- Website: https://www.houseofblues.com/houston
- Address: 1204 Caroline Street, Houston, TX 77002
Toyota Center
One of Houston’s most vibrant downtown entertainment destinations, the Toyota Center is a magnificent venue for large crowds, live music performances, concerts, basketball games, and other events.
With a crowd capacity of over 20,000, Toyota Center is almost always completely sold out for events that feature legendary performers, chart-topping musicians, and trendsetting icons.
Thanks to its ability to accommodate custom stages, different lighting, and visual effects combined with a state-of-the-art sound system, the Toyota Center has emerged as one of Houston’s most happening live music centers.
- Website: https://www.toyotacenter.com/
- Address: 1510 Polk Street, Houston, TX 77002
The Continental Club
An authentic recreation of the original club in Austin, The Continental Club is a favorite haunt of local artists and the occasional celebrity.
Known as “the granddaddy of all local music venues,” The Continental Club draws crowds of music lovers who flock to the place to savor its indie-rock vibes, dive bar decors, and laid-back atmosphere.
The Continental Club offers a wide range of music from classic soul and rockabilly to local indies and classic rock covers. When popular shows featuring must-see musicians are lined up, it’s best to arrive early as the narrow standing area quickly gets crowded.
The Club features a charming, expansive patio and a neighborhood filled with delicious restaurants.
- Website: https://continentalclub.com/houston
- Address: 3700 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002
Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar
Situated in the residential neighborhood of North Heights, Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar is a crowd favorite. Complete with Day-Glo walls, darkly lit interiors, laid-back vibes, bar games, and live music, Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar is a quintessential dive bar with dated decor.
The music here is reminiscent of yesteryear goldies featuring bands and musicians of all genres from blues and folk to local and regional artists.
It has a pet-friendly environment with an indoor corner stage and an outdoor, surprisingly lush garden patio. It provides a calm space for unwinding and relishing brief spurts of great weather.
Live music nights are mostly reserved for Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays with occasional weeknight shows. Dan Electro’s doesn’t have a fully functional kitchen, but it occasionally hosts steak night or brings in popular outside vendors.
- Website: https://danelectrosbar.com/
- Address: 1031 East 24th Street, Houston, TX 77009
White Oak Music Hall
With a busy music calendar that sometimes means simultaneous shows downstairs, upstairs, and on its outdoor stages, the White Oak Music Hall is the perfect place for any music lover. The upstairs room can hold up to 300 fans, while the room downstairs can take up to 1,000 guests. Its largest facility is the outdoor stage is usually reserved for legendary names in music and can hold more than 3,000 fans on the lawn.
Situated north of downtown in the Northside Village neighborhood, the White Oak Music Hall is a great concert venue that hosts everyone from the freshest local, regional, and international touring acts to up-and-coming bands.
It also has a rooftop patio with a chill seating space offering views of Houston’s skyscrapers. If you arrive early, pay a visit to the nearby Raven Tower, an elevated bar offering the best views of downtown Houston.
- Website: https://www.whiteoakmusichall.com/
- Address: 2915 North Main Street, Houston, TX 77009
The Rustic
If you’re craving folk and country tunes coupled with delicious food, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better option than The Rustic.
Located in downtown Houston across Discovery Green, The Rustic boasts a casual, laid-back atmosphere with trendy vibes.
With a stage that’s host to several singer-songwriters, country acts, and local groups, The Rustic is a fantastic live music center. It also features eateries with fine-crafted cocktails and flavorful comfort food to give you not just an auditory but a gustatory experience as well.
In addition to catching free live music, the Rustic offers an impressive Tex-Mex inspired menu along with a bar featuring a long list of Texas beers on tap.
- Website: http://therustic.com/houston-downtown/
- Address: 1836 Polk Street, Houston, TX 77010
Warehouse Live
A little beyond the gleaming skyscrapers of downtown Houston is a renovated 1920s warehouse in the EaDo neighborhood. Warehouse Live is a one-of-a-kind concert venue that has hosted musical talents like Drake, Phantogram, and a slew of others.
Nestled in a row of restaurants and bars on St. Emanuel, this unique complex encompasses two fully independent stages — the Ballroom and the Studio. While the Ballroom can host up to 1,300 music lovers, the adjoining Studio can accommodate around 600 people.
The highlights of this venue are two full-service bars with high ceilings and expansive, airy interiors. Warehouse Live has most of its weekends booked with musical styles ranging from alternative blues to rap to pop-rock.
- Website: https://warehouselive.com/
- Location: 813 St. Emanuel Street, Houston, TX 77003
Miller Outdoor Theatre
The Miller Outdoor Theatre is a longtime establishment inside the century-old Hermann Park. Featuring free concerts, performances, and events, it has doubled as a budget-friendly location for date nights and a weekend destination for fun family outings.
Situated between the Medical and Museum Districts, the Miller Outdoor Theatre has rows of seating before the stage and an impressive sloped lawn where seating is always free.
Before a big event, you’ll easily find groups setting up their spots with blankets, picnic baskets, and small coolers.
The Miller Outdoor Theatre has consistently managed to bring in scores of talented performers from around the world, from theater performances and sing-alongs to live music concerts.
- Website: https://www.milleroutdoortheatre.com/
- Address: 6000 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX
Conclusion
From vibrant, happening venues featuring plush restaurants to low-key, laid-back setups with sprawling outdoor patios, you’ll find a wide range of options to satiate your music and entertainment needs in Houston.
To make things even better, most of these places are situated in bustling neighborhoods with delicious restaurants, open-air farmers markets, studios, and galleries that make great pre-and post-show options.
You can absolutely have a great time by planning your weekend around some of the places we mentioned. Let us know how you find them in the comments below. Also, if we missed out on a favorite music haunt of yours, share it with us. We’d love to hear from you!