Where to See Live Music in Baltimore

When A-list performers come to Baltimore, they’re likely to play the CFG Bank Arena. The 14,000-seat venue is the epicenter of live entertainment in the city, hosting hundreds of concerts every year. Artists who have performed at the arena include Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Mary J. Blige and Twenty One Pilots.

As a 1,500-person, standing room-only space, Rams Head Live is considered a small concert venue, but it still attracts some big names. The venue is known for its state-of-the-art lighting and sound system, as well as the connection the audience can have with the artists. As part of Downtown’s Power Plant Live!, Rams Head is surrounded by other popular bars and venues making it the ultimate nightlife destination.

Rams Head Live at Power Plant Live in downtown Baltimore is just a few blocks from the Inner Harbor and surrounded by dining and nightlife options.

The Lyric offers a full range of entertainment options, including music, dance, comedy and educational programming. It also boasts stunning architecture, great views of the stage from any of its 2,564 seats, and plush, roomy seating you typically don’t find at performing arts centers of its size.

Known for a full schedule of traveling Broadway productions, the historic Hippodrome also offers a variety of live music acts. The 2,300-seat theater is the perfect place to catch some of your favorite acts in an intimate space. Located in Station North Arts & Entertainment District, it’s a great bookend to a day spent exploring art galleries and getting crafty with our local makers.

The Hippodrome Theater is located in a historic building that opened in 1914 and originally served as a movie palace.

Located in the picturesque Inner Harbor, Baltimore Soundstage is a go-to venue for small shows from artists spanning genres including metal, hip hop, R&B and more. The floor can hold 1,000 people in its standing room only configuration or 500 in its tabled/seated set up.

The Meyerhoff Symphony Hall is home to the Grammy Award-winning Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. The BSO, led by Musical Director Jonathon Heyward, performs over 100 concerts annually, ranging from full instrumental performances to special programs with vocal accompaniment.

The Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute, a prestigious dance and music school in the heart of Mount Vernon, hosts over 100 performances each year, many of which are offered free-of-charge. Along with student recitals, world renowned musicians grace the stage for concerts and special programs, such as the Masterclass speaker and performance series.

Named one of Rolling Stone magazine’s “10 Best Live Music Venues in America,” Remington’s Ottobar is the premier destination for an authentic live music experience. With a chest-high stage with no barricade, fans can literally feel the music pulsing through them as they get a close-up view of their favorite bands. Ottobar also hosts themed dance parties and musical experiences like Emo Nite, Sad & Boujee and Girls Rule.

It’s easy to see why The 8×10 is a music lover’s dream venue, thanks to its intimate community vibe. “Trust in the music” is the venue’s tagline, and bands, fans and employees are all expected to live by it.

Located on the bottom floor of a red brick building topped with a massive billboard, Metro Baltimore belies its ho-hum exterior. Inside, it’s a flexible space where creative spirits come to enjoy art gallery openings and musical performances by some of the hottest up-and-coming bands.

After acquiring the historic Waterfront Hotel property, Atlas Restaurant Group transformed the second story of this Fell’s Point favorite in a way that pays homage to a key element that has been part of the neighborhood for decades: live music performed by local musicians. The venue, which is also home to a downstairs bar and restaurant, comes complete with an elevated stage and a state of the art sound system and hosts live music seven nights a week.

Enjoy local musicians every night of the week at Waterfront Hotel.

What do you get when you combine a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master with a Michelin star chef? You get the revival of  Keystone Korner, one of the most famous jazz clubs in the country. The resurrected West Coast club opened in Baltimore in 2019 with the promise to deliver food just as inspiring as the music performed on its stage.

Jazz, rock, soul and more all converge on Cat’s Eye Pub’s historic Fell’s Point stage. This cozy joint has been open since 1975 and is consistently named a favorite by locals.

This cozy cafe welcomes performers, both local and national, to perform on Saturday nights. On Mondays, open mic night allows amateurs to test their talents.

Enjoy southern-inspired fine dining with a side of soulful jazz. Each week, Next Phaze hosts events like karaoke Wednesdays, soulful Fridays and acoustic Thursdays.

Consistently ranked as one of the best jazz venues in the city, An Die Musik LIVE! is the hot spot to see great jazz bands, plus classical and world music performers.

Seeing a show at Pier Six Pavilion is a summertime tradition for locals. When the heat rises, music lovers hit the Inner Harbor for a show at this venue where every seat in the house is a good seat—even on the lawn.

Pier Six Pavilion takes over pier six at the Inner Harbor and music can be heard drifting across the water during performances.

On the first Thursday of the month from May to September, WTMD hosts its First Thursdays concert series in Canton Waterfront Park. Come by to meet fellow music lovers, to see a live show and grab food from some of the best food trucks in town.

Besides the regular shops, enjoy drinks, food and a show when you visit Belvedere Square in the summer. The Square’s Summer Sounds series is a local favorite, taking place every Friday night from late May to early September.