From jazz and rock to indie and pop, music of all genres flourishes in these Seattle venues.
Benaroya Hall
200 University St; seattlesymphony.org/benaroyahall
In the heart of downtown, and home to the Seattle Symphony, this acoustically perfected concert hall fills its calendar with choral performances, chamber music, and even pop culture soundtracks with a classical twist.
Seattle Theatre Group
Three historic venues comprise this esteemed theater group: The Neptune Theatre (1303 NE 45th St), where both up-and-comers and established talents take the stage; The Moore Theatre (1932 Second Ave), which showcases a rich mix of musicians and comedians; and The Paramount Theatre (911 Pine St), the biggest and grandest, drawing touring Broadway shows and mega-wattage performers.
Showbox
Showbox SoDo (1700 First Ave S) occupies a low-slung brick building with a surprisingly expansive concert venue for alt-rockers, hip-hop artists, and indie bands. Its sister location, The Showbox (1426 First Ave), near Pike Place Market, has hosted the likes of Prince and the Foo Fighters, and continues to bring in touring and local acts on their way to making it big.
The Crocodile
2505 First Ave; thecrocodile.com
Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Lizzo have all played at this storied Seattle rock venue, which recently moved to a new, larger location in Belltown. Now audiences can rock out to visiting and hometown indie bands.
The Triple Door
216 Union St; thetripledoor.net
With plush half-moon booths and a full pan-Asian menu, The Triple Door delivers all the fixings for a cozy night out. Guitarists, singer-songwriters, and smooth jazz instrumentalists frequent the stage, while rotating artists hold court in the Musicquarium Bar during happy hour on Thursdays.
Tractor Tavern
5213 Ballard Ave NW; tractortavern.com
In 2024, this beloved Ballard concert venue celebrates 30 years of presenting eclectic Americana-focused music. The tavern is famous for showcasing both established and up-and-coming alt-country, blues, rockabilly, and folk acts, including The Supersuckers, The Paperboys, Lydia Loveless, and Allison Russell.
The Royal Room
5000 Rainier Ave S; theroyalroomseattle.com
Six nights a week, the sounds of soul, smooth rock, and jazz fill the interiors of The Royal Room, a warm restaurant-lounge consisting of a standing-room bar area, a smattering of tables, and booth seating. A menu of Southern-accented fare (blackened catfish, anyone?) and cocktails adds to the welcoming vibe.
Music Genesis
Can’t get enough of that Seattle sound? Watch the Music Genesis video series (visitseattle.org/music-genesis), and catch performances during Cloudbreak Music Fest (cloudbreakmusicfest.org), held annually throughout the first three weeks of November.
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