America’s Coolest Music Venues

a stage with a stage and black and white balloons
Ryman Auditorium from our visit in 2012

Back in high school and college I was really into music. During this time, we would actually go to the store and buy a CD or get a burned copy from a friend unlike today where everything is downloaded! Some of my favorite bands back then were Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Dave Matthews Band and U2 among many others.

I used to also really love going to concerts although I’m not really into that kind of thing anymore. I couldn’t see spending money on a concert unless it was for a few select bands and even then I’d have to really think about it.

A couple of months back I wrote about 11 Summer Music Festivals To Consider which was based on a Conde Naste article.

I just came across another fun, music-related article (slideshow), this one is from Travel + Leisure. The topic is America’s Coolest Music Venues.

I don’t know that I’ve ever really attended any shows at a “cool” venue, but the coolest concerts that I’ve ever been to have to be- my first concert which was Nine Inch Nails and randomly getting to see Coldplay in Brazil in  2003.

Here is a list of the coolest venues according to T+L:

  • 9:30 Club- Washington, DC
  • The Surf Ballroom- Clear Lake, IA
  • Great American Music Hall- San Francisco
  • Red Rocks Amitheatre- Morrison, CO
  • Stone Mountain Arts Center- Brownfield, ME
  • Tipitina’s- New Orleans
  • Bowery Ballroom- New York City
  • The Gorge- Quincy, WA
  • 40 Watt Club- Athens, GA
  • Ryman Auditorium- Nashville
  • Len Schwab Ampitheater- Bend, OR
  • Triple Door- Seattle
  • The National- Richmond, VA
  • Stubb’s Bar-B-Q- Austin, TX

While I haven’t been to a show at any of these venues, we did stop by to take a self-guided tour of the Ryman Auditorium during our trip to Nashville back in late 2012. I was hoping to get to see a show there but it would’ve been a bit much for Lucas since he was just shy of a year old at the time.

Have you been to any of these “cool music venues”? If so, how was it. If you have any other music venues that you feel belong on the list, please share with us!

Find out more in the Travel + Leisure article here.

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