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Guide To Live Music Venues In Boston

Mello Bravo
(credit: mellobravo.com)
Boston's music scene is just as diverse as its population and culture. Pop, rock, hip-hop, country, folk, jazze and more. All kinds of artists and bands stop by Boston during their tours, and venues of all sizes allow avid fans to enjoy live music without leaving the city.

LARGE VENUES

Big Arena, Assigned Seating

Description:    Sports and entertainment arena, home of the Boston Celtics and the Boston Bruins
Max. Capacity:    19,600
How to Get There:    T - Green Line, North Station stop
Bands in the Past:    The Who, The Eagles, Dane Cook, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, The Black Eyed Peas, Justin Bieber, John Mayer

Description:    Boston University's arena, home to the BU Terriers Hockey team
Max. Capacity:    7,200
How to Get There:    T - Green Line, Pleasant St. Stop
Bands in the Past:    Phoenix, Lady Antebellum, Pavement, Gorillaz, Jonas Brothers, Matchbox Twenty, Daughtry

Description:    Waterfront ampitheater
Max. Capacity:    about 5,000
How to Get There:    T - Silver Line, either Court House or World Trade Center stop
Bands in the Past:    Death Cab for Cutie, Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, Wilco, Blondie

MEDIUM VENUES

Standing Room Only, General Admission, Sometimes balcony or back seating


Description:    Original home of the New England Conservatory, historic, Music Hall since 1852
Max. Capacity:    2,763
How to Get There:    T - Green Line, Park St. Stop
Bands in the Past:    Lifehouse, U2, LCD Soundsystem, Alice in Chains, Pixies

Description:    New, just opened a few years ago. Similar to other House of Blues venues nationwide. 3-story music venue.
Max. Capacity:    2,425
How to Get There:    T - Green Line, Kenmore Station stop
Bands in the Past:    Deadmau5, the Avett Brothers, the National, Sam Adams, Wolfmother, Passion Pit, Dropkick Murphys


Description:    Mainly a comedy venue, but some musical acts come through here from time to time
Max. Capacity:    1,223
How to Get There:    T - Orange line, New England Medical Center Station stop or Green Line, Boylston St. stop
Bands in the Past:    Dirty Projectors, Ray Davies, Bill Burr

www.thewilburtheatre.com

Description:    Former hotel ballroom, formerly the Roxy, nightclub, just reopened as a renovated music venue in March 2010
Max. Capacity:    about 1,000
How to Get There:    T - Green Line, Boylston St. stop
Bands in the Past:    Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Ra Ra Riot, A.A. Bondy, Pauly D

SMALL VENUES

Jam Packed! Up close and personal with the band

Description:    Upstairs and Downstairs spaces, sometimes there are two shows going on at the same time, many local bands
Max. Capacity:    575 downstairs, 190 upstairs
How to Get There:    T - Red Line, Central Square stop
Bands in the Past:    Mae, Sean Price, Aesop Rock, Modest Mouse, Girl Talk, Hoobastank

Description:    A small venue in Allston, live music everyday, featuring many local bands
Max. Capacity:    240
How to Get There:    T - green line, Harvard Ave. stop
Bands in the Past:    Surfer Blood, Vivian Girls, King Orchid

Description:   Almost on the border of small and mid-size music venue, but Paradise often hosts up and coming artists, draws a lot of college students due to its location
Max. Capacity:   728
How to Get There:   T - Green Line, Pleasant St. stop
Bands in the Past:   Arctic Monkeys, RJD2, Kate Nash, GAYNGS, the Pixies, Kings of Leon, Tom Waits, Bloc Party

Description:   live music seven nights a week
Max. Capacity:   300
How to Get There:   T - Red Line, Central Square stop
Bands in the Past:   Ryan Bingham, the Spinto Band, Mars, the Acre

Yoojin Cho is a Boston University student and aspiring journalist. She spent two semesters interning with the CBSBoston Digital team.
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