The 10 Best Live Music Venues in Ohio!
Ohio is a state that loves its music and its music-lovers. We've had over 100 famous musicians and rock stars born here and given the thriving music scene all over Ohio, that number is sure to only continue to grow as time goes on!
Here are the 10 best music venues in Ohio where you can see local bands as well as world-renowned famous musicians!
The Newport Music Hall, Columbus, OH
Formerly known as the State Theatre, and the Agora Ballroom in the 1970s, this hall seats around 2,000 people and has most of the original décor from the 70s. It's America's longest running rock and roll club and hosts indoor and outdoor events. Newport was the last venue played by John Lee Hooker before his death in 2001.
Stuart's Opera House, Nelsonville, OH
Stuart's Opera House hosts a wide variety of concerts and events from all genres of music. It's a cultural anchor and center of expression in Nelsonville and has been around since 1879.
The Fraze Pavilion, Kettering, OH
The Fraze Pavilion is one of the best spots in Ohio to see your favorite famous living bands from any era. Rick Springfield one night, Sheryl Crow another, and it's host to 104.7's annual Breakfast with the Beatles event hosted in June and July.
KEMBA Live!, Columbus, OH
KEMBA Live! Is the first indoor and outdoor concert venue in America and features state-of-the-art lighting, acoustics and stage. The indoor events have a capacity of 2,200 guests and 5,200 for outdoor events, and hosts the biggest artists in rock, folk, blues, jazz, metal, and more!
A&R Music Bar, Columbus, OH
A&R Music Bar lines their walls with posters and photography from the country's most well-known artists and photojournalists, and hosts some of the biggest names in music! A&R stands for Art and Rock, because that's the atmosphere they try to cultivate there, and anyone who's attended a concert there knows that there are few experiences like it.
Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center at Dayton Live, Dayton, OH
For over 13 years, the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Center has been the best place in Dayton to catch the best local and international recording artists, as well as home to the Dayton Opera, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Victoria Theatre Association. There are multiple stages inside and theatres that seat up to 2,300 people. Dayton-natives know their musical tastes will be satiated at the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Center.
The Columbus Commons Pavilion, Columbus, OH
The Pavilion at Columbus Commons was built in 2012, and quickly became the cultural hub for live concerts and entertainment year-round! With a big stage, fabric canopy structure and state-of-the-art lighting, video, and sound equipment, it's sure to be a unique experience for music-lovers from all walks of life.
The Happy Dog, Cleveland, OH
The Happy Dog is a neighborhood corner bar, but they feature year-round live music, from rock and country, to punk and polka. They showcase local bands and often national bands that are on the rise, so there's something for everyone at The Happy Dog.
The Brothers Lounge, Cleveland, OH
The Brothers Lounge is a great place to enjoy a beer and a burger while you listen to live music performed by piano players, seven-piece bands, and everything in between! The Lounge features its own smaller intimate stage with piano, and the larger Concert Hall which houses the main stage. Rock, metal, fusion jazz, there's nothing you can't find at the Brothers Lounge.
The Basement, Columbus, OH
The Basement prides itself on being the hub of the underground rock scene in Ohio. It features national and local bands, as well as smaller rooms where bands can come and practice if they need a creative space! The Basement is truly where the underground Ohio rock scene lives.
