what are your favorite tiny intimate music venues in the US? the type of place with a strong sense of community that’s a real listening room.

Question

Karen Hancock · Answer

Cactus Club: Half bar, half music venue, all heart.

Jeanine Nault · Answer

Marble Bar: Detroit’s finest!

Sarah · Answer

FitzGerald's Nightclub: How to even explain Fitzgeralds. The ultimate combination of community space and music venue. It's a campus of old buildings, and has been a club since the 1950s. The vibe is Americana, country, soul, etc etc. There's a wrap around bar with a tiny stage, another with a bigger stage, an outdoor space for eating, hanging, music. Theres a barbecue restaurant (we rented this out for my husbands 40th party!). Big acts come through but space is limited it feels so intimate - above is the mountain goats. They have kid's acts come through, and a soft serve ice cream machine. Honestly if I die and there is a heaven, it's probably Fitzgeralds.

Wynne · Answer

Haw River Ballroom: This is my favorite local concert venue. It’s just dreamy! They always have great acts. Not a totally teeny venue, but definitely has an intimate feel. During the day they have a little coffee shop inside the venue where you can hang and look out at the Haw River. This is my happy place. I’ve been lucky enough to go to many shows there, but a seated show with Mountain Man and Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings (who seem to come yearly) stand out as some of the most magical ones.

Amanda · Answer

Dee’s Lounge: Nashville, Tennessee: Dee’s was my absolute favorite place for music when I lived in Nashville. A locals only type hole in the wall away from all the tourists. It never matters who’s playing on that stage, because they’re almost always better than anything you’ll hear on the radio- and the Old Fashioned always had the best bourbon soaked cherries.

Juuu · Answer

first avenue - minneapolis, mn