Kansas City's Best Live Music Venue

Beer connoisseurs take a seat—ales, stouts and porters are the preferred drinks at this friendly downtown brewpub.

Reviews:

• “Laid-back, Good Beer”
• “Great location and staff.”
• “good beer but horrible food and no ambience”
• “Had a great time”
• “Good beer, bad vibe”

Tips: Just across the street at the City Market, there’s live music on the weekends and you can often find a River Market Brewing Company stand selling a selection of its suds.

River Market Brewing Company or email River Market Brewing Company

Grab a meal and a martini and take in some of the city’s best live jazz at this upscale spot.

Reviews:

• “Greats place to meet people”
• “Great place to hear live music!”
• “good vibe all the time”
• “A nice Saturday night”
• “Ila”

Tips: There’s no official dress code, but if there’s one thing Phoenix regulars have in common, it’s that they’re all snappy dressers.

The Phoenix Piano Bar & Grill

Country music dance hall that features a number of concerts ranging from hiop-hop to rock.

Reviews:

• “Fire Code violation”
• “R U Married?”
• “I rated it an 8”

Beaumont Club

A variety of music plays in this historic building, but the blues rule the stage at this small venue.

Reviews:

• “don’t waste your time!”
• “Good times and great people!”
• “From Grand to Gay Male Revue”
• “Notice all the other reviews are from 2002?”
• “#1”

Tips: All shows are 21 and up, but if you’ve got your legal guardian with you, your favorite band’s just a ticket away.

Grand Emporium

Students and alumni mingle at University of Missouri-Kansas City’s unofficial hangout.

Reviews:

• “anytime is open”
• “Okay”
• “after class happy hour”
• “Great Dive”
• “Mike’s is Mike’s…Amen”

Tips: Taking top honors in obscurity on the jukebox is Go-Kart, a defunct local band two of the bar’s owners played in. Local music support runs deep, and up-and-coming bands play regularly.

Mike’s Tavern

With hot modern acts and old favorites, this outdoor venue draws the young and old, reserved and rowdy.

Reviews:

• “Not all the time”
• “Way overrated”
• “What?”
• “Verizon Parkingless Amphitheatre”
• “very nice”

Tips: Check the weather to see if you’ll need an umbrella before heading out—all shows go on rain or shine.

Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

With great tunes and microbrews, this live-music mainstay has no problem drawing a large college crowd.

Reviews:

• “A Quality Hole in Larry”

Tips: Open-mike nights give new musicians a chance to show off their talents onstage.

The Bottleneck

A selection of jazz artists perform at the venue that also serves as a club for college students.

Reviews:

• “really nice Jazz place, great jazz.”
• “Hanging on the Vine”
• “excellent”

Blue Room

Restaurant and bar features live music everyday and offers serves seafood, poultry, steaks and pasta dishes.

Reviews:

• “Count your change”
• “Out of state?”
• “Exceptional Food”
• “Live Jazz, Great Atmosphere, better than adequate service, wonderful ambiance”
• “Great jazz club”

Jardine’s Restaurant and Jazz Club

Local musicians are showcased in this boisterous destination that’s been around for almost 50 years.

Reviews:

• “Nice”
• “Best in KC”
• “Midtown Gem”
• “One of my favorites..”
• “The KC experience”

Tips: Live bands play throughout the week. Round Midnight performs on Tuesdays, Karma on Wednesdays, Cherry Bomb on Thursdays, Groove Agency on Fridays and Saturdays, and Camp Harlow on Saturday afternoons.

The Levee

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