Seattle is a music city. From grunge to indie rock to jazz to dance music, you can catch live music performances nearly every night of the week here. While excellent venues are scattered across the city, downtown’s neighborhoods have the highest concentration of concert halls, such as an Art Deco-inspired lounge or a throbbing techno basement.
We’ve rounded up eight unmissable spaces to add to your event rotation in Seattle, whether you’re living in the city or here for a weekend.
The Crocodile
2505 1st Ave, Seattle
📸: The Crocodile
Since the early ’90s, The Crocodile has been ground zero for Seattle’s grunge history. At their original location on 2nd Avenue in Belltown, Seattle greats like Nirvana, Mudhoney, and Soundgarden rocked for raucous crowds at the Croc. But in November 2020, the venue decided to move a few blocks over to 1st Avenue and Wall Street to take over the old Sailors’ Union of the Pacific Lodge. Now they have three stages—The Crocodile main stage, a smaller venue called Madame Lou’s downstairs, and the Here-After, a sit-down comedy theater. The Crocodile regularly hosts rock-forward heavyweights like Portugal.The Man as well as burgeoning indie acts and fun dance parties. And for those craving a ’round-the-clock rock and roll experience, you can check out a room at The Hotel Crocodile which is right on top of the venue.
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Paramount Theatre
911 Pine Street, Seattle
📸: Seattle Theatre Group | Chris Nelson
If you want to feel really ritzy, the Paramount Theatre is the place to go. First opened in 1927 as a movie theater and now under the stewardship of Seattle Theatre Group, the Paramount hosts a mix of live music, theater, and silent film screenings (they even have a Mighty Wurlitzer Organ at their disposal!). Big-name acts like Big Thief, Clairo, and PJ Harvey regularly take the stage, and the landmark theater is pretty flexible—for big shows, they often remove the plush seats on the main floor to make way for a standing-room-only crowd. But their balcony seating is pretty incredible, too. Not only can you see and hear the musical act onstage, but you can also see the incredible architecture of the space itself. Not to be missed!
Climate Pledge Arena
334 1st Ave N, Seattle
📸: Climate Pledge Arena
In 2021, Seattelites said goodbye to the beloved KeyArena and hello to Climate Pledge Arena, a state-of-the-art concert venue and sports arena replete with high-tech features and KeyArena’s landmarked roof. (The name is a reference to sponsor Amazon and Global Optimism’s pledge to be net zero carbon by 2040.) Home to both the WNBA’s Seattle Storm and NHL baddies the Kraken, Climate Pledge serves as a 17,200-seat concert venue for some of the biggest names in music like Doja Cat, Bruce Springsteen, the Pet Shop Boys, and Bad Bunny. Any concert you catch at Climate Pledge is likely to be a germinal event. Just know before you go: the arena only allows people to carry clear bags or small purses (check their website for official dimensions).
The Showbox (The Market + SoDo)
1426 1st Ave + 1700 1st Ave S
📸: The Showbox
The Showbox at the Market is the gold standard for music viewing in Seattle. Opened in 1939, the Art Deco’d-out space is cavernous—the main floor is a standing-room only while the slightly elevated second floor is 21+ with chairs and tables. There’s hardly a bad view in the house. Acts like Kamasi Washington, Peaches, and Chappell Roan have all performed at the legendary venue. In 2007, the Showbox opened a sister spot 1.5 miles down the street called Showbox SoDo. The warehouse-turned-music-venue has a much larger capacity—1,800 to the original location’s 1,150—so try to get there early for a good spot.
📌 Just so you know: When locals say they are seeing someone at “The Showbox,” generally they mean The Showbox at the Market. Most of the time, people will specify the second location as “Showbox SoDo.”
Kremwerk Complex
1809 Minor Ave #10, Seattle
📸: Kremwerk
If you’re looking for world-class dance music, the Kremwerk Complex in the Denny Triangle has you covered. The queer-owned and -operated venue brings a European sensibility to its offerings, booking vaunted local and international techno and house DJs who know how to turn a party. (It’s located in an old creamery hence its name). First founded in 2014, they’ve expanded to three connected clubs: Kremwerk (the OG basement club), Timbre Room (a low-capacity venue), and Cherry (a high-capacity space with tons of disco balls). In addition to dance music, Krem is also home to edgy drag shows and kinky standup comedy—as well as a kick-ass patio with outdoor heating and a fire pit.
Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley
2033 6th Ave, Seattle
📸: Dimitrou’s Jazz Alley
In the 20th century, Seattle was a hotbed of jazz, with greats like Ernestine Arnold, Ray Charles, and Dave Lewis tracing their lineage to the Emerald City. Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley reflects that rich legacy of jazz in the Pacific Northwest with their 350-seat concert venue downtown. First opened in 1980 in the University District, the Jazz Alley relocated to its current location six years later and has hosted the likes of Eartha Kitt, Dave Brubeck, and Sergio Mendes. There’s hardly a bad view in the house that has a mix of mezzanine, ground floor, and bar seating—plus food service.
The Vera Project + Black Lodge
305 Harrison St, Seattle
📸: Vera Project
Underage live music fans are lucky to have the Vera Project and Black Lodge. Both venues are always all ages, allowing those under 21 to enjoy the thrill and beauty of live music. The Vera Project at Seattle Center has been around since 2001 and is a music venue, recording studio, art gallery, and screen print shop all wrapped in one. In 2022, the nonprofit announced they’d acquired the Black Lodge in Eastlake, a DIY space known for its underground punk shows. Together, both venues showcase some of the best in punk, indie, and rock music, often booking an eclectic mix of local and national artists like Zookraught, Hotline TNT, and Pangea.
The Triple Door
216 Union St, Seattle
📸: The Triple Door
Scientists have been in the lab trying to invent things better than a dinner and a show, but it’s simply not possible. Nothing beats eating food while watching performers do their thing onstage—especially if you’re doing it at The Triple Door on Union. Located in an old vaudeville theater that opened in 1926, the venue has undergone decades of renovations and re-uses before becoming the Triple Door in 2003. Seattletites regularly come to the spot for folk and indie music as well as cabaret, burlesque, and comedy across their two stages. The space offers dinner and drinks service with Southeast Asian-inspired food from their sister restaurant, Wild Ginger. And while there’s no official dress code, it’s a good opportunity to dress up for a fun night out.
