Right in the thick of Ballard is Tractor Tavern, a bar and music venue that opened at grunge’s height in 1994 and never looked back. Primarily, the Tractor is home to folk, Americana, country, and soul performances—crooners like Jonathan Richman and Southern rockers like Black Lips have set the venue’s stage ablaze with all manners of rocking and rolling. With its 400-person capacity, the Tractor has served as an important stepping stone for local artists to play in front of bigger crowds— and Tractor regulars love to mosh, crowdsurf, and bang their heads to good music.
💡 Pro tip: Locally beloved psych-rock festival Freakout Festival happens every November in Ballard, and Tractor Tavern is one of their main venues. If you’re in town during its run, buy a ticket regardless if you’ve heard of anyone on the lineup—their curation is killer!
🏟 Beyond downtown?
Explore our guide to Where to See Concerts in Fremont and Ballard to discover eight fantastic venues in Seattle’s northern neighborhoods, from converted churches to underground dance clubs.
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