Las Vegas Live Music Venues & Studios for Bands, Musicians, and Agents

When: This research was originally done between 6/27/07 and 8/20/07, and then updated from there when new info is available. I have lived in Las Vegas since 1999 so I have personal experience with some of these venues.

Where: In addition to Las Vegas, this huge list also includes Mount Charleston (11,916 feet high at the peak and about 25 miles or 30 minutes northwest of Las Vegas on Hwy 157), Henderson (next to Las Vegas to the southeast), Boulder City (about 15 miles or 20 minutes southeast of Las Vegas on Hwy 93), and Primm (about 35 miles or 30 minutes southwest of Las Vegas on I-15). I'm not including Laughlin, Mesquite, Pahrump, Yucca Mountain (although that might be a good location for a death metal or goth fest), or Area 51 (alien rock?) venues in this list.

Size: The venues with audience capacity figures are shown on the first 4 pages, from largest to smallest, other venues are listed alphabetically on the next page. Studios, rehearsal rooms, and reference links are shown on the last page. Some venues show a range in audience size, there are several possible reasons: I found different numbers on different websites (same thing with contact phone numbers), some venues have different seating configurations for different uses (seated or standing), some venues can be curtained off for smaller audiences, or maybe they have remodeled recently and made the venue bigger or smaller. Outdoor venues may be closed in bad or cold weather, or on the other hand, they may have a cover and/or heaters and stay open.

What: Las Vegas has many live music venues, they do call it "The Entertainment Capital of the World" after all. I have tried not to include piano bars, karaoke, venues with long running permanent stage shows, DJ only nightclubs, and "gentlemen's clubs," unless it looks like these venues can also be used for live music concerts and other similar events. There are some meeting or convention rooms in the list if they have the capability of a stage and don't have any pillars. Some convention type venues have several size rooms, I usually list only their largest one. Rehearsal & studio rooms are listed at the end of the live venues. I have put stars * by the venues that seem to be more serious about live original music performance, regardless of size (more stars are better).

Recently Closed: Please note, live music venues in Las Vegas, especially indie original music venues, open and close like mushrooms. Recent closings: The Alley again for the 3rd time, Poly Esther's at the Stratosphere, Epic nightclub, Canvas Cafe, Caylix Jazz Supper Club, Ice House Lounge, Rox (reopened as Epic nightclub), Jillian's, Bugsey's Bar & Grill and its 250 seat banquet room, New York Cafe, The Art Bar, Sin City Saloon, Squiggy's (turned into Shifty's Cocktail Lounge), Just Jazz, Matteo's Underground Lounge in Boulder City, Empire Ballroom, The Alley closed again on west Sahara, Emergency Room Lounge (turned into Black Label Bar), Barcode, University Theatre, Pink E's, Cooler Lounge, The Boston closed again, Hurricane Bar & Grill, and Prince's 3121 nightclub at the Rio. The Rainbow Bar (Vegas version of the LA original) closed last year and was rumored to be moving to the west side of town, but re-opened and then closed again in the same location.

Rumors: Possible future openings: Dead Man's Hand might be a Viper Room-style rock club at the former Penthouse gentlemen's club (http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2009/may/14/penthouse-plays-dead-mans-hand-welcomes-crazy-hors/), The Junkyard might reopen at 737 N Main St, Sugarcain Live! connected to Suchisamba in the Palazzo (http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/blogs/nocturnal-admissions/2009/mar/30/reaping-new-harvest-boutique-performance-space-rep/), Vince Neil (Mötley Crüe) and Danny Koker (Count's Kustoms) are planning on opening a rock club called Feelgoods in southwest Las Vegas (http://www.feelgoodsvegas.com/). The Las Vegas Playhouse is in construction now inside some converted movie theaters at Neonopolis in Downtown Vegas. They are planning on 2 or 3 rooms from 70 to 200 capacity (http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2008/dec/04/playing-house/). The 68 floor, 730 foot Fontainebleau hotel, condo, and casino will have a 3,200 seat performing arts theater (http://www.vegastodayandtomorrow.com/fontainebleau.htm). The Hard Rock Cafe is planning on building another restaurant in Vegas, this one with a Hard Rock Live! concert venue able to accommodate 1,000 people. Located in the Showcase Mall just north of MGM Grand, at 42,000 square feet, the new branch will be the second largest Café in the world, equipped with an extensive retail shop, an ultra lounge, private function and meeting rooms, and a restaurant with patio dining overlooking the Strip. And the Hard Rock Hotel is building a new Joint concert venue, this time with a 4,000 capacity (http://encore.celebrityaccess.com/index.php?encoreId=170&articleId=29350). Club V is proposing a venue with a capacity of 1,300 to 1,400 (http://www.clubv-lv.com/), half of this club may become Rockin' Ricks. There might be a Venue of Vegas with a capacity of 2,500 in downtown's new Fremont East Entertainment District (http://www.lvrj.com/news/10993051.html and http://thevenue.homestead.com/). Also in downtown at Fremont Street and Las Vegas Blvd is The Hive (Mormon?), a 600+ capacity, 5,400 square foot, 2-story alternative and punk live music concert venue and bar, but it seem to be on hold (http://thehivelv.com/ and http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/content/nc/nightlife/single-story/article/mash-up-31/). Kitty-corner from The Hive, Brass Lounge is planning on opening a 1,600 capacity nightclub and live music venue in the former Race Rock Cafe (http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2008/jun/05/nervous-nitelife-vegas/). Stoney's Rockin' Country is planning another similar venue, 9,000 square foot Stoney's North Forty, at Santa Fe Station in northwest Vegas (http://www.lvrj.com/business/19422674.html). Spring 2009 is the planned opening of ND's Space, 21,000 square foot nightclub with a total 1,100 to 1,400 capacity, and a 420 seat concert theater with dissapearing seats (http://www.thespace.com/). Boyd Gaming and AEG Live might partner on a 1,500 seat, $500 million performance venue at Echelon Place, a next-generation resort development on the Las Vegas Strip (http://vegasreportnewswire.com/ArchiveNewswires/20060831_VRN.pdf), if they finish it. AEG and Harrah's Entertainment are talking about building a 20,000 seat arena on 10 acres in back of Bally's or Imperial Palace (http://www.inbusinesslasvegas.com/2007/09/21/feature2.html). The City of Las Vegas is trying to build a large arena downtown (http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Publications/11412.htm). The Las Vegas Performing Arts Center foundation is building the Smith Center for the Performing Arts across from the Clark County Government Center in downtown Las Vegas. There will be 3 performance spaces, including a 2,000+ seat hall (http://www.lvpacfoundation.org/).

Recently Opened: Rock Room at The Penthouse Club Las Vegas (http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/blogs/off-the-record/2009/mar/06/live-rock-and-boobs-lap-dances-are-menu-vegas-newe/). The Farm all-ages venue in southwest Vegas http://www.myspace.com/thefarmlv. ND's Fuego Club http://www.rawtalent.com/theclub/ 1,000 capacity at the Rio Hotel. Sinister Rock Bar http://www.myspace.com/sinisterrockbar 1,000 capacity (formerly SRO and 702) on east Flamingo. Shifty's Cocktail Lounge (formerly Squiggy's). Casablanca Room / Concert Venue 1,000 to 2,000 capacity, and Marilyn's Lounge 200 to 300 capicity, in the Eastside Cannery http://www.eastsidecannery.com/entertainment.htm. The 305 at the Greek Isles Hotel Casino just east of The Strip http://www.myspace.com/the305lasvegas or http://www.greekislesvegas.com/ all ages (18+) local band venue. Wasted Space at the Hard Rock Hotel Casino just east of The Strip http://www.hartswastedspace.com/ or http://www.hardrockhotel.com/las-vegas/clubs/wasted-space/ or http://www.myspace.com/wastedspacelv 400 to 500 capacity, 5,000 square foot nightclub and live music venue. The unique sound system offers a full nightclub sound package and the ability for live performers to rock the house every night of the week. The Beatles REVOLUTION Lounge at The Mirage Hotel Casino on The Strip http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/LasVegas/revolutionlounge.htm or http://www.mirage.com/nightlife/entertainment_nightlife_revolution.aspx 300 to 500 capacity, 5,000 square foot interactive lounge with live bands some nights. Stoney's Rockin' Country in south LV http://www.stoneysrockincountry.com/ or http://www.myspace.com/stoneysrockincountry 2,000 to 3,000 capacity. 20,000 square foot cowboy ultralounge dedicated to country fun. Features weekly live entertainment on a 45'x25' main stage, with an elevated 2,500 square foot hardwood dance floor flanked by two long full-service bars. Neon Venus Art Theatre in downtown LV http://www.neonvenus.com/ 1,200 square foot performance space for educational workshops and small events such as pop, rock, and alternative bands as well as comedy acts, plays, karaoke shows, etc. Diablo's Cantina in front of Monte Carlo Hotel Casino on The Strip http://www.diabloslv.com/ 10,000 square foot, multi-level entertainment complex for casual dining and drinking, with a stage for live music on the second floor. Dixie's Dam Country Bar at Hooters Hotel Casino east of The Strip http://www.hchvegas.com/ 3,000-square-foot bar features live country music and DJs, with an island bar staffed entirely by women. Square Apple in southeast LV http://www.thesquareapple.com/ Live '70s, '80s, and '90s music, some jazz, some blues, and some rock, 7 nights a week.

* Venues that seem to be more serious about live original music performance, regardless of size, have a star in front of their name (more stars are better).