Music
Top 12 music venues in Seattle
From Ballard to Belltown and back, Seattle is a music lover’s delight all year round.
In the early ‘90s, when grunge bands such as Nirvana became national sensations, music fans had Seattle to thank. The Emerald City’s rich music history extends far beyond this genre, though — the one and only Jimi Hendrix grew up here as well.
Naturally, Seattle remains a great place to catch live music and events, and that’s true whether you’re a longtime local or a first-time visitor. Below, find a list of the top music venues in Seattle to guide your journey.
01
WAMU Theatre (800 Occidental Ave S)
You’ll find the WAMU Theatre downtown right between Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park. This 7,200-capacity theater is sometimes standing-room-only, and at other times, there’s seating. The performers here lean a bit more mainstream, with 2024 headliners including Gunna, Third Eye Blind, and Sum 41. A big highlight among the WAMU Theatre’s 2024 shows is Red Bull Lords Of The Floor global 2v2 breaking crew battle, set for April 6.
02
Neptune Theatre (1303 NE 45th St)
Iska Dhaaf at Red Bull Sound Select 2013 at the Neptune Theatre in Seattle
© Nate Watters / Red Bull Content Pool
Another sister venue to the Moore and Paramount, the Neptune Theater in the University District at 45th and Brooklyn holds 1,000 people. The headliners here in 2024 are especially diverse — folk-punk act The Mountain Goats, R&B musician Mariah the Scientist, electronic experimentalist Oneohtrix Point Never. The venue stands out for looking like an old cinema on the inside, precisely because that’s exactly what it started as over a century ago.
03
The Triple Door (216 Union St)
This downtown space at 3rd and Union is home to two different live music venues. There’s the 150-capacity Musicquarium for up-and-coming performers — here, a massive 1900-gallon freshwater aquarium is always in eyeshot. The main stage isn’t much larger, with a capacity of 250, but it’s special in that the headliners often play mini-residencies. Stop in today to catch a great live set, and come back tomorrow to see it again.
04
Moore Theatre (1932 2nd Ave)
You’ll find the Moore Theatre not too far southeast of the Space Needle, in Belltown at 2nd and Virginia. With room for 1,800 people and a history stretching back over a century, this venue brings in headliners that draw solid crowds. Deftones side project †††, indie-folk icon Cat Power, and esteemed contemporary classical ensemble Kronos Quartet are among the 2024 headliners. Look up during any set to take in the Moore’s stunning ceiling architecture that’ll transport you right back to the early 1900s.
05
Paramount Theatre (911 Pine St)
The same folks who run the Moore also book the Paramount Theatre, located at 9th and Pine just northwest of First Hill. Pop rockers LANY, Icelandic jazz-pop artist Laufey, and British punk band IDLES are among the venue’s 2024 headliners. With a capacity of roughly 2,800 and an exterior that resembles an old warehouse, experiencing live music here makes for unforgettable memories.
06
The Crocodile (2505 1st Ave)
The Crocodile in Seattle
© Jordan Nicholson / Red Bull Content Pool
On the corner of 1st and Wall St in Belltown lies this three-venue space. One room here holds 750 people, another holds 300, and another holds just 96 — and there’s a 17-room hotel on-site too. Nirvana and their fellow Seattle grunge legends Pearl Jam have performed here, and 2024 headliners include the rock bands Warpaint, Melt-Banana, and Fruit Bats.
07
The Showbox (1426 1st Ave)
Located on 1st Ave between Pike and Union, the Showbox is a hop and a skip away from the stunning Seattle Art Museum. Plan a trip there before a Showbox gig at night, and you’ll have a day full of life-giving art.
Headliners at the Showbox in 2024 include industrial pioneers Ministry, new wave legend Gary Numan, and alt-pop band Grouplove. Go on a standing-room-only night, and you’ll be one of up to 1,100 people. At the Showbox, you might just have exactly the sort of communal experience that makes live shows so special.
08
Neumos (925 E Pike St)
Mija at Neumos at Red Bull Sound Select Presents 2017 in Seattle
© Jordan Nicholson / Red Bull Content Pool
Another Seattle indie-rock venue, Neumos lies at 10th and Pike in the shared space between Capitol Hill and the Pike/Pine corridor. Here, you’ll be one of up to 700 people seeing 2024 headliners such as Militarie Gun, Glass Beach, and Hurray for the Riff Raff. There’s something special about entering through the exterior, which looks like a coffee shop or record store, and getting a full-on live experience.
09
El Corazón (109 Eastlake Ave E)
This 800-capacity venue at Denny Way and Eastlake Avenue East is in the very southeast corner of South Lake Union. It opened in 2005, but other venues and bars operated at its address for a century beforehand. In fact, Pearl Jam’s first-ever live gigs happened here, as did early shows for some other Seattle rock heroes — Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Mudhoney. When you catch 2024 headliners such as Code Orange, Voivod, and Darkest Hour at El Corazón, you experience rock’s thrilling present alongside its storied history.
10
Climate Pledge Arena (334 1st Ave N)
Perhaps best known for hosting WNBA and NCAA basketball games, the 17,000-capacity Climate Pledge Arena also hosts mega-popular musicians on their national tours. This Queen Anne stadium’s 2024 headliners are staggering, with standouts including Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo, and Fall Out Boy. It’s a must-visit for mainstream music lovers, and it’s a super short walk northwest of the Space Needle.
11
Sunset Tavern (5433 Ballard Ave NW)
Mutoid Man performs at Red Bull Sound Select Seattle 2015 at Sunset Tavern
© Nate Watters / Red Bull Content Pool
This Ballard venue is known for its alt-country shows, and its 2024 headliners also include technically dazzling rock artists including Delicate Steve and Marnie Stern. It’s a small space, holding just 200 people, but its location near the Ballard Locks makes it a perfect stop for out-of-town visitors. There’s also a cocktail bar, Betty’s Room, in the front of the venue to spruce up your night.
12
Tractor Tavern (5213 Ballard Ave NW)
Walk five minutes south on Ballard Avenue from the Sunset Tavern, and you’ll hit the Tractor Tavern. The venue’s 2024 headliners include the indie rock act Destroyer, folk musician Jess Williamson, and alt-country band The Jayhawks. Its 550-person capacity makes for an intimate yet communal live music experience on any night of the week.
It’s easy to find live-music gems in Emerald City
As a key hub of the long musically active Pacific Northwest, Seattle is a prime spot for catching great live shows. Walk into a top Seattle music venue on any night, and you might discover the next big thing or see performers you already love. From Ballard to Belltown and back, Seattle is a music lover’s delight all year round.