Memphis is the home of Elvis Presley and Graceland, Beale Street and The Blues, and iconic record powerhouses like Stax and Sun Studio. It has long drawn hungry fans and talented musicians from across the country to create and absorb the music flowing through every corner of the city. An amalgamation of genres — from gospel and country to rock and R&B — the Memphis music scene is a melting pot to be experienced in open-air amphitheaters, storied theaters, and cozy cafes. Here are the best spots to see live music in Memphis!
Use these links to skip ahead to different categories!
- Iconic Memphis Venues
- Seasonal Venues + Concert Series
- Venues with More Than Just Music
- Venues with Nightly (or Almost Nightly) Music
- Bars + Breweries with Live Music
ICONIC MEMPHIS VENUES
Overton Park Shell
Neighborhood: Midtown
More info: overtonparkshell.org
Speaking of Elvis Presley, The King himself performed his first paid concert at Levitt Shell (formerly Overton Park Shell, Memphis Open Air Theater, and Shell Theater) on July 30, 1954. Since the 1930s, this open-air amphitheater in Overton Park has brought Memphis together through music. The Overton Park Shell presents about 50 free annual concerts by internationally touring musicians. If you’ve never seen a show under the iconic, brightly lit arches, pack your picnic and pull up a lawn chair! See the full calendar of events here.
Lafayette’s Music Room
Neighborhood: Midtown
More info: lafayettes.com
Since the 1970s, Lafayette’s Music Room has been the restaurant-meets-music-room where locals and music fans flock to see undiscovered stars. Lafayette’s played a significant role in launching the careers of Billy Joel, Barry Manilow, J.J. Cale, and Leon Russell, to name a few. Known as one of the top music venues in the South, Lafayette’s also has some fabulous fare. With your Sunday brunch shrimp and grits or your after-work pint, you can see live music seven days a week — both free and ticketed — and sometimes multiple shows daily. Check out their packed calendar of events here.
Graceland Live
Neighborhood: Whitehaven
More info: graceland.com
Graceland, the house that Elvis built, recently partnered with Live Nation to bring even more of the hottest touring acts to Memphis. Graceland Live features two venues: The Soundstage and The Guest House Theater, both equipped with state-of-the-art sound, lighting, and video production. An entire city block of exhibits, restaurants, attractions, a world-class resort hotel — and, of course, Graceland itself — surrounds these venues. What’s even cooler? Every show includes FREE admission to Elvis Presley’s Memphis after 3 p.m. on the day of the show. Click here for the full show calendar, which includes upcoming performances by Clint Black, Richard Marx, Cheap Trick, and more.
B.B. King’s Blues Club
Neighborhood: Downtown – Beale Street
More info: bbkings.com
The “king” of Beale Street, B.B. King’s Blues Club (the original club that now has a dozen or so locations across the country) has legendary players on stage every night of the week — from authentic blues to soul to classic rock ‘n’ roll. They also have a menu full of delicious Southern dishes like their famous BBQ. No matter who’s on stage, the vibe of B.B. King’s is a must-experience in Memphis. Check out their live music calendar here.
SEASONAL VENUES + CONCERT SERIES
Peabody Hotel Rooftop
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: peabodymemphis.com
The Peabody’s beloved Thursday night concert series is ongoing from April through August. Hot bands, cool drinks, and sweeping views of the Mississippi River make this a can’t-miss musical experience. Check back here for 2023’s lineup.
Radians Amphitheater
Neighborhood: East Memphis
More info: radiansamp.com
The newly renamed Radians Amphitheater is home to the nationally recognized, 20-year-running, locally-loved Live at the Garden concert series. Fabulous acts play to the backdrop of unmatched natural beauty in the Memphis Botanical Gardens. Still to play this season at “Radians Amp” are Train, Jason Isbell, the annual Mempho Music Fest in late September, and more! See the lineup and get tickets here.
Caption by Hyatt
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: hyatt.com
Every Thursday in summer, you can take in some live tunes and local beverages in the shady courtyard at the Caption by Hyatt hotel. Each Thursday, the event festivities begin at 6 p.m., with musicians starting to play at 6:30 p.m.
Handy Park
Neighborhood: Downtown – Beale Street
More info: bealestreet.com
Located on Beale and Third, Handy Park is a public park with both a large stage and a smaller performance area, making it a popular spot for free concerts of all sizes. Events in Handy Park are always free and open to the public — check out afternoon performers or the bigger shows on holidays like New Year’s Eve. For a list of Beale Street events, click here.
VENUES WITH MORE THAN JUST MUSIC
Orpheum Theatre
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: orpheum-memphis.com
Another iconic venue is the Orpheum Theatre, the Mid-South’s home for touring Broadway plays since 1977. In addition to its ongoing Broadway Series, the theatre hosts performances by Ballet Memphis, various concerts, and local community events like Memphis in May and the International Blues Challenge. ZZ Top and Gladys Knight. are just two of the musical acts on Orpheum’s packed lineup of upcoming events to explore here.
The Buckman Arts Center
Neighborhood: East Memphis
More info: buckmanartscenter.com
This intimate, 300-seat venue on the St. Mary’s School campus dazzles over 5,000 arts-savvy patrons with world music, contemporary dance, family programming, educational outreach, visual arts, and conservatory classes each year. Click here to see all that’s coming up on their calendar.
Crosstown Theater + The Green Room
Neighborhood: Crosstown
More info: crosstownarts.org
Crosstown Arts is home to two venues: Crosstown Theater, a 425-seat black box theater that can transform based on the event, and The Green Room, an intimate listening experience without the distractions of a bar or restaurant venue. Impeccable acoustics, state-of-the-art lighting, and intimate seating layouts make this a fabulous place for serious audiophiles to see national headliners and Memphis-based musicians alike. Click here to view the complex’s upcoming shows.
Germantown Performing Arts Center
Neighborhood: Germantown
More info: gpacweb.com
Neighboring Germantown is home to GPAC, a performing arts center hosting incredible musicians of all genres, Broadway plays, family movie nights, and more. Check out the Bluebird Concerts, an outdoor concert series in The Grove, or one indoors at the Duncan-Williams Performance Hall. See the full lineup of events here.
FedEx Forum
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: fedexforum.com
Memphis’s multi-purpose arena, FedExForum, is home to the Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis’s NCAA Division I men’s basketball program. When there isn’t an exciting sporting event, the arena hosts a packed calendar of chart-topping artists like Luke Combs and Chris Stapleton. For a complete list of upcoming concerts and events, click here.
VENUES WITH NIGHTLY (OR ALMOST NIGHTLY) MUSIC
Beale Street Entertainment District
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: bealestreet.com
Aside from B.B. King’s, there are many incredible spots on Beale Street to see music nightly. Stumble into any of them, and stay until you’re ready to check out the next! A few to watch for are Blues City Cafe, Rum Boogie Cafe, Tin Roof, and Jerry Lee Lewis’ Cafe & Honky Tonk.
RockHouse Live
Neighborhood: Midtown, Collierville
More info: rockhouselive.com
Rock fans, this venue is for you. After the original RockHouse Live Dallas opened successfully in 2006, the “incubator” Memphis location of RockHouse Live opened in 2013, followed by the Midtown location (at 2586 Poplar Avenue) in 2014. Between the two venues, there’s live music almost nightly, and the Midtown location is known for its karaoke nights. See their upcoming events on Facebook here.
Growlers
Neighborhood: Midtown
More info: 901growlers.com
Growlers is a locally owned and operated concert venue and dive bar in the heart of Midtown that features an eclectic array of musical artists, lots of local brews, and elevated bar food. Check out the schedule here.
Hi Tone Cafe
Neighborhood: Crosstown
More info: hitonecafe.com
Open seven days a week and offering cold drinks, delicious food, and live music almost every night, this venue features two music rooms: the lounge and the big room. Find a concert to check out here.
Eight & Sand
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: centralstationmemphis.com
Central Station Hotel has a super suave lobby lounge called Eight & Sand. Grab a craft cocktail and listen to their nightly DJs spin from a massive, beautifully displayed collection of vinyl records from Memphis greats and beyond. Click here for more info.
Zebra Lounge
Neighborhood: East Parkway
More info: facebook.com
One of Memphis’ hidden live music gems, Zebra Lounge on Overton Square is a piano bar open seven nights a week with live music starting every night at 8 p.m. You’ll find DJs spinning sing-alongs, singer-songwriters, jazz trios, and more. And there’s never a cover charge! Head here for the lineup of music.
Neil’s Music Room
Neighborhood: Balmoral
More info: neilsmemphis.com
With live music almost every night of the week, Neil’s is an off-the-beaten-path venue with great food and pool tables, too. Crowds dance to live blues and rock music inside and on the patio when it’s nice. They also serve some delicious pub grub like homemade pizzas, their famous “fat guy” cheeseburger, and an all-day breakfast seven days a week. The best way to see Neil’s Music Room’s schedule is on their Facebook Events page here.
BARS + BREWERIES WITH LIVE MUSIC
Railgarten
Neighborhood: Cooper-Young
More info: railgarten.com
This unique hangout sprawls across an old 1.5-acre rail yard with mismatched furniture, fan-cooled cabanas, a diner, a tiki bar, and an array of indoor and outdoor games like ping pong and a playground for kiddos. When it comes to live music, Railgarten represents Memphis and beyond in their lineup of on-the-rise hip-hop artists, Americana legends, killer cover bands, and national touring acts. For the full event calendar, click here.
Memphis Clover Club
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: cloverclubmemphis.com
Located below Hotel Indigo, Memphis Clover Club is a restaurant, bar, and live music venue — checking off ALL the boxes for a fun night out in downtown Memphis. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates on regular performances.
The Bluff
Neighborhood: East Memphis
More info: thebluffmemphis.com
One of Memphis’s top sports bars also boasts a menu of great Southern food and a live concert calendar. Check The Bluff’s Facebook events page here for the latest show announcements.
Ghost River
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: ghostriverbrewing.com
Memphis’ first craft brewery has a Beale Street location that keeps the music and beer flowing. Order a sandwich at the Gourmet Sandwich Kitchen to accompany your favorite Ghost River Brewing Co. ale. The beer garden hosts live music a few nights a week, and you can check out the calendar here.
Loflin Yard
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: loflinyard.com
A downtown haven and one of the city’s coolest indoor/outdoor restaurants/bars also hosts concerts! Grassfire takes the stage weekly for their Sunday Bluegrass Brunch, complete with excellent tunes and delicious food and drinks until 3 p.m. Stay in the loop on their Facebook events page here.
Wiseacre
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: wiseacrebrew.com
Memphis’ beloved Wiseacre Brewing always has exciting events like trivia, brewery tours and tastings, food trucks, unique festivals with musical acts, and more. Try their award-winning beers, order some delicious food from a local food truck, and see what else is happening at the complex. For a complete look at who’s playing at Wiseacre, check out their Facebook events page.
We hope this list has inspired you to check out some live music in your own backyard or on your next trip to Memphis!
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