The Best Places to See the Best Live Music in Boston

New England is an excellent area to see live music, and the city of Boston has become known as the preeminent place to go and see your favorite bands play on a regular basis. Boston is lucky enough to have hundreds of bars, clubs, and stadiums readily available and easily accessible. From Tremont Street to the Theater District, and nearby Cambridge, a favorite band of yours is more than likely going to be playing in a cool venue. Three of the best include The Paradise Theater, the Avalon Ballroom, and the Middle East downstairs.

Located on Commonwealth Ave. and just minutes from downtown, the Paradise is an excellent cocktail lounge and offers dinners and appetizers, but after 8 pm transforms into one of Boston’s best know rock clubs. Located in the same building in the Paradise Lounge that offers a unique eating experience combined with excellent live music. Every Wednesday night has become classics night with DJ g2 mixing old school hip-hop with 80’s classics. A new art gallery showcases some of the local talent and hosts special events. The rock club has been offering everything from reggae, to dancehall, to folk and classic rock for the last 25 years and has become a staple for Boston and good music.

For those looking for a little different scene, the Avalon Ballroom offers a more upbeat and club feel than the Paradise. Offering nights where no bands play, a DJ spins the latest in pop and hip-hop in the new 2000 capacity club. Local mainstays DJ Adilson and DJ Alex Whalen fill the club on nights when performers like Fatman Scoop aren’t pulling in the music lovers. Located on Lansdowne St., it’s mere minutes from the heart of the hub, and the Avalon has become a must visit for anyone looking to have a fun night on the town.

The Middle East, Boston is a unique experience in itself. With a dance and music club downstairs, and an excellent restaurant focusing on Middle East cuisine and fare, patrons can eat and then burn off the calories dancing and enjoying a great show. With a small capacity of less than 200, the Middle East downstairs offers an intimate setting for music lovers to enjoy a nice Guinness and a place to strut their stuff of the dance floor. Upcoming bands include Accurate Enemy, Apathetiq, Full Tilt, and Semi-Precious-Weapons. The diversity of bands proves that the Middle East showcases an eclectic mix of music. As well as being a hotbed for well-known artists, the Middle East is willing to showcase the up-and-comers that are trying to make a name for themselves. A simple submission of a CD or tape is all aspiring bands need to do to possibly book a gig. Now with a new store featuring apparel and recorded shows, it’s easy to showcase your loyalty to this cool venue. The bottom line is that Boston is where the music is, and places like The Paradise, the Avalon, and the Middle East are necessities for anyone looking to experience the allure of Beantown and its music scene.

Middle East- 472 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, 02139 – (617) 492-918
Avalon- 5 Lansdowne St, Boston, 02215 – (617) 262-2424
Paradise- 967 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, 02215 – (617) 562-8800