Above, The Varsity Theatre. Photos by Stephanie Landry
While Baton Rouge has seen its fair share of national performers, there are also opportunities to see local artists take the mic all over town. Here’s the lowdown on some of the essential bars, clubs and concert halls for hearing top local and regional musicians perform original music in genres ranging from old-school blues to modern electro-pop.
The Blues Room
This is a place to go to get lost. Lost in time. Lost to the groove. With its downtown location and a storied history as the home of Tabby’s Blues Box back in the 1990s, the Blues Room is a no-frills, rock-solid room for the electric touch of a Baton Rouge from years gone by. Fiery blues jams happen every Wednesday night, with no cover charge. Jambalaya cookouts and spaghetti nights are not uncommon, either.
Go if you like: Blues Who you might see: Recent performers have included Cleveland Jefferson and the Rock-o-Laz, the Wil Jackson Blues Band and Elvin Killerbee. 244 Lafayette St. | 334-7663 | facebook.com/TheBluesRoom
Chelsea’s Café
Popular Perkins Overpass area eatery Chelsea’s Café is also home to an eclectic slate of live music acts both on its main stage and in the cozier sidebar space, where a series of local songwriters and folk-based bands are never strangers. The main stage leans more toward jam, New Orleans funk and country-flavored rock, with a little indie and hip-hop thrown in now and again.
Go if you like:An eclectic mix of jam, funk, rock, indie and hip-hop Who you might see: Recent performers include Flow Tribe, Rebirth Brass Band and frequent players Captain Green. 2857 Perkins Road | 387-3679 | chelseascafe.com
Hartley/Vey Theatres
This former “black box” space next to Manship Theatre at the Shaw Center for the Arts was recently upgraded in sound and redesigned in look as a stand-alone venue with capacity for a couple hundred patrons. It has proven to be the perfect stage for Drop the Needle, regular “living room-style” concerts that see an all-star cast of Baton Rouge talent paying tribute to the likes of the Beatles, Carole King and Elvis Costello.
Go if you like:Jazz and pop Who you might see: Bands such as Brad Walker, John Gray and Pacifico
100 Lafayette St. | 344-0334 | hartleyveytheatres.org
Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room.
Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room
Owned by the titular reggae-bred jam band leader, this relatively new venue is laid-back and welcoming with a strong personality, picking sounds that more than likely spin in heavy rotation on its owner’s playlist. With a huge focus on local and regional talent, Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room is also a proving ground for up-and-comers and outsider artists alike, all of whom should be more household names than they currently are.
Go if you like: Reggae, jam bands Who you might see: The Void, The Rakers, Amy Andrews, Johnny Midnite and—of course—Henry Turner Jr. and the Flavor are regulars.
2733 North St. | 802-9681 | facebook.com/henryturnerjrlisteningroom
Manship Theatre
This gorgeous downtown theater holds a little more than 300 guests. With not a bad seat in the house, the Manship Theatre attracts some of the premier modern touring bands as well as iconic, victory-lapping artists for intimate, memorable performances you simply can’t find anywhere else in the Capital Region. While the emphasis tends to be on touring talent, locals do get to shine occasionally, and they often open for the big boys—such as when Ryan Harris and Clay Parker played in front of The Byrds’ Chris Hillman.
Go if you like:Everything from country to jazz. Who you might see: Recent marquee acts include Irvin Mayfield, Roger McGuinn, Billy Joe Shaver and Allen Toussaint.
100 Lafayette St. | 344-0334 | manshiptheatre.org
Phil Brady’s
For decades this blues bastion has been a great bet for live music in Mid City. Phil Brady’s offers classic bar food and Southern dishes while a revolving door of guitar gunslingers takes center stage. Monday nights are great for the dollar burgers, but billiards and blues are always on tap no matter when the mood strikes.
Go if you like: Blues Who you might see: John Lisi, Chris LeBlanc, Luther Kent and Larry Garner have each played of late.
4848 Government St. | 927-3786 | philbradys.org
Red Dragon Listening Room
The brainchild of music hound Chris Maxwell, this inconspicuous Florida Boulevard venue is a homely haven for quiet, respectful and stunning acoustic performances from talented locals and legendary touring artists, too. The casual connections of a living room vibe are strong here, with concerts often taking on a storytelling tack.
Go if you like: Acoustic singer-songwriters Who you might see: Joe Ely, Bob Schneider, David Lindley, Eric Schmitt, Jodi James and a host of other regional singer-songwriters call this unique spot home for regular shows.
2401 Florida Blvd. | 939-7783 | reddragonlr.com
Red Star Bar
A decade ago, Red Star was pretty much the only original live music venue downtown. While there are a few other options in 2015, this breezy watering hole near Third Street, with its cozy booths and rotation of funky local artwork on the walls, has shifted its focus from touring acts to more homegrown talent, shining a spotlight on local luminaries like Denton Hatcher and Polly Pry. But the bar’s other great play is its jam-packed DJ nights, pulling in top spinners like the riotous, 1990s-loving Booty Werk.
Go if you like: Rock, country or folk Who you might see: Recent acts include The Humble Kind, Denton Hatcher, Bones, Caroline Schaff and Polly Pry.
222 Laurel St. | facebook.com/pages/Red-Star/10605016562
The Spanish Moon.
Spanish Moon
Thanks to long-time booker and GIVERS manager Aaron Scruggs, Spanish Moon books the edgiest, most forward-thinking indie rock and electronic performers, mostly the white-hot Pitchfork-approved set or else emerging acts that’ll blow up six months after you saw them at this Highland Road venue. The spacious, two-story bar went smoke-free in February.
Go if you like: Indie rock and electronic Who you might see: Local bands Summer Fits, Prom Date, Loudness War, Ask the Thomas Brothers, Ship of Fools and Slomile Swift have taken the stage here.
1109 Highland Road | 383-6666 | thespanishmoon.com
Teddy’s Juke Joint
Farther afield, yet worth the drive out to Zachary, this kitschy but authentic blues Mecca—presided over by the charismatic Teddy Johnson—is nothing short of a heart-stirring thrill. Think soul food that feels like a hug from your mama and a vintage jukebox you’ll want to strap to the hood of your car and haul home at the end of the night.
Go if you like:Blues Who you might see: Recent acts include Gregg Wright, Larry Garner, OMT Band and Eden Brent.
16999 Old Scenic Highway | 658-8029 | teddysjukejoint.com
The Varsity Theatre
Consistently voted by readers as the Best Live Music Venue in our annual Best of 225 survey (including our most recent 2013 and 2014 surveys), the Varsity is an LSU area staple, and talent buyer Alex Bowen has renewed the venue’s focus on original music in the last couple of years. Of course, popular touring artists like St. Paul and the Broken Bones and Robert Earl Keen flock to the spacious concert hall and bar, but plenty of local and Louisiana bands get in on the act as well, with the likes of Benjamin Booker, Royal Teeth and Anders Osborne leading the charge.
Go if you like: Everything from pop to alternative rock to indie Who you might see: Popular acts like Sir Mix-A-Lot, Yellowcard and Dirty Heads visit this month, along with local/regional acts like the Michael Foster Project, Minos the Saint, Matt Tortorich and Benjamin Booker.
3353 Highland Road | 383-7018 | varsitytheatre.com
More places to see live music
Baton Rouge has so many places to see artists perform, we didn’t have room for them all. Here are a few more places to spend a night out.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this article stated that Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room is located inside the original Tabby’s Blues Box location, which is incorrect. 225 regrets the error.
