Tucked into the upper part of the historic Five Points neighborhood is the River North Arts District, aka RiNo, which is now home to several of the city's great live-music venues, both large and small. RiNo has evolved greatly over the past couple of decades from its industrial warehouse-laden roots, and its streets now contain a number of trendy restaurants, breweries, bars and, of course, music venues.
Whether you want to see your favorite traveling act at the massive Mission Ballroom, catch a local DJ at the Larimer Lounge, or just dance like nobody's watching, the area offers multiple choice options. Below, find the best places to catch live music, listed in alphabetical order:
Beacon
2854 Larimer Street
We named Beacon the best club to dance, see art and feel safe in 2024, and there's more than one reason for that. While it's more of a dance club and art space than just a music venue, this spot lists unity, diversity, authenticity, creativity, presence and safety as its values — offering a truly safe space at which to catch unique DJ sets, immersive art events and more.
The 21-plus, 234-cap venue hosts regular showcases for local and international DJs and parties of all kinds, sometimes not revealing who will be performing until the day of the show. If you're looking for an eclectic spot to catch some local talent and, perhaps most important, dance in an inclusive space, then it's definitely worth visiting Beacon.
Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom and Other Side
2637 Welton Street
Sporting the large Masterpiece Ballroom and the smaller, more intimate Other Side, Cervantes' has been an independent venue and staple in Denver music for more than two decades. The ballroom boasts a 1,000-person capacity, while the Other Side can hold up to 450 patrons. The Five Points spot features both local and national acts in a wide range of genres, from jam bands and bluegrass to funk, EDM, rock and more.
In addition to the two outdoor rooms, Cervantes' also sports an outdoor patio with a stage that's great for warmer weather and has plenty of space for dancing, drinking and just generally having fun. Most shows at Cervantes' are sixteen and up and require a cover charge at the door or in advance. Be sure to show up early for bigger shows, as you may arrive to find a line down the block. Globe Hall
4483 Logan Street
While it's just beyond the boundaries of RiNo, we had to mention Globe Hall. The saloon-style BBQ restaurant, bar and music venue is found near the popular Mission Ballroom, and was purchased by AEG booker and Lost Lake/Larimer Lounge owner Scott Campbell in 2017. While it's mostly a 21-plus venue, some shows will allow minors if they are accompanied by a legal guardian.
Originally heralded as a spot for country, folk, bluegrass and other related genres, the venue now hosts acts of all kinds, both local and touring. We named it the best place to rub elbows with your favorite musicians last year, and the venue is known to throw exclusive merch pop-ups and intimate, last-minute performances from artists that may have just wrapped up at Red Rocks or other larger venues in Denver.
Herb's is a longtime hang.
Justin Criado
Herb's Hideout
2057 Larimer Street
The building that houses Herb's Hideout today was built in 1933, and has since been home to a dance hall, a cougar bar and multiple dives. Today the historic Five Points spot is owned by jazz saxophonist Laura Newman, offering a reasonably priced drink, live music and a cozy vintage atmosphere that the bar calls "low on pretension, high on energy." Herb's is usually home to renowned jazz, funk, reggae, blues or other related genres, and it was a regular watering hole for author Jack Kerouac while he was in Denver.
Herb's shows are all 21 or over, usually without a cover at the door. You can also expect to see a wide range of regular event installments at this spot, including a regular Monday jazz piano night with Vlad Girshevich, Tuesday B3 Jazz jams, Wednesday open-funk jams, and Thursday night trio performances featuring bassist Dave Randon.
Larimer Lounge
2721 Larimer Street
Originally opened by Scott Campbell in 2002, the Larimer Lounge has been a Denver music staple since before RiNo's many industrial warehouses were redeveloped into trendy restaurants, coffee shops and bars. Less than a block from the Denver Central Market and within walking distance of several breweries and eateries, the Larimer is an excellent smaller-venue pick for those who want something truly historic and a little gritty. Most shows here are for ages 16+, though the venue will make exceptions for those accompanied by a ticketed parent or guardian during select shows.
This 250-capacity venue was also our 2024 pick for the best venue for both rock bands and DJs, as it has been leaning into EDM in recent years. Additionally, it's home to many of those up-and-coming touring acts that you hope to catch in a small room before they blow up, making it a great place to hang for storytellers who saw "so-and-so" before the arena tour. Some of the venue's past artists include the Killers, the Lumineers, Portugal. The Man, Japanese Breakfast and Khruangbin, among many others.
Meadowlark Bar
2701 Larimer Street
The basement venue Meadowlark Bar has been open for almost two decades, offering a cozy underground home to DJs, weekly jazz nights, karaoke and more. The space also has an excellent outdoor patio stage, where you can see bands and DJs on the weekends during the nicer months of the year. Typically, events at the Meadowlark are for ages 21 and older, since it is primarily a bar.
Like many of RiNo's longest-running venues, Meadowlark has a long list of past performers who have since gone on to have robust careers in the music industry. These include the Lumineers, which played the nascent open-mic nights at the venue, and Nathaniel Rateliff, who performed multiple sets there well before entering his Night Sweats era.
Mission Ballroom
4242 Wynkoop Street
Since opening in 2019 as an AEG venue, Mission Ballroom has quickly become one of Denver's premier stops for huge touring artists, and it's not one of those newer venues that feels too new or sterile inside. Last year, we named it the Best Indoor Venue, especially for its easy-to-navigate standing room and balcony, its excellent sound quality, most of its shows being all-ages and, lest we forget, the incredible giant disco ball that offers up some pretty amazing visuals. While you can expect to pay a hefty sum for tickets here, the price is usually worth it when you're catching your favorite bands and musicians, but don't hesitate to buy early, because some of the larger artists here will sell it out.
Nocturne Jazz and Supper Club
1330 27th Street
Making jazz music accessible to a wide audience is a key part of the goal at Nocturne, a RiNo jazz and supper club that opened in 2015. From the Art Deco interiors to the intimate stage, this spot is perfect for those wanting a cozy dinner and a show, and that's why it landed our Best Supper Club award in 2024. Nocturne regularly hosts jazz Wednesdays through Sundays, often featuring special residency events from local and national artists and special holiday menu items for both food and cocktails.
While it's designed as a space for adults 21 and up, the venue says it will allow well-behaved children ages ten or older for those who have purchased a table, keeping in spirit with fond memories of being snuck into venues as kids and exposing youth to great jazz music. The venue also hosts a regular all-ages Sunday matinee for children and students on certain dates, offering a perfect opportunity to share the space with young jazz hopefuls.
The Roxy Theatre
2549 Welton Street
The Roxy Theatre initially opened as a movie venue decades ago, though significant remodels, new lighting and an updated sound system brought the Five Points space to its current music-focused glory in 2011. Not to be confused with the Roxy on Broadway, this 500-capacity room typically hosts both local and national hip-hop acts with shows nearly every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. You can also expect to see rock, jazz and metal shows, along with the occasional karaoke night or other events.
Most of the shows at the Roxy are all-ages, though some are 21-plus, so it's worth checking out the specific event listing on the venue's website. Past artists include many who have gone on to have prolific careers, including Post Malone, Bubba Sparxxx, Paul Wall, Powerman 5000 and Alien Ant Farm, among many others.
Two Moons Music Hall
2944 Larimer Street
Two Moons is a great spot for DJs, jazz, singer-songwriters, bluegrass and more, usually featuring local, independent talent. The venue just opened in April last year, and it's already offering a nearly full calendar, typically six shows a week.
What's more is that the venue aims to keep many of the events as close to free as possible, and it includes a cozy cocktail bar and a comfortable outdoor patio space, making it a good pick for lounging, dancing or both. Two Moons is also open to those ages 21 and up for the vast majority of shows, unless specifically listed on a given event.
