The Best Denver Bars With Live Music

In a 2020 article for a series about "cities where live music has exploded," Rolling Stone turned the spotlight on Denver, proclaiming that our city is "in the midst of a huge live-music boom." Some would argue that our local scene has been booming for years, and in the five since that article came out, it's become even bigger and more robust. Not only does Denver have its share of venues dedicated to live music, but a number of restaurants and bars around town offer concerts, as well. 

Keep reading for some of the best Denver bars and eateries with live-music lineups:
Appaloosa Grill
535 16th Street Mall
Appaloosa Grill has been a staple on the 16th Street Mall for over two decades, but it’s also been one of the few spots in downtown Denver to offer live music every night of the week. These days, a good part of the bar and restaurant's live-music program is dedicated to weekly residencies, including Friends With Chuck on Mondays, jazz/hip-hop act Brant Williams on Tuesdays, jazz trumpeter Gabe Mervine on Wednesdays, with a variety of acts on Fridays and Saturdays. There is usually no cover charge.
Bar 404
404 Broadway
Bar 404 opened in December 2021 in the former home of Rory's Tavern (and Club 404 long before that). With its intimate atmosphere and delicious eats, Bar 404 has hosted resident bands such as May Be Fern, and it's where you can hear an array of music, from rock to jazz. Check its calendar to discover which act you want to see next.
The Beacon
2854 Larimer Street
The Beacon is without a doubt one of the most popular bars in RiNo. Known for its Burning Man atmosphere with immersive art installations by local artists in every room, Beacon prides itself on championing Denver-based creatives and DJs. Sip delicious cocktails under the woven-oak installation at the bar as you watch revelers on the dance floor under a cloud-like installation, dancing to beats from the best of Denver's DJs. Black Buzzard at Oskar Blues
1624 Market Street
Oskar Blues Grill & Brew opened just off the 16th Street Mall in January 2018, bringing with it a basement blues and rock venue called the Black Buzzard. It's been a big success, winning Westword's Best of Denver award for Best New Venue the year it opened. It continues to host both local and national bands, and has become a popular destination for local comics with its comedy nights, as well.
The Crypt
1618 East 17th Avenue
It's Halloween year-round at the Crypt, which opened in January 2022. Decorated with concert fliers and goth decor inspired by the book Death Scenes and the TV series Tales From the Crypt, this spooky nightlife destination will become your new favorite haunt with concerts that cater to punk, prog-rock, metal, grunge and hardcore fans. The Crypt won a well-deserved Best of Denver award for Best New Club in 2023, and its unique array of bar food and well-priced drinks only adds to its standing as a badass place to see live music.
Goosetown Tavern
3242 East Colfax Avenue
For many years, Goosetown Tavern was just a great neighborhood hang, but when Chris Swank (who owns the Bluebird Theater across the street and Mezcal next door) bought it from the Wynkoop Group in 2014, he had a new stage built and new sound and light systems installed. Since then, live music has become much more of a focus, with weekly karaoke and open-mic nights. Cover charges vary.
Herb’s
2057 Larimer Street
Located two blocks from Coors Field, Herb’s has long been a hot spot for jazz (it’s owned by jazz saxophonist Laura Newman, who leads Alive on Arrival) and other genres such as rock, blues and funk. Jazz pianist and organist Vlad Girshevich holds court on Mondays, trumpeter Gabe Mervine plays on Tuesdays, there is a funk jam on Wednesdays, bassist Dave Randon is usually in the house on Thursdays, and a mix of acts show up on the weekends. There is usually no cover charge.

Hudson Hill
619 East 13th Avenue
Hudson Hill opened in 2016 under Pearl Street Hospitality, which recently sold the craft cocktail and coffee bar to Cole Anthony, who had been the bar's longtime general manager, and Don Smith. The new owners decided to add a music program, which has kicked off with monthly jazz nights from Corner 3 Jazz.
Lincoln’s Roadhouse
1201 South Pearl Street
Lincoln’s Roadhouse is known for its Cajun grub, but on Friday and Saturday nights, live bands play in a small space next to the front door. Lincoln’s is big on the blues (Westword has named it Best Blues Club multiple times), and it brings in some of the area’s finest blues acts, such as Johnny O and Michael Hornbuckle, along with the occasional national act and local rock and rockabilly bands. There’s no cover charge.
Lion's Lair
2022 East Colfax Avenue
Decades before it became the punk and rock haven it is today, the Lion's Lair was a jazz club where legends like Billie Holiday and Dexter Gordon played. It's also got one of the oldest liquor licenses in Denver. While the storied dive bar is perfect for downing a beer or four, you can also see local bands here, including open-mic nights. Every so often, the Lair hosts big names in punk, such as John Doe or Mike Watt, and former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra occasionally puts on his own DJ dance party.
The Meadowlark
2701 Larimer Street
The Meadowlark opened as an underground bar with the intimate feel of a log cabin, and its weekly jazz nights have cultivated a certain reputation for nurturing up-and-coming musicians. For starters, the Lumineers played at the Meadowlark's open-mic nights long before headlining arenas around the globe, and Nathaniel Rateliff played intimate sets there back in the day. These days, you can catch live bands and DJs on the weekends on the outdoor patio stage. Cover charge varies.
Mockingbird
2737 Larimer Street
A new club from the owners of Beacon, Mockingbird opened in RiNo last August. While Beacon is known for more of its bass-heavy atmosphere, Mockingbird is leaning into the lounge vibes and will stage DJs that mix swing and dance music as well as more laid-back beats. But similar to Beacon, the club is filled to the brim with art installations, such as a room built within a birdcage and the Chambers of Connection, an installation of three cushy, curtained rooms that are inspired by Japan, Egypt and India. Mockingbird really leans into a sexy ethos, too, with aerial performers, contortionists and a very special chair that vibrates.
Number Thirty Eight
3560 Chestnut Place
Number Thirty Eight has a taproom with rotating brews and serves food, but the spot’s most impressive element might be its massive outdoor patio area that boasts a huge stage, with plenty of room for music indoors, as well. Number Thirty Eight hosts live music throughout the week, and most of its concerts are free.
Ophelia's Electric Soapbox
1215 20th Street
The three-story Airedale Building has a storied history, with many of its years spent as a brothel, sex shop and peep-show venue before it became Ophelia's, the live-music venue and restaurant that pokes fun at that past with this tagline: "If these walls could talk, they would moan." Aside from a variety of unique dishes and cocktails, it's a fantastic venue, with the stage on the basement level and the ceiling cut out above, so that restaurant patrons on the top floor can watch the action.
River Bar
3759 Chestnut Place
Part art gallery, part eccentric bar, River is an eclectic haven located in the former home of the Welcome Inn. There's always a great happening there, from pop-ups to food trucks, live music and standup and new gallery installations, but the open-mic night on each Monday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. is a prime opportunity to kick back and enjoy the atmosphere with a craft cocktail or coffee in hand. The venue also has a night dedicated to hip-hop with Beats Bodega each Thursdays as well as Inner Circle on Tuesdays.  Roxy on Broadway
554 South Broadway
Roxy on Broadway opened in August 2019 and was starting to hit its stride before the pandemic shut down bars, restaurants and music venues. But owner Paula Vrakas, who also owns a Roxy in California, was persistent and kept the spot going; at one point, she had musicians play from the patio to the patrons inside. There's live music most nights of the week, as well as DJs spinning at weekend brunches. Cover varies.
Sips (With a Z)
Meow Wolf, 1338 First Street
Meow Wolf added a loungey, immersive bar, Sips (With a Z), to its Denver location, Convergence Station. The lounge is flush with Meow Wolf's signature trippy details, with decorations inspired by Art Deco and street art, as well as velvet wallpaper. Grates in the floor provide a bird's eye view into C Street, one of the many worlds in the behemoth Convergence Station installation, while the bar serves "elevated cocktails."

But most of all, there is a stage in the spot as well as a screen that will livestream concerts from Meow Wolf's Perplexiplex venue, and Meow Wolf aims to have live performances in Sips (With a Z), which could include open-mic nights, comedy shows and poetry slams. "This was designed with performance in mind," events director Kristin Hutton told us.
Two Moons Music Hall
2944 Larimer Street
Two Moons Music Hall opened in April last year courtesy of Pearl Street Hospitality and has six nights of live music a week. Most weekdays have no cover charge, and each night hosts a different genre. Tuesdays offer jazz, Wednesdays see independent artists and singer-songwriters, Thursdays alternate between Latin and honky-tonk music, and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays showcase DJs, disco and funk. With large windows that open to the street and delectable cocktails in a bright, intimate setting, Two Moons is the perfect place for a night out any time of the year.
Wash Park Grille
1096 South Gaylord Street
Although best known as a restaurant and bar, Wash Park Grille has long hosted live music, both bands and solo artists. There's live music Thursdays through Saturdays starting at 8 p.m., with local jam musicians such as Eric Martinez and Bill McKay. Seating is limited in the bar area, but you can hear the music from the dining room (and the patio, when the weather is good). While there’s no cover, a $10 tip for the musicians is highly recommended.
Western Sky Bar & Taproom
4361 South Broadway, Englewood
Every last Sunday of the month, Western Sky hosts an open jam from 5 to 7 p.m., but that's not all the taproom has to offer. There are open mics, comedy events, karaoke and more music mayhem happening at this spot.


This story was originally published in November 2021 and has been updated.