When your favorite band announces a tour, there’s a good chance that if they’re coming to the west coast that they’ll be playing a show in Portland. Portland’s live music scene is part of what makes Portland great.
Rip City is a music-loving town that’s home to tons of awesome record stores and a variety of venues across its many neighborhoods, drawing huge headliners as well as exciting up-and-coming acts that regularly sell out.
From historic, grand concert halls to grungy, intimate stages, each Portland concert venue has its own unique vibe and draws a different category of artists and crowd. Get your tickets ready and read on to learn about where to see live music in Portland.
Aladdin Theater
Photo source: Aladdin Theater
- Location: 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., Portland, OR 97202
Located in the Brooklyn neighborhood, the Aladdin Theater is a charming, historic venue that opened in 1928 as a movie theater. Today, its shining neon marquee glows with the names of musicians and comedians that can pack a mid-size room. Enjoy a beer and a bite before the show at The Lamp, a Mediterranean restaurant and bar connected to the theater. The Aladdin is general admission, so get there early if you want to reserve a good seat. If you brought your dancing shoes, head up front toward the stage to get your groove on.
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
photo source: portland5.com
- Location: 1037 SW Broadway, Portland, Oregon 97205
Fondly referred to as “The Schnitz,” the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall is another beautiful, historic venue, also built in 1928. It’s the only remaining theater on Broadway in downtown Portland. Just walking around this meticulously restored building and taking in the intricate architecture is entertaining. The Schnitz also hosts a variety of classical, jazz, pop, rock, folk and gospel concerts, as well as dance and theater productions. Tickets get pricy, but a night at the Schnitz will make you feel like you’re living out your fanciest dreams.
Crystal Ballroom
Photo source: Crystal Ballroom / Facebook
- Location: 1332 W Burnside St., Portland, OR 97209
The pride of the Pearl District, the Crystal Ballroom has a rich history as one of Portland’s most popular places to see a show.
Built in 1914 and on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, this beautiful ballroom is adorned with high ceilings, sprawling balconies, grand chandeliers and murals. It’s a historic staple for in Portland’s live music scene. Floor-to-ceiling windows douse the room with the perfect amount of light when you’re walking in to see your favorite band just before sunset.
The most unique thing about this venue is the mechanical “floating” dance floor. This evenly spreads the weight of crowds on the third-floor dance hall. When the room gets rocking, you can actually feel the floor bouncing up and down.
The Crystal has hosted some huge names throughout its history, from James Brown to Marvin Gaye to the Grateful Dead. It’s still one of the largest venues in town, so it draws some of the biggest names over a wide variety of genres.
Doug Fir Lounge
Photo source: Doug Fir Lounge / Facebook
- Location: 830 E. Burnside St., Portland, OR 97214
The Buckman neighborhood‘s Doug Fir Lounge is a swanky restaurant and bar with a small but lively venue in the basement. The design of the building is aptly described as “Twin Peaks meets “The Jetsons.” It features log-clad walls with modern decor for a distinctly Portland vibe. Doug Fir’s intimate atmosphere draws mostly smaller acts. Every now and then, a bigger band like Cake, The Shins or Tame Impala will pack the house when they crave a smaller stage.
DF takes pride in all their shows. The venue commissions local artists to create a poster for each event. Be sure to grab a few of your favorites to hang at home!
Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn
photo source: Edgefield Concerts / Facebook
- Location: 2126 SW Halsey St., Troutdale, OR 97060
Because the northwest receives so much rain throughout the year, there aren’t many dedicated outdoor venues. However, every summer Edgefield resort, just east of Portland in Troutdale, hosts their Concerts on the Lawn series with a capacity of 7,000 on its 74 beautiful acres. That makes it one of the largest venues in Oregon, drawing big names like My Morning Jacket, Primus and Sheryl Crow for an atmosphere akin to some of the best outdoor music festivals.
Jack London Revue
photo source: Jack London Revue / Facebook
- Location: 529 SW 4th Ave., Portland, OR 97204
The newly opened Jack London Revue filled a void in the Portland music scene, providing a place for jazz fans to get their fix. Located in the historic Alder building in downtown Portland, it’s like stepping back through time to a secret speakeasy club. You walk down the basement stairs and emerge into a dimly lit room adorned with a full bar, tables and room for dancing.
Mississippi Studios
photo source: mississippistudios.com
- Location: 3939 N. Mississippi Ave., Portland OR 97227
The vibrant Mississippi neighborhood is home to a fantastically cozy venue in Mississippi Studios.It’s a small space with a big sound, drawing a wide variety of acts. It’s decorated with homely rugs and a hodgepodge of antique furniture. The dance floor can get rowdy for the right performance, but there is also a small balcony with limited seating and it also makes for an intimate space for an acoustic evening.
Oregon Zoo Summer Concerts
Photo Source: oregonzoo.org
- Location: 4001 SW Canyon Rd., Portland, OR 97221
Another seasonal outdoor venue, the Oregon Zoo’s Summer Concert series provides a family-friendly place to see a diverse lineup of larger acts in the West Haven-Sylvan district. As a bonus, a concert ticket also grants you admission to the zoo for the full day of the event. Be sure to show up early to take advantage and to find the perfect spot to lay out a blanket on the grassy lawn. The stage area also provides a unique entertainment experience — it’s surrounded by huge trees with the elephant yard to one side and the red ape reserve to the other.
Revolution Hall
Photo Source: Revolutionhalpdx / Facebook
- Location: 1300 SE Stark St., Portland, OR 97214
Washington High School was built in 1924 in the Buckman neighborhood. It educated young minds until 1981 when it stood vacant for many years. In 2013, it was purchased and renovated to house offices, a lounge, bar and cafe, a rooftop terrace (with one of the best views in town) and its auditorium became the live music venue Revolution Hall. To get to the auditorium, you walk through locker-lined halls that will give you flashbacks to your school days. Even the bathrooms look the same. However, when the lights go down and the music starts, you instantly remember you’re experiencing a night out enjoying Portland’s live music and not in an assembly.
Roseland Theater
Photo source: Roseland Theater / Facebook
- Location: 8 NW Sixth Ave., Portland, OR 97209
Looking to catch a rap show? Chances are it will be going down at the Roseland Theater downtown. With a capacity of 1,400, this is a quality, mid-sized venue with great sound and good sightlines to the stage from the dance floor or the balcony above. Grab a bite to eat before the show at Peter’s Room, connected to the venue, and get ready to put your hands in the air and wave ’em like you just don’t care.
Star Theater
Photo source: Star Theater / Facebook
- Location: 13 NW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97209
Get up close and personal at the Star Theater downtown and discover a new artist on the come-up or boogie down with your favorite local band. It’s a small theater and standing room only, but the atmosphere is electric when the lights dim and the velvet curtains open on stage.
Theater of the Clouds
photo source: Theater of the Clouds / Facebook
- Location: 1016-1098 N. Center Ct. St., Portland, OR 97227
When the Moda Center, located in the Lloyd District and home of the Portland Trail Blazers, hosts a concert, it transforms into the Theater of the Clouds — a staple of the Portland live music world. With a capacity of up to 6,500, curtains to ensure that there’s not a bad seat in the house and a one-of-a-kind acoustic cloud providing booming sound, this is a great place to see the biggest bands in the world. Tickets and concessions often are spendy, but saying you are a part of the Portland live music scene known for acts like Radiohead, Bon Iver or Hozier is priceless.
Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum
Photo source: Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum / Facebook
- Location: 300 N. Winning Way, Portland, OR 97227
Also located in the Lloyd District is the Trail Blazer’s former home, Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum. The Coliseum has hosted a long list of amazing live acts since 1960. Acts have included The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin and many more. Today, it continues to draw a wide variety of popular artists playing in Portland’s live music scene. It does have a retro feel compared with newer or recently renovated venues around town, but the nostalgia is part of its charm.
Wonder Ballroom
Photo source: Wonder Ballroom / Facebook
- Location: 128 NE Russel St., Portland, OR 97212
The Wonder Ballroom was constructed in Portland’s Eliot neighborhood in 1914 and served as a church for decades until being renovated and converted into a music venue. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this venue hosts some of the best indie acts when they come to town. A hardwood dance floor and high, vaulted ceilings provide great sound quality that fills the room with an energy that’s almost tangible.
Portland’s live music scene knows how to rock
The Portland live music scene is an integral part of the culture in Rip City, and there are some amazing places to enjoy it. Many of the most popular musicians in history have played here, and the city’s wide variety of venues continues to draw a diverse lineup of acts and crowds. Keep your eye out for tickets and visit all the Portland concert venues to discover your favorite setting for sound!
