Across Adelaide there’s a thriving music culture with bands and performances of every genre for every taste. The city of churches needs should be newly proclaimed as the city of live music.
From bars and clubs to arenas and theatres, there is an abundance of venues hosting both local and international acts and with something on almost every night of the week, we’ve compiled a list of all the places you can head to if you want to see some live music.
Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Arguably the biggest live music venue in the state with its juggernaut arena theatre stage, The Adelaide Entertainment Centre host the biggest heavy hitters and most popular artists in music today. See some of the shows to round your year out with psych-rock Tame Impala, pop singer Dua Lipa, indie songwriter Dean Lewis and the huge line-up from Fridayz Live with Macklemore, TLC, Jay Sean, Shaggy and more!
98 Port Road, Hindmarsh
The Arkaba
Winner of the AHA South Australia’s ‘Best Entertainment Venue’ the Arkaba sees performances from cover bands to comedy acts and everything in between with its large stage accommodating even the rowdiest of crowds.
150 Glen Osmond Road, Fullarton
Crown & Anchor Hotel
Dubbed the “Cranker” by its long-lasting patrons it’s the epitome of a classic pub with its small outdoor circle tables, pool table comps and a knee high stage positioned in its smaller back room that’ll have audiences squeezed in to some of the greatest shows ever. From midweek onwards they’ll always have local bands rocking out at this homegrown hangout spot.
196 Grenfell St, Adelaide
The District – SkyCity Adelaide
The District is located in the heart of the city on the upper level of the SkyCity casino right next to its in-house Pirate Life brewery is an ideal spot for live music.
With plentiful options for food, over 10 PL beers on tap, live sports being televised as well and for the rest of the month they’re doing finals for Battle of The Bands as the best local talent go head-to-head on Friday nights.
125 North Terrace, Adelaide
Enigma Bar
The West End cult dive bar is known for its metal heavy lineups and has been a staple of the scene for more than 20 years. The multi-level venue hosts some of the best alternative bands but to those outside the scene, what occurs inside the four walls is somewhat of a mystery bu don’t be intimidated, this bar is also known to be one of the friendliest.
173 Hindley St, Adelaide
Fat Controller
In the basement by the depths of the railway station is a red neon lit club decorated with indoor plants and a sparkly led screen behind its stage. Treat this more as a club with electronic artists and DJ sets with occasional live music from bands and throwback and emo nights.
136 North Terrace, Adelaide
Grace Emily Hotel
A cozy pub complete with fireplace, pool table, beer garden and artsy stage to be graced by musicians. With a culture of live music for over a decade it’s been inducted into the South Australian Music Hall of Fame.
232 Waymouth Street, Adelaide
The Gov
With an expansive room to house its stage and neighbouring pub and restaurant, entered through the carpark and into its beer garden and be welcomed to a full view of the long stage and walls filled with memorabilia. Right across the road from the Entertainment Centre the roster of acts performing at The Gov are extensive; check out the events tab on their Facebook for announcements.
59 Port Road, Hindmarsh
Hindley Street Music Hall
The hottest new venue in Adelaide opened its doors just this past September after giving a million-dollar facelift to the old HQ Complex building.
A multi-level building with its ceilings decorated with disco balls and chandeliers that’s already hosting celebrated artists both local and international such as Vance Joy, punk legends Pennywise, Spiderbait, English indie-rockers The Wombats, late 90s hit group Hanson and early in the new year rapper Freddie Gibbs and R&B singer Kehlani.
149 Hindley Street, Adelaide
Jive
Awarded the best live music venue at the SA Music awards last year, Jive is a venue with character and treats every night like its last after being saved from going under thanks to a crowdfunding project. Plenty of punk and rock shows flourish on the stage like upcoming events from Make Them Suffer, local three-piece Pelvis and 80s and indie nights nearly every Saturday night.
181 Hindley Street, Adelaide
The Lab
An immersive performance venue birthed during the fringe season The Lab is a visually stunning space experience being surrounded by 14 million pixels on its wall to ceiling LED screens and pillars. The venue feels like a canvas and futuristic approach to live performances with upcoming shows from avantgarde groups like Sons of Zoku or the Australian String Quartet.
63 Light Square, Adelaide
Lion Arts Factory
A building with history a with a golden maned lion atop it’s roof and a premier venue for both live music and its iconic throwback and themed nights.
A huge stage with state-of-the-art sound and lights with an outdoor beer garden to hang out late into the night. Upcoming live music gigs include American punk band Wavves, Aussie fem-fronted group WAAX and for those looking for a boogie to some hits keep an eye out for their No Scrubs 90s night, Harry Styles Harryween Party and Disney Hits Party.
68 North Terrace, Adelaide
Memphis Slims
Tucked away in the basement at the end of Gilbert Place, Memphis Slims House of Blues is just that – a small Chicago-clues-style bar that has an epic lineup of artists that you can jive along to while sipping on one of its signature whisky cocktails or showing off your cue skills in the adjoining pool room.
22 Gilbert Place, Basement Level, Adelaide
Shotgun Willie’s
The big sister of Memphis Slims, Shotgun Willies sits on the street level of the building and has gained a reputation for being one of the wildest bars on the scene. The Western-style saloon is reminiscent of America’s deep South and showcases the best of country and folk music that brings a vibe that needs to be experienced to be believed. Think shoulder to shoulder crowds, table dancing and singing at the top of your lungs.
22 Gilbert Place, Adelaide
Thebarton Theatre
This beloved theatre is a gorgeous open hall theatre with both standing and raised seating with mezzanine views of the best shows from both bands and celebrity tours. Thebarton Theatre’s upcoming shows include blues-rocker George Thorogood, the Creedence Clearwater Collective, funny brit Alan Carr and The Pixies.
112 Henley Beach Road, Torrensville
UniBar
A splendid hang out for students and live music lovers alike the Uni Bar located on the University of Adelaide’s north terrace campus is perfect for knock offs or summer sips by their outdoor garden. An epicentre for local and national talent of alternative rock variety with events like Punk Rock Riot in November, wrestling outside with punk music on the main stage or a Halloween Ball a mini-festival with costumes and 10 bands.
Union House, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide
Think we’ve missed one? Send us an email [email protected]
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