Where to Go for Live Music in Maryland

Under a flood of colorful neon lights, see big-name acts in this ornate downtown theater with a capacity for 2,000 music-loving fans. From a balcony perch to a VIP box or bar booth, you’ll have great views of all of the onstage action. This classic venue offers an array of diverse live music programming while also providing a small intimate show experience.

Diverse, popular and accomplished musicians—including the likes of Lone Bellow, The Bodeans, and Al Stewart get booked to jam in this cozy downtown venue. With craft beers brewed onsite and excellent pub fare, you’ll want for nothing more while watching them perform. Sign up for the premium experience of dinner, drinks, and the show.

Just pick your preferred genre, then match it with this popular venue’s concert schedule of artists imported to play in the city. Hear country one day, punk the next, and rock, blues and acoustic acts later on in the week. Groove to the beats standing in front of the stage or from bleacher seats in the balcony.

Hear the powerful sounds of the renowned Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in its grand home venue. The roster of concerts also includes performances by other orchestras and jazz and gospel artists. See how shows come together by signing up for a backstage tour.

Live music never sounded better than in this intimate and upscale extension of the legendary Strathmore. Order from a menu that changes seasonally while enjoying the bluegrass, rock and jazz stylings of a wide variety of artists.  Reserve your spot early; capacity is limited to 230 people per seating.

Spend a classy night out in this 1930s art deco-era theater with room for 300 people at tables right next to the stage and 200 in theater seats. Fine dining and drinks are served nightly before the music begins. Enjoy the nearly perfect acoustics as top-notch musicians perform blues, jazz, acoustic rock and soul.

Ottobar might be small with room for only 125 patrons, but it has a big reputation for rowdy rock ‘n’ roll. If you’ve been at a show there since 1997, you might have seen The White Stripes, Death Cab For Cutie or Lamb of God. Odds are one of the current bands will become the next big thing. Rolling Stone magazine once named Ottobar as one of the “10 Best Live Music Venues in America.”

You’ll feel the magnificent history just walking into this building, named after celebrated Baltimore musician Eubie Blake. View memorabilia and learn more about him and other stars such as Billie Holiday and Cab Calloway. Head to the fourth floor to the Eubie Live! venue to hear live jazz, gospel, neo soul and other genres performed by talented local artists on Saturdays and Sundays.

Nearly 1,300 people wait for red velvet curtains to dramatically unfurl before the Maryland Symphony Orchestra hits the first note in its home, a historic 1915 concert hall that once was a vaudeville house and movie theater. Audiences also enjoy shows by well-known touring musicians, big bands and community concert choirs.

It’s no wonder traveling musicians love coming to charming downtown Easton to perform in this 380-seat elegantly restored 1921 theater. Artists as varied as Leo Kottke, Lee Ann Womack, Shemekia Copeland, and Joni Mitchell have booked shows in what was once known as “The Showplace of the Eastern Shore.”

Feel the beat at Baltimore Sound Stage. Located in the heart of Inner Harbor, this venue welcomes the likes of acts ranging from heavy metal hitters to dubstep, spoken word performers and everything in between.

For more than five decades Merriweather Post Pavilion, in Columbia, has built its legacy through concerts featuring the musical icons of their times: Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, David Bowie, Whitney Houston, Metallica, Wu-Tang Clan, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Kanye West and many more have all played this iconic Maryland venue located on 40 acres of forest, right  between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.

Located steps from The Peabody Institute, the modest stage and small auditorium here are perfect for intimate performances from solo classical and jazz artists, jazz groups, chamber and world music ensembles.

This beautifully restored 1870s church with a 2,500-foot sprung dance floor and 1,200-foot stage is a hot spot for swing bands. The space’s reasonable rental fees also make it a great locale for new bands to break into the scene.

Located near the sprawling green acres of Patterson Park just north of the Canton neighborhood, this venue boasts musical performances, art exhibitions and film screenings by a diverse line-up of local Baltimore artists.

After acquiring Baltimore's historic Waterfront Hotel, Atlas Restaurant Group did a complete renovation to add a new chapter in the building's storied history. The repurposing of the space pays homage to a key element that has been part of the Fells Point neighborhood for decades: live music performed by local musicians. This interior transformation provides artists with a lively venue to perform in, complete with an elevated stage and a state-of-the-art sound system. Waterfront Hotel hosts live music 7 nights a week.

This multi-purpose art space and bar hosts live music performances, literature and poetry readings, comedy, performance art and film screenings in the Station North Arts District of Baltimore. Located in the heart of Baltimore’s thriving arts Renaissance center, with numerous cultural venues popping up—so art lovers will find plenty to do in and around the Metro.

Wineries all across the state, such as Catoctin Breeze, Linganore and Boordy, offer scores of fantastic concert series every year.  With one almost assuredly a short drive from you, check out the upcoming concerts and events at all the various Maryland Wineries.

Live music by local bands, beer, wine and signature cocktails during the summer season. Don't miss the annual Boatyard Beach Bash in August.

The verdant summer home of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and host to the annual Hot August Music Festival, Oregon Ridge encourages you to pack a picnic and enjoy the show (no glass, grills or kegs are permitted).

The CFG Bank Arena is a 13,000-seat world-class concert and entertainment venue that hosts more than 120 shows a year, including big name acts such as Bruce Springsteen, Lizzo, Chris Stapleton, Anita Baker, Andrea Bocelli and more. The newly renovated and reimagined iconic Baltimore venue now includes state-of-the-art acoustics, superior suites, exclusive club levels, premium contemporary seating, and upscale culinary experiences all in the heart of downtown Baltimore.

For dockside entertainment, head to Rod ’N’ Reel Resort—Southern Maryland’s summer hot spot for great music on the water. Arrive by car or boat fully prepared for live and loud rock and country concerts

Boaters can also pull right up to this music venue on Pier 6, smack dab in the middle of the Inner Harbor and notable for its tensile roof. Entertainment’s biggest acts, from Iggy Azalea to B.B. King, have performed here.

Keystone Korner is Baltimore's premier jazz and dinner club. Terrific tunes are served up by a roster of outstanding musicians. You’ll also appreciate excellent food and drink choices on happy hour, dinner and Sunday brunch menus.

The Theater at MGM National Harbor is one of the premier entertainment destinations in the region, attracting the likes of Smokey Robinson, Bruno Mars, Chicago, Jill Scott, and Alejandro Fernandez. With 3,000 seats and state-of-the-art sound, video, and lighting systems,  you’ll experience your favorite artists in a setting like no other.

Manor Mill is a beautifully restored, pre-revolutionary grist mill that hosts intimate musical performances most weekends. Visitors can also browse for unique gifts in Manor Mill’s gallery space or take ceramics, welding, cooking, yoga or meditation classes.  Tucked away in a peaceful and beautiful area of rural Monkton, Manor Mill is a Maryland gem that has something new to offer each time you visit.