Below is a listing of New Haven area venues that support local and/or original music. This is meant as a resource for those who are looking to play and/or attend shows and need to know where to get started. Please use it appropriately.
Amity Teen Center (All-Ages)
10 Selden Street
Woodbridge, CT. 06525
[map and directions]
203.389.1154
www.amityteencenter.org
Booking: info.atc@gmail.com
Suburban youth center that holds weekly shows. Contact venue for more info.
Anna Liffey’s (21+)
17 Whitney Avenue
New Haven, CT. 06510
[map and directions]
203.773.1776
www.annaliffeys.com
Booking: info@annaliffeys.com
Downtown Irish pub that has long hosted live music; more recently, original live music.
Artspace (All-Ages)
50 Orange Street (at Crown Street)
New Haven, CT. 06510
[map and directions]
203.772.2709
www.artspacenh.org
Booking: madison@artspacenh.org
Downtown art gallery, exhibition space and home to the ongoing Artspace Underground series.
BAR (21+)
254 Crown Street
New Haven, CT. 06511
[map and directions]
www.barnightclub.com
booking: bands@barnightclub.com
Pizza restaurant/bar/club/microbrewery that now hosts shows on Wednesday nights. Formerly the site of the now defunct ‘Sundazed’ concert series (2002-2009). A new Wednesday night showcase, presented by Manic Productions, began in January 2011.
Bix’s Cafe (21+)
246 Main Street
Branford, CT. 06405
[map and directions]
203.488.5507
booking (Wednesday nights): www.mindsnapmusic.com
Shoreline bar that hosts metal nights on a bi-weekly basis.
Cafe Atlantique (All-Ages)
33 River Street
Milford, CT. 06460
[map and directions]
203.882.1602
Booking: Call venue for more information.
Downtown Milford coffeehouse/bar/eatery that hosts occasional solo or acoustic shows, primarily on weekends. Currently under new management.
Cafe Nine (21+)
250 State Street (at Crown Street)
New Haven, CT. 06510
[map and directions]
203.789.8281
www.cafenine.com
booking: bookings@cafenine.com
Small New Haven bar/club that brings in some big names from a variety of genres. Often referred to as ‘the Musician’s Living Room,’ the ‘Nine’ is one of the backbones of the New Haven music scene with shows every night of the week. Recently underwent renovations.
Chas’ Place (21+)
157 Broad Street (Route 5)
Meriden, CT. 06450
[map and directions]
203.237.8224
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000859418988&ref=ts
Booking: Call venue for more information.
Founded in 1985, Chas’ has been the Silver City’s go-to neighborhood bar of choice for the last 25 years. Hosts mainly rock-orientated live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
Cherry Street Station (21+)
491 N. Cherry Street Ext.
Wallingford, CT. 06492
[map and directions]
203.265.2902
www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Cherry-Street-Station/157597587607609
booking: sandrade40@gmail.com
Non-traditional suburban metal dive bar that hosts shows on weekends.
Christy’s On Orange CLOSED (21+)
261 Orange Street
New Haven, CT. 06510
[map and directions]
203.777.5454
www.myspace.com/christysonorange
Booking: christysonorange@gmail.com
Downtown Irish restaurant and pub in the former location of Sidebar. Hosted live music on select nights. Abruptly closed in March 2011.
Daniel Street Club (21+)
21 Daniel Street
Milford, CT. 06460
[map and directions]
203.877.4446
www.danielstreetclub.com
Booking: booking@danielstreetclub.com
Semi-swanky downtown Milford bar/club that has shows throughout the week. Specializes in local, regional and national touring acts.
Elm Bar (21+)
372 Elm Street
New Haven, CT. 06510
[map and directions]
www.elmbar.com
Booking: contact@elmbar.com
New bar/venue in Rudy’s old digs. Hosts live music on weekends and some weekdays.
Firehouse 12 (21+)
45 Crown Street
New Haven, CT. 06510
[map and directions]
203.785.0468
www.firehouse.com
Booking: firehouse12.com/performance_space_booking.asp
Downtown recording studio, bar, record label and venue that caters to the jazz crowd. And yes, it used to be a firehouse.
The Funky Monkey Cafe (All-Ages)
130 Elm Street
Cheshire, CT. 06410
[map and directions]
203.439.9161
www.thefunkymonkeycafe.com
Booking: thefunkymonkeycafe@gmail.com
Suburban coffeehouse that features live music on Friday and Saturday evenings.
GPSCY/Gryphon’s Pub (21+)
204 York Street
New Haven, CT. 06510
[map and directions]
203.432.2638
www.gpscy.net
Booking: info@gpscy.net
Yale graduate bar/event hall that occasionally hosts live music. Please visit their website or contact the venue directly for info about shows.
John Lyman Center for the Performing Arts
at Southern Connecticut State University (All-Ages)
501 Crescent Street
New Haven, CT. 06515
203.392.6154
[map and directions]
www.southernct.edu/lymancenter
Booking: tomascakL1@southernct.edu
Performing arts theater located on the campus of SCSU. Features regional and national touring acts as well as theatre productions and musicals.
Kelly’s (21+)
196 Crown Street (at Temple Street)
New Haven, CT. 06510
[map and directions]
203.776.1111
www.kellysnewhaven.com
Booking: lisa@kellysnewhaven.com
Downtown Irish restaurant and pub with an open mic on Tuesdays and music on weekends.
Koffee? (All-Ages)
104 Audubon Street
New Haven, CT. 06510
[map and directions]
203.562.5454
www.koffeefamily.com
Booking: koffeenewhaven@gmail.com
Arts District coffeehouse that periodically hosts solo or acoustic shows.
Lilly’s Pad at Toad’s Place (All-Ages/21+)
300 York Street (Second Floor)
New Haven, CT. 06510
[map and directions]
203.624.8623
www.toadsplace.com
Booking: hollis@toadsplace.com
Smaller second floor bar and venue located directly above (and operated by) Toad’s Place. Hosts a mix of all-ages and 21+ shows that don’t fit in the big room.
Neverending Books (All-Ages)
810 State Street
New Haven, CT. 06510
[map and directions]
www.neverendingbooks.net
Booking: booking.goldenmic@sbcglobal.net
Intimate State street district bookstore and impromptu venue which holds shows on select nights.
Oakdale Theatre (All-Ages)
95 South Turnpike Road
Wallingford, CT. 06492
[map and directions]
203.265.1501
www.livenation.com
Booking: Venue does not accept unsolicited inquiries.
Largest theater in New Haven area. Features national and international touring acts and musicals.
Olde School Saloon (21+)
418 State Street (at Court Street)
New Haven, CT 06510
[map and directions]
203.772.0544
www.oldeschoolsaloonandbistro.com
Booking: call venue for information
New State Street bar and bistro with an open mic on Wednesdays and music on weekends.
The Outer Space (21+)
295 Treadwell Street, Building G
Hamden, CT 06514
[map and directions]
203.288.6400
www.theouterspace.net
Booking: spacebooking@gmail.com
New 21+ sister venue to Hamden all-ages venue, The Space. Also, new home to the long-running Space open mic (now on Wednesday nights).
The Owl Shop (21+)
268 College Street
New Haven, CT 06510
[map and directions]
1.877.CAFE.OWL
203.624.3250
www.owlshopcigars.com
Booking: owlshop@owlshopcigars.com
New Haven’s finest tobacco bar also has live music on select nights, primarily blues and jazz.
Popeye’s Garage (All-Ages)
Goffe St. (behind Popeye’s Chicken)
New Haven, CT. 06510
[map and directions]
popeyesgarage.wordpress.com
Multi-functional community run space in downtown New Haven. As the venue’s name suggests, look for it near Popeye’s Chicken. Stay posted to venue site for sporadic show/event schedule.
Redscroll Records (All-Ages)
24 N. Colony Road (Route 5)
Wallingford, CT. 06492
[map and directions]
203.265.7013
www.redscrollrecords.com
Contact: redscroll@gmail.com
Tiny independent record store that makes up for its size with a great selection of indie/hardcore/punk/rock/metal. Lately, has been hosting semi-regular shows at a secret location with the store serving as a meeting point.
Rudy’s (21+)
1227 Chapel Street (at Howe Street)
New Haven, CT. 06511
[map and directions]
Booking: rudysnewhaven@yahoo.com
Downtown dive bar of choice for many of New Haven’s students and hipsters. Currently in the process of moving from its old location on Elm Street to its new location on Chapel St. Expected reopening: April or May 2011.
Shubert Theater (All-Ages)
247 College Street
New Haven, CT. 06510
[map and directions]
203.562.5666 / 1.888.736.2663
www.shubert.com
Booking: skaplan@capa.com
Historic downtown theater renowned for its pre-Broadway productions and musicals. Also hosts concerts from national touring acts.
The Space (All-Ages)
295 Treadwell Street, Building H
Hamden, CT. 06514
[map and directions]
203.288.6400
www.thespace.tk
Booking: spacebooking@gmail.com
Suburban venue that prides itself on its wide array of all-ages only shows. Specializes in local, regional and national touring acts.
Stella Blues (21+)
204 Crown Street
New Haven, CT. 06510
[map and directions]
203.752.9764
www.stellabluesbar.com
Booking: info@stellabluesbar.com
Crown Street bar and venue that hosts a weekly open mic on Tuesday nights and shows throughout the week.
Toad’s Place (All-Ages/21+)
300 York Street
New Haven, CT. 06511
[map and directions]
203.624.8623
www.toadsplace.com
Booking: hollis@toadsplace.com
Renowned New Haven club featuring local, regional and national touring acts. One of New Haven’s larger venues.
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Sorry for being OT … which wordpress template do you use? Looks amazing!!
Comment by Vozyiropperne December 10, 2009 @ 12:28 pmHello All: We have recently taken over the old space known as “the Playwright”. I am an old musician, and lover of music who has opened and booked acts at Black Bear in Sono, and most recently Hartford, before coming here to New Haven this past month. I would welcome the opportunity to work together to create something different and make our back room a cool, chill spot to offer a original music night, band showcases, rehersal room, etc. Please let me know how we might work together and get together to brainstorm ideas. Thank you. Steve
Comment by Steve May 6, 2010 @ 6:45 pmThis sounds great Steve. Thanks for posting this here and for coming back to make this happen!
Comment by newhavenmusic May 7, 2010 @ 9:03 am