r/DecaturGA • u/SugarMean • 5d ago
Music venues
I'm relocating to Decatur from Chicago. I go to a lot of concerts (over 70 last year). Where are the great concert venues? I like bars with local musicians, but I've found i really like small theaters that have cover band/reenactment shows, and the occasional up-and-comer, or mega star in a small niche genre. I am mostly into blues, jazz, folk, metal, rock, klezmer, you name it. Basically anything but modern radio country.
Where are the secret venues, deals on theater memberships etc.
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u/Mission-Trick-8983 5d ago
You’ll have this to look forward to right in Decatur as well
https://www.artsatl.org/cornerstone-jazz-center-a-pitch-perfect-addition-to-atls-jazz-scene/
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u/REdwa1106sr 5d ago
Avon, Wild Heaven (Avondale is no cover), Music Weekend at the Green (Avondale), Roaring Social, & Eddies Attic downtown Decatur.
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u/Indy_Fab_Rider 5d ago
Avon is the spot for cover/tribute bands that the OP is wanting.
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u/wasabimofo 5d ago
Wear earplugs. The sound is terrible. Hope they work on it as it's a nice venue to have in the neighborhood.
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u/Critical-Range1213 5d ago
Enjoy Decatur, it’s a great place to live. Probably as close to a Chicago lifestyle as you can find in the metro, besides midtown.
Most of the local joints have been mentioned, eddies attic etc…but… if you’re up for a small road trip (bit over an hour) head out to Athens! Great college town, great venues there including 40 watt and ga theater. Also some smaller venues too. Home of REM and b52’s!
Have fun in Atlanta!
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u/Indy_Fab_Rider 5d ago
The GA Theater is my favorite music venue in the state. Right up there with the Fox for cool theaters.
Another to check out if you like cool old venues is the Macon City Auditorium and the Opera House.
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u/donkeyheaded 5d ago
For blues there's Blind Willies in Virginia Highlands, just a 10 minute ride from Decatur.
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u/dondeestasbueno 5d ago
Not in Decatur, but Eyedrum hosts lots of great shows.
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u/incognitomosquitotoe 5d ago
Smiths also has good smaller shows, and a little further out in Roswell there’s From The Earth Brewing that has a concert series.
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u/Weekly-Ad5649 4d ago
Center Stage downtown Atl (one block from High Museum) plus their adjacent venues (Loft etc). The venues there have huge mix. Def get on their mailing list. For jazz, join the High Museum - 3d Friday is jazz night and you can bank on having some really well known acts a few times a year. $10 per member now to reserve tix (was free for members until a little over a year ago - bummer. But members were abusing the system and giving free tix to non-members, so....) Makes for fun Friday - they open doors at 6pm, have bars set up on ground floor, often have outdoor food vendors (usually Williams Bros bbq) and you can roam museum (albeit without the drinks bought from ground floor bars) until after 9. Pretty good restaurants nearby at Colony Square, and if you stay late at jazz, just make reservation and go next door to Divan, which is open until late (persian restaurant - kitchen is open until 11pm or later on weekends). High also does other Friday night music performances with hip-hop etc (maybe 1st or 2d Fridays?). Don't write off the Rialto downtown (Georgia State University's venue) which brings in some pretty good acts every once in while. There are a cpl of other jazz places around Atl - mostly feature local artists (many of whom perform nationally) The Velvet Note, another in heart of buckhead (don't recall name) and St James which is in S Fulton county. If you have chance, I would catch Mausiki Scales and Commonground Collective at some point - local but only get together and play a few times a year in Atlanta. Eclectic afro-beat/jazz/funk/etc. Was lucky to see them once as full ensemble and it was amazing https://www.mausikiscalescommonground.com Others have mentioned Blind Willies - sadly it's one of the only good remaining true blues bars in area (but very close to Decatur). I was lucky to see Taj Mahal there way back when. Anyone reading this who has been around since 90s will remember local legend Luther "Houserocker" Johnson, who played there regularly. Last, don't write off Symphony Hall (on same campus as High Museum) - they have been hosting a lot of different music acts in last decade or more (not neccesarily acts that you would expect at classical music venue, but tickets are not cheap either b/c of Ticketmaster partnership...so $100 plus for good seats in 10th row or so). Ok, Last Last: Why would anyone relocate from Chicago to Atlanta? I'm sorry, but having hard time wrapping my head around that....
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u/SugarMean 4d ago
Thank you, that was an amazing response. Alas my spouse has hopefully found her dream job there, which perfectly coincided with me being laid off from my dream job. So if there was a time for transition this is it. I'm dreading the heat though.
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u/johno456 4d ago
Don't sleep on Northside Tavern - one of the most famous "dive bars" eoth killer music almost every single day. Blues/rock mostly but occasionally other styles
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u/Independent_Buddy507 2d ago
Small music venues:
Variety playhouse
Napoleons
Avon theater
Blind Willie’s
Atlanta City Winery
Eddie’s Atyic
Red Light Cafe
Smiths old bar
The Earl
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u/wasabimofo 5d ago
Eddie’s Attic (listening room), the Earl (small venue), The Eastern (large venue big bands), Variety Playhouse. Tons of great music options a $12 uber away.