Detroit’s music history is deeply embedded into its culture. From Motown to techno, Detroit’s sonic contributions to the world have been vast and deep. And we’re blessed to have plenty of places to go that offer unique concert experiences, whether you’re checking out your favorite pop star or rising indie artist.

These venues keep pretty full event calendars, and allow Detroiters to experience some of the best musicians from our city and beyond.

Lo-Fi Bar 220 S. Main Lower Level, Ann Arbor; 734-369-6070; lofiannarbor.com Lo-Fi not only has resident DJs, but sometimes they might throw together a last-minute event you wouldn’t want to miss. It can accommodate around 70 people. Credit: Lo Fi Bar/Facebook
20 Front Street 20 Front St, Lake Orion; 248-783-7105; 20frontstreet.com A relative newcomer to the scene, 20 Front Street hosts live bands and intimate acoustic concerts in its 90-seat room. Credit: 20 Front Street/Facebook
The Morrie 511 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-216-1112 | 260 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham | themorrie.com The Morrie’s two locations host a variety of events, from DJs to brunch-time acoustic acts.
Big Pink 6440 Wight St., Detroit; 313-800-5139; bigpinklovesyou.com Big Pink started as a simple idea between two former roommates and has turned into a space where local artists can shine. It has a focus on DJs and a capacity of about 430. Credit: Courtesy photo
The Old Miami 3930 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-831-3830; facebook.com/theoldmiami To some, Old Miami is just a watering hole in the Cass Corridor. But it’s also a great venue to see live performers, and maybe play a game of darts. It has a capacity of about 100. Credit: Google Maps
Emerald Theatre 31 N. Walnut, Mount Clemens; 586-630-0210; theemeraldtheatre.com Whether it’s an up-and-coming local act or a slightly larger performer, this former movie theater is the place to go in downtown Mount Clemens. It has a capacity of 1,640. Credit: Emerald Theatre/Facebook
Ghost Light Bar 2314 Caniff St., Hamtramck; facebook.com/ghostlighthamtramck When you’re not trying to live your rockstar dreams out at Ghost Light’s karaoke nights on Thursdays, you can catch a great band or DJ at the Hamtramck bar on the weekends. It has a capacity of 100. Credit: Mike Pfeiffer
Max Dugan 844 E. 10 Mile Rd., Hazel Park; 248-677-3059 You can test out your karaoke chops or check out one of the live bands that comes through this Hazel Park bar. It has a capacity of about 90. Credit: Max Dugans/Facebook
Small’s Bar 10339 Conant St., Hamtramck; smallsbardetroit.com The name might be Small’s, but the Hamtramck bar hosts both small local and big national rock bands. It can hold nearly 80 people. Credit: Small's Bar / Facebook
Sanctuary 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; sanctuarydetroit.com The Sanctuary is a great place to check out live acts, with a focus on metal and a maximum capacity of 300. Credit: Sanctuary Detroit/Facebook
Trinosophes 1464 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313-778-9258; trinsophes.com Trinosophes is a vegan-friendly cafe and art space that hosts live music throughout the week, with a fondness for out-there sounds. It has a capacity of 250. Credit: Lee Klawans/Google Maps
Trixie’s Bar 2656 Carpenter Ave., Hamtramck If you’re looking for cheap drinks and great live entertainment, this Hamtramck bar might be perfect for you. It can hold around 75 people. Credit: Google Maps
Token Lounge 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; tokenlounge.com For more than 50 years, Token Lounge has been a place for live rock concerts. It can hold 600 guests. Credit: Google Maps
The Crofoot 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac; 248-858-9333; thecrofoot.com Quite possibly one of the oldest commercial buildings in Oakland County, in 2007 the Crofoot was reborn as a music venue that has hosted many local and national artists. It can accommodate 1,100. Credit: Josh Justice
The Lager House 1254 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-961-4668; thelagerhouse.com If you like your hamburger with a side of live rock, the Lager House is perfect for both. It can hold 200. Credit: The Lager House/Facebook
The Ark 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-761-1818; theark.org The Ark is a nonprofit music venue with a focus on folk and roots music that can seat 400. Credit: MT file photo
Music Hall 350 Madison St., Detroit; musichall.org For nearly 100 years, Music Hall hosts a wide variety of performers, from George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic to Ukraine’s Kyiv City Ballet. It has a capacity of 1,731. Credit: Joe Maroon
Elektricity 15 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac; 248-599-2212; elektricitymusic.com Neon lights, a large dance floor, and EDM DJs are the three main components that make up Pontiac’s Elektricity. The venue has a capacity of about 1,000. Credit: Mike Pfeiffer
Masonic Temple 500 Temple St., Detroit; 313-832-7100; themasonic.com Built by the fraternal order of the Freemasons, Detroit’s Masonic Temple is the largest Masonic Temple in the world, boasting 16 floors and 1,037 rooms, some of which were never completed. In 2019, live music company AEG Presents entered into an exclusive deal to operate and book at the building’s two concert venues, the 4,400-capacity Masonic Temple Theatre and the 1,586-capacity Cathedral Theatre. Credit: Mike Pfeiffer
The Shelter 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; 313-961-8961; livenation.com Not to be confused with the main hall upstairs, The Shelter is its own venue with a smaller capacity (400) allowing for more intimate shows. Credit: MT file photo
Willis Show Bar 4156 3rd Ave., Detroit; 313-788-7469; willisshowbar.com Back in the early ’50s, Willis Show Bar was once one of the hottest jazz clubs in Detroit. Today, the cocktail lounge hosts a variety of funk, soul, live bands, and DJs every week. The intimate venue can seat around 83 guests. Credit: MT file photo
Marble Bar 1501 Holden St., Detroit; themarblebar.com According to its Instagram bio, Marble Bar is “where you go to fall in love with life.” It also happens to be where you would go to hear techno, EDM, and live bands. It has a capacity of 300. Credit: Lizz Wilkinson
Magic Bag 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-544-1991;themagicbag.com The Magic Bag keeps a pretty full calendar hosting a variety of bands, comedy shows, and the occasional dance party. It has a capacity of 400. Credit: Mike Pfeiffer
Majestic Theatre Complex 4120-4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-9700; majesticdetroit.com The Majestic Theatre complex is an experience. There can be a lot happening at one time because of all the different event spaces located in this one strip. Whether you’re at the Magic Stick (capacity of 700) or Majestic Theatre (1,1,00), just be sure to grab a slice from Sgt. Pepperoni’s. Credit: Derek Dandridge
Garden Theater 3929 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-832-0888; thegardendetroit.com Although its Instagram might have you believe it’s just a wedding venue, many artists have graced the stage of Garden Theater, especially in Detroit’s hip-hop scene. It has a capacity of about 1,200. Credit: MT file photo
Leland City Club 400 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-962-2300;lelandcityclub.net Leland City Club is a unique experience of its own. The dance club is most known for its Goth nights, but will also have EDM and techno DJs on the bill. It has a capacity of 750. Credit: Viola Klocko
El Club 4114 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-757-7942; elclubdetroit.com El Club is one of few venues that offers great shows at really good prices. It’s the place you go to see your favorite SoundCloud and Spotify artists before they really blow up. It has a capacity of 400. Credit: MT file photo
Cadieux Cafe 4300 Cadieux, Detroit; 313-882-8560; cadieuxcafe.com You might go to Cadieux Cafe for a taste of Belgium beers or feather bowling, but it also has live music and karaoke. It has a capacity of around 100. Credit: Cadieux Cafe/Facebook
The Fillmore Detroit 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-961-5451; livenation.com The Fillmore was previously known as the State Theatre, but it was rebranded as the Fillmore Detroit in 2007 in honor of the Fillmore in San Francisco. It has a capacity of 2,900. Credit: Shutterstock
Fox Theatre 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-471-7000; foxtheatredetroit.net The Fox Theatre is one of those venues that doesn’t have a bad seat in the house, thanks to its ornate Art Deco design that incorporates elements from Eastern motifs. Whether it’s a musical or a rap concert, The Fox is a fail-safe concert venue. It has a capacity of about 5,000. Credit: Joe Maroon
Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-309-4700; soundboarddetroit.com From cover bands and comedy shows to adult contemporary performers, Motor City Casino’s Sound Board offers a variety of events throughout the year. It can seat about 2,400. Credit: MT file photo
Deluxx Fluxx 1274 Library St., Detroit; 313-788-7015;deluxxfluxx.com If you want a place with decently priced drinks and an aesthetically pleasing backdrop for photos for your Instagram — all while enjoying your favorite performer or DJ — then this Day-Glo-painted spot in The Belt is perfect for you. It has a capacity of 240. Credit: Google Maps
Harpos 14238 Harper, Detroit; 313-824-1700; harposlive.com If heavy metal or hip-hop is what you’re into, then Harpo’s is the place where you’ll want to head. It can hold around 2,500 fans. Credit: Harpos/Facebook
Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre 14900 Metro Parkway, Sterling Heights; 248-377-0100; freedomhillamphitheater.com Much like Pine Knob and The Aretha, Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre (aka Freedom Hill) is a summer concert destination with pavilion and lawn seating. It has a capacity of 7,300. Credit: Mike Pfeiffer
Pine Knob 33 Bob Seger Dr., Clarkston; 248-377-0100; pineknobamp.com Spring means that Pine Knob concert season is approaching. The outdoor amphitheater offers both covered and lawn seating, and if you get the latter, the giant screens still offer a decent view. It has a capacity of about 15,000. Credit: Shutterstock
Saint Andrew’s Hall 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; 313-961-8961; livenation.com Saint Andrew’s Hall might be one of Detroit’s best-known concert venues, largely due to the film 8 Mile being set in its basement (The Shelter). It’s known to feature a variety of pop, rock, and hip-hop acts, and has a capacity of about 1,000. Credit: Shutterstock
Russell Industrial Center 1600 Clay St., Detroit; 313-872-4000; russellindustrialcenter.com The Russell Industrial Center is an old industrial site-turned-event space and commercial space, with a large warehouse-style building that hosts a variety of events. Protip: wear comfortable shoes, as finding parking can sometimes be a challenge. It has a capacity of about 2,500. Credit: MT file photo
Royal Oak Music Theatre 318 W. 4th St., Royal Oak; 248-399-2980; royaloakmusictheatre.com Located in downtown Royal Oak, this theater is not only a great place to catch a concert or performance, but it’s within walking distance of some great food options for after the show. It has a capacity of 1,700. Credit: Royal Oak Music Theatre/Facebook
Spot Lite 2905 Beaufait St. #4, Detroit; spotlitedetroit.com This combination bar, cafe, record store, art gallery, and nightclub is located in Detroit’s Islandview neighborhood, and has turned into one really cool creative hotspot. Check out some of the records in the store, grab a cup of coffee, or head there at night for a dance party. It has a capacity of about 400. Credit: Spot Lite/Facebook
Spread Art 5141 Rosa Parks Blvd., Detroit; 313-757-2787; spreadart.org Spread Art is an arts “community incubator” that hosts a little bit of everything related to performance and visual arts, including concerts, open mic nights, poetry readings, art shows, and more. Credit: Spread Art/Facebook
Ziggy’s 206 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti; ziggysypsistore.com Ziggy’s has a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere while hosting a variety of local acts. It has a capacity of around 50. Credit: Ziggy's/Facebook
Kerrytown Concert House 415 N. 4th Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-769-2999; kerrytownconcerthouse.com Kerrytown Concert House is the perfect place for an intimate live music experience in Ann Arbor. It can hold about 75 concert-goers. Credit: Kerrytown Concert House/Facebook
Tangent Gallery 715 E. Milwaukee Ave., Detroit; tangentgallery.com An underground arts space and live music venue in Detroit’s Milwaukee Junction neighborhood that can accommodate as many as 2,000. Credit: Tangent Gallery/Facebook
Bowlero 4209 Coolidge Hwy; 248-549-7500; bowlerodetroit.com If you’re looking for something free to do, this bowling alley offers free live shows in its lounge (and the occasional trivia night). It can accommodate around 200 guests. Credit: Bowlero Lanes and Lounge/Facebook
Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre 2600 Atwater St., Detroit; 313-393-0292; thearetha.com You can’t say summer in Detroit without a show at Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre (formerly Chene Park). Just thinking about the outdoor riverside venue is enough to make us picture linen outfits and the venue’s signature “blue drink.” It has a capacity of 6,000, including 5,000 seats and 1,000 on the lawn. Credit: Google Maps
District 142 142 Maple St., Wyandotte; district142live.com District 142 is the new kid on the block, and primarily focuses on rock and country concerts. It has a capacity of 700. Credit: Courtesy of District 142
The Blind Pig 208 S. 1st St., Ann Arbor; 734-996-8555; blindpigmusic.com Chances are if you’ve ever been to a show in Ann Arbor, you’ve been to the Blind Pig. What started as a blues joint has transformed into one of Ann Arbor’s most popular music venues. It has a capacity of about 400. Credit: Google Maps
Cliff Bell’s 2030 Park Ave., Detroit; 313-961-2543; cliffbells.com Cliff Bell’s is a tried and true music venue with a focus on jazz, located right around the corner from The Fox and The Fillmore. It seats around 80 people. Credit: Google Maps
Baker’s Keyboard Lounge 20510 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-345-6300; bakerskeyboardloungedet.com This jazz club needs to be on every Detroiter’s bucket list, simply because of its storied history. Known as one of the world’s oldest jazz clubs, this place has seen performances by Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, and Nat “King” Cole, among others. Stroll in one day to catch a cool jazzy performance, a quick drink, and an unforgettable meal. With its 99-seat capacity, it’s great for intimate performances. Credit: Baker's Keyboard Lounge/Facebook
UFO Factory 2110 Trumbull St., Detroit Check out a live band, and maybe grab a hotdog from a Laika Dog while you’re there. It can hold around 75 people. Credit: Google Maps
Outer Limits Lounge 5507 Caniff St., Detroit; 313-826-0456; outerlimitslounge.com Outer Limits is a bar, venue, and record label owned by local musicians John Szymanski and Kelly Jean Caldwell, with an emphasis on rock ’n’ roll. It has a capacity of about 100. Credit: Google Maps
New Dodge Lounge 8850 Joseph Campau Ave., Hamtramck; 313-638-1508; thenewdodgelounge.com New Dodge Lounge recently came under new ownership, but the venue remains a good spot to see smaller music acts. It has a capacity of around 250. Credit: New Dodge Lounge/Facebook
The Loving Touch 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-820-5596; thelovingtouchferndale.com Loving Touch is a live music venue located right in the heart of Ferndale. It can hold 400 people. Credit: Google Maps

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Born and raised on Detroit's Westside, Alex Washington is about as Detroit as they come. She judges your coney island order and serves a mean side-eye when anything across Eight Mile is called "Detroit." Her...