The best places to check out live music in metro Detroit [PHOTOS]

By on Wed, Mar 29, 2023 at 11:20 pm

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.

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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.
Courtesy photo

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.
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.
Lo Fi Bar/Facebook

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.
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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.
20 Front Street/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.
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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.

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.
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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.
Google Maps

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.
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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.
Emerald Theatre/Facebook

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.
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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.
Mike Pfeiffer

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.
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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.
Max Dugans/Facebook

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.
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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.
Small's Bar / 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.
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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.
Sanctuary Detroit/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.
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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.
Lee Klawans/Google Maps

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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
Josh Justice

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.
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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.
The Lager House/Facebook

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.
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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.
MT file photo

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.
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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.
Joe Maroon

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.
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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.
Mike Pfeiffer

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.
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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.
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.
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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.
MT file photo

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.
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