The 15 Most Iconic Live Music Venues in New Orleans
Where to hear jazz, funk, and brass any night of the week
Known for our jazz, bounce, rap, and blues, New Orleans is a city where you'll find live music around every street corner. And behind every great performer is a venue that has played heavily in history's past, and in the history currently being written.
New Orleans has live music every night of the week, and the 15 venues below are the ones that shaped the city's sound. Preservation Hall is the most famous live music venue in New Orleans, but the deepest concentration of clubs sits on Frenchmen Street in the Marigny, where roughly a dozen rooms run nightly sets within three blocks.
Most famous: Preservation Hall, French Quarter, acoustic traditional jazz in multiple short nightly sets
Best Street for Live Music: Frenchmen Street in the Marigny is home to a huge number of music clubs, including Snug Harbor, d.b.a., The Spotted Cat, and The Maison
For brass bands: Candlelight Lounge and Kermit's Treme Mother-in-Law Lounge, both in Treme
For punk, indie, and everything else: Siberia in Bywater and Gasa Gasa on Freret Street
Cover charges: many Frenchmen Street clubs are free to enter or tip-based; ticketed rooms include Preservation Hall, Tipitina's, and House of Blues; just remember to always tip musicians.
With roots as an art gallery dating back to the 1950s, this iconic French Quarter venue used to lure in art buyers when then-management would book local jazz musicians to enchant passing crowds. It was in the 1960s that the sound of New Orleans jazz began luring bigger crowds than the art, eventually becoming Preservation Hall as we know it today. This well-cherished space became one of the most important venues in the evolution of jazz sound worldwide, and to this day, it is where you can find the internationally known Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
Nestled in the French Quarter, the House of Blues New Orleans puts its local charm on this otherwise chain music club. Since opening its doors in 1994, this premier special events and live music venue has welcomed everyone from major national touring acts to local performers, gospel brunches, drag shows, and more. In addition to their main concert hall, you can find smaller, more intimate shows in the Foundation Room, including VIP experiences and a more upscale food menu.
Since 1970, this French Quarter space has been celebrating the performing arts of all kinds for generations. It started as a single-screen Walter Reade cinema featuring first-run films and evolved in the late '70s to host live performances. It eventually became known as the Shim Sham Club, which closed in 2003. It later reopened as Rio Hackford and Ryan Hesseling's One Eyed Jacks. However, in 2021, this beloved venue returned once again to its namesake, Toulouse Theatre, where you can catch a variety of talents on its stage, ranging from live music–both local and national touring–comedy, drag, and burlesque!
As a hot spot for street melodies, Snug Harbor is one of many music clubs along Frenchmen Street. Located in three rooms of a renovated 1800s storefront, there's an abundance of great food to go with great tunes. Pro tip: as you prepare for Frenchmen Street explorations, depending on timing, this street can be quite busy, and seating can be limited at the many music clubs that line the street. Plan on wearing comfortable shoes!
Back on Frenchmen Street, you’ll find d.b.a., a popular bar that offers off-the-cuff music geared towards local music lovers. Paired with their hundreds of craft beer options, this space is a great music venue for those who love to raise a beer glass to the band.
By now, you are very aware that Frenchmen Street is a popular spot for catching live music at a variety of clubs. The Maison joins that list as one of the larger venues to catch a show at. Serving food each night as an added bonus to your entertainment, this three-level restaurant, bar, and music venue provides some of the best live music on the block.
"The Cat," as it is known by the locals, is recognized as an international destination for jazz music, where plenty of movies, commercials, and print media have been filmed and inspired by the unique space and musical ambiance. You can't miss the Spotted Cat once on Frenchmen Street, as a cat mural radiates on the side of its building! Pro tip: Visit the Frenchmen Art Bazaar where you can browse artwork, jewelry, and gifts from local and regional artists in this outdoor marketplace just steps away from this famous music club, which remains open late into the night.
Originally opened by Ernie K-Doe in 1994, the Mother-in-Law Lounge is a cherished live music venue, pub, and living monument to New Orleans' musicality. After closing for some time, Kermit Ruffins reopened this venue in 2014, nestled in the heart of the Tremé. Inside Scoop: The Mother-in-Law Lounge is a perfect spot after any downtown second line or major Saints victory! Kermit also regularly performs and cooks a meal big enough to feed the whole crowd!
Located in Tremé, the oldest Black neighborhood in the United States, Candlelight Lounge is a beloved neighborhood dive that features great live music, brass bands, good drinks, and a great time. Make sure to visit on a Monday for seafood night!
In the 1970s, local music enthusiasts opened the doors in the Touro section of Uptown to our beloved Tipitina's, named after the song "Tipitina" by Professor Longhair, who performed there until his passing in 1980. In its early years, this space housed a juice bar, restaurant, and a bar. However, the only reference to that now is the banana in the well-known logo. Sold in 2018 to New Orleans jam band Galactic, Tipitina's is still very much in the heart of the Crescent City's sound. It has seen performances by stage legends like Dr. John, The Neville Brothers, Tim McGraw, Lenny Kravitz, and countless other national names, local favorites, and up-and-coming artists.
Located Uptown on Freret Street, Gasa Gasa is known for its youthful infusion of eclectic artists in the New Orleans music scene. Enjoy album release parties, raves, karaoke, and music of all genres.
As one of the longest continuing operations in music, the Maple Leaf Bar opened its doors in 1974. Hosting live music seven nights a week for most of its run, this Uptown hot spot is nestled in the Oak Street corridor. It has frequently seen performances by Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet, John "Papa" Gros, and Arsène Delay. Celebrating musical styles such as blues, funk, R&B, rock, zydeco, jazz, jam bands, and more!
Who doesn’t love an "if you know, you know" kind of place? Vaughan's is just that kind of place. To get inside this Bywater jazz and blues splendor, find the side door and ring the buzzer. Inside, you'll find live music, cheap drinks, and plenty of the character that gives New Orleans its signature charm.
Home to metal, punk, indie, and underground music, this Bywater neighborhood dive bar boasts not only live music but also nightly activities and shows such as trivia, comedy, burlesque, drag, and more! Serving up entertainment with a mixture of bar-fare food, don't miss Siberia as a chance to get off the traditional sound path of the city.
Hop onto the Canal streetcar from the French Quarter and head on over to this intimate music bar located in Mid-City. Chickie Wah Wah proudly presents local music of all sounds and special curated performances by touring artists. As its name suggests, this space is one of our city's well-known dance and groove spots. With daily drink specials and extensive BBQ dishes, be sure to stop by any night for live music, a good drink, and a BBQ plate, but don't forget those dancing shoes, y'all!
Frenchmen Street is a hub for live music due to the sheer number of live music venues in a few blocks span. People often club hop and walk from one bar to another for a night out on Frenchmen Street. You'll hear music spilling out into the street, and many choose based on where their ears lead them. Elsewhere in the city—from the Tremé to Mid-City to Uptown—you may find equally compelling music, but the experience is more often about seeking out a specific venue or performance rather than venue hopping.
What to Expect: Covers, Cash, and Set Times
A night of live music in New Orleans comes with a little flexibility. Some venues have no cover, while others charge a modest fee for certain bands or performances, so check the venue’s calendar before you go. It’s also smart to carry cash: some clubs are cash-only, and cash is useful for covers and tips. Set times vary by venue, with some bands starting in the early evening and others taking the stage later at night, so don’t assume the first show listed is the only one. On Frenchmen Street especially, the staggered schedules make it easy to catch part of a set, walk a few doors down, and find another band just getting started.
What is the most famous live music venue in New Orleans?
Preservation Hall in the French Quarter is the most internationally recognized live music venue in New Orleans. Opened as a jazz hall in the early 1960s, it hosts multiple short, acoustic sets nightly and is home to the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
Where can I hear live music in New Orleans every night of the week?
Frenchmen Street in the Marigny has roughly a dozen venues with live music seven nights a week, including Snug Harbor, d.b.a., The Spotted Cat, and The Maison. Uptown, the Maple Leaf Bar has hosted nightly music since 1974. Check the NewOrleans.com Live Music Calendar for tonight's lineups.
Is there a cover charge at New Orleans music venues?
It varies. Many Frenchmen Street clubs are free to enter with a one-drink minimum or a tip bucket for the band. Ticketed rooms like Preservation Hall, Tipitina's, and House of Blues charge admission, often with advance tickets. Bring cash for tips regardless.
What is the difference between Frenchmen Street and Bourbon Street for live music?
Frenchmen Street in the Marigny, just past the French Quarter, is where locals go for jazz, funk, and brass in small rooms. Bourbon Street leans toward cover bands, karaoke, and high-volume nightlife. Both are walkable in/from the French Quarter and worth an evening.
Where can I see live music in New Orleans if I am under 21?
Kermit's Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge and the Candlelight Lounge are the two anchors. Both are neighborhood rooms known for brass bands and second line culture. Kermit Ruffins often performs and cooks for the crowd at the Mother-in-Law Lounge.
Do I need reservations for New Orleans music clubs?
Most are walk-in. Snug Harbor's seated jazz sets and House of Blues ticketed shows are the main exceptions, and Preservation Hall sells advance tickets that are worth buying for popular nights. Frenchmen Street clubs fill up after 9 p.m., so arrive early for a seat.
Where can I hear brass bands in New Orleans?
The Candlelight Lounge in Treme is one of the most reliable rooms for brass bands, as is Kermit's Treme Mother-in-Law Lounge. The Maple Leaf Bar Uptown has hosted a long-running weekly brass night. Second line parades on Sunday afternoons put brass bands directly in the street.
