Let's Get Live: Baltimore

Top 15 Places to Play In Baltimore

Trying to book some gigs this summer?  Just trying to check out some cool live music?  We’re here to help you find some venues with our series of blogs about some of the biggest cities in the music scene, starting with our own base of operations, Baltimore. 

Power Plant Live!

Located right near the Inner Harbor at 10 Market Place, Power Plant Live! is a popular hotspot for bars and music and often attracts some big names, though it also has some venues that will accommodate local talent.  Frankly, it’s pretty live.

Angels Rock Bar:  A Rock and Roll club with a cool atmosphere, Angels Rock Bar plays DJs most nights and has a summer concert series on Saturday Nights with bands starting at 10. Look at all the fancy stuff in the picture to the right.  Such Rock.  Much Roll.

Tin Roof:  Tin Roof calls itself a “live music joint ” and it is just that, featuring live bands every weekend!

Howl at the Moon:  A venue that promises high energy, they feature live bands that perform anything from rock to pop to hip-hop.

MEX:  A Tex-Mex bar which features live acoustic sets every Saturday night.

Ram's Head Live:   A very popular venue that attracts bigger acts, they do also have slots for smaller local acts.

Also of course, is Baltimore Soundstage, a venue that plays nationally touring artists and occasionally has local showcases!

There are also several great bars for live music in the area of Fell’s Point including:

Cat’s Eye Pub located in Historic Fell’s Point and offers great live music including jazz, open every day of the year.  Sounds like this cat’s eye doesn’t blink!

Bertha’s was the first sit-down dining room in Fell’s Point.  Known for her mussels, Bertha also has a history of providing a stage for jazz, blues, and rockabilly artists among others.

The Horse You Came In On Saloon at 1626 Thames St. is the oldest drinking establishment in Fell’s Point having opened before the American Revolution, they also offer live music every day.

The 8X10 is an established music venue that puts bands in a small intimate space with a balcony.


Station North has a few venues that are excellent place to gig or enjoy yourself for the night.
The Windup Space is a great venue with intimate local performances and also  a variety of other kinds of exhibits such as art or film.

The Crown is a comfortable venue for both performance and dining and features acts in indie, hip/hop and more!


Joe Squared is a great venue for music, but it also has some of the best and most creative pizzas around!

The Metro Gallery is a multi-functioning music performance and art gallery with great acts and an intimate space.

Finally in the Hampden area, one of the most popular Baltimore venues both for big and local acts, The Ottobar.  With a grungy atmosphere, ample space, and a relatively cheap bar, the Ottobar is one of the best places to play a gig in Baltimore.

No matter which venue, if you're playing a gig in Baltimore, you're going to have an electric experience filled with amped-up energy and intimacy with the crowd, and that is one reason why Baltimore's local music scene is one of the best in the country.

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5 Small But Important Show Details You're Probably Forgetting

(This is from our good friends at sonicbids.com)

Lots of work goes into organizing a show, so it's natural that every once in a while you'll forget one of the less obvious steps. Review this list for a reminder of five details that, while not typically capable of disasters, are part of pulling off a perfectly executed event.

1. What do you need to bring?

Does the venue have amps? Maybe not, or maybe they've got one you'd rather use instead of yours. Is there a drum kit available? Borrowing the club's is a lot easier than lugging over your own, but you might need to bring a snare or your own stool. Get all the details on gear before the day of the show so you don't end up with two too many things – or not enough.

You should also ask if the venue has a staff member on the door, because some spots don't and are expecting you to provide someone. It's unlikely they've got someone available to sell your merch, but double-check that, too.

2. Invite a photographer (or designate a friend)

A great live shot is a doubly awesome promotional tool: you can share it on social media, and if it's seriously great, you can use it in your press kit. Offer a guest list spot and a few drinks to a friend or acquaintance who's into shooting shows or is interested in trying it out. Even career photographers might be into it – you never know.

If you can't find a photographer, try someone who's reliably good with a camera phone. In the instance that you forget to figure this bit out ahead of time, don't fret. There is always someone taking pictures of every band at every show. You can't be sure about the quality, but hey, it's something. Find them after your set and ask them to tag you.

3. Reach out to local or niche media

Did you hit up your local alt-weekly, independent music blog, or other city-specific outlet? You should. If nothing sticks, try a blog that caters to up-and-coming artists or bands of your genre. Any press ahead of a show helps to promote it, whether by exposing your name to potential new fans or strengthening the excitement in existing ones.

4. Meet up with the booking agent or venue owner

Getting some face time with the person or people responsible for granting you this opportunity should be a priority, especially if it's your first time working together. I mean, you want to thank them, right? Building a relationship with all parties involved in the booking process is key to getting more opportunities with them in the future.

Try mentioning that you'd like to introduce yourself toward the end of the booking back-and-forth. It's not a guarantee you'll meet them unless you do, honestly. Promoters, booking agents, and venue owners are often busy during shows, so loosely setting up a quick meeting ahead of time is important. If for whatever reason they won't be there, try again next time.

5. Leave a lasting impression

We're not talking about your legacy here, but what you literally leave your fans with the night of your show. Did you bring records, CDs, or cassettes? Awesome! Maybe you've got T-shirts or koozies or some other branded merch for sale – great! If you don't have either, though, you can still offer some kind of souvenir for anyone who wants extra help remembering that band they saw last night the next morning. It doesn't have to be anything fancy; slips of paper with all the right info (your Facebook page, where to find music, etc.) placed strategically around the venue (read: bar) will do just fine. Really, even bands with crowded merch tables should do this – so even if a new fan isn't buying, at least he or she could be listening.

Jhoni Jackson is an Atlanta-bred music journalist currently based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she juggles owning a venue called Club 77, freelance writing and, of course, going to the beach as often as possible.