Baton Rouge, home to 227,715 souls, is known primarily as the site of Louisiana State University. On the surface, much of the city’s energy is focused on LSU students and sports and all the excitement and noise that accompanies them. But what many people are just discovering is that downtown Baton Rouge has a vibrant live music scene, too. Whether it’s Sunday afternoon, Friday night or somewhere in between, there’s no shortage of places to find live music in Baton Rouge:
No matter your taste or budget, we’re sure you’ll find something to get your toes tapping and maybe even convince you to sing along. Allow us to share these favorites of ours in greater detail with you. We think they’ll quickly become some of your favorites, too!
Cajun bar and live music venue Boudreaux and Thibodeaux has one goal: To be Baton Rouge’s downtown Cajun hotspot. And they’re quickly succeeding!
Located on Third Street, this swinging joint actually offers two bar areas. Downstairs, you’ll find a long bar and dance floor. Upstairs houses another bar, a balcony and a lounge area with TVs. They recently began serving food on weekdays, with lunch and dinner offerings rounding out their menu. And you’ll definitely want to check out their Crawfish Boil on Thursday and Friday nights.
If they have a dance floor, they must have pretty good music, right? Located just off the bayou, their weekend lineups of Cajun, zydeco and swamp pop bands means you’ll never run out of swingin’ beats to get you on your feet.
Located inside Sullivan’s Steakhouse on Corporate Boulevard, this hotspot offers live music and drinks in a cozy atmosphere. Called “Ringside” because the bar is set up below the stage like a boxing ring, it’s the perfect place to enjoy some jazz and take advantage of their $5 martini night.
225 Magazine named Sullivan’s Ringside a “Top Dancing/Music Venue,” confirming what many have already discovered. Enjoy the steakhouse’s award-winning food and wine offerings if you can, but definitely head to Ringside for their weekend lineup.
Opened in 1979 by “Teddy” and his wife, Nancy, this “authentic Louisiana-style juke joint” finds its home inside the shotgun house where Teddy was born. Teddy himself spins out blues while Nancy’s kitchen turns out classic southern eats. If the music isn’t enough to hold your attention, spend some time perusing the antique license plates, bar signs, photographs and other memorabilia that graces the walls of Teddy’s Juke Joint.
While they’re located slightly outside of the “downtown” perimeter, we think the short drive to their Old Scenic Highway location in Zachary is well worth it, especially to catch their house band host, Blues James, every Sunday.
Widely regarded by many in the music industry as a “must-play venue,” The Texas Club has hosted some of country music’s greatest performers, including Hank Williams Jr., George Strait, Garth Brooks, Foreigner and Clint Black. Since opening its doors in 1981, this Baton Rouge music venue and late night dance club has produced more than 425 concerts.
Considered one of the greatest live music venues in Baton Rouge, their spacious yet intimate atmosphere provides a memorable concert experience that shouldn’t be missed. In addition to live music, The Texas Club has also played host to comedians and extremely popular male reviews.
Happy’s Irish Pub is a great place to celebrate the luck of the Irish when you’re downtown. Whether you’re Irish or just wish you were, you’ll find an extensive list of beers on tap. Happy hour happens each day from 3-8 pm, with 2-for-1 Pints, 1/2-off Wells and 2-for-1 Wine. Open Monday through Saturday (plus Sundays during the Saints football season), the bar features a variety of drink specials and specialty nights, like T-shirt night on Thursdays (discounts when you wear a Happy’s t-shirt), $3 fireball shots on Fridays and Saturdays and Service Industry Nights Monday through Thursday from 9 pm to close.
Perhaps their biggest draw is their monthly “St. Practice Day” event. Held on the 17th of each month, the pub offers all-day drink specials (yes, they sell green beer) and hosts plenty of live entertainment, all in anticipation of St. Patrick’s Day.
Owned by father-son duo Ian and Steve Vaughn, the Lava Cantina features Creole dishes crafted with a Mexican twist. Throw in an ever-evolving set of live artists and a great drink menu, and you’ve got the recipe for a great night out. Want to check them out, but don’t want to stay out late? No problem. Their Baton Rouge location offers Sunday brunch from 10 am until 2 pm, and yes — sometimes they even have live music during brunch.
What makes them a must-try? Check out Margarita Mondays, featuring $2.50 margaritas or Fat Tuesday, featuring a la carte taco specials as well as $2 and $3 select draft beer and 2-for-1 House Margaritas. They also have Girls Rock Wednesdays with specials on cocktails, wine and margaritas. And yes, they do have a Happy Hour Tuesdays through Fridays from 3-6 pm. Lava Cantina also offers their patrons a Reverse Happy Hour Sundays through Tuesdays from 9pm until close.
Open since 2014, Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room Heritage Museum is dedicated to promoting new and original talent. They’re open just three nights a week — Thursday, Friday and Saturday — with Friday nights dedicated to featuring undiscovered bands and new releases. Each night features several different performers and all shows are capped off by Henry Turner Jr. and his house band “Flavor.”
The Listening Room also features a set of rotating “All Stars” — musicians and groups who regularly grace the stage. Besides offering a unique variety of talent, Henry Turner Jr.’s is an alcohol-free facility, meaning music lovers of all ages are welcome to come and experience a slew of great bands.
What could be better than combining oysters and live music? The Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar was started as a restaurant devoted to showcasing oysters from all over the country. Offering more than 50 different types of high-quality oysters from both the United States and Canada, this oyster bar also regularly offers live music on the weekends.
Not a fan of oysters? Don’t let that keep you away. The Jolie Pearl has plenty of TVs to keep sports fans occupied and their drink menu offers a wide variety of options, including draft specialty beers and a self-serve Bloody Mary bar. Housed in the Jolie Building on North Boulevard, it’s a simple yet elegant spot to enjoy good food and good music downtown.
Good food tastes even better when it’s served with a side of history. And Poor Boy Lloyd’s offers both. A Baton Rouge institution, Poor Boy Lloyd’s has been serving up traditional Louisiana eats since the ’60s. Poor Boys, Fried Catfish and Seafood Gumbo are just a few of their many offerings, all created to pay homage to the city’s Cajun, Creole and southern roots. You’ll find them serving up three meals a day along with swingin’ live music at the corner of Lafayette and Florida Streets.
If you’re looking for a larger concert venue hosting nationally acclaimed recording artists, Raising Cane’s River Center might fit the bill.
Their 10,000-seat arena has played host to successful recording artists of all genres, but the center also includes the Performing Arts Theatre, Grand Ballroom and the Exhibition Hall. These venues are home to the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra as well as The Broadway in Baton Rouge and The Batton Rouge Ballet. The Theatre for Performing Arts has played host to artists like Jason Mraz, jazz trumpeter Chris Botti and opera singer Renée Fleming.
The Red Dragon Listening Room isn’t a business. It’s a house party. This not-for-profit organization — housed in a residence, not a club — plays host to musicians passing through Baton Rouge. Because it’s not a business, it doesn’t serve up food, but you’re welcome to bring your own (small) coolers and food. All the money they make from ticket sales goes right to the artists, and guests are encouraged to add extra money to the price of their ticket to help foot the bill for artist lodging while they’re in town. When people kick in an extra $10 towards their tickets, their VIP status gets them reserved couch seating and the satisfaction of helping out a traveling musician.
Guests are also asked to bring a canned good to the show to contribute to a larger donation toward the Baton Rouge Food Bank. If you’re all about great music with none of the frills, this just might be up your alley. Just remember to bring cash, because they don’t have the capability to accept credit cards.
Originally opened in 1937 as a movie theater, over the years, the Varsity Theater has been used for feature movies, art and foreign films. Today, this converted art deco space is a beloved concert venue, recently featuring bands like Insane Clown Posse and Zoso (a Led Zeppelin Tribute Band). Located on Highland Road, not far from LSU, this historic venue features a variety of musicians and performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Whether you’re there for the music, the history or both, you’re sure to have a great experience.
Who says you can only listen to live music at night? At Beausoleil Restaurant and Bar, Sunday brunch is served in style, with their locally-sourced dishes served alongside locally sourced artists. Located on Jefferson Highway, they serve Sunday brunch from 11 am until 3 pm.
Check out their variety of food: soups, salads and sandwiches, including their Croque Monsieur and Shredded Pork Po-Boy. You’ll also find their take on standard brunch fare with the Louisiana Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Benedict, Fried Louisiana Catfish and their All-Southern Breakfast. The cool thing about Beausoleil is that they strive to serve all local products in order to support Louisiana food and farming industries. So when you’re eating there, you’re supporting your local and regional neighbors, as well.
At Bottle and Tap, there’s never a cover charge and they serve up specialty drink specials all day long. With more than 40 bottle and can beers in stock, as well as eight rotating taps, their beer menu is extensive and frequently features local and seasonal offerings. This patio bar also serves up a variety of wines. The real fun gets going after dark, when they offer live music as well as karaoke and open mic nights. They’re open seven nights a week at their Coursey Boulevard location.
Taking up almost an entire city block, the Shaw Center for the Arts showcases a variety of local, regional and national artists, from music to art to theatre and everything in between. With several venues under its umbrella, music fans will find some of the city’s greatest concerts at the 325-seat Manship Theater, located on Lafayette Street. The Manship Theater, as well as the Shaw Center as a whole, also offers a variety of community events and arts education through art exhibitions, theatre classes and more.
Even if you aren’t able to make it to a concert, check out the center’s wide variety of artistic and cultural offerings. They’re sure to have something for everyone!
The most impressive thing about this list is that these are just a few of the tons of great options for live music in Baton Rouge. This city really has such great energy, and it comes through in each and every one of these venues and nighttime hotspots.
Whether you’re looking for classic Deep South sound or a huge rock concert with an award-winning national recording artist, downtown Baton Rouge venues have something for everyone. And besides having plenty of choices for musical genres, there’s also a myriad of options for atmosphere. Want a traditional patio bar setting? We’ve got you covered. Looking for a symphony or a crowd-worthy rock concert? There’s a place for that, too.
At Milford’s on Third, located inside the Watermark Hotel, we are proud to be a part of this thriving downtown music scene. We do so not only by supporting our neighbors in their businesses but also by serving great NYC deli-style food to so many of the people visiting downtown to hear great music. Our classic delicatessen is the perfect stop for a quiet breakfast after a night of dancing or for a delicious lunch while you’re killing time waiting for a concert.
We think you’ll find that our variety of options, all made from fresh, high-quality ingredients, just might be the best choice you make during your busy day. We’re saving you a seat!
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