Denver's bar scene and live music scene are basically the same thing. From Colfax dive bars with sticky floors and legendary sound to polished LoDo lounges with jazz trios, these are the spots where you'll find live music on any given night — most of it free or under $10.
Denver's dive bars are the backbone of the local music scene. Expect cheap drinks, loud bands, and zero pretension. South Broadway and Colfax are your best bets for this vibe. Most shows are free or $5-10 at the door. Regular haunts: Lion's Lair (Colfax institution, punk and garage most nights), Hi-Dive (South Broadway indie anchor), Herb's Bar (LoDo jazz-and-blues dive with music nearly every night), and Skylark Lounge (rockabilly and soul on South Broadway).
Colorado's craft beer explosion brought music along with it. Dozens of Denver breweries and neighborhood bars host live acts weekly. Meadowlark Bar runs one of the busiest calendars in RiNo, Goosetown Tavern holds down East Colfax, and The Black Buzzard pairs Oskar Blues beer with a proper stage.
Denver has a deep jazz tradition. Dazzle is the flagship — national acts plus nightly local jazz — while Nocturne in RiNo pairs supper-club dining with rotating jazz residencies, and Appaloosa Grill puts free live music on 16th Street most nights.
When you want a real stage without arena prices: Globe Hall (BBQ + Americana in Globeville), Larimer Lounge (touring indie in RiNo), and Lost Lake (Colfax little sibling of the Bluebird).
Below is the live list — every bar and venue show we track across Denver, updated daily. Use the filters on the Denver city page to search by venue type, date, or artist.
The most active live music spots based on what we're tracking. Each links to that venue's full schedule, address, and photos.
Photos courtesy of Google Places.
| Artist | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Breaking Benjamin | Ball Arena | 6:00 PM |
| 5280 Jazz Orchestra | Dazzle Denver | 6:30 PM |
| Nick Hakim w/ Arima Ederra | Larimer Lounge | 7:00 PM |
| Cain Culto w/ Neoma (SOLD OUT) | Lost Lake | 7:00 PM |
| Evening Elephants | Marquis | 7:00 PM |
| Laxin' at the Lair: With Guest The White Moms | Lion's Lair | 7:00 PM |
| The Blowing Loud Jam Sessions | Dazzle Denver | 9:00 PM |
| Meadowlark Jazz Night | Meadowlark Bar | 9:00 PM |
| FRIENDS WITH CHUCK | Appaloosa Grill | 9:00 PM |
| Monday Night Jazz with Vlad Girshevich | Herb's Bar | 9:00 PM |
| Artist | Venue | Date | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breaking Benjamin | Ball Arena | Today | Denver |
| 5280 Jazz Orchestra | Dazzle Denver | Today | Denver |
| Nick Hakim w/ Arima Ederra | Larimer Lounge | Today | Denver |
| Cain Culto w/ Neoma (SOLD OUT) | Lost Lake | Today | Denver |
| Evening Elephants | Marquis | Today | Denver |
| Laxin' at the Lair: With Guest The White Moms | Lion's Lair | Today | Denver |
| The Blowing Loud Jam Sessions | Dazzle Denver | Today | Denver |
| Meadowlark Jazz Night | Meadowlark Bar | Today | Denver |
| FRIENDS WITH CHUCK | Appaloosa Grill | Today | Denver |
| Monday Night Jazz with Vlad Girshevich | Herb's Bar | Today | Denver |
| The Backseat Lovers Pop-Up Market (FREE EVENT) | Globe Hall | Tue, Sep 29 | Denver |
| One Last Show: A Celebration of the Life of Isaac Chavira | Cervantes Masterpiece | Tue, Sep 29 | Denver |
| 156/Silence | Marquis | Tue, Sep 29 | Denver |
| Arrows in Action (w/ Good Boy Daisy | Instant Crush) | Convergence Station (Meow Wolf Denver) | Tue, Sep 29 | Denver |
| Board Game Social (Open To Public) | Town Hall Collaborative | Tue, Sep 29 | Denver |