Edmonton has always been home to some incredible live music venues.
Sadly, it's lost a few over the years — R.I.P. Wunderbar, The Artery, Rebar, New City — but it's still an incredible destination for both local and touring artists, especially with new hotspots like The Chvrch Of John, The Aviary and The Needle opening in 2016.
Whatever your taste, the city has something for everyone, from smooth jazz to electro-funk.
Here are seven of the best live music venues Edmonton has to offer:
Location: 10351 82 Ave. N.W., Edmonton, Alta.
Capacity: 80
The Almanac is a new addition to Edmonton's live music scene. The micro-venue French gastropub on Whyte Avenue hosts small rock, indie and punk shows in a back room on the weekends.
Location: 10575 114 St. N.W., Edmonton, Alta.
Capacity: 120
Delicious vegan restaurant by day, intimate music venue by night. The Mercury Room is the perfect place to get to know some of Edmonton's best local businesses, as the venue is a member of arts organization Blue Skys Arts Lofts.
Location: 9910 109 St. Edmonton, Alta.
Capacity: 150
The Common is a nightclub/gastro-lounge known for its great music — hip hop, soul, electronic, funk — but it's also worth a vist for the incredible eats. Chef Jesse Morrison-Gauthier’s umami burger is to die for.
While you're there, head downstairs to check out 9910 — the room has a floating sound system and incredible acoustics.
Location: 10030 102 St. N.W., Edmonton, Alta.
Capacity:600
Formerly The Bronx, The Rev, Lush, the Starlite Room has gone through a number of reinventions over the years, but it's always been a staple of Edmonton's music scene. The old Salvation Army Citadel building has been home to hundreds of incredible performers of all genres over the years.
The venue's best feature? The sloping, wood dance floor that gives attendees at the back of the room just as good of a view as those at the front.
Also worth visiting is Brixx downstairs, a pub that hosts plenty of local shows.
Location: 10203 86 Ave. N.W., Edmonton, Alta.
Capacity: 150
Yardbird Suite is the only volunteer-run jazz lounge in Canada — fully operated by members of the Edmonton Jazz Society. Named after the Charlie Parker song, the lounge has been the home of Edmonton's jazz scene since 1957. Jazz musicians host jam sessions on Tuesdays.
Location: 10217 97 St. N.W., Edmonton, Alta.
Capacity: 84
Bohemia is a chameleon-like venue. Host to everything from artsy, spoken word performances to noise groups, it's never a dull time.
Location: 7317 101 Ave N.W., Edmonton, Alta.
Capacity: Unavailable.
DV8 is a dive bar host to anything outside the mainstream. Punk, metal, hardcore, you name it.
Unfortunately, DV8, like many of Edmonton's live music venues, is going through some hard times — the owners are currently hosting a GoFundMe. They've relocated to Mama's Pizza in northwest Edmonton to renovate and hopefully turn the new location into a venue.
