Music by the Bay
San francisco is a city known for technology, food, eccentric characters, beautiful views, and of course, a kick ass music scene. Festivals like Outside Lands and Treasure Island get major love, but it’s the smaller venues that have housed some of our favorite concerts. If you’re a music fan planning to visit San Francisco, here are our top picks for must-score-tickets-to venues.
The fillmore It doesn’t get more historical than The Fillmore in San Francisco—pretty much every single musical legend has played there, including Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, and Jefferson Airplane. However, The Fillmore keeps it modern— some of our more recent favorites include Geographer, Ra Ra Riot and The Vaccines. The venue itself is also beautiful, and you get a poster AND a Red Delicious apple at the end of the night. How’s that for a keepsake?!
Bottom of the hill This Potrero Hill staple is responsible for booking a pretty eclectic set of bands. From punk to alt-rock to electronic, most any genre is welcome here, so long as they rock.
Often times, you’ll hear people say, “Man, I remember when I saw (insert big band here, i.e. Bloc Party, Matt & Kim, etc.) at Bottom of the Hill,” making it a major hipster music destination for “I saw them when...”
The independent This North of the Panhandle gem is situated amongst the super fun Divisidero corridor bar and restaurant scene (Lookin’ at you Madrone and NOPA!). The music system is pretty enviable, and the space is known for its
intimate setting. Highlights of the last few years include Foster the People and Grouplove before they were ginormous, and a sold out Future Islands show.
Rickshaw stop One word: Popscene. Every Thursday, the hip kids of San Francisco flock to Rickshaw Stop’s beloved music night. Thanks to local DJ and LIVE 105 musical director Aaron Axelson’s amazing ear for talent, he brings in major acts before they break (hello, Mumford & Sons!), so every week usually sells out. Recent kick ass shows include: Icona Pop, The Neighbourhood and Tanlines.
The chapel This brand new venue is a welcome addition to The Mission. A former mortuary turned bar and venue, The Lumineers have already played a gig there. Look for more awesome bands, such as Ducktails, to hit the stage next.
The fox oakland Everyone knows most San Franciscans hate making the trip to Oakland, but there’s one reason we won’t think twice about doing it: to rage at The Fox Theater. Situated in downtown Oakland, this gorgeous venue brings in some of the best acts in music, including The Avett Brothers, Matt & Kim, fun., Ellie Goulding, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and more.
