Historic Venues

Photo by Don Peitzman Historic Venues: Red Rocks Amphitheatre Glenn McDonald  U2 at Red Rocks It’s one of the most iconic … Continued

It’s where Johnny met June, where bluegrass was born and where country music blossomed into a national phenomenon. Built in 1892 for a revivalist reverend, Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium has survived for 120 years and counting as a venue for all kinds of entertainment, and most famously was the heart of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943-1974.

Radio City Music Hall’s big sister, The Beacon Theatre, has been an NYC landmark since 1929, hosting a wide variety of acts.

Equipped with a full recording studio, the Hollywood hotel has long played host to the music community as artists such as the Rolling Stones, the Who, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, U2 and hundreds of others have called the hotel home during their stints in Los Angeles. Because of its music roots, Fender recently selected the storied hotel as its location for the new Fender Select short film.

If you’re D.C.’s 9:30 Club, success is built through a commitment to booking hungry up-and-coming acts while playing home to many of the world’s biggest artists when they’re looking for an intimate environment.

The once-imposing Queens edifice and longtime home of the Mets enjoys a special and enduring place in rock history …

Quietly sitting at the end of a nondescript strip mall in tiny Carrboro, N.C., the Cat’s Cradle has been a cornerstone for a variety of indie and national acts since 1969.

There are concert halls, arenas and amphitheaters, and then there was the Fillmore West. This legendary San Francisco venue was more than just a music hall; it was a quintessential destination for music lovers and thrill seekers alike. 

As a performance venue, Chicago’s famous Aragon Ballroom is much like the city itself. Tough. Resilient. A survivor.

The Byrds formed there. The Eagles formed there. James Taylor and Carole King made a home there. Elton John’s rocket to global fame launched there. Lenny Bruce and John Lennon got in trouble there. Van Halen, Motley Crue and Guns N’ Roses might not have made it without key gigs there.