Las Vegas Bars with Live Music

Finding Las Vegas bars with live music is one of our favorite ways to experience the local music scene and catch free live music from every genre. Downtown Las Vegas, The Strip, and beyond are filled with hidden gems offering live music acts you don’t want to miss.

Find a Las Vegas bar with live music to match your preferred genre, or experience a new type of sound while you drink cocktails, beer, and wine. 

Live Rock Music

Brooklyn Bowl at LINQ Promenade 

Bowling might not be the first activity that comes to mind when you’re in Vegas, but why not?! Brooklyn Bowl has 32 bowling lanes, but it’s much more than that. There are multiple bars found throughout the venue, a tasty food menu, and live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

All the music acts booked are rock-centric, but not necessarily hard rock. Think punk rock and pop rock mixed in with the occasional hard rock performance. Brooklyn Bowl also has fun-themed nights like K-Pop Night and Taylor Swift Night, so any music lover will find something they enjoy. Select live shows are free, but most require a ticket purchase. 

Hard Rock Cafe

Hard Rock Cafe is conveniently located near MGM Grand on the Las Vegas Strip. This is one of the most impressive live music venues inside a bar. On the third floor of the cafe, there are concert-style accommodations for up to 1,200 audience members! The daily acoustic breakfast is always fun if you want a more laid-back experience.

Larger, more in-demand live bands performing at Hard Rock Cafe do require a ticket purchase, but the show will be worth every penny. The lighting, audio equipment, and stage set are on-par with larger concert venues in Vegas. 

Double Down Saloon

Double Down Saloon is one of the best dive bars in Las Vegas, complete with regular performances from live punk-rock bands. The bar is dimly light, grungy, and always filled with rock fans looking for a casual night out in Vegas. The walls are covered in hand-drawn murals and stickers. The floor in front of the stage is…questionably sticky in that charming dive bar way.

It’s a no-frills bar that’s a much-needed change of pace from other Las Vegas bars. Drinks are reasonably priced, and the eclectic crowd is always welcoming to newcomers. If you come to watch free live music at Double Down Saloon, don’t forget to order their famous Bacon Martini!

Count’s Vamp’d Rock Bar & Grill

Count’s Vamp’d be the place to go if you want strictly hard rock music—this bar and grill features live bands on Friday and Saturday nights. From up-and-coming acts to rock tribute bands, the professional stage is always high-energy.

Most shows are free, but some have a low cover charge of $10 or $20 at the door. We love the outdoor patio here, and the food menu is pretty good too! The bar is located on Sahara Ave, about 4.5 miles off the main strip, so it’s popular with tourists and Las Vegas locals. 

Dawghouse Saloon At Resorts World

Usually, gambling and live music aren’t found in the same bar. That is until Dawghouse Saloon opened at Resorts World Las Vegas! This 15,000-square-foot bar is a casual sports bar with fun hiding around every corner. You can place sports bets while you watch the game on large TVs, order craft beer, and select from a menu with classic comfort food and pub fare. 

Live music is available for free every day, but the type of music can vary quite a bit. Classic rock is one of the most common types of performances to take the stage at Dawghouse, but country and pop acts are booked too. The seating is ultra-comfortable, so don’t be surprised when you don’t want to leave!

Hennesy’s Tavern

Hennesy’s Tavern sits in the heart of Downtown Las Vegas on Fremont Street. Live bands take the stage multiple nights a week, but there aren’t set nights every week, so your best bet is to check their live music calendar. A large pint located outside the bar makes it impossible to miss the entrance and drives in a lot of foot traffic, so the bar is never boring.

If you try one thing at Hennesy’s Tavern besides booze, make it a burger! Their burgers are generously sized and topped with delicious add-ons like a fried egg, bleu cheese crumbles, Irish cheddar cheese, and more. 

Live Country Music 

Stoney’s Rockin Country Bar

Stoney’s Rockin Country Bar is one of the best country music bars in Las Vegas for a few reasons. The bar has a prime location, just a short drive away from the Strip. A massive dance floor is even used for line dancing lessons. The mechanical bull is completely free to ride and a guaranteed way to make your experience at Stoney’s unique!

Live music performances from touring country artists around the country can be found at Stoney’s, too, primarily on Friday and Saturday nights. The service is great, the crowd is energetic, and the live music makes it impossible not to make your way to the dance floor. 

Rhythm and Riffs at Mandalay Bay

Rhythm and Riffs is an unsuspecting bar that can get lost in the commotion of S Las Vegas Blvd, but it’s a must-see for country music fans. Every Friday night from 8 PM to 9:30 PM, the bar features a free music special called Nashville Unplugged. Aaron Benward hosts the show, where he talks to the songwriters of some of your favorite country hits. They’ll share a bit of the story about how the song came to be, then perform an acoustic version live.

This experience differs from most of the live music scene in Vegas because it’s an intimate venue, made even better by the unplugged acoustic sounds of country music. 

Gilley’s at Treasure Island

Gilley’s is a true honky tonk, a western-themed bar complete with a mechanical bull. From the famous Gilley’s Girls dressed in little more than leather chaps, cowgirl boots, and a hat to mechanical bull rides for $10 every night after 4 PM and daily line dancing lessons, if it’s not country, it doesn’t belong at Gilley’s! 

There is live music scheduled most nights of the week, but not all performances are free. Industry Monday Night offers free live music with line dancing and drink specials every Monday. In addition to great live entertainment and beautiful staff, Gilley’s has delicious food and an easy-to-find location at Treasure Island on S Las Vegas Blvd. 

Losers Bar at MGM Grand

The term “no-frills” and MGM Grand don’t usually go together, but Losers Bar is the exception. This is one of the best free live music venues if you want to keep things simple without going off the Strip. You can catch free live music daily from 3 PM to 1 AM and enjoy a selection of classic spirits with beers on tap.

The free live music acts are typically small artists you likely won’t be familiar with, but that doesn’t mean there’s a lack of talent. Use this as an opportunity to expand your country music horizons while you sip affordable drinks. 

Live Jazz & Blues

House of Blues Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay

Las Vegas, NV, has plenty of great music venues, but House of Blues is definitely at the top of the list. Despite the name, the House of Blues offers a variety of live music from all genres. You can hear jazz, blues, country, rock, and even the occasional DJ. 

There’s a restaurant and bar inside the venue, which has been highly reviewed by concertgoers at House of Blues. You need a ticket to watch live music at the House of Blues, but ticket prices are quite reasonable, especially when comparing them to other music venues in Sin City. 

Casa Di Amore

Casa Di Amore could be classified as more of a restaurant than a bar, but there is a full bar with a delicious cocktail menu, so we’ll let it slide. This restaurant and bar has free live music from Thursday to Sunday every week. The regularly scheduled live music acts are George Bugatti, Paul Stubblefield, and Doug Taylor.

The classic jazz tunes, carefully selected decor, and refined menu all create a vintage Las Vegas feel. If you’ve always wished you could go back in time to dine in old Vegas, Casa Di Amore will make that a reality. It’s located just off the Las Vegas Strip on Tropicana Ave.

Easys Cocktail Lounge at Aria

Speakeasies have been all the rage in Las Vegas, NV, as modern businesses look for ways to achieve the intimate, classy vibe from decades past. Easy Cocktail Lounge is a speakeasy that’s carefully tucked away at Aria Las Vegas. While it doesn’t look like much from the outside, inside the lounge is pure magic.

From velvet seating to the decor on the walls and an exclusive cocktail menu, everything at Easys has been curated to make guests feel like they’re stepping back into the roaring 20s era. Uptempo jazz music is performed nightly in the lounge and is free for patrons to watch.

We’re firm believers that there’s something about the soothing tunes of jazz that makes cocktails taste better, even if we can’t explain the science behind why. 

The Barbershop at Cosmopolitan

You’ve probably never thought about combining your trip to the barbershop with free live music, but you’ve got to admit, it sounds fun, right? Believe us, it is! The Barbershop is half speakeasy lounge, half functional barbershop located at The Cosmopolitan Resort. While guests have the option to freshen up their cut with some of the best barbers in the city, you don’t have to use barbershop services to gain entry to the speakeasy.

This is one of the best free live music venues because it’s just so much fun! The upscale speakeasy offers a wide bar selection, but whiskey is certainly the star of the show. The swanky space is equipped with comfortable sofas and rich interior details that make it feel like you’re in a world-class whiskey bar. 

Different musical acts, all in the jazz and blues genre, are scheduled to perform every night of the week, typically from 6 or 8 PM to around 1 AM. 

The Sand Dollar Lounge at Plaza

There are technically two Sand Dollar Lounge locations in Las Vegas, NV, but we’re going to focus on their location Downtown at The Plaza Hotel. If you’re curious, the second location is on Spring Mountain Road.

The lounge has free live music 7 nights a week with a variety of jazz, blues, and rock n roll artists on the calendar. This lounge also has no trouble securing performances from bigger names in the industry. Billy F Gibbons from ZZ Top and John Popper of Blues Traveler are just a couple examples of the in-demand entertainment you can expect to find at The Sand Dollar Lounge.

The Piano Bar at Harrah’s

The Piano Bar is one of the Strip’s most well-known, elegant piano bars. This cocktail bar offers free live music every night. The Dueling Pianos is an act that begins at 9 PM nightly, where two talented pianists have an entertaining duel through their music. Big Elvis will take you through Elvis’s biggest hits from 2 PM to 6 PM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Entering the bar is technically free, but certain acts require a cover charge. The bar menu is pretty standard, so this is definitely a bar you come to for entertainment, not for a unique selection.

The NoMad Bar at Park MGM

If you’re looking for a late-night spot to grab shareable bites, snacks, and specialty cocktails. NoMad is a popular pregame spot for Golden Knights hockey games because it’s located right next to T Mobile Arena.

There is live music every night, but not many details are shared regarding who will be taking the stage on what night. Take that as an opportunity to be pleasantly surprised by listening to someone new! While the music varies some, most fits into the jazz and blues genres. 

1923 Prohibition Bar at Mandalay Bay

1923 is technically located at Mandalay Bay, but it sits in the walkway that connects Mandalay Bay and The Luxor, so it’s easily accessible from both resorts. The speakeasy is New Orleans-inspired, and everything matches that theme, from the cocktail menu to tiny details in the decor.

The Prohibition Bar has live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 9 PM. All the entertainment acts fit that prohibition-era speakeasy theme, so you shouldn’t expect anything modern. Piano players, burlesque dancers, and jazz singers are among the most commonly booked live entertainment acts. 

Don’t Tell Mama

Fremont Street is the entertainment hub of Downtown Las Vegas, and Don’t Tell Mama is one of our favorite bars on the street. If you loved show choir, Glee, or Broadway growing up, this bar is for you! Everyone on the staff is a talented performer with dreams of being a professional singer. They put those talents to the test and entertain patrons while they serve you.

There’s always a pianist on staff and a mic available for patrons who want to sing, so the bar is never quiet! If you have a song request you want to sing or hear sung, the staff are always happy to make it happen. This bar is very LGBTQIA+ friendly too!

Alexxa’s at Paris Las Vegas

Alexxa’s at Paris Las Vegas is a restaurant, but their lounge is where the real fun can be found. Live music performances are booked from Thursday to Sunday every week with blues, jazz, soul, and even up-and-coming DJs in Las Vegas. This venue encourages you to relax while listening to live music, even if you aren’t seated facing the stage.

The lounge has plush seating, bottle service, and incredible cocktails! The jazz brunch on Saturdays from 11 AM to 3 PM is one of the best ways to experience Alexxa’s, but seats fill up quickly. 

Fremont Street Experience

There are three stages on Fremont Street that make up the Fremont Street Experience. Live music is booked daily, and it’s completely free to watch! While these open-air, outdoor stages aren’t in a bar, you won’t have to go far to find one. In fact, you’ll have a hard time walking on Fremont Street without walking into a bar! 

The Fremont Street Experience is especially popular in the summer when they host the Summer Concert Series. Since the venue isn’t in a bar, it’s open to all ages! This is a huge perk for families and those traveling with someone under 21 in their group who wouldn’t be admitted to most of the other bars on our list. 

Downtown Container Park

The Downtown Container Park is another outdoor venue in Downtown Las Vegas that isn’t technically a bar but is surrounded by bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. The event’s stage at the Container Park frequently hosts free, family-friendly live shows. If you’re visiting Las Vegas around a holiday, there’s sure to be a live music act booked.

St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, and July 4th are just a few of the biggest dates for the Container Park events stage. It’s free to watch shows here, and similar to the Fremont Street Experience, all ages are welcome.

Honorable Mentions

As you already know, Las Vegas is the undisputed entertainment capital of the world. When you’re visiting Las Vegas, you will never run out of live entertainment to watch. If you’re still on the hunt for a great live performance after checking out other bars on the list, you can also catch live music at these bars!

  • Mermaid Lounge at Silverton
  • Carnival Court at Harrahs
  • Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget
  • Nine Fine Irishmen at New York New York
  • Level Up at MGM Grand
  • Ri Ra at Mandalay Bay
  • The Lounge at Excalibur
  • Backstage Bar & Billiards
  • Freedom Beat at Downtown Grand
  • The Dorsey 
  • Mickie Finnz

FAQ

Where can I listen to live music in Las Vegas, NV?

The better question is, where can’t you listen to live music in Las Vegas? There are countless bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues with regular live music performances scheduled. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eWhether you’re at a resort on Las Vegas Blvd or strolling the streets of Downtown Las Vegas, you won’t have to go far to find a live music venue of one type or another.

Is there a local music scene in Las Vegas?

The local music scene in Las Vegas is huge! With so many live entertainment venues, the world’s entertainment capital is always welcoming new, local talent. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eSmall bars and cocktail lounges with free live music are a great way to discover the local music scene.

Where do bands play in Las Vegas?

Bands in Las Vegas play wherever they can get booked. That includes restaurants, bars, outdoor concert stages, and larger venues that require a ticket purchase. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eNearly every major resort and hotel in the city has some sort of live entertainment booked, including local and touring bands.

What Vegas hotel is home to the House of Blues live music venue?

The House of Blues is located at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip.

Key Takeaways

  • Not every bar that has live music has free shows. Some require a small cover charge at the door, while others require tickets purchased in advance. 
  • Check the requirements of the show and venue before you arrive, expecting to watch for free.
  • Jazz and blues dominate the live music selection at Las Vegas bars, but there are plenty of locations with rock, country, and pop music too.
  • The local music scene in Sin City is alive and better than ever. Much of the free music at bars is from local artists trying to get their names out to more people. Don’t write off an artist just because you’ve never heard their songs on the radio!
  • The Downtown Container Park and Fremont Street Experience are open-air venues that frequently book free live music acts. If you want free music, you can bring someone under 21 years old to watch; these two venues are a great choice.

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