This page is out of date! Many of these locations are no longer active since coronavirus. We will update soon!
most of the state’s venues are in/around New Haven and Hartford. here are a few of the ones that feature artists and bands featured on this blog:
DIY Spaces:
C**** H**** – West Haven
a DIY institution in the area. all kinds of music, ranging from hip hop, doom metal, folk, punk, avant-garde rock, and everything in between. the only real through-line to the music is “adventurous”. ask a punk for the address.
Noelke Gallery – Torrington
an all-ages art gallery that hosts a wide variety of artists, from metal to folk, from standup comedians to performance art. the space has gotten a big bump in 2019 as a “regular” venue for local artists. a great venue in NW connecticut.
Slum House – Bloomfield
a house of musicians that operates as a live venue, recording studio, and practice space. takes place in the basement, and it has really great acoustics. ask a punk for the address.
Formal Venues:
College Street Music Hall – New Haven
a popular venue for more nationally-known artists.
Space Ballroom – Hamden
the Space Ballroom is one of the bigger venues for indie acts, and it comes in two sizes. most often, the bigger bands get booked into the “ballroom”, while other bands get the “front room”, which is a smaller stage. casual environment with a bar.
The State House – New Haven
this space is dedicated to “culture and creativity”, which just means it’s not always a venue for music. features a cool mixed bag of local and national acts. all ages as long as you have a guardian with you.
The Webster – Hartford
a theater that hosts primarily metal, hardcore, or emo shows. very active for touring bands and will occasionally have supporting local groups. management has a less-than-perfect reputation.
Indie Friendly Bars/Pubs:
Best Video Film and Cultural Center – Hamden (all ages; serves alcohol and coffee at night)
CafeNine (+21) – New Haven
bar located downtown. a lot of great touring and local bands on “Manic Monday” nights. tickets for these nights usually runs about $5 at the door, but if you RSVP ahead of time, you can get in for free.
The Cellar on Treadwell – Hamden
this bar has a long, storied history, but i’ll keep it short: it’s right across from the space ballroom, and it hosts primarily local bands with less of a focus on touring acts. good townie spot.
The Beeracks – East Haven (21+, brewery; often hosted by members of Snowpiler)
Less Common:
33 Golden Street – New London (21+, bar)
Arts Center East – Vernon (all ages; hosted by members of Perennial)
Cherry Street Station – Wallingford (21+, bar)
Ives Concert Park – Danbury (all ages)
Never Ending Books – New Haven (all ages)
Stella Blues – New Haven (21+, bar)
Three Sheets – New Haven (21+, bar)
Willimantic Records – Willimantic (great, comfy record store)
Wall Street Theater – Norwalk (all ages)
WAMLEG – Wallingford
Inactive (as far as we know):
MAC 650 – Middletown
art gallery and artist co-op by day, all-ages live venue by night. often booked by the great local Tiny Box Booking, great touring artists and local support. you can buy tickets for these shows in advance online.
NG2BC – New Haven
NEVER GET TO BE COOL is a local DIY space, run with love and care by the good folks in punk rock band Spit-Take. friendly, all-ages environment. celebrated their 100th show in 2019. ask a punk for the address.
The Church – Hamden
a DIY spot operated by the band SELLER. a great, wide-open space with a fun “church” theme. when the owners announce that a band is leading a mass on sunday, it’s mostly just as a joke. you don’t need to bring your bible. ask a punk for the address.
The Wherehouse – Hartford
an open space that has a great communal feel. maintained by a group of people (including Funnybone Records), bands play here, it also hosts dance parties, performance art, and theater. all ages.
The Acoustic – Bridgeport (21+, bar)
Luigi’s Mansion – Winsted
a house space inhabited by musicians. ask a punk for address.