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Best Places to Hear Live Music in Hartford

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This guide was updated in May 2024.

From national touring acts to fun regional festivals, Hartford has always been a destination for live music. But even if you’ve seen a show in Hartford, you’re probably not aware of all the places for live music that the city has to offer. 

We’ve put together this list of all the great places to see live music in Hartford. From big stadiums to intimate outdoor areas, keep on reading to learn about all the spots where you can jam out to live music in the city!

PRO TIP: We love @hartfordhasmusic on Instagram, they post weekly live music schedules so be sure to give them a follow!

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2024 Events to Watch Out For

Hartford Electric Festival - Westside Square - June 1

Hartbeat Music Festival - Mortensen Riverfront Plaza - June 22

Capitol Groove Festival - Bushnell Park - June 29 - 30 

Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz - Bushnell Park - July 19-21

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Theaters & Arenas

XFINITY Theatre

With a capacity of 30,000 people, XFINITY Theatre is Hartford’s go-to concert venue for artists that draw big crowds. The indoor/outdoor venue has been a stop on world tours for Drake, Iron Maiden, and everyone in between – plus festivals like Vans Warped Tour and Farm Aid.

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XL Center

While the XL Center is mainly used as a sports venue, the mid-sized arena draws big crowds on their concert nights. Taylor Swift, Travis Scott, and Elton John are just a few of the artists who have graced the stage.

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Photo by @yondermountain

‍Infinity Music Hall 

Front Street’s concert destination is known for pristine acoustics, friendly staff, and a surprisingly intimate feel for a 500 person capacity venue. Fans can enjoy cushioned seats and cup holders while jamming out to artists like Hot Tuna, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Rhiannon Giddens, and more.

Photo by @xe.von

‍The Webster Theater

The Webster is a 70+-year-old retro movie theater that has been beautifully restored to its art deco roots. The 1,200 capacity venue primarily hosts heavy metal and rock bands, so expect mosh pits and standing room only.  Downstairs you’ll find the Webster Underground: a smaller secondary performance space where you can catch new and local artists.

Photo by @phatastronaut

‍Arch Street Tavern

This dynamic venue is the ideal place to grab a bite off the full menu or enjoy a happy hour drink while enjoying live music from jazz, southern rock, and orchestra bands. Located near the convention center, Arch Street is a great stop before a conference or event  – especially with their newly renovated patio. Locals love Wednesday nights which are reserved for the fan-favorite funk band Boo Yah.

The Bushnell Performing Arts Center

Along with their lineup of Broadway productions, The Bushnell hosts orchestras, vocalists, and performance musicians like the Blue Man Group. The beautiful, historical theatre adds a wow factor to all performances.

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Photo by Black-Eyed Sally’s

‍Parks and Areas

In addition to ticketed events at theaters and arenas, many of Hartford’s parks, landmarks, and other similar areas host events or event series with live music. Many of these event series take place during the warmer months, and aside from some more prominent festivals, most are free to enjoy.

Here are some of our favorite spots and organizations with live music events:

Photo by @hartfordjazz_ghfj

‍Bushnell Park

Bushnell Park’s Performance Pavilion has been one of the most popular spots to enjoy live music for decades. Free live music events include the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz, Black-Eyed & Blues Fest, and the Hartford Pride Concert.

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Photo by @brodahhray

Pratt Street

Pratt Street just wrapped up a busy summer event season with many live music performances. Along with their fun Pratturday parties, they recently hosted a unique, ticketed, silent disco event as part of Hartford Pride. Over the past few months, the historic street also hosted many local musicians as part of hartford.com’s Pratt Street Patio live music series.

Photo by @chazmusic

Parkville Market

Hartford’s first food hall invited many local musicians to perform in their outdoor courtyard as part of their Thursday Night Live series. Today, they continue to host live music events either outdoors or in their bar Local. From Music Mondays featuring Jazz on the Patio or Celtic Sounds to their Main Market Acoustic Acts and Summer Concert Series on Thursdays, there's no shortage of live music here!

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WestSide Square

An open-air square in the West End of Hartford with local food trucks, cocktails and craft beer, Westside Square is also a great spot to check out live music throughout the warm weather months.

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Additional parks and areas with live music events include:

  • Parkville Sounds
  • The Caf
  • The Wadsworth
  • Mortensen Riverfront Plaza
  • CT’s Old Statehouse
  • Constitution Plaza
  • Elizabeth Park
  • Bushnell Park
  • Numerous parks throughout Hartford. Check out our Guide to Hartford Parks to learn more about the city’s park offerings.
Photo by Hartford Jazz Society

Bars, Clubs, and Restaurants

Hartford’s nightlife and dining scene have always included live bands, vocalists, and DJs. Here are a few of our favorite spots to watch them live:

  • ‍The 196 Club
  • Bar Max
  • Black-Eyed Sally’s
  • Chez Est
  • Raw Bar
  • The Russell
  • Soulbalia
  • Semilla
  • The Spigot

We hope this blog gives you some insight into the live music scene here in Hartford! There’s something for every music lover in our city with so many venues, genres, and event types to choose from. 

To stay in the know about upcoming live music in the area, be sure to follow the social accounts of the different venues that caught your eye. Or, just give us a follow for a curated, digest look at all of our favorite music, shops, and restaurants throughout the city.

 Are we missing anything? Email us experiencehartford@gmail.com and we are happy to update this!

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