Music isn't a drag, but finding it can be!
It's late afternoon and you're trying to find some live music to go dance to that evening. You could do a google search for "live music bars" and read the plethora of Yelp reviews that pop up. Or you could painstakingly visit each bar's website and try to find out who's playing. 45 minutes later, if you're lucky, you may have figured out who you want to see.
We hear you. Wasting your time like this sucks!
FINALLY...you've found what you need, right here.
We have done all that work for you and put ALL the live music events at bars with dancing on ONE calendar!
AND...we update it for you once per month so you can be sure it's current.
About Our Live Music Calendar
There are plenty of sources out there to help you find live music bars and live music concerts. We chose to make this calendar specifically focused on "live music bars with dancing" for two reasons:
- We are a dance band ourselves
- No one else has put together anything like this.
We hope this saves you some time, and brings you some enjoyment!
Happy dancing :)
Tonight's Live Music in Vancouver (with Dancing)
Vancouver Live Music Calendar
Subscribe To The Calendar
About Vancouver's Best Live Music Bars With Dancing
TOP PICK ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Backstage Lounge
Our favourite bar in Vancouver! The Phonix has been the house band here for 7 years and we still perform every Thursday! Why don't you get some tickets
Situated on historic Granville Island, The bar overlooks beautiful False Creek, with large floor-to-ceiling windows all the way around! They serve up scrumptious grub all day (but don't get there too late, the kitchen closes at 8pm!). They've got a huge beer selection, usually with over 30 on tap. This mid-sized venue (200 capacity) has been vital to the Vancouver music scene for years and has given a start to more local bands that we could ever count!
Biltmore Cabaret
Hidden away in the basement of a heritage building, Biltmore hosts big touring acts right down to small local bands. Cushy leather seating and a rustic wooden decor make this place a comfy spot for grabbing a pint and enjoying some music. Another on of our favourite places as it is another one of Vancouver's perfect mid-sized venues; not so big that you will be trampled, but no so small that it's awkward. Yunno!
Guilt & Co.
Another underground live music venue. You feel like you're hiding in a cave while you snuggle up against their large rock walls. This warm Gastown attraction is one of Vancouver's most popular, so make sure you get there early or you'll be stuck in line for an hour! Cover is almost always "Pay-what-you-can"...so be generous. Those bands deserve it :)
Railway Stage
On of our favourite spots in town. This fun join not only serves of some of the best live music in town, but this second-story pub also has fun games like pool and snooker. Still very centrally located, but not quite in the middle of club district, so it never feels too much like a night club. Go here on a date! If the music sucks, play a game, or vice versa :)
Venue
Nestled right in the middle of Vancouver's club district on Granville St. Venue perfectly straddles the line between concert hall and nightclub, often hosting both crowds in the same evening. Everyone from Major Lazer to Hank Williams III to David Guetta to TV on the Radio have played sold out shows while weekend club nights are packed, with guests partying in the VIP areas and ripping up the dance floor. A two-level, 500 person space, Venue has one of the Vancouver’s best sound systems and light shows, accommodating staff and an endless list of guest artists and DJs.
Fairview Pub
Drinks, comfort food and loads of live music! This bar has been a staple in Vancouver for decades. Inside, it's pretty dated, but the sound system still sounds great and the bands that go through here are generally very good. Worth checking out for some comfort food, drinks and your favourite artist!
LanaLou's
Haven't been here ourselves, but this rock bar has some good reviews. It's a tiny space with an intimate vibe (so, maybe bring ear plugs!). Casual, eclectic menu & Sunday brunch in an intimate eatery with old-world decor.
Rickshaw Theatre
A retired movie theatre, the Rickshaw boasts possibly the best sight-lines of any music venue in the city, with scalable capacity that can be easily configured to accommodate 200 to 600 people. The Rickshaw has successfully hosted a number of outstanding international touring acts such as The War on Drugs, Mudhoney, Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, Goat, Sharon Van Etten and more. The Rickshaw has also played host to local titans No Means No, Japandroids, and Five Alarm Funk.
A vibrant Rickshaw has now become a vital institution in the ongoing revitalization of the Downtown Eastside.
Calabash Bistro
Known for its charming Caribbean vibes and fantastic spicy cocktails, the Calabash boast a downstairs lounge area that hosts Foundation Radio, a live music collective that plays roots, reggae, jazz, blues, motown and funk music. Calabash has created an intimate live venue that Vancouver needs for smaller bands and musicians to rise up, and grow their talent. Music is the voice of history in the Caribbean, from the drum circle of the Nyabinghi, to the modern-day reggae legends who gave the poor peoples a voice, and a pride in their nation. Music is the vital link for Caribbean the diaspora to maintain strong connections to their mother cultures. British reggae legends Steel Pulse once said “We must create our scene. We must re-capture our culture by any means.” Down Stairs in the lounge of Calabash that culture is thriving.
Imperial
Born as a theatre and transformed into a multi dimensional event space, Imperial hosts some of the most epic music events. Not only was the theatre built with the quality of sound being a focus, but they added to the ‘wow factor’ by installing one of the best sound systems in the world. Combined, those two elements make the sound quality arguably the best in the city.
The Commodore
Easily one of our favourite rooms in the city. The Commodore Ballroom has won countless awards recognizing its importance as a local landmark, exceptional operational efficiency and status as the city’s favourite live venue. Most recently, The Commodore was named one of the Top 10 Most Influential Clubs in North America and the Most Influential Club in Canada by Billboard Magazine in 2011.
As The Commodore Ballroom approaches its ninth decade, the venue is host to over 150 public events each year, entertaining over 120,000 guests annually. Locals and travellers, artists and guests continue to delight in the impressive history and ongoing commitment to the future of the Commodore Ballroom.
The Roxy
Their website has no info about the Roxy's roots, history or claim to fame. What can we say? Well, they're a bar on Granville st with 3 great house bands that perform 'till insanely wee hours of the morning from Wednesday-Sunday. Right in the heart of Vancouver's club district, so expect a 'clubby' vibe, if you know what we're sayin'!
The Blarney Stone
This place is the longest running Irish Pub in Vancouver. More than just an Irish pub, the Blarney Stone is Vancouver’s institution for Irish inspired food, Irish entertainment, and Irish atmosphere, offering a unique pub experience by day and rip roaring, foot stomping good time by night! Conveniently located in the heart of Vancouver’s historic Gastown District, the Blarney Stone is open 11am till late, 7 nights a week and features live music every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.
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Did you get value out of accessing our list of live music in Vancouver today? Please consider buying us a coffee! We really could use it next month when we do our calendar update again!