Cover

9 Ways to Listen to Live Music in the East Bay

Grab your dancing shoes for a toe-tapping good time every night of the week

The Bay Magazine ·

For a fun night out, Judge Roy Bean Saloon in Bristol is the place to be. They have two bars, delicious food and cocktails, plus open mic night on Mondays, live acoustic music on Tuesdays, DJs on Thursdays and live bands on Fridays and Saturdays. They also have fun events like paint nights throughout the month. 1 State Street, Bristol. 401-253-7400

Newport Blues Cafe is pretty much guaranteed to be a good time, no matter when you visit. The legendary music venue has great bands on the weekends, and often hosts big names, especially during the summer festival season. Nineties alt-rockers Belly played there recently. 286 Thames Street, Newport. 401-841-5510

The 133 Club in East Providence is exactly the kind of casual, low-key bar that makes for the best nights out with friends. It doesn’t hurt that there’s something fun happening practically every night of the week, either. Wednesday nights are Karaoke with Big Bill, Thursday nights feature the Mac Odom Band, Fridays bring Stoneleaf, and Sundays have rotating entertainment including Brother 2 Brother. 29 Warren Avenue, East Providence. 401-438-1330

Every weekend is a party at McBlarney’s County Tap in Warren. The Irish restaurant has entertainment every Friday and Saturday, both with dance parties by DJs and live bands. They also host a pretty great Sunday Funday, with the bar’s TVs playing pro hockey and football, and college sports, plus a solid craft beer selection. 632 Metacom Avenue, Warren. 401-289-0887

Bristol’s Stone Church Coffeehouse brings in bluegrass, folk, and roots musicians. Feel free to bring a picnic basket (and your kids, though we won’t judge you if you decide to get a sitter anyway) for the monthly performance. January 28 brings Twisted Pine, a Boston-based modern string band touring the East Coast this winter, and February 25 has the world music of Occidental Gypsy. 300 High Street, Bristol. 401-253-4813

If Tiverton’s Sandywoods Center for the Arts isn’t yet your go-to for live music, it should be. The venue is super low key – it’s BYOB – but has reliably awesome musical acts, ranging from Americana folk to blues to rock and everything in between. Every Tuesday night, Sandywoods hosts an open mic, and has local up and coming acts stop by on other nights. The first Saturday night of the month is Magnolia Cajun Dance, with the Magnolia Cajun Band, New England’s best recreation of Louisiana’s most danceable musical tradition. 43 Muse Way, Tiverton. 401-816-5600

A wine tasting is always a fun time, but a wine tasting with live music is even better. Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth hosts Live Jazz at the Vineyards every Saturday afternoon, where you can pack a picnic basket and enjoy a glass (or a bottle) of their wine. 582 Wapping Road, Portsmouth. 401-847-3777

The Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford always has something fun happening. On January 12, Get the Led Out, a Led Zeppelin tribute, performs, followed by Carrie Rodriguez on January 26 at Stage Door Live and NPR darling The Moth Mainstage on February 2. 684 Purchase Street, New Bedford. 508-994-2900

Get a dose of culture at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River. Part art gallery and part performance venue, the Narrows has live music, comedy, film and lectures happening all the time. Among this month’s offerings: guitar legend Albert Lee performs on January 5, and Susan Werner (whom NPR called “Empress of the Unexpected”) performs on January 19. Friday and Saturday, January 13 and 14, sees the return of the annual Narrows Winter Blues Festival, featuring national names in blues and rock. 16 Anawan St #1, Fall River. 508-324-1926

judge roy bean saloon, newport blues cafe, the 133 club, bristol, newport, warren, east providence, mcblarney's countr tap, stone church coffeehouse, sandywoods center for the arts, tiverton, greenvale vineyards, portsmouth, zeiterion theatre, new bedford, narrows center for the arts, fall river, music, live music, singing, songs