For over a century, artists, musicians, “weirdos,” and glamorous outcasts of all types have found a home in San Francisco. The city has become one of the most exciting, creative, and eclectic music scenes out there, birthing everyone from DJ Shadow to Tom Waits and Metallica to Santana. Every night in The Golden City, you can catch massive international names, killer local acts and, just maybe, “the next big thing” playing his or her first show ever. It’s a thrilling scene to be part of, but it can also be seriously intimidating. How do you keep track of it all? Who are the best acts and where are the best spots? This guide will help introduce you to wide world of concerts in San Francisco.
Read Up On It
Major newspapers don’t talk about the arts scene in San Francisco too much, but there are plenty of indie publications, online magazines, and blogs that talk about little else! The Bay Bridged is one of the best, focusing exclusively on local music, with tons of band interviews, news, album reviews, and free music. Also check out the arts sections in independent weeklies, like SF Weekly, the alt-focused 7×7 and the San Francisco Bay Guardian.
Know the Venues
Whether you’re into indie rock, jazz, punk, or electro-house-disco, San Francisco has a ton of interesting venues. Here are some of the key spots:
- The Fillmore Auditorium and District: One of the oldest and greatest in town, the Fillmore Auditorium has hosted everyone from The Grateful Dead to Aretha Franklin. The surrounding Fillmore District is your go-to for jazz and blues, with several clubs in easy walking distance.
- Great American Music Hall: Voted the 6th Best Club In America by Rolling Stone, this is another beautiful spot with a long history and an A-list roster of talent, mostly indie rock and folk acts.
- Bottom of the Hill: An eclectic mix of regional acts and touring artists, a quirky design sense, and an intimate space with the sound system turned up to 11 make this one of the best little spots in town to uncover your new favorite band.
- 924 Gilman Street Project: This is a bit of an odd one, being a non-profit all-ages collective, but if you’re into punk, give it a look. The Gilman helped launch the careers of Green Day and the Foo Fighters.
Browse Event Listings
The List may not look like much, but it’s one of the most complete and clearest listings of concerts in San Francisco out there. If you’d like a little more description, 7×7 has a listings section with photos, band bios, ticket information, and more. Their “Best Bets This Week” selects some of the week’s top shows.
Get Online
Facebook and Twitter have revolutionized the way fans connect to their music. Virtually every music group out there has a Facebook page you can connect with, whether you’re into the girl-rock of The She’s, the power-pop of Warm Soda, or even the San Francisco Symphony. Most venues, including The Fillmore and Bottom Of The Hill, have Twitter accounts with up-to-the-minute info about ticket availability and last-minute show changes. Media organizations, like The Bay Bridged and 7×7, are great to follow for daily updates about local events.
See Some Shows
Armed with this information, you now have a good idea of what’s out there, but at the end of the day, the only way to really understand the local music scene is to get out to some concerts in San Francisco. So grab some friends, wander the city’s streets, find a spot with some interesting sounds blaring from inside, and see what happens next!
Photo by Michele Ursino
Suzy S.