5 live music worth the night across Denmark, editor-ranked. All Denmark guides.

VEGA ★ 4.7 · Copenhagen

vesterbro · Enghavevej 40, 1674 København V

VEGA on Enghavevej runs Copenhagen's reference mid-size concert programme in a 1956 functionalist hall by architect Vilhelm Lauritzen, with Store VEGA for major tours, Lille VEGA at 500 capacity and Ideal Bar Live.

Tip: Three rooms run different bills the same night; check which room your ticket names. Lille VEGA becomes Natklub after the show on weekends.

Jazzhus Montmartre ★ 4.7 · Copenhagen

indre-by · Store Regnegade 19A, 1110 København K

Jazzhus Montmartre reopened in 2010 on Store Regnegade at the original 1959 address, where Dexter Gordon, Ben Webster and Stan Getz held residencies; the 85-seat room runs world-class jazz Thursday to Saturday.

Tip: Seating is unreserved; doors 19:00 for the 20:00 set. The Friends of Montmartre membership pays for itself across two visits.

Mojo Blues Bar ★ 4.5 · Copenhagen

indre-by · Løngangstræde 21C, 1468 København K

Mojo on Løngangstræde has booked live blues, soul, rock and zydeco every night of the week since 1981, with one of the few European stages running music 365 days a year and a small basement room.

Tip: Live music every single night from around 21:30; cash easier than card. Sit close, the room is small enough that every seat hears the kit.

La Fontaine ★ 4.5 · Copenhagen

indre-by · Kompagnistræde 11, 1208 København K

La Fontaine has run on Kompagnistræde since 1959 as Denmark's oldest jazz club, with a 100-seat basement room that programmes nightly jam sessions and trios alongside a smoke-stained ground-floor bar.

Tip: Jam sessions from 21:00 Wednesday to Sunday; arrive before 22:00 for seats. Cash door, small cover on named bookings.

Pumpehuset ★ 4.4 · Copenhagen

indre-by · Studiestræde 52, 1554 København V

Pumpehuset has run since 1989 in a former 19th-century water pump station off Studiestræde, with a 600-capacity main hall upstairs, a 400-capacity Sort Sal downstairs and the Byhaven beer-garden bar.

Tip: Two stages run different bills the same night; ticket names the room. Byhaven beer garden opens through the summer with free entry.