Mississippi Studios ★ 4.6
$$Mississippi/Williams{'monday': '11:00-02:00', 'tuesday': '11:00-02:00', 'wednesday': '11:00-02:00', 'thursday': '11:00-02:00', 'friday': '11:00-02:00', 'saturday': '11:00-02:00', 'sunday': '11:00-02:00', 'note': 'Bar Bar hours; show times vary'}
Mississippi Studios is the converted Baptist church on N Mississippi that is the city's most reliable mid-size indie room, with the attached Bar Bar handling drinks and burgers.
Tip: Most shows have a 21+ bar room and an all-ages floor; the Bar Bar patio next door is open every day from 11:00 if you want food before the set.
Crystal Ballroom ★ 4.7
$$$Downtown{'monday': 'varies by event', 'tuesday': 'varies by event', 'wednesday': 'varies by event', 'thursday': 'varies by event', 'friday': 'varies by event', 'saturday': 'varies by event', 'sunday': 'varies by event'}
The Crystal Ballroom is the 1914 McMenamins ballroom on West Burnside with the famous floating dance floor that bounces under the weight of a sold-out crowd, the room Tina Turner and the Grateful Dead both played.
Tip: The floor's spring suspension is unique in the country; standing on the main floor is the way to feel it, balcony seats trade that for sightlines.
Roseland Theater ★ 4.3
$$$Downtown{'monday': 'varies by event', 'tuesday': 'varies by event', 'wednesday': 'varies by event', 'thursday': 'varies by event', 'friday': 'varies by event', 'saturday': 'varies by event', 'sunday': 'varies by event'}
Roseland Theater is the 1,400-capacity general-admission room on NW 6th in Old Town, the room that hosts touring hip-hop and rock on a near-nightly schedule.
Tip: General admission only; arrive early for the rail or watch from the balcony bar, which has its own entrance line.
Star Theater ★ 4.2
$$Downtown{'monday': 'varies by event', 'tuesday': 'varies by event', 'wednesday': 'varies by event', 'thursday': 'varies by event', 'friday': 'varies by event', 'saturday': 'varies by event', 'sunday': 'varies by event'}
Star Theater is the smaller room directly across NW 6th from Roseland, a 525-capacity general-admission space that books rock, electronic and burlesque on its own.
Tip: All-ages most nights with a 21+ balcony bar; tickets often available at the door for smaller bookings.
The Goodfoot ★ 4.4
$$Hawthorne/Belmont{'monday': '17:00-02:30', 'tuesday': '17:00-02:30', 'wednesday': '17:00-02:30', 'thursday': '17:00-02:30', 'friday': '17:00-02:30', 'saturday': '17:00-02:30', 'sunday': '17:00-02:30'}
The Goodfoot is the upstairs pool hall and downstairs basement music room on SE Stark, where Soul Stew's funk and soul 45s have been Portland's longest-running weekly DJ dance since 2001.
Tip: Saturday night's Soul Stew is the institution; downstairs opens around 21:00 with a small cover when a show is booked.
Revolution Hall ★ 4.5
$$$Hawthorne/Belmont{'monday': 'varies by event', 'tuesday': 'varies by event', 'wednesday': 'varies by event', 'thursday': 'varies by event', 'friday': 'varies by event', 'saturday': 'varies by event', 'sunday': 'varies by event'}
Revolution Hall is the renovated 1924 Washington High School auditorium in Buckman, a seated 850-capacity room with a rooftop bar that opens for sunset before downstairs shows.
Tip: Roof deck opens earlier on show nights and stays open after; grab a drink up top before doors and ride the elevator down.