The Crocodile on 1st and Wall opened April 1991 and launched Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Mudhoney. The 2021 rebuild added a 750 capacity showroom plus Hotel Crocodile upstairs.
Tip: Showroom typically opens 19:00 with show at 20:00. Use the Wall Street side entrance; tickets via Ticketweb.
Address: 2505 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121
The Showbox at the Market on 1st Avenue opened July 1939 and ran Duke Ellington, Muddy Waters and the grunge era's Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and Mudhoney; landmarked in 2019 at 1,150 capacity.
Tip: Tickets via AXS. Doors typically 19:00 with show at 20:00. The Art Deco ballroom keeps the original oak dance floor.
Showbox SoDo on 1st Avenue South is the 1,800 capacity sister room AEG opened mid 2007 in a converted Fenix warehouse, with exposed brick and heavy timber for larger touring acts.
Tip: Doors typically 19:00, show at 20:00. The 300 capacity SoDo Lounge opens for smaller bookings; tickets via AXS.
Tractor Tavern on Ballard Avenue is the Americana, country and indie folk room that runs touring singer songwriter bills out of a 250 capacity brick room in Old Ballard.
Tip: Doors 20:00, show varies by booking. Cash bar in front; the back showroom holds the stage. Buy tickets through the tractor calendar.
Nectar Lounge on N 36th has run as Seattle's largest indoor and outdoor music venue since 2004, with two floors, three bars and a covered patio in the heart of Fremont.
Tip: Doors Monday through Sunday from 20:00 to 02:00. Tickets via Showclix; the outdoor patio runs year round with heaters and cover.
The Sunset Tavern on Ballard Avenue runs live music seven nights a week in a vintage red room, with Betty's Room as the front bar and Flying Squirrel Pizza on the menu next door.
Tip: Most shows kick off at 21:00. Cash and card both work; the front bar stays open even when the back room is between sets.
The Triple Door on Union Street is the 250 seat dinner theater across from Benaroya Hall, with table service, an Asian small plates menu and bookings across jazz, soul, world and cabaret.
Tip: Reserve a table at booking; the Mainstage runs two sets nightly with seated dining. Musicquarium Lounge in the lobby is free.