Top Live music venues in Cambridge, United States

Amazing all ages music venue for indie rock local diy and jazz club events. I go here almost 15 times a year it seems like, staff are great and always bound to have a great show and good fun.

5/18/24
Martin Gohary’s (pianist) 6 album release party EXTRAVAGANZA with Erik Van Dam on sax and clarinet, and John Dalton on drums.
Epic performance of contemporary impro isation with a sound all of their own! Super venue with a bar to quench your thirst.
Attended with Bonnie Johnson, Producer and Host of "Colors of Jazz" at WICN 90.5 FM Sundays Noon to 4 PM.
It is a must to attend this small, comfy venue with huge sounding live performaces!

One of the best music venues in the Greater Boston area as far as an intimate musical experience with the performers. For many years it's been my favorite place to see live music.

No complaints about the food, it's good to have a spot like this where you can have some food, drink, and enjoy some good music in a close setting.

There's nothing better than small venue music joints. Throw in good food and beer and LL checks all the boxes.

Excellent acoustic, great seats and view, very attentive and courteous staff, and great cocktails. Highly recommended.

Located down an alley into a basement but it's the original site of the historic Club 47 where many legends like Dylan, Raitt ,Rush and even Jimmy Buffett played.Food is reasonably priced healthy and tasty.Butternut soup and Black Bean Burger,vegan friendly. Intimate table..communal style..2 restrooms,friendly, knowledgeable staff,especially Matt Smith,the manager.

Bought tickets for spoken words was suppose to start at 7p.m end at 10p.m and told me to arrive at 6:30 but never started until 9p.m and they was letting people in that never paid so why did I have to pay before coming if u can just walk up an go in for free.... I'll never go back here again wasted money an time

Like many others mentioned, even though you pay the same rate, they assign you to the corner with the pillar blocking the view. I checked in at least 20 minutes early and there were plenty of empty tables out front, but they still gave me the worst one. The music is great, but don't expect great service.

Good music, but the seating is terrible. They have a large room, and yet they cram all the seats on top of each other. I understand that people enjoy being close to stage, but it's uncomfortably and unnecessarily cramped. Also their system of checking you in and then making everyone stand in the crowded vestibule is rather unpleasant.

It's always a warm and inviting atmosphere at the Lizard Lounge. The Sunday night Open Mic / Poetry Slam is exceptional and the crowd gets involved. The trio that plays behind the performers are pure magic. Fun is had by all.

There's always a CASH cover, but you'll be glad you paid. Great music here always.

Amazing intimate venue ! The middle tables are the best. Get there early if you have GA seats, and enjoy the food.

No sight lines to performers unless seated up front. Too many tables/seats for the venue. Worst venue I have ever been to.

Whole place smells like piss, creepy employees, got way overcharged & they wouldn’t admit it.
Dozens of better, cleaner, cooler bars with integrity within walkable distance.

Intimate and cozy venue for live music. I love coming to see shows here. The murals on the walls are really beautiful too!

Incredible space for music and creativity. Wednesday night variety show at 10pm is magical. I go there weekly to perform and be with my creative friends. Never a dull moment at the Lilypad.

The Middle East downstairs is an awesome small venue in the heart of Cambridge. Most band who play here are smaller ones on the up and up and it feels like such a intimate place unlike other places like Mansfield or Fenway. When I went I saw Radio compass, The Weakened friends, and Piebald. The mixing at the middle is amazing and you can actually hear the vocals unlike at the house of blues. I definitely recommend going especially if it’s to support a smaller band that you like.

Be warned. Even though tickets are “general admission” this bar will assign you to sit at a certain table. For example: I paid the same as everyone else here and am stuck looking at a pole all night instead of the show. Disgraceful. Jazz in Boston is dead.

My partner and I were visiting from Indiana and stumbled upon this place, and we were so glad that we did! Such a gem of a venue! Thank you so much for the sweet sounds, kindness and good memories🖤

Best sound you'll find for a show especially since so many music venues no longer exist. The sound guy at Lizard is terrific.

I didnt go the restaurant, but I DID see a metal show here. It was on of the BEST experiences I've had at a New England club! People and especially that staff were very friendly, down to earth people who actially know stuff about the music! I had such a great time! Shout outs to Dietrich and DeeDee. Thanks for an awesome time!!!

I loved this place! We found it by mistake and I’m so glad we did. A $15 cover charge will get you several hours of live music. Clean bathrooms with amazing staff. 10/10 would recommend.

Want to have a low tier cocktail while you see a music act you like in a hotel conference room? Have I got the venue for you!

As best as I can tell Regatta bar operates exactly the same way as when it first opened in 1985. From the vintage track lighting they use as spotlights, to the aging sound system, to the actively hostile to patrons setup with no ordering at the bar and only a single waitress, bartender and runner.

My friend and I biked to our show and arrived early figuring we could sit and chat before the show. It was unseasonably warm and we both needed some water but It took more than half an hour before the only waitress made it to our table, despite only about a dozen seated tables. Great, we ordered, and I could see that the bartender didn't have any orders to work on so I assumed our drinks would be fast, but no, it's Regatta bar, and the waitress wanted to take a half dozen more orders (on paper) before walking over to the POS to enter them and only after that could the bartender start working on them, at least ours was first.

I asked for Ice Water with lemon and was told they only have small and large sizes, and I was like "no, tap water, you know from fresh pond" "no we only have bottles." Okay fine, I'll pay you $10 for a 1L of Acqua Panna which came out with a tiny wine glass with a lemon slice in it and no ice. The bottle was well chilled but I shouldn't need to wait 45 minutes before getting water.

My friend and I both ordered Manhattans, his up, mine on the rocks. Friends they came in the same martini glasses mine just had ice in it! My friend looked at me and said "I'm sorry for your drink." All and all it wasn't a terrible drink, no hint of bitters, and only an orange peel for a garnish but at $12 it wasn't priced such to make me angry.

Normally I'd have been upset that the waitress never came to see if we wanted a second drink, but honestly it was better that I didn't get one and buying the 1L of water was a blessing as well since I would have quickly finished my tiny wine glass of tap water and been much angrier about my inability to get more water than I was about paying for imported Italian water.

When faced with no other options to see an act you like you'll someday end up at Regatta bar too, my advice is not to drive (you *do* get $2 off the $33 it'll cost you to park at the hotel), order your alcohol plain and neat, and if you bike buy a bottle of water and bring it to your seat to drink while you wait for service.

First time at this venue and I will absolutely go back as often as I can. Sound, size, layout sight lines all as good as you will find. It's set up pretty much in a square surrounded by a balcony with no spillover to the sides. So if you have a ticket you will have excellent sound and sight lines. Two large bars, one on each floor and bathrooms on both floors. Just a really sweet set-up. When we arrived I scouted the place for a place to sit and saw a bench next to the upstairs bar and casually asked the the guy working there if that was the only place to sit. I mentioned my wife had a bad back and might be looking for a place to sit during the show. He said it was the only place and offered to get us a couple chairs. I said no she should be fine thanks and moved on. He went the extra mile, came down found us at the bar, said I talked to my boss and we set up a couple chairs for you. Turned out my wife needed that chair and without it we would have had to leave half through a great show Mo Lowda and The Humbles were busting out. We were absolutely blown away by this level of service.

Great small room. Plenty of bars and bathrooms! Most importantly plenty of free drinking water available at all the bars.

Went to Agent Orange with 3 of my friends and we were super pumped. 20 minutes into us dancing, someone came up behind my friend and shoved her to the ground. Didn’t help her up or anything, just kept on going. We helped her out of the pit and quickly realized something was seriously wrong, so we let staff know. She could not breathe properly and could barely talk. I asked head of security to call 911, and he told us to take the train to the ER???? (We eventually got a ride with my mom over to Charles MGH) They eventually found the guy who pushed her and told us they would kick him out, however no one got his information. For a night club with this many punk shows, I would expect them to be a little more prepared to deal with something like this. I love this place but they need to up their game when it comes to handling this, felt very sketchy to not call an ambulance.

I love that this venue has some space outside to hang out. Entry is always super easy. I also love the recessed bar area to enjoy a beer during the opener. This venue never feels overcrowded or too large for the act and the sound is always great. It would be really nice to have some chairs or benches somewhere though because not everyone can or wants to stand for hours!

GREAT place to see bands! There really isn't a bad "seat" in the house. It's standing-room only, but there are balcony levels on the sides and back, so you can get as close to the performers as you want. *THREE* bars make it easy to get a refreshment quickly, and the service is great! I definitely recommend seeing a show here!

I came to the bar to hear music. Was told that band was done in 5 minutes. Very disapointed. Had driven about 40 minutes. Wanted to just get a beer to decompress ...but they wanted to charge me an $18 cover for a show that was over.

really stupid. They obviously did not care about me or my business...so, I will never go back.

I’ve been going since I was in college. I’ll always go. This places rules for a show!!

I had the best experience here. Went to see Meg Myers and the whole package was better than I expected. From the parking right across the street to the smaller intimate venue. The sound quality was superb and the viewing area was perfect. I love nothing more than to see some of my favorite acts here in this establishment. The entry was so easy and the folks were so friendly. I can't say enough good things. It was perfect.

Nice venue, good staff. View from Mezzanine and on mid level behind sound board is great. Saw NoahFinnce, Bears in Trees, and Action Adventure. First club show for my 13 year old. It was a good time. There were some good craft beers arlt the bar which was nice since more than half the crowd was underage.

The Sinclair is a concert venue and restaurant located in the heart of Cambridge, MA. The venue offers a unique atmosphere, with exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and a vintage aesthetic. The concert hall is spacious and well-designed, with excellent acoustics and a great view from any seat. The restaurant offers a menu with a wide variety of delicious items, such as small plates, sandwiches, and entrees.

The venue offers a wide variety of live music, from local and up-and-coming acts to well-known national touring acts. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the security is tight but not overbearing. The bar service is efficient and reasonably priced.

One of the standout features of the Sinclair is the venue's commitment to sustainability, recycling and using eco-friendly products.

One downside to the venue is that it can get quite crowded during peak concert hours, which can make it difficult to navigate the space. Additionally, the parking can be challenging, especially on busy nights.

Overall, The Sinclair is a great option for anyone looking for a unique and exciting concert experience in Cambridge. I would recommend arriving early to secure parking and avoid the crowds.

Enjoy a meal at the restaurant before the show and take advantage of their concert-dinner packages.

No place like it , a veritable shrine of Boston folk! Intimate , full of history and charm right on Harvard Sq! Bucket list stuff if you are a true lover of music , it was like taking Muhammad to the Mtn for me personally!

One of the last old school clubs in the area, still a great place for a show. Used to be a bowling alley way back in the day and they get a good variety of shows. If you've never been then make it a point to check it out.

We had a great time at The Sinclair the other night. This was my first time here. It’s a very cool venue. I hope to find excuses to return soon.

You can’t swing a cat without hitting a bar. Which is nice. Beers were outrageously priced, as expected. Keeping us sober. Which is nice.

Bathrooms were typical. At least there were doors where needed. Ample parking in city lots nearby.

As a up and coming musician in the Boston/Cambridge area; this venue and ownership is everything a music lover and a musician could wish for.
Professionally and courteously run. LOVE the acoustics and the atmosphere is phenomenal & authentic. ❤️🤙🏼

It's crusty and small but it's just right. I had a pleasant time seeing Charlie Martin. They have a bar and bathrooms.

Feedback regarding accessibility:
It was unfortunate that they put all the chairs away for the show. Even at larger venues with far more pumped up artists, there are chairs placed to either side of the stage for folks with different abilities or health conditions that limit the ability to stand for the duration of a show. A friend in our group had to sit down on a bench due to back pain but couldn't see.

Went for dinner and a show. They were out of all draft beers. Got a salad and black bean burger. The salad was delicious, the burger was eh... BUT the reason you come to Passim is the music. We saw Brother Brothers and loved it. They even brought a special guest on stage. Can't wait to go back to hear more music.

Last minute realized I wouldn’t be able to stand the full time and decided to bring my wheelchair - if I could give more than five stars I would. There was an elevator and they were extremely accommodating. The band was phenomenal, the whole venue was super cool. I had an excellent experience and would 100% come back. As another reviewer noted there is nearby parking garages that work well - I liked the green garage.

Legendary folk venue. The place is intimate, and by that I mean tiny! Maybe 100 people in a room the size of a small garage? They really seat you close so be prepared to get to know your neighbors. Food us pretty good too.

A great place. They have great staff, clean environment, good shows, and are safe while allowing people to express themselves. Having two bars downstairs cuts down on the lines. There is a garage around the corner so, even with bad Cambridge parking, you have options. This place in a winner for sure.

Great Brighton House Festival performers and really good drinks. It was easy enough to get seats and it’s great that they require vaccination cards. Will definitely come again if we’re in the area.

Unfortunately, all I have are blurry photos and some videos but that is a FANTASTIC sign. Lizard Lounge was great, the local bands and artists that played were extremely talented, something I wouldn’t have expected had I not read other reviews. I ended the night talking to a few of the folks playing and they were down to earth and humble of their work. Although there was only one bartender, he was friendly and worked hard. Loved this little spot.

What an amazing venue with a beautiful history. We listened to six great acts during the fall festival and each one was unique. We ended up buying four CDs from these artists. We had a delicious Malbec and our kids had root beer floats. Our kids were mesmerized by the performers. So nice to have such a family-friendly way to introduce our kids to folk music.

Incredible music selection year round for all price points! Food is good and healthy options are available, too. Personally, I enjoyed a delicious butternut squash salad with feta cheese with a side of meat that was extremely satisfying.
Seating is a bit tight but allows for some sort of "communal table" that proved to be a good solution if you're also trying to meet new people, too. It also keeps the place organized and neat, but prevents from dancing should the music be appropriate for it.
It's a must if you wish to listen to some good live music and venture in an almost historic music venue!!

Let me be the first to say, I'm not a hard core Jazz aficionado. It started with a friend sharing Postmodern Jukebox almost 4 years ago. While I didn't like every cover they put out, I kept watching. In September of 2016 they debuted a new cover of Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up". The featured singer was a Swedish national treasure, jazz multi-instrumentalist Gunhild Carling. I was blown away by her energy, and being able to play so any different musical Instruments, and sing to boot. Weeks later, she was featured again, covering Madonna's "Material Girl", singing, playing trombone, and tap dancing. I was hooked, and started following her and her equally talented family shortly thereafter.
While most of her touring was elsewhere in the world, she did occasionally have dates in the United States. I can't travel far for a variety of reasons, so even going to New York where she performed most frequently was out. Only something close to the South Shore area was feasible. With her increased fame from her PMJ covers, as well as her weekly stream from her former residence in Stockomollan, Sweden, she began to perform more frequently in the US.
In the summer of 2018 she announced a variety of tour dates for the middle of November. One of those dates was the 14th, at Regattabar in Cambridge, located in the Charles Hotel. I ordered a ticket a couple months in advance, the pricing wasn't bad. Other than evening commuter traffic going into and out of Boston, it wasn't hard to get to. It took about an hour to get there from the South Shore. If you plan on coming here, use Google Maps to get directions and input the time you plan on leaving, that way you will get an accurate gauge of how long it will take to get here. Parking was very easy, it was in the hotel's own parking garage, Regattabar will validate your ticket for a buck or two off. For parking, drive all the way around the garage until you find the elevators, there seemed to be ample spaces right around there.
I arrived early, doors actually opened 1/4 of 7 for the 7:30 showtime. Seating is randomly assigned, I guess according to when you bought your ticket, so I had a good seat in the front row to the left of the stage. It's a big room, seating take up about a 1/3 of it around the stage area, behind it is an open floor for dancing.
The waiter greeted me almost right away, and I ordered a drink. I will say the drink seemed to have like a lead or graphite taste to it, but was passable. The show started right on time, Ms. Carling was backed up by New York based musicians Dave Post on bass, Matt Baker on piano, and Daniel Glass on drums. Let me tell you, if you have never seen Gunhild perform in person, go do it already. She is an amazing, friendly performer. I knew she would be better to see in person, but I was totally blown away. She did an hour and a half set that night.
Overall, this was my first time at a jazz club, and it was a positive experience. The size of the room is great, with windows to look outside over-viewing Bennett St. The acoustics of the room were fantastic, the volume of the mics wasn't too loud, it wasn't too hot or too cold either. The lighting in the room set the mood well. Other than the drink issue, the chairs at the tables were a tad uncomfortable. Not much cushioning, and too upright for me. Other than that, a very enjoyable experience.
7/4/2019 EDIT: I went to Regattabar on 6/20 to see Gunhild Carling perform again, simply amazing. Other than that, I did order a drink again, this time it didn't taste funny. The chairs are the same uncomfortable ones from last time. Even still, I had a front row seat, the earlier you buy a ticket, the better the seat you get.
11/23/2022 EDIT: I'm not sure what's going on, but Regattabar closed 3/2020 as a result of the pandemic, but where the majority of venues have already reopened, this venue strangely has not. The website simply displays "Regattabar is temporarily closed due to Covid-19 until further notice.". I would hope they eventually reopen, but over 2 years later it does not appear so.

It's a frustrating place to hear good music. Why can't the people of Cambridge be accommodating? So many make-believe rules. Parking, bicycling, table assignments written in stone.... They assign you a table, unknown to you, before you get to the concert door. We met another couple and wanted to sit with them but the hostess forbid it. We should have bought tickets together but we weren't sure of our schedules. All 4 of us were early and neither of our tables, which hold 4 people had the other two seats taken. A small accommodation would have made all the deference. It put a damper on the night. The best part of which was the great snow fall we were treated to when we got outside.