The Best Concert Venues in Cincinnati, OH

Bogart’s is located on Cincinnati’s famous Vine Street. Built in 1890, the space was a vaudeville theater, a film venue, and a restaurant before becoming one of the most well-known concert venues in Cincinnati. The three-level concert space regularly hosts local, national, and international music acts. With 1,500 seats, six bars, and an elevated stage, Bogart’s is one of the area’s busiest venues.

Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH, USA +513 872 8801

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Originally an auto shop, Live at the Ludlow Garage is the quintessential Cincinnati music venue and has had many lives as a pizzeria, garage, and mall before becoming the center of the city’s music scene in 1969. The Allman Brothers Band played at the space before it closed in 1971. In 2007, it was converted back to one of the region’s most well known settings to hear local, regional, and national acts. If you’re headed to a concert and want to make a night of it, you can also eat at the full-service Ludlow Garage Bistro before the show.

Live at the Ludlow Garage, 342 Ludlow Ave., Cincinnati, OH, USA + 513 221 4111

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The Southgate House Revival, located in Newport, KY, is aptly named. Built in 1866, the space is an historic Episcopalian church, and the stained glass windows are its centerpiece. The Southgate House Revival is home to three rooms where musicians play live: The Revival Room, the Sanctuary, and The Lounge. The Sanctuary boasts a famous pipe organ and is the venue’s biggest space for live acts. The Lounge is smaller, focusing on more intimate performances and local open mic nights. The Revival Room is a mid-sized venue on the second floor.

The Southgate House Revival, 111 E. 6th St., Newport, KY, USA + 859 431 2201

MOTR Pub, in Cincinnati’s famed Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, is a cozy, stylish venue established by the same producers and promoters who promoted Sudsy Malones and the Southgate House. The pub serves up killer burgers and features local and regional bands every night of the week. The bar also hosts poetry readings and writer’s nights.

MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Cincinnati, OH, USA + 513 381 6687

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The 86 Coffee Bar and Concert Venue, in Clifton on Vine Street, is an eclectic coffee shop with a bustling outdoor patio and two live music stages. Smoothies and Italian sodas round out the menu, and games such as cornhole are available for you to play in between sets. Singer/songwriters play acoustic sets on Fridays and Saturdays, along with local bands.

The 86 Coffee Bar and Concert Venue, 2820 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH, USA + 513 341 8686

Riverbend Music Center was one of America’s first 20 outdoor amphitheatres and was built next to the Ohio River in 1984. It’s hosted music festivals such as the Vans Warped Tour and Lollapalooza, and legendary musical acts including Sting and Ella Fitzgerald have performed here. Jimmy Buffett plays at Riverbend each year, as he has since 1988. The PNC Pavilion, within the Riverbend Music Center, seats over 4,000 audience members.

PNC Pavilion, 6295 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati, OH, USA + 513 232 6220

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