SAVANNAH is a town with a rich history of hip-hop, jazz, metal, blues, rock, roots, and more. Here in the birthplace of Big Boi and Baroness, there are many opportunities to catch up-and-coming local performers, national touring bands, and your new favorite independent act.
VENUES
Barrelhouse South | 18+ for ticketed events | facebook.com/barrelhousesouth
This Congress Street venue highlights jam, rock, funk, blues, Americana, and more. Though their free shows are 21 and up, ticketed events are open to folks aged 18 and up.
Elan Savannah | 18+ | elansavannah.com
EDM and hip-hop fans should head toward the river to find the sounds they love. Waka Flocka Flame, Lil Jon, Big Gigantic, and Ying Yang Twins have all performed in the downtown club, and up-and-coming EDM producers and DJs make a point to stop at Elan while touring the Southeast.
Foxy Loxy Print Gallery & Café | all-ages | foxyloxycafe.com
Caffeine emporium, printmaking gallery, and beloved community space Foxy Loxy regularly hosts live music and entertainment events in its cozy courtyard. Grab some friends and share a table for weekly Acoustic Tuesdays. On Vinyl Night, guests can sign up to DJ a 15-minute set and check out other local DJs. The vinyl love carries over to PressPlay Boombox Brunch, where classic R&B, indie, rock, pop, and more is spun live while you and your crew nosh on breakfast eats. Have a laugh at Comedy Night in the Courtyard, which features a rotating cast of standup artists each month. Poets take over Fire Brand Fridays, Spitfire Poetry’s monthly slam.
QuoLab | all-ages | facebook.com/balouq
A DIY queer safer space, QuoLab hosts a variety of genres of live music, fostering alternative perspective and emerging experiences of art for social action. Quo’s annual weekend festival, World’s Smallest Music Festival, celebrates its third year October 27-29.
Randy’s Pickin’ Parlor (Bloomingdale) | all-ages | randywoodmusic.com
Gear nerds will want to make a stop at Randy Wood Guitars and Music Store in Bloomingdale, home to legendary luthier Randy Wood himself. Over the years, Wood has hosted many a famous friend in his Pickin’ Parlor. Bluegrass, country, Americana, and roots fans can experience technical skill and beautiful music.
Savannah Civic Center | all-ages | savannahcivic.com
Expect banner touring acts like Willie Nelson and Dwight Yoakam, Mary J. Blige, ZZ Top, The Beach Boys, and more right downtown in the coming months. The Sentient Bean | all-ages | sentientbean.com
See stripped-down performances from acoustic acts, indie bands, hip-hop artists, and more at this Forsyth Park café. Savannah Songwriters Series hosts its monthly showcase here, and Tongue: Open Mouth and Music Show offers musicians and poets the opportunity to share their original work the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. Comedians take the stage the second Thursday of every month for their own showcase, Open Mic Comedy Night. Film buffs and B-movie fanatics should head to “The Bean” on Wednesdays for Psychotronic Film Society’s weekly screening of obscure and underappreciated films.
The Stage on Bay | all-ages | savconcerts.com
The Stage on Bay opened in 2017 with a stacked calendar of classic rock, country, alt-rock, R&B, and more. Blue Oyster Cult, Mushroomhead, Jackyl, Corey Smith, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and Mother’s Finest are among the West Bay Street venue’s upcoming bookings.
Sulfur Studios | all-ages | sulfurstudios.org
While primarily an art gallery and studio space, Sulfur welcomes live music bookings and has hosted a fascinating array of shows, mini-festivals, theatrical and comedic performances, and sonic experiences. Follow their calendar for updates.
Tybee Post Theater | all-ages | tybeeposttheater.com
Head out to Tybee Island for all kinds of entertainment. In the historic Tybee Post Theater, originally built as a movie house for soldiers stationed at Fort Screven, you’ll find Nashville legends, local luminaries, theatrical productions of all stripes, and unusual gems like the forthcoming film-centric Graveface Fright Fest.
The Wormhole | 18+ for select events | wormholebar.com
Located in the heart of the Starland District, The Wormhole regularly hosts an array of comedy and live music shows that range from metal to indie to hip-hop to EDM and beyond. In October, check out reggae/blues/soul musician Van Gordon Martin, protégé of Bernie Worrell (Parliament Funkadelic, Talking Heads) with local support from Xulu Prophet and Laiken Love & The Fellowship of Love, and Peelander-Z, a Japanese punk band with a technicolor live show that’s straight out of a comic book.
OCCASIONAL BETS
In addition to regular music venues, many spaces in Savannah offer seasonal music programming and occasional concerts. Trinity United Methodist Church offers a season of world-class music through Trinity Sanctuary Concerts. Over at The Lucas Theatre for the Arts, concerts pepper the calendar among film screenings, theatre and more. Grayson Stadium, home of the Savannah Bananas baseball team, hosts events like the community/music event Statts Fest and concerts, too—Billboard chart-topper Jon Pardi comes through in October.
FESTIVALS
Savannah loves its festivals. Check out the free, all-ages Savannah Jazz Festival this weekend, and follow Savannah Waterfront Association for musical entertainment year-round at free, all-ages events like Oktoberfest, Blues, Jazz & BBQ Festival, Fiesta Latina, and more.
Live music rules at Food Day, the biggest Food Day celebration in the country.
At Picnic in the Park, Savannahians get a free concert from Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra. The ensemble performs all-ages concerts through a variety of all-ages venues during their season.
Savannah Stopover Music Festival offers the hottest indie acts throughout a variety of all-ages, 18+, and 21+ venues in March—Grimes, of Montreal, Mac DeMarco, Lee Fields & The Expressions, and Julien Baker are all alums.
Stopover parent company Music File Productions also hosts Revival Fest, an Americana and roots music festival, at Georgia State Railroad Museum on September 30. Blitzen Trapper, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, T. Hardy Morris, and more will be there.
In March and April, Savannah Music Festival brings in world-class musicians of all genres to all-ages venues (check out volunteer opportunities for admission and other perks).
Booking agencies like Coastal Rock Productions and Typical Pickle Booking are worth a follow and have offered shows in all-ages and/or DIY spaces.
Check out Connect’s weekly Soundboard to catch live music throughout Savannah’s venues, restaurants, and community spaces, and download the SAV HAPPS APP to stay updated on the go! Get out there, explore, and find your new favorite band!
