Greenville's 10 Best Places to Hear Live Music

Just because this is a Greenville guide doesn't mean that all of the best options for live music are within city limits. One compelling example of what the greater area has to offer is The Soundbox Tavern on West Georgia Road in Simpsonville. This is a venue that welcomes all comers, whether it's Southern rock, alt-country, jangly indie-pop, progressive metal, electro-pop, or straight-up thrash. Quite a few shows don't charge a cover, and patrons can also look forward to weekly trivia and acoustic open mic nights.

At our first visit to The Radio Room, a complete stranger drunkenly shambled over to a bassist's girlfriend in the parking lot, was mystified at the existence of a strange and unique mixed drink called a Screwdriver, rambled on for twenty minutes about the bluegrass bands his father used to play in and then peeled out onto North Pleasantburg Drive. That's not meant to be some sort of horror story; it's just another night at The Radio Room, and that's part of the reason why this is one of our very favorite venues in the Upstate. A dive bar and proud of it, this is the epicenter of Greenville's musical underground. You'll never suffer through yet another cover band on the bill here. You may, however, see a heavy metal act overwhelmingly consisting of robots. You're almost as likely to hear folktronica, Appalachian dark metal and vapordance as you are punk, hardcore, psychedelia and abrasive rock. The Radio Room isn't just another venue, and chances are that it's not for you. Greenville's music scene is much richer for its presence, and anyone looking to broaden their musical horizons would do well to seek it out.

Taking over the longtime location of the Greer Opry House, The Spinning Jenny is one of the Upstate's newest music venues. The selection of bands performing here is wonderfully eclectic, spanning such genres as folk, alt-country, soul, rockabilly and indie rock. The acoustics in the heavily renovated venue make for some of the area's best sounding performances, and ticket prices rarely top $10. The Spinning Jenny often hosts dance nights as well, and they certainly have the dance floor for it.

Busting at the seams on weekends, this working man's local club features bands that range from rock to hip-hop to bluegrass. Some are local, others are touring, but the music is reliably solid and the prices are more than affordable. When there's not a show, patrons enjoy video games, foosball, air hockey and pool for entertainment. Appetizers, salads, pizza and a full bar remedy any hunger pains.

Greenville's live music scene got a major boost with the opening of Blues Boulevard. The club is a tiny and sophisticated venue for jazz fans, but thanks to ambient lighting, great acoustics and good service, it's also a perfect place to spend an evening. Top-notch artists fill the events calendar, and tickets (when you need them) can be purchased online. Service is superior and martinis are the cocktail of choice, although a full bar is available. You'll find 12 or so barstools and enough tables to seat about 50, making reservations a good idea.

When the sun goes down, the volume goes up at City Tavern. Music is central to this downtown bar's entertainment, whether it's teams squaring off in rounds of Name That Tune trivia, a DJ spinning records or live performances. Piano Man Matt is a fixture on Tuesday nights, keeping Fat Tuesday going year round. You're more likely to hear guitars being strummed whenever someone takes the stage other days of the week. We mean "stage" figuratively, though; music is a big part of the fun, but true to its name, City Tavern is a bar first and foremost.

The musicianship on display at Jack n' Diane's is astonishing. The dueling pianos are, of course, the marquee draw. There's often a small band, with musicians bounding from one instrument to another. Given their encyclopedic repertoire, you'd be hard-pressed to stump these pianists with any request you can dream up, and the show's audience-driven nature ensures that it's a completely different experience every night. Reservations are recommended.

Autumnal hues add a pleasant visual warmth to Rainer's, along with brick walls, patterned rugs and an eclectic assortment of mismatched tables and chairs. They're a fitting backdrop to colorful, whimsical artwork (for sale, by the way) and the wonderful music acts that often perform here. To complement the relaxing live tunes, you'll find a fully-stocked bar and an easy-to-browse selection of desserts, light fare and coffees.

This intimate little spot on Augusta Street (near Fluor Field at the West End) packs 'em in tightly once the sun sets, and this is especially true on Friday and Saturday nights. The interior decor pays homage to music of all types, from the guitar-shaped design of the bar to the many framed posters throughout. Great (and free) live music is a big draw, as is the beer list. From standard domestics to hard-to-find craft brews, there are plenty of tasty options. Smiley's also serves up a variety of appetizers, salads and sandwiches, and even a few entrées.