Music
Top 12 music venues in Philadelphia
These spaces host more than just music performances — this year's Red Bull BC One Cypher USA Final will take place at The Fillmore Philadelphia on August 25 and 26.
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Philly is where jazz legends like John Coltrane lived, where the proto-disco genre Philadelphia soul got started, and where many of today’s musical visionaries originate. This makes the City of Brotherly Love a great place to catch a show — Philly’s music scene is overflowing with talent.
These spaces host more than just music performances — you can also catch dancers breaking out moves. In fact, this year's Red Bull BC One Cypher USA Final will take place at The Fillmore Philadelphia on August 25 and 26. This concert hall ranks among the top music venues in Philadelphia, which we’ve listed below.
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Red Bull BC One Cypher USA 2023
The 20th Red Bull BC One USA Final will go down at the Fillmore Philadelphia on August 25 - 26, 2023.
01
The Fillmore Philadelphia (29 E Allen St.)
At this Fishtown staple right off the El (what locals call the Market-Frankford subway line), recent headliners have included Rina Sawayama and Chlöe Bailey. The concert hall here is pretty wide and long, so you can see the stage well all the way from the back. Plus, there are technically two venues here — the 2,500-capacity Fillmore and the 450-capacity Foundry — so you can totally catch two shows in one night.
02
Franklin Music Hall (421 N 7th St.)
Formerly known as The Electric Factory, Franklin Music Hall is where Philly music lovers go to see just-outside-the-mainstream acts. Competition is fierce for standing room on the balcony, where you can get a direct line of sight down to the stage. Plus, this concert venue is right between the El and the Broad Street Line’s Spring Garden subway stops, making it highly accessible.
03
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.)
Union Transfer in Philadelphia, PA
© Tim Blackwell / Red Bull Content Pool
This venue roughly four blocks from Franklin Music Hall is where musicians such as King Krule and Cupcakke headline when they tour. Snag a spot in the raised section in front of the bar for an especially great view. To get home afterward, the Spring Garden stop on the Broad Street line is a quick four-block walk westward.
04
The Mann Center for the Performing Arts (5201 Parkside Ave.)
Perhaps the most beloved of Philly’s outdoor concert venues, the Mann in Parkside is where the annual Roots Picnic festival takes place. Present-day and decades-long legends including HAIM and Erykah Badu have recently headlined this Fairmount Park venue as well. Hop on the 40 bus and bring a picnic blanket to enjoy the grassy area, or buy seats near the stage for an up-close-and-personal experience.
05
The Met Philadelphia (858 N Broad St.)
Pop acts that aren’t yet headlining stadiums typically play The Met. This huge concert hall a block south of the Broad Street Line’s Girard stop is mostly seated, with a small general admission pit. Paying extra for standing room near the stage can make your trip out to this Fairmount venue well worth your while.
06
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.)
Noname performs at Underground Arts in Philadelphia in 2017
© Colin Kerrigan / Red Bull Content Pool
Located just northeast of the Broad Street Line’s Race-Vine stop, this Loft District venue is quite literally underground. As you descend into this basement venue, you’ll see abstract shapes and colors lining the walls under blacklights. When you turn your attention toward the stage, you’ll see rising indie talent, with recent headliners including Fontaines D.C. and Nilüfer Yanya. Watch out for the weird chair near the bathrooms — it makes for a great photo opp.
07
World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut St.)
This two-room venue in University City shares a building with the nationally beloved Philly radio station WXPN. Take the El to 30th Street to reach this venue, where you’ll find tribute shows and nights dedicated to local acts. If you’re newly living in Philly, go here to find your new favorite bands from around the corner. You can also catch touring acts such as Durand Bernarr and James Ivy at this dimly lit yet effervescent Philly music venue.
08
Theater of the Living Arts (334 South St.)
Bands you’ve long known and loved typically headline this venue on Philly’s storied South Street. The best thing about this concert hall might be its location near great restaurants and cheesesteak shops. The 40 and 57 buses will get you here while taking you through some of South Philly and Center City’s loveliest residential areas.
09
The Dell Music Center (2400 Strawberry Mansion Dr.)
Another Fairmount Park outdoor venue, this one is located in Strawberry Mansion on the other side of the Schuylkill River from the Mann. It’s shaped more like an amphitheater, with indie rock artists common among recent headliners. Hop off a nearby 61 bus stop, then walk through Fairmount Park to reach this venue flanked by greenery.
10
The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (300 S Broad St.)
As music goes, you’re more likely to find classical and opera in this esteemed Center City institution. If that’s your vibe, then there’s no better Philly music venue than the Kimmel Center to experience it. This massive cultural center is an opera house, the home of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and a theater hub. Plus, it’s right near Center City’s busiest shopping and dining strips, making it a great venue for a family day on the town.
11
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 Frankford Ave.)
This venue where smaller acts swing by on national tours is right at Fishtown’s busiest intersection (Girard and Frankford) and El station (Girard). You never know what you might get here — singalong pop music, indie rock from local yet nationally famous favorites. If you get here early enough to find a spot on the small balcony above the stage, though, one thing is certain: an unbeatable view.
12
Kung Fu Necktie (1248 N Front St.)
Perhaps the smallest venue on this list, Kung Fu Necktie is where many bands go to play their first-ever Philly shows. Just hop off the El at Girard and walk a couple of blocks north to encounter bands you’ve probably never heard of before. The room is just tiny enough that there’s no bad spot for seeing what’s happening on stage. And when the show ends, Fishtown dive bar staple The El Bar is just one block north.
It’s always showtime in Philadelphia
You can catch transcendent live music any night of the week, in any genre you love, in Philly’s best music venues. These spaces host more than just music performances — you can also catch dancers breaking out moves. That’s exactly what you’ll encounter at The Fillmore Philadelphia’s Red Bull BC One Cypher USA Final on August 25 and 26. A night out in Philly can bring you the best in dance, live music, and everything in between.