Southern Indiana has come to be the home of many things. Great shopping, great views, great food and, of course, great hospitality but did you know that we’re also home to a lot of great places to enjoy live music? From festivals to a cozy bistro to the old favorite dive bar, there are plenty of options to catch a good live music experience almost any night of the week.
Let’s start with the small venues. Some are restaurants where the stage is simply the corner of the room while others were built with the idea of patrons enjoying good tunes while dining.
Restaurants
Harry’s Taphouse - Standard American fare with good drinks and a great atmosphere by the river.
Kingfish Jeffersonville and On the Rocks Patio Bar - An old family favorite with fried fish and other seafood located by the river. Great for a sunset.
Parlour - Games, pizza, never a dull moment or a dull bite to eat. Both Jeffersonville and New Albany locations offer live music.
Pints and Union - A progressively Old-World pub with fare from fish and chips to Tikka Masala.
Union Restaurant & Gameyard - Games, grub and guitars—and sometimes a DJ! Union patrons can enjoy music on Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the warmer months. Call ahead to reserve a cabana!
Bearno’s New Albany - Pizza and a huge patio.
Fistful of Ale - a nano-brewery and burger joint from the same folks who brought you Fistful of Tacos.
Bars and Breweries
The Alcove - Bar with a good mixologist and good drinks.
Losers812 - New drinking, food and music venue with a late-night kitchen and music 7 days a week.
The Hitching Post Tavern - Another New Albany classic where you can grab some good pub fare, including Chili.
Hoopsters - A sports bar and grill where you can catch a game AND a bite to eat.
Hugh E. Bir - This old-time, might-be-haunted New Albany staple is known for its live country music, spirits and … spirits.
Our Lady of Perpetual Hops - Fun times are afoot with local brews, crafty cocktails, a Kingfish On the Rocks food truck and pub games.
Pride Bar - Drinks, drag and free admission. This is the perfect venue for a night out with friends.
Floyd County Brewing - With its Enchanted Forest and Medieval-themed restaurant, Floyd County Brewing is perfect to host your next family event or your Dungeons and Dragons game night.
Parks
Warder Park - A lovely park with a gazebo that hosts music on Friday nights throughout the warmer months of the year.
Bicentennial Park - Each summer in downtown New Albany, Bicentennial Park is the home of a recurring Friday night music series.
New Albany Amphitheater - A spot for music, performances and other fun events right on the New Albany shoreline.
Other Venues
Kentuckiana Music Center - This music shop in New Albany has everything from lessons to instruments to repair and also a little live music now and again to soothe the spirit.
The Jefferson Venue - This live music and event venue overlooking the Ohio hosts everything from regional performers and comedians to billboard-charting acts.
Summer Concerts Series
New Albany Bicentennial Park Series -Free Friday night concerts through the summer in downtown New Albany.
Jammin in Jeff - Free Friday night concerts through the summer at RiverStage on Jeffersonville’s riverfront. Look for special performances for Juneteenth and Jeff Goes Country.
Huber’s Orchard & Winery – Live music on Saturdays and Sundays during the warmer months.
Concerts By The Creek- Grab a bite and enjoy performances by The Remainders (August 17) and Dean Heckel (September 21) from 7 - 9 PM at Borden Community Park as part of the Concerts By The Creek series.
Abbey Road on the River - The largest Beatles-inspired festival in the world. It’s a wild weekend each year honoring the Fab Four. Held annually on Memorial Day Weekend, Abbey Road kicks off the region’s summer concert and festival season.
Louisville Festivals
Across the river in Louisville, music is everywhere. Louisville is a music city. However, let’s focus on a few of the larger events.
Waterfront Wednesday - 2023 Dates: June 28, July 26, August 30 and September 27 - Enjoy free concerts on the Big Four Lawn at Waterfront Park. 2023 acts include The Hold Steady, Bettye LaVette, Caroline Rose, Back 2 Mac and more!
Bourbon & Beyond - September 14-17, 2023, this festival will host acts such as Brandi Carlile, The Avett Brothers, Blondie, Train, Duran Duran, The Killers, The Black Keys, Bruno Mars and several more.
Louder Than Life – September 21-24, 2023, Louisville’s peak hard rock experience will feature acts such as Foo Fighters, Weezer, Limp Bizkit, Pantera, Tool, Falling in Reverse, Green Day and more.
Did we miss your favorite venue in Clark and Floyd Counties? Email Anna@GoSoIN.com.
