I came to town 27 years ago and the music scene was sparse to say the least. Very few name bands chose to make Charleston a stop on their tour…the town was too small to draw a big enough audience to make it worth the band’s while. My, how times have changed. To get the facts about what Charleston has to offer, read on.

Today you can see bands play in intimate club rooms (the Windjammer and the Pourhouse),rock clubs like the Music Farm, intimate halls like the Music Hall and graceful venues like the Galliard Auditorium and the No. Charleston Performing Arts Center. The biggest acts that would normally play Atlanta, Raleigh and Charlotte now make regular stops at the No. Charleston Coliseum and the Volvo Car Stadium. I have attached all the facts you need to search out these venues and who is performing there and when. But first, a few words about some of my favorite venues…

The oldest continuously running venue is the venerable Windjammer on the Isle of Palms. This  classic beach bar has a small stage in a small room,no frills and a great setting right on the beach. Everyone growing up should have a club like the ‘Jammer! Many big name acts have made stops at the Windjammer and several take weekend residence there each summer. The ticket prices are never out of hand.One of my favorite memories of the ‘Jammer is seeing Hot Tuna(former members of Jefferson Airplane)one summer night about 10 years ago. If you haven’t been there, check out their website and make it a point while the weather is still hot(although they are open year round).

Sharing credits for the smallest venues and stage is the Pourhouse on James Island. This intimate club has been around for more than 10 years and caters to the college crowd. Rarely does a show start before 10 PM and that’s usually for the opening act. But what the Pourhouse has going for it is the outside Deck Stage and Bar. The deck and bar opens around 4 pm and usually there’s live music from around 6 until the music starts indoors.Here you will get to see many up and coming national acts along with up and coming local musicians and the occasional Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, like Leon Russell.

When you want to rock out and get close to the performer, go to the Music Farm in Charleston on Ann Street between Meeting and King Street. Inside this converted train depot you will find a large cavernous room that can pack nearly 1000 on its best nights. The sound is good and the large rectangular bar means you won’t wait forever for a drink. What I like about the Farm is that you can count on them to start the music as advertised. Most shows start at 8 PM,although that can change nightly.There’s also a Music Farm in Columbia. The Farm brings many national and regional acts to local fans.

For my money,the most intimate venue in Charleston is the Music Hall on John Street,just one block down from the Music Farm. This concert hall seats just under 1000 people and there’s not a bad seat in the house! I must confess that I am prejudiced as I have been ushering here for the last two years. The Music Hall has been attracting top talent to this locale for the last 10 years and has garnered a great reputation from artists who choose to return here to play..The Hall usually has 2 bars selling beer and wine and management encourages you to enjoy your beverages at your seats.The acoustics and site lines makes this a special place to see a concert.I believe that the Hall offers more shows (more than 200) yearly than any other local venue.

Recently,the Galliard Auditorium reopened after being built from the ground up. This venue has largely catered to the symphony crowd and the traveling off-Broadway tours. The new Gaillard,located on Calhoun Street, has been ramping up their offering of rock acts to go along with the symphony and Broadway. I have only been there once since it reopened and found the place kind of stuffy for rock and roll.In addition, there’s a $2 surcharge if you want to drink in the Auditorium. That $2 buys you a “sippy cup” that your beverage has to be drank from/ Perhaps I need to give it a second look before I cast it off as a venue you should avoid.

The biggest one-two punch for live music can be found at the Performing Art Center and the Coliseum in No. Charleston ,on Montague Avenue. The PAC can seat up to 2300 in the most comfortable seats in town. Sometimes, this benefit can also be a negative when people are glued to their seats while a rock and roll act is tearing it up on stage while imploring the crowd to get up on their feet! In addition, the rows are about 50 to 60 seats wide and you can hike a way to get to your seats.The Coliseum can hold upwards of 10,000 and brings in the biggest national acts that are touring today. The biggest negative at the Coliseum is the same thing at all big sports venues, acoustics and site lines. When you go to a show at the Coliseum, be thankful for the big video screens.

There are any number of other venues to consider for your live music fix. You have Awendaw Green,offering their Barn Jams every Wednesday night at their facility out in Awendaw on Highway 17. The $5 donation gets you 4 acts that starts at 6 and can go on until 11.I confess that I have not been there yet. On Daniel Island is the Volvo Car Stadium which is the tennis stadium that hosts the annual pro tennis tournament. They will put on 13  concerts this year including  Hootie and the Blowfish’s annual Homegrown concerts. The newest venue is Riverfront Park in No.Charleston on the old Navy Base. This year,the Music Farm management is offering 4 shows, bringing in well-known national acts outdoors on the big lawn sloping down to the Cooper River.

For all the details you need about each of these venues(addresses,phone numbers,website,etc),leave me a comment and I will email it to you. If I don’t have your email, I will write back via FB Messenger. Rock on!

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