Maryland Music Venues

Silver Spring's classic downtown venue has been a major hub on Maryland's musical map for more than 40 years. A favorite among fans and musicians in the know, the 2,000-seat venue is large enough to attract major performers and small enough to remain an insiders' secret. Together with the American Film Institute, it forms the heart of a thriving cultural district in the city.

Superb acoustics are just one of the features that make Strathmore Music Center so special. Once grand and intimate, the 100-seat Dorothy and Maurice Shapiro Music Room is a spectacular space for hearing nationally renowned folk, blues, jazz, pop, and classical music. World-famous acts sell out the 2,000 seat concert hall. Check out the Artist in Residence Program and sculpture gardens.

Without a doubt, this is one of Maryland's most iconic music venues. With a history stretching back to the elegant Art Deco era, the 300-seat dining area is a simultaneously luxurious and intimate environment. Boogie on the hardwood dance floor or lay back in the lounge area. Creole and Cajun fare accompanies the appealing sounds to produce a gumbo stew for the soul.

This thrilling outdoor venue has seen the likes of Led Zepplin, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and David Bowie headline during the course of its 50-year history. Set on 40 scenic acres of forest bridging Washington and Baltimore, it's no wonder it's popular.

As though jettisoned along with Baltimore's celebrated soulfulness on the banks of the city's Inner Harbor sits Pier Six Pavilion, a temple to local sonic heritage. Open-air concerts ring throughout the summer in this glittering venue that provides vistas of some of Baltimore's most beautiful sights. The skyline twinkles along with the musical stars onstage.

Snuggle into the Great Bowl, an emerald enclave of symphonic joy, at the Groovin' in the Grass concert series. Sunday evenings inaugurate sonic events with Gatsby-esque elegance among the immaculate topiary. As the sun rolls beneath the horizon, the languid sounds of jazz, classical, and country fill the Harford County air. Recline with a picnic, look out on the artificial lake, and drink in the supreme ambiance.

Baltimore's rich musical heritage has given birth to one of Maryland's most vivacious musical lambs, the Rams Head. Five bars and three terraces provide ample listening room for tenacious fans of both up-and-coming and established bands from Baltimore and beyond. Queens of the Stone Age and All TIme Low are among the acts to sell out the entire 26,000-square-foot space. Come and hear classic rock on Sunday nights and eighties pop on Thursdays, while country music Wednesdays keep your week rolling. The Rams Head Live! is a career catalyst for local and regional acts, ideal if you enjoy being "in the know."

Live up-and-comers from across America perform nightly at Bethesda's favorite new music venue. Fine dining accompanies sweet sounds, a duo so pleasing it can lead to evenings unfolding in the early hours. Sunday's jazz brunch is a weekly highlight. Enjoy superbly prepared meals on the sun-drenched patios and watch performances via the television monitors throughout the venue. Here, you're always a part of the live performance.

Raucous, interactive shows fill this unique Maryland venue throughout the week. Pianists go head to head (or hand to hand) at live "duels" that inevitably spur sing-along sessions. Paired with a well-executed menu of bar foods, the dazzling live music and engaging company at Bobby McKey's offer everything you need for an unforgettable night.