The 11 Best Concert Venues in Kentucky in 2024

Kentucky - is not only home to the Kentucky Derby, the famous horse race held at Churchill Downs. This state has a very beautiful nature for those who like a relaxing holiday, as well as a vibrant nightlife for those who love parties and music shows. I prepared an overview of the 11 best venues that hold music concerts in Kentucky.

1. Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY

The Mercury Ballroom is a music venue in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. The 900-capacity venue, housed in the Wright and Taylor Building at Fourth and Chestnut streets, operated by Live Nation's House of Blues Entertainment division. Wikipedia

Address: 611 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40202, United States (Directions)
Capacity: 900
Phone: +1 502-583-4555

Mercury Ballroom Reviews:

• Great Friendly Venue/Staff, Multiple times leaving after a show the staff has given out free tickets to other Concerts. If your favorite artist is playing here Go and have a good time. There are no bad views in the standing room. Only complaint is the price of drinks but worth it for the music.
• Iv been here twice. It's a good place for music! Only thing I would complain about is the price of beer! 14dollars!!! I think that's is just down right ridiculous! They could sell more alcohol if they lowered the price some. I was expecting to pay around 8 not 14. Other than that I like the place!
• Cool venue worry lots of space to walk around. Smoking spot outside with reentry allowed. Only thing I would say against the venue are the drink prices, they're way too expensive. Other than that, good venue. Source

Mercury Ballroom Concert Tickets

2. The Southgate House Revival - Newport, KY

Atmospheric nightspot showcasing live bands, open-mike acts & more in a circa-1866 church.

Address: 111 E 6th St, Newport, KY 41071, United States (Directions)
Phone: +1 859-431-2201

The Southgate House Revival Reviews:

• Always a great experience! They offer very affordable drinks served by an awesome staff! You don't have to go just for a specific show because they have a great lounge to just chill or listen to local artists perform regularly. Also, make sure to check out Thursday night karaoke!
• Just saw Nirvana tribute band here and it was amazing! Strongly suggest seeing a performance here, intimate setting with nice staff and stained glass windows make for a excellent experience.
• I went to see The world I knew and it was sic, they autographed my shirt and gave me a CD and a drum sticks, thank you guys for a great night with some cool as hell people. Source

The Southgate House Revival Concert Tickets

3. Diamond Pub Concert Hall - Louisville, KY

Address: 630 Barret Ave, Louisville, KY 40204, United States (Directions)
Phone: +1 502-690-7040

Diamond Pub Concert Hall Reviews:

• Sound woman Red will hook you up with a great live sound and plenty of whatever you need in the monitors. She can be a bit gruff but it's because she gives a damn about the band's. Several local artists perform here, as well as touring bands on major labels. Please be on time unless you are ready for the wrath of the Red. Great venue with plenty of TVs for sports and over 20 billiards tables for the hustlers, novices, and sharks. It's in my top 3 for live music.
• The beer selection was amazing, the bartender recommended some great local brews and even took time when he was busy to remember me and grab a fresh new recommendation each time I came up, he recommended the quesadillas and they were incredible. Stuffed with steak and were very filling. They had a show that night and they allowed it to get incredibly loud which was awesome of the venue. Overall one of the better bars I've been to on my travels and look forward to coming back!
• We had our company Christmas party here and the staff were incredible with the planning, the service, and the experience!!! I highly recommend for a casual party to hang out and enjoy each other's company. Everyone was awesome, especially Jessica!!! Source

Diamond Pub Concert Hall Concert Tickets

4. The Thompson House - Newport, KY

Performance venue & art gallery set in an 1820s-era mansion with a colorful history.

Address: 24 E 3rd St, Newport, KY 41071, United States (Directions)
Phone: +1 859-261-7469

The Thompson House Reviews:

• The building is super interesting, with little suprises around every corner, whether it be the murals along the interior of the smoking room, or the wall decor in the rooms next to the stage, its eccentric and interesting at every turn. The sound engineer is friendly and does a great job making sure the music comes though sounding clear and pleasing to the ear. The man at the door is nice and easy to talk to. I enjoyed the music and the atmosphere immensely and plan on returning over and over to support local musicians here.
• Lot of good bands come through this place. Good staff of people running the joint! The building could use a touch up!
• The venue is cool. It's small, but nice. The cigarette smoke inside the venue sucks though. Source

5. The Louisville Palace - Louisville, KY

The Louisville Palace is a music venue in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, located in the city's theater district, on the east side of Fourth Street, between Broadway and Chestnut Street. It has a seating capacity of 2,800 people and is owned by Live Nation.

Address: 625 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40202, United States (Directions)
Capacity: 2,611
Phone: +1 502-583-4555

The Louisville Palace Reviews:

• It was a breathtaking experience for me! I enjoyed every decimal of time spent there. In the presence of Nick himself, as of course; along with each and every person who attended alongside. Everyone was super nice and courteous. The staff themselves, were very inviting and warm. I recommend anyone who has spent a long period of time in Louisville to definitely check it out, if haven't so! Thank you very much for having me.
• Enjoyed the time at the palace. Thoroughly enjoyed Brett Kissell's act. Tickets were priced right, but two beers cost more than my ticket! They also passed out tickets to a Mercury Ballroom event while we were leaving.
• Awesome place. It have been decades since I have been to the Palace and I love what they did to it. $13 for a beer is a bit harder and the fees was a bit harsher; would have gave 5 stars if it wasn't for that. The music and sound sounded perfect. I will return back with the right act. Source

The Louisville Palace Concert Tickets

6. Madison Live! - Covington, KY

Address: 734 Madison Ave, Covington, KY 41011, United States (Directions)
Phone: +1 859-491-2444

Madison Live! Reviews:

• What a perfect venue. The street has an old Town Atmosphere and great food and pub choices. The venue has an outside seating area and upstairs bar as well! Great service and Bumpin Uglies fans from Indiana came all the way there for the greatest show! Thank you Madison Live!!
• Some people might describe Madison Live as small or intimate. They are not wrong with this description. But I prefer to put it this way. Do you like to go to venues that are easy to find and have sufficent parking. Do you enjoy drink prices that are very reasonable. How about staff that seem to enjoy their jobs and are eager to help if needed. Then there is the fact that you are up close and personal with the artists. Look I could keep going....just go check it out you won't be disappointed. I hope this was helpful in some way.
• Fun, very small venue. Not impossible to find a place to sit, drink prices are reasonable, staff are nice, parking is easy to find - on street or lot. Source

Madison Live! Concert Tickets

7. Headliners Music Hall - Louisville, KY

Locally owned and operated, HEADLINERS MUSIC HALL is the premiere live entertainment venue of Louisville, Kentucky. We bring the best local and national acts to our stage, with fantastic sound and a fun atmosphere. We’ve had the privilege of hosting some amazing rock, metal, acoustic, hip-hop, and alternative bands such as My Morning Jacket, Trampled By Turtles, Neko Case, OK Go, J. Roddy Walston & The Business, Umphrey’s McGee, Old Crow Medicine Show, Kings of Leon, Shovels & Rope, Girl Talk, Ice Cube and more!

Address: 1386 Lexington Rd, Louisville, KY 40206, United States (Directions)
Phone: +1 502-584-8088

Headliners Music Hall Reviews:

• Smaller than I was expecting although not a bad thing. The tickets were priced decently and the show was very personal as you were very close to the act no matter where you were in the venue. Would definitely come again.
• Love this venue. The atmosphere is dark, but that’s what you need when you’re there. You disappear into the music and don’t even notice the venue you’re standing in. That’s really cool because it helps you dig the experience more. They also have a balcony/second floor that is a first come first serve kinda deal and it’s really nice to watch bands from up there too if you aren’t into getting sweaty in the crowd or don’t have the ability to safely do so. The bartenders are very nice and respectful! I asked about some of their selections and definitely felt like they cared about the options I was getting. Sound quality is good and doesn’t leave me feeling like I’ll get ear damage after. Security is relatively thorough too, which is nice! I always love the $3 parking too. What a treat! I would highly recommend checking this place out if someone comes into town that you’d like to see!
• Beautifully decorated, and perfect for a more personal kind of experience with the artists. Not too big but not too small of a venue, it's very well ventilated, and the staff are friendly and fast with ticket processing. I don't like big venues or arena concerts so this place is one of my favorites in terms of size, location, and choice of artists. Source

Headliners Music Hall Concert Tickets

8. Bourbon Hall - Louisville, KY

Address: 116 W Jefferson St, Louisville, KY 40202, United States (Directions)
Phone: +1 502-290-7434

Bourbon Hall Reviews:

• Awesome place for music! Drinks are good not too pricey. Large bathroom 👍 Hopefully more EDM in the future!
• Gucci Concert Derby Night 2019. Artist (Gucci) didn't come out to perform until 3am HIDEOUS to say the least because the entire crowd was exhausted and sleepy by this time. Standing room only so ladies choose your heels wisely.
• Nice atmosphere and set up. Very spacious! Source

9. Zanzabar - Louisville, KY

It’s rare to find a bar that your grandpa partied in; rarer still to know that it has only gotten better in the ensuing decades. Such is the case though with Zanzabar, which opened its doors originally in 1938 and has continued to attract and entertain local residents ever since. Zanzabar has established a local reputation as one of Louisville’s oldest neighborhood gems and newest casual cuisine and live entertainment destinations.

Address: 2100 S Preston St, Louisville, KY 40217, United States (Directions)
Phone: +1 502-635-9227

Zanzabar Reviews:

• Z-Bar is a funky little place that is unique to Louisville. While it is a music venue and club, it sports a surprising array of pinball machines. The tap list is really great especially for how small Zanzabar is. It has a quiet little courtyard around the side too, which is cool if you need to step outside for a drink and a smoke break. The bands that they line up here are solid as well, and the security do a fantastic job at making sure everyone is having safe fun!
• Like pinball? Enjoy bar food? This is a great place to enjoy a few hours of fun with friends. I had the falafel and it was delicious! Be sure to bring a bunch of quarters.
• One of the best small venue experiences I have had. The door guy was such a nice guy, which is pretty rare to find. The food and service was really good and the venue was wonderful. Great sound quality, great size and the rear part of the standing area is raised, which helps the entire audience see the show. 10/10 would come here again for a show or just a few drinks. Source

Zanzabar Concert Tickets

10. The Burl - Lexington, KY

Located in the historic Lexington Distillery District, The Burl was originally built in 1926 as a loading dock and hub for Texaco Oil. The original wood frame building and open layout have helped to create a welcoming space for any and all genres of music. Averaging around 300 nights of music a year, The Burl has quickly become one of the most prolific venues in the commonwealth and we’re proud to be in the heart of the Bluegrass.

Address: 375 Thompson Rd, Lexington, KY 40508, United States (Directions)
Phone: +1 859-447-8166

The Burl Reviews:

• Had a really good time here. Great venue to see a band play. The bartenders worked really hard to service everyone. The arcade was really cool as well. I would definitely recommend this venue to anyone wanting to have a fun night out with friends.
• Great venue! Friendly people! Saw Theo & Brenna there and they were awesome! I would have liked it even more if they had out my bourbon in a glass instead of a plastic cup, but I still enjoyed myself!
• All that ancient & seasoned wood makes for the best acoustics of any local venue. Everyone sounds their very best here. Source

The Burl Concert Tickets

11. Rupp Arena - Lexington, KY

Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center is an arena located in downtown Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. Since its opening in 1976, it has been the centerpiece of Central Bank Center, a convention and shopping ... Wikipedia

Address: 430 W Vine St, Lexington, KY 40507, United States (Directions)
Capacity: 23,500

Rupp Arena Reviews:

• I loved visiting Rupp Arena! I've been 2 times - once for a charity basketball game that featured former Wildcat players & the other time was Big Blue Madness! I just love the history associated with the arena & seeing all the retired numbers/jerseys & championship banners hanging from the rafters! The University of Kentucky is the gold standard in basketball! 🏀 🏆
• We thought our seats wouldn't be as good being so high up for the Luke Combs concert (section 112). But we had an awesome view, we could see the whole stage and had a screen to see the close ups. This was my second time being at Rupp Arena, still impressed. Traffic really wasnt that bad and concession prices were fair. Had a great time.
• Nice venue in the arena proper. Food offerings are fairly sparse for a convention center, but this is not a huge drawback as there is a thriving and varied restaurant population in the general area. Your favorite restaurant/gastronomy app is a big help if you do d yourself here. Source

Rupp Arena Concert Tickets