Music Scene

Music Venues

Locations around town that FREQUENTLY feature LIVE music of all varieties.

City of Rochester

Large Venues

• Blue Cross Arena Hosts a concert every month or two. Usually mainstream Pop, Rock and Hip Hop. Capacity 12,428.

• Eastman Theater Concerts every week. Usually Strings, Piano and World Music. Capacity 2,400.
  

• Main Street Armory Hosts a concert every month or so. Usually Alternative bands. Capacity 6,500.

Mid-Sized Venues

• Anthology Several shows each month. Mostly new artists and bands. Capacity 900.
  

• The Avalon hosts live music.
  

• Essex Hosts live music events
  

• Harro East Ballroom Mainly hosts concerts during the Rochester International Jazz Festival. Capacity 900.
  

• Hochstein School of Music and Dance Concerts every week. Mostly classical instruments and student performances. Capacity 857.
  

• Iron Smoke Whiskey - hosts live music
  

• Lyric Theatre Has been a Rochester International Jazz Festival venue in the past. Capacity 900.
  

• Water Street 2020 concert venue with capacity of up to 800.

Small Venues

• Abilene Live music several nights a week. Indie and Americana bands.
  

• The Angry Goat Pub Live music every week or so.
  

• Astor on Main Live Jazz on weekends.
  

• The Beer Market Live music on Fridays.
  

• Bernunzio Uptown Music Small venue for the Rochester International Jazz Festival.
  

• Boscos DJ on Friday nights.
  

• Brown Hound Downtown Jazz and Gospel during brunch.
  

• Boulder Coffee Co. Live music and open mic several nights of the week.
  

• The Bug Jar Live music every night. Indie and Alternative bands.
  

• California Brew Haus Live music a couple nights a week. Rock, Metal, Reggae, etc.
  

• Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Live music most nights. Blues and Rock.
  

• DIY Music Venues list
  

• The Duke
  

• Flat Iron Cafe Live music a couple nights a week. DJ's and Salsa.
  

• G&G Steakout II
  

• German House Usually a concert every few months.
  

• Hatch Hall Part of the Eastman complex. Small and modern. Usually solo instrumental, chamber and vocal music. Capacity 222.
  

• Highland Bowl
  

• Kilbourn Hall Part of the Eastman complex. Concerts every week. Usually chamber music, jazz and opera. Capacity 444.
  

• Legacy Wine Bar
  

• Little Cafe Live music most nights.
  

• Meddlesome Lab
  

• Merchants Grill
  

• The Montage Live Music Hall Hosts one or two concerts a week. Usually lesser-known bands. Capacity 350.
  

• Native Eatery & Bar
  

• New York Beer Project
  

• Pane Vino Live music most nights.
  

• Photo City Music hall Features local and national acts. Usually Live Music or nightclub DJ's. capacity 500
  

• Rab's Woodshed
  

• Radio Social
  

• Record Archive Occasionally have in-store performances.
  

• Recreo
  

• Rochester Pillar Church
  

• Sager Beer Works
  

• Smokin' Joe's Bar & Grill Live music a couple nights a week.
  

• Stromboli's Restaurant
  

• Tango Cafe

Regional

• CMAC - Canandaigua, Usually hosts about a concert a week from June until Labor Day. Largest venue in the metro region. Capacity 15,000.
  

• Charley Brown's Restaurant - Penfield
  

• Fatso's XL Bar & Grill
  

• Flaherty's Three Flags - Honeoye Falls, Macedon, Webster
  

• Greece Athena Performing Arts Center - Greece
  

• Harmony House - Webster
  

• Horizons - Perinton
  

• Java Junction Cafe - Brockport
  

• Lemoncello Italian Restaurant & Bar - East Rochester
  

• lovin' cup - Henrietta
  

• New Roots Coffeehouse - Greece
  

• Pane Vino on the Avenue - Pittsford
  

• Prosecco Italian Restaurant & Jazz Bar
  

• The Rabbit Room - Honeoye Falls
  

• Sticky Lips Pit BBQ - Henrietta "Juke Joint" location
  

• The Stage - Scottsville
  

• Thali of India - Henrietta
  

• The Underpass Bar & Grill

See Also

• Night Clubs
  

• Open Mic
  

• Theatres
  

• DIY Music Venues

Local Acts

Acoustic

• BeTheChange Harmony driven acoustic rock
  

• Bigwood, Lisa Soulful original folk
  

• Gillard, Maria Folk, blues, and swingy jazz singer/songwriter
  

• Paul, Gregory americana/psych folk/ singer/songwriter
  

• Plus Suffix Upbeat, acoustic rock duo with classical/jazz piano
  

• Stefani, Johnny Fun songs, good for driving.
  

• Still Fighting It 3 piece full band acoustic rock from the Finger Lakes
  

• Tuned InK Wide variety of rock and country music
  

• Vaccaro, JoAnn Folk rock singer/songwriter with incredible guitar fingers
  

• West, Steve Acoustic Blues Guy
  

• Cait Wilmot Singer/songwriter with a lyrical Acoustic Folk/Pop music style

Barbershop

• Chorus of the Genesee
  

• Rochester Gay Men's Chorus
  

Bluegrass

• String Theory Rochesters own "finger-pickin' good bluegrass music!

• Bluegrass Festival Information
  

• Mulberry Soul - Mulberry Soul Old-time & bluegrass from the heart of the Finger Lakes
  

Blues

• Dodge, Andrea Amazing bluesy singer/songwriter

• Beale Street Blues Band
  

• Leah & the Upheaval An eclectic mix of music featuring the bluesy vocals of Leah Fiorucci
  

Classical

• Penfield Symphony

• Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
  

Comedy

• Garden Fresh - Comedy rap two-piece espousing the virtues of thrift, politeness, and water

• Worm Quartet - One-man comedy synth-punk outfit best known for multiple Dr. Demento show appearances
  

Country

• Josie Waverly

Electronica

• Airport Scene Electronica

• HELLFIRA - Dark electronic music from Rochester, DJ/promoter: Dan Dangler
  

• Ju-Jajuba - Indie electronic pop that makes you feel like a kid again
  

• Silent Auction is a local electronic band
  

• tranquil.a.twist - Down-tempo / trip hop / electronica
  

Folk

• The Alpine Black - "Folk Noir"

• Golden Link Folk Singing Society
  

• Seth Faergolzia & the 23 Psaegz (a.k.a. The 23 Psaegz) - Weird, glorious freak folk with an array of instruments and approximately 23 members.
  

• Cait Wilmot Singer/songwriter with a lyrical Acoustic Folk/Pop music style
  

Funk

• Crabapples

• Prime Time Funk World class 10-piece funk band
  

• SubSoil - Hiphop/funk outfit...full live band with emcees Moon and Laz Green
  

Hip Hop/Rap

• B.A.S.K.O.

• H2O - Rap duo from Henrietta
  

• Laz Green -Critically acclaimed underground hip hop
  

• SubSoil - Hiphop/funk outfit...full live band with emcees Moon and Laz Green
  

Indie/Pop

• The Bailey Quarters Powerpop/Rock/New Wave with Rochester and Buffalo-based musicians

• A Wonderful Beautiful Experimental Pop.
  

• The Chinchillas
  

• Ed El Destructo Repard
  

• The Squires of the Subterrain Psychedelic Pop!
  

• The Tabs Lo-fi psychedelia
  

• Max Americana Indie Rock three piece with a poppy twist.
  

Industrial

• The Fragile Path International industrial project based in Rochester, Featuring EN ESCH among others...

Irish/Celtic

• Róisín Dubh Irish trad/fusion band from East Rochester HS

Jazz

• Margaret Explosion Instrumental improv jazz w/ 3 former members of Personal Effects

• Steve Greene local Jazz guitarist and teacher
  

• The White Hots Four-piece Acoustic Blues/Swing/Jazz
  

• Matt Henshaw Local free improvisation guitarist
  

• http://www.jazzrochester.com/rochester-jazz-artists.html Jazz@Rochester's Jazz Artists & Groups page

Metal

• Abhor - death metal band
  

• Achilles Hardcore/Metal/Screamo
  

• Agiel Symphonic black metal
  

• Crucifist Skull-Smashing Face-Ripping Death
  

• Cry To The Blind
  

• Desekrator Blackened Death Thrash
  

• Halothane Melodic Death Metal
  

• Malformed Death Metal
  

• Mykel Nitro - Alternative Metal / Neo-Grunge / Stoner Metal
  

• Nokturnal Hellstorm Ripping black metal
  

• Order of the Dead Death Metal
  

• Orodruin DOOM
  

• Sulaco Continuing the legacy of Rochester quirk metal
  

• Seric
  

• Warblade Melodic Black/Death Metal
  

Orchestra

• Penfield Symphony - Period instrumental

• Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
  

• The Publick Musick - Little-known composers from 1600-1800.
  

Opera

• Mercury Opera

• Rochester Lyric Opera
  

Punk

• The Expired Penfield's punk/ska upstarts

• The Sweatshop Boys political punk rock
  

• UV Rays
  

Reggae

• Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad Super Live Roots Dancing Music for All to Grip!

• Thunder Body Roots Reggae
  

• Personal Blend Roots, Rock, Dance hall reggae
  

Rock

• A False Reality Hardcore/Metal
  

• A Televised Reality Psychedelic garage punks
  

• Absolution Project Modern rock with heavy rock roots
  

• Adeline's Hero
  

• Atomic Swindlers Glam rock
  

• Auld Lang Syne rock / roots / country / soul
  

• Autumdivers Atmospheric ambient emotive indie pop/rock
  

• Cavalcade Rock and roll’s urgency with an interlaced and reflective approach to each song.
  

• Black Arrows
  

• Blue Jimmy
  

• Burning Daylight Country-tinged roots rock with power-pop hooks
  

• The Capitals Sraight up Rock and Roll with a clever twist.
  

• C R B Family-friendly rock & roll
  

• The Chesterfield Kings retro-1960s garage band
  

• Clockmen Disgruntled Working Class Rock
  

• The Demos
  

• Faded Grey
  

• 40 Rod Lightning Insurgent North Country / Alternative Americana
  

• Free Agent Rock n' roll to get you dancing
  

• The Frogbots Indie rock 'n' roll.
  

• Froth original rock trio with roots in blues, jazz and jam rock
  

• The Grievants Slant rock
  

• The Grinders
  

• Hey Mabel Cover band - pop, rock, soul & a little blues
  

• High Volume Components
  

• Hinkley (myspace) is one of the best Rochester bands
  

• Hotel Reverie
  

• This A.M. Static
  

• The Hi-Risers Real-deal rockabilly rock and roll
  

• The Hoodies
  

• Hypnotic Clambake Psycho-klezmer-country-blues-indie-rock band
  

• The Isotopes The best brutal surf-core band around!
  

• Jumbo Shrimp Cover Band
  

• The Lawnmowers Amalgam of rock, reggae, jazz, Americana
  

• Me & the Boyz
  

• Makyo Star
  

• The Mercies Indie powerpop/rock
  

• Mint Jam A mix of blues and classic rock
  

• Mikey Jukebox
  

• Monkey See Classic and modern rock
  

• Mud Ruum Original Jam-Rock and Classic Covers (Pink Floyd, Allman Brothers Band, Grateful Dead, Blue Oyster Cult)
  

• The Neighbors You Hate Indie rock and classic rock meet with disastrous results
  

• Orbit Underground 60's influence, modern edge
  

• That Party Band Weddings, Corporate Parties and more
  

• Pia Mater "An audible magic carpet ride through serene lands of music"
  

• Pietzche Nietzche Irritainment
  

• The Quitters
  

• The Riviera Playboys Garage rock
  

• Rock-it-Science
  

• The Skycoasters Oldies rock-type band
  

• Smock Specialists in "Frolnk*" (*see l
  

• Seeking Monte Seeking Monte is an all-original modern rock band based out of Rochester, NY.
  

• Streamline Modern rock (acoustic & electric)
  

• Suited Stranger Alternative Indie Rock
  

• The Sweet Action '60s Mod Garage Rock
  

• They Sleep They Dream
  

• Tiger Cried Beef
  

• Tin Sphinx Indie garage rock!
  

• True Blue
  

• Uncle Plum
  

• Urgency
  

• Violet Mary "It’ll make your insides stand up and salute"
  

• Walri - MySpace Webpage
  

• The Window Room Ambient and instrumental rock
  

• Woody Dodge - Rock, alt-country and some bluegrass flavors
  

• Zarek High school pop/rock
  

Ska

• The Hoboz Avon's rising ska-rock stars

• The LeVar BurTones 2-tone/third-wave ska from Fairport
  

• Mrs. Skannotto deep-grooving Rochester ska
  

Subvert

• Comedown - Alternative / Shoegaze / Pop-Metal

• Intrinsic - Blues-Punk / Neo-Grunge / Hard Rock
  

• Lupis - Alternative / Neo-Grunge / Noise-Rock
  

• Mykel Nitro - Alternative Metal / Neo-Grunge / Stoner Rock
  

• Sound Control - Subvert-Rock

World/Global

• The Buddhahood
  

Unclassified

• Blessed Hope Community Church Worship Team - Contemporary Christian

• Edge of Jupiter - Time Is Fast Fiction
  

• Flower City Pride Band
  

• Me and the Boyz
  

• Gina Etheride - Freelance pianist and composer.
  

• Hopeman Memorial Carillon - University of Rochester
  

• Pegasus Early Music
  

• Polly Panic - Original rabid wailing cellist
  

• Post Meridian
  

• Roses Are Red
  

Voice

• Choirs - List of choruses and choral societies.

• Opera Guild of Rochester
  

• Rochester A Cappella
  

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Local Labels

• Blackdog Records is a local independent label founded by Robert Blackburn of Blackdog Recording
  

• Carbon Records is a small independent label run by local experimental artist Joe Tunis
  

• CMI Records - An Independent Record Company CMI on MySpace
  

• Dadstache Records is a local cassette label founded in 2013
  

• Earring Records is an independent label with releases by Margaret Explosion, Invisible Idiot, Colorblind James, Personal Effects, Pete LaBonne, Bob Martin, Little Theatre Compilation, Wilderness Family, The Essentials, Absolute Grey.
  

• Rob Filardo has run Garage Pop Records as an independent label that puts out rock and roll, garage, surf, punk, country, roots(ish) music.
  

• Jargon Records is a label that features The Riviera Playboys.
  

• Hegira Records (formerly Melee Records) - A local independent label featuring local hardcore and metal acts.
  

• So, Grow Recordings - Local independent label founded by Tim Wilson. Attempts to keep all releases intimate with a sense of being hand made.
  

• Kaotic Records is a local independent label founded by Justin Yelle of http://www.kaoticrecording.com Kaotic Recording Studios featuring, The Filthy McNastys, Free Air, the indras, and more...
  

• Bangkok Blend is an independent multi-media label established in 2013.

Recording Studios

• Acme Recording Co
  

• Black Dog Studios
  

• Bluebrick Recordings
  

• Dynamic Recording
  

• GFI Studios
  

• Kaotic Records
  

• MarketHOLD Productions
  

• Noteworthy Recording Studios
  

• Red Booth Studios
  

• Saxon Recording
  

• The Studios At Linden Oaks
  

• What's Real Unlimited

See Also

• Audiophile Resources
  

• Music Scene

Music Festivals

The following local Festivals have a significant music component:

• Bands on the Bricks - July and August, Public Market
  

• Canandaigua Art & Music Festival - July
  

• Eastman Prism Concerts
  

• Fairport Music & Food Festival - August, Fairport on Liftbridge Lane near Box Factory Building
  

• Finger Lakes Choral Festival - July
  

• Hochstein at High Falls - July and August
  

• Party in the Park - June-August
  

• Rochester International Jazz Festival - June, East End
  

• Rochester Iosif Andriasov Chamber Music Festival
  

• Rochester Summerfest - July
  

• Turtle Hill Folk Festival - September
  

• Women in Music Festival - March

Open Mic

Open Mic nights are when cafes, coffeehouses, bars, and bookstores open their stage to anyone who wants to perform. It's a great opportunity for new performers to get out there and try their thing, and it's entertaining to watch, both the good and the bad.

This page lists places in the Rochester that host Open Mic nights. Check individual websites or Facebook for schedule.

City of Rochester

• Boulder Coffee Co.
  

• Equal Grounds
  

• Firehouse Saloon
  

• Java's
  

• Johnnys Irish Pub
  

• Pure Kona
  

• Stromboli's Restaurant
  

• Writers & Books

Regional

• Burlingham Books - Perry
  

• Lovin' Cup - Henrietta (RIT)
  

• Fairpour - Village of Fairport

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Disc Jockeys

• Ecstasy Sound DJ
  

• Jam-N-Stam
  

• Jimmy C's Music Machine
  

• Sound Express Entertainment