Georgia Music Venues Worth the Drive
Seek out shows at these hidden gems for unique listening experiences in Georgia.
A state brimming with great music needs a network of great venues for people to experience that music, and Georgia has no shortage in that regard. On a separate list we’ve gathered many of the iconic venues; this geography- and genre-spanning list shines a light on what we’ll call the "hidden gems." To locals and music hounds, the venues below are second nature, but they’re well worth a visit for the casual fan, as well.
Everett's Music Barn in Suwanee, Georgia
Everett's Music Barn, Suwanee
Named quite literally, Everett's Music Barn is a pass-the-hat, alcohol-free hoedown located on the family’s property in Suwanee. It opens every Saturday night at 6 p.m. with the Everett Family Band and continues with national bluegrass acts and/or open-mic jam sessions. It’s hard to imagine a cooler, more unique way to spend a weekend evening.
Evans Towne Center Park, Evans
Evans Towne Center Park near Augusta has an outdoor band shell spilling open onto 140,000 square feet of green space, creating capacity for over 10,000. The architecturally striking modern structure has housed an eclectic range of performers from Sam Hunt to the Carolina Chocolate Drops to Travis Tritt to Lady A.
The Northside Tavern in Atlanta, Georgia
The Northside Tavern, Atlanta
This blues club has made several lists of the nation’s top dive bars and, yes, that’s a compliment. The once-industrial Westside Atlanta neighborhood now has trendy restaurants and boutiques springing up around it, but the Northside Tavern seems suspended in time, grates on its windows and a textbook juke joint feel. Befitting that vibe, the club features gritty old-school blues seven nights a week.
Spivey Hall in Morrow, Georgia
Spivey Hall, Morrow
This concert hall south of Atlanta on the Clayton State University campus was built in 1991 but has the stately feel of a much older chamber. The 400-capacity room’s national reputation has been bolstered by frequent appearances on public radio’s “Performance Today.” Spivey Hall’s acoustics are exquisite, befitting its world-class classical (and occasionally jazz) programming.
