Philadelphia's Finest

On concert venues and music in the city

Kaytranada, Roots Picnic 2025, Mann Center for Performing Arts

This list is non-exhaustive and meant to help people looking to tailor their live music experiences. The first and most crucial thing to do is get on the mailing lists, not just to know what's on, but because they send out notices for free tickets, free events, and discounts.

Caveat: Everything in this post is purely based on my personal views, I do not receive compensation, and the listing below is limited to my personal knowledge, experiences, and/or opinions.¹ 

First, how do you buy tickets?

Yes, Live Nation and Ticketmaster are apps to have, but also get Dice FM and AXS, that's where you'll hear about smaller venues. There’s also Eventbrite and Resident Advisor for additional news and tickets. 

Second, how do you hear about concerts?

• Billy Penn - This is a really local neighborhood guide - https://billypenn.com/

• Jazz Philadelphia - lists literally every jazz show in the area and is really useful - https://jazzphiladelphia.org/whole-notes/jazz-shows/

• Penn Live Arts- focused on Avenue of the Arts (think orchestra, theatre, musicals, and some live shows) - https://pennlivearts.org/

• Ensemble Arts Philly - https://www.ensembleartsphilly.org/

• The Philadelphia Inquirer - https://www.inquirer.com/entertainment/

These are all good local sources for concerts. Also check Eventbrite, a surprising number of gems show up there regularly that aren't posted elsewhere (like the Floacist album release party).²

Okay so what about the venues? Let's break this down by size and experience.

The Linc at night Coldplay feat H.E.R. as the opener.

Large Scale - Stadium to Arena 

1. Lincoln Financial Field - this is the football stadium where the Eagles play. Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, and Coldplay have come here. It's massive, located in the South Philly Sports complex and made for large crowds. It's also accessible by subway but plan to give up hours if you’re going down there, especially by car. The open air stadium has good acoustics and hard as hell seats, but when the sun is setting, it feels magical to be sitting out and experiencing live music full tilt. 

2. Citizens Bank Park - this is the Phillies baseball stadium, it's right next to the Linc and smaller, but be warned if there are multiple events in a night the traffic means come early, leave late. I haven’t been to the baseball stadium since it was rebuilt, but there’s a decent number of shows there. 

3. Wells Fargo Arena - the Sixers Basketball arena and yes it's still in that South Philly Sports Complex. Kirk Franklin and Mary J. Blige have graced the stage here. The arena seats are comfortable enough if tight. If you buy a floor seat, know that it's a folding chair, zip tied or otherwise chained to the folding chairs of your neighbors. Personal space is not a thing. The acoustics are good but this is a closed arena so the quality of the mix engineer matters, it’s either perfect or ear splitting so bring earplugs and plan accordingly. The seats on the sides are more comfortable and give fairly good views depending upon how far back the stage is recessed. 

4. The Liacouras Center - located in North Philly on Temple University's campus this is another arena accessible by subway and parking is a challenge but doable. The neighborhood is a bit unstable but a lot of popular acts come for shows. I personally don't tend to go to this venue because the location isn't one I love. That said, they offer everything from comedy, to Power Jam, to the stacked lineups of 90s, 2000s, and 2010s favorites. 

World Cafe Live - Sun Ra Arkestra

Medium sized venues

1. The Met - just down the street from the Liacouras Center, the neighborhood opens up a bit and there's more on site and street parking. It's accessible via subway and bus, and has a balcony. Jazmin Sullivan, Jill Scott, and Janelle Monae have all graced the stage here. The chairs are comfortable but most concerts are so lively that you will be standing anyway. The trick when booking tickets is to watch for obstructed views. If you sit on the orchestra level then you'll want to be mindful of the right and left sides because the balcony obscures the stage. They try to make up for it by projecting the show onto the walls above. I like the character and the energy of Met crowds. There's always a good mix of ages and people seem to really love the music. https://www.themetphilly.com/shows

2. The Fillmore - located in Fishtown, it's not far from the waterfront and casinos but it is far from non-gentrified life. A converted warehouse, the bottom floor is typically standing room only (with the occasional seated concert) and the top floor has VIP booths on the sides and stadium style seating in a balcony above the stage. PJ Morton and Masaego have played this stage. It tends to cater to the college and post-grad crowd with a beer garden just out front for the venue. There's also a very simple parking lot off to the side that makes it easy to get in and out. https://www.thefillmorephilly.com/

3. Rivers Casino - also in Fishtown and by the water. I haven't been here but they have parking, gambling and enough for a fun night. This is also very close to I-95 and the highways that will connect you in and out of the city. The area itself can feel a bit remote or deserted, but the construction is going up and gentrification is happening. https://www.riverscasino.com/philadelphia/entertainment

4. Keswick Theater - located in Glenside, PA a suburb of Philadelphia that's closest to Mount Airy. There's street parking and a lot around back, and artists like Keke Wyatt, Marshall Ambrosius, Peabo Bryson, and Chante Moore will come and blow the house down. The very front seats are folding and dining style chairs, but it feels like the artist is on top of you. The best seats are in the rows where the mix engineers are seated because there's plenty of legroom. Tickets here tend to be affordable and there are a number of shops to pop in for a drink or a quick bite before the show. https://www.keswicktheatre.com/events/all

5. World Cafe Live - located in University's City (read: between Drexel and UPenn) is basically hell for people who can't parallel park. It's less accessible by public transit without a good walk. The venue has two stages, a main floor with a simple stage, bar and chairs on the floor with some spartan booths on the side and in the back. Sun Ra Arkestra has played up on this floor. Go one level down and there's more of a true venue with the same setup as the Fillmore albeit smaller. Standing room on the ground floor and VIP up top with chairs, table tops and some couches facing the stage. It's an independently owned venue that gets a lot of smaller acts and independent artists. There are also local artists, community events, and game nights, and album release parties so it’s a space to check out. https://worldcafelive.org/events/

6. The Annenberg Theater - it’s now known as Penn Arts Live Annenberg Center, but it’s on the University of Pennsylvania campus in University City. It feels intimate and old but not worn, or dilapidated, it’s more like the nostalgia of going back to school. This venue is worth checking out because they get some gems, including some major artists before they break.  There are also a lot of plays and dance performances (ballet, modern etc.) that happen here, Philadanco and Alvin Ailey have both come to this venue over the years. The surrounding area is fairly quiet except for the rush of ambulances heading off to the nearby hospital up the street. https://pennlivearts.org/events/

   

South Jazz Club

Smaller Venues

1. Theater of the Living Arts (TLA) - located in South Philly it's a venue that has more standing room only events than any of the others on the list. There's some parking in lots nearby but plan ahead or get there early. South Street is also a place to hang out afterwards. D'Angelo has performed there and it was definitely an intimate crowd. It’s a common spot to see debut artists and those that have been off the recording/touring circuit.  https://www.tlaphilly.com/

    

2. Brooklyn Bowl Philly - it's in Fishtown right next door to the Fillmore. It's an actual bowling alley so the stage is standing room and feels a bit awkward. The VIP is just standing room in a balcony area unless you rent a lane or request a chair. Robert Glasper has performed there and the lights and acoustics are solid. The feeling of a show there is a bit like being in a fishbowl for the size, but once the show goes on, this kind of fades away. https://www.brooklynbowl.com/philadelphia/shows/all

3. City Winery - located in Chinatown it's in a neighborhood in transition. It's accessible by car, train, bus and subway with the main hub of Market East the Gallery (now Jefferson Station) right up the block. City Winery has a main floor, and a downstairs which is where most acts play. Small tables and seating can make it feel tighter than the space truly is. By comparison it's larger than Blue Note NYC and brings acts like Lalah Hathaway and Anthony David for a good time with your dinner. Parking is across the street and the acoustics were well thought out for the venue. Probably one of the big draws for City Winery is that the pricing for tickets is reasonable and consistent. You book through the website and can find a range of options that really don’t break the bank. https://citywinery.com/philadelphia/events

4. Punchline Philly - this completes the trifecta with Brooklyn Bowl and the Fillmore, serving a small stage comedy club. There are standing room concerts and it has an intimate feel that can border on claustrophobic. You will literally miss it if you’re not looking for it. https://www.punchlinephilly.com/

5. Union Transfer - It’s in the Spring Garden section of Philly (think downtown, near City Winery and the Met). I haven’t been but it has the smaller and independent artists, their book of concerts appears to be growing. https://utphilly.com/ 

6. South - Jazz Club - up the street from the Met, down the street from the Liacouras Center, this is a restaurant and jazz club. You can breeze past it driving if you don’t pay attention because the outside is nondescript and the area is bland but clean. Inside however, is a warm lively spot with good soul food and an array of bands and performances spearheaded by Gearld Veasley. The booths line the sides and back of the room and small tables are set out in the middle giving it a simple and intimate feel. You can opt for dinner in the jazz club or beforehand in the dining room. Either way it’s a pretty good time. https://www.southjazzkitchen.com/jazz-club/

7. The Foundry - the Foundry is at the Filmore it just goes by a different name https://www.thefillmorephilly.com/shows/rooms/the-foundry

The Met - Masaego

Outdoor Venues

1. The Mann Music Center - This is located in Fairmount Park, which is the Central Park of Philadelphia, only it’s more encompassing than you would expect. The Mann Center has free parking (mostly in the grass, watch the craters and potholes), and offers something for everyone. The amphitheater has both an upper balcony that is way up in the rafters, and a pit that will for some concerts allow you to sit or stand right up close to the stage. If you want a low-cost good time, the lawn is the place to be. For certain specified events they will let you bring your own food (beer and wine included) and dine under the stars while listening to the orchestra play a film score, or watching your favorite singer. I like that for $20 you can get out and have a safe and fun time. (And get on the email lists, sometimes they offer free concert tickets.) The views of downtown Philly once the sun sets are also spectacular and if you’re on the lawn no need to worry, you can still see the stage from the screens, and the sound is just fine. https://manncenter.org/

2. Dell Center for Performing Arts - the Dell is like the sister to the Mann with the same open-air amphitheater setup but smaller. It’s on the other side of the Schuylkill River and brings a lot of the legends to town. Usually the local radio hosts will go out in the summer and lend their names to various parties and help promote 80s and 90s hip-hop groups, older soul singers, and other types of events. Depending on where you’re coming from it can be a bit of a pain to get to, but the area is beautiful. https://thedellmusiccenter.com/

3. Penn’s Landing - This is down on the waterfront, where you basically stare at New Jersey. Penn’s landing has Cherry Street Pier, https://www.cherrystreetpier.com/ , Spruce Street Harbor Park https://www.delawareriverwaterfront.com/where-to-go/spruce-street-harbor-park , Race Street Pier https://www.delawareriverwaterfront.com/where-to-go/race-street-pier, and a bit more in between. There are free DJ Nights, performances celebrating all different cultures, and a host of other events both paid and free. It’s usually open during the summer and there are paid places to park. It’s a bit more challenging to access by public transit (bus) but it’s doable. I’d note that the locations of the piers are not particularly close together but they do each have a unique vibe. 

Longwood Gardens, 2023 sunset concert

Unconventional Spaces 

1. Longwood Gardens - This isn’t actually in Philadelphia, it’s down in Kennett Square which is a bit of a drive. The gardens are a sprawling estate and they offer outdoor concerts in the summer, and indoor concerts in the winter. The concerts give you access to the grounds and the fireworks shows after a concert. They’ve hosted Gregory Porter and Melody Gardot as well as a number of jazz bands and trios. It’s a beautiful space to take in with a number of dining options, and the flowers and plants are well organized and maintained. https://longwoodgardens.org/events-performances

2. Montgomery County Community College - This is also outside of Philadelphia. It’s about 25 mi north and west of downtown, but has plenty of free parking. The only public transit to get out there is by bus, and is a bit difficult. They have rebuilt their concert hall, and it’s worth a look at their offerings because the price is community focused. Samara Joy and Alvin Ailey have held shows there, and it’s an easy way to have a good time. https://www.mc3.edu/for-our-community/cultural-center

3. Woodmere Art Museum - This is in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia. There is free parking onsite, and it’s accessible (barely) by bus. The Woodmere has a concert series throughout the winter indoors with the Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble, they also offer other events and outdoor concerts but the tickets are community priced, typically topping out at less than $20 per person. It fills up fast and sells out quickly so plan ahead and come early. https://woodmereartmuseum.org/experience/happenings/jazz-at-woodmere

4. Chuck’s Alibi - If there was an award for random, this place would win. It’s a restaurant located in Northeast Philadelphia. Don’t ask me about the parking, especially if you can’t parallel park. It’s also accessible by bus. The secret is that Chuck’s books some of the best 90s R&B acts including Dru Hill. The neighborhood is just starting the transition to hardcore gentrification but the Northeast is where city meets suburbs as it just borders Jenkintown. It’s definitely a well worn area, and not for everyone but the music acts make it a diamond in the rough. https://www.chucksalibiphilly.com/

5. October Gallery - located in West Oak Lane, you can see the October Gallery in Jill Scott’s music video “The Way.” This is another hidden gem. The events are varied, and sometimes it’s hit or miss but it has a great energy. There’s limited parking and it’s accessible by a number of bus lines, but do learn to parallel park if that’s where you’re going.The artwork features a lot of Black artists and there are events that do the same. It feels more like a local spot than many of the places on this list and it’s part of what keeps the soul in Philly.  https://octobergallery.com/events/

1. Disclaimer life is real, and I don’t want problems.

2. Did you see that Floetry is getting back together for a performance in Ohio? Rude of them not to come to Philly first.