Best places for Live music in Riga

M/Darbnica

[Electronical, Jazz]

Part of the Fon Stricka villa mansion, this aesthetic bar has become one of the top places for listening to live music in Riga. They mainly concentrate on Jazz, having at least 3 nights per week with performers showing off their skillset to the audience. The first floor is dedicated to an art exhibition of a chosen theme changing every month. 

That’s not all though! Every now and then M/Darbnica likes to switch things around a little bit. They praise themselves to be supporters of various art forms, from music to poetry, mindfulness and even theater. Therefore don’t be surprised to stumble upon some special event and a crowd of people flowing in and out of the bar.

Tu jau zini kur

[Academic]

With an aim to reinvent and revitalize academic music in Latvia, “Tu jau zini kur” haven’t disappointed since their grand opening in 2018. Slowly but surely this place is becoming a top choice when looking for truly high quality artists. Managers here have thought about everything from the selection of artists to sound quality in the concert hall.

Although they started out as classical genre enthusiasts and still are today – they do enjoy following the newest trends, mixing things up and pulling various styles together. It’s only normal here to see a hip hop artist accompanied by a grand piano and small orchestra, performing a Latvian pop music classic from the 80’s.

Lastādija

[Alternative]

That artsy place next to the Academy of Science with a large fluffy fox on the wall. Sounds interesting enough already, doesn’t it? Well believe it or not but it does get better than that. Lastādija is the place to go when you want to see truly alternative and raw musicians who do what they love and that’s the only reason why they do it. 

If various genres and styles from alternative to electronic and punk music performed in a fresh air environment is not enough then how about pizza? Yes, similarly to how their chosen artists choose to rock’n’roll, also Lastādija does whatever they think a cool idea is. Perhaps that’s why they have an authentic pizza oven available right next to the bar!

Tower club

[DJ sets]

Tower Club brings top-notch sound solutions together with beloved local and guest DJs for an unparalleled experience. In addition to captivating DJ performances accompanied by dazzling light displays, Tower Club also presents itself as a concert venue. This entails hosting special events where popular local bands take the stage to entertain the audience with their shows.

Tower club is one of the newest and most modern places opened in Riga, located in the thriving VEF neighborhood. They praise themselves to have the highest quality sound solutions for the best possible experience. The club premises are pleasantly spacious too, meaning you won’t have to worry about drinks being spilled out on your most favorite dancing shoes by some inattentive guests.

Mūzikas nams «Daile»

[Various artists]

Here’s something for those who stand for classical values. This one differs from the other places in this list as it’s neither a bar or club. This is a proper concert hall with seats and stage, designed to accommodate up to 440 guests. 

Only the most respected artists in the industry get to play on the “Daile” stage. When looking for a concert to attend, you’ll find names like Raimonds Pauls, Ainārs Mielavs and Daumants Kalniņš performing the lyrics of poetry greats like Imants Ziedonis or Aleksandrs Čaks. When it comes to values proven over time – we can’t go much higher than “Daile”.

Ala Pagrabs

[Folk music]

Latvian folk music is a genre which is slightly forgotten with the whole globalization thing happening all around us. But it’s not diminished and won’t be while there are places like “Ala” holding events every week with local folk music enthusiasts singing melodies of the Latvian soul.

They have everything you want in a pub. Vast range of different beers, local food and most importantly – almost no mobile data can reach the depths of this dungeon, hidden in the depths of old town Riga. While it might sound a bit scary, what it really means is a fun time with your friends or randomly met strangers, enjoying Latvian national culture together.

Blues house

[Blues]

You don’t necessarily have to feel blue in order to enjoy blues music. But if you do feel a little bit tired after a long working day then Blues house might just be the best place for you to go. More importantly, the range of styles here is incredible. From funk to soul and modern types of blues music performed live on stage.

Sometimes the managers here like to change live music to stand up comedy or brain games but mainly it’s various artists performing from Wednesday to Sunday. That’s right, with live music nearly every evening of the week, Blues house never fails to entertain.

Melna piektdiena

[Rock, Metal]

The most beloved concert venue among the metal heads of Riga. Opened on Friday, 13th of May, 2006, this club likes to joke around that they have a capacity of up to 666 guests but in reality this spacious place can take up to 1000 people. 

The reputation of this club has gone to far lands meaning some of the top heavy metal artists from all over the world come here to perform. Often enough there are events with multiple bands stepping up on the stage over the same evening, so be ready to get your world rocked!

Club Biedrība

[Open stage]

But what if you’re done with listening to artists and wish to try out your own talents on the stage? Is there a place where a couple of friends or someone on their own can simply go, sing and enjoy the spotlight themselves? Well there most certainly is! 

Quite frankly, there are multiple places around the city that offer karaoke as an entertainment option but I would like to point out “Club Biedrība” in particular. It’s classy yet simple enough to feel like at a home party. Nobody cares what clothing you wear or how good your singing is as long as you’ve come here to have a good time, share your talent and support others in doing the same.