The Lowcountry has some great venues for live music — indoor and outdoor, big and small, family-friendly, and date night-appropriate. Check out these spots in and around Charleston.
Where to Hear Live Music
Awendaw
Located at Sewee Outpost, Awendaw Green hosts Wednesday night family-friendly original music showcases with local and regional artists. This eclectic outdoor venue has fire pits and a big playground for the kids. It’s one of my family’s favorite places to go.
Daniel Island
This venue is one of the Lowcountry’s largest and attracts some big-name performers. Over the past couple of months, they’ve hosted New Kids On The Block, Post Malone, and Foreigner & Styx.
The brewery has 27 taps, a restaurant, an outdoor patio, and live music by local artists. Their event calendar features Jam Night on the first Wednesdays of the month and a Saturday Late Night Music Series.
Downtown Charleston
The Gaillard hosts a range of local, national, and international musical acts year-round as well as theater productions, dance performances, and comedy acts. You can see the Charleston Symphony Orchestra here.
Originally a passenger railway station, this historic venue books an eclectic mix of acts from Blues Traveler to Michael W. Smith to Drive-By Truckers. Check out The Charleston Christmas Special around the holidays.
Around since the 1980s, this vintage jazz club hosts local, regional, and national jazz, funk, reggae and rock acts up to five nights per week. It’s quite the scene on Friday and Saturday nights.
This King Street spot welcomes people of all ages to their family-friendly jazz and blues sets Tuesday through Saturday evenings.
Known as the oldest continuous restaurant in both Charleston and South Carolina, Henry’s has a very busy live music and entertainment calendar.
This venue has a dueling piano show Wednesday through Saturday nights. It’s fun for both bachelorette parties and locals alike!
This newly-renovated venue features local, regional, and national acts in genres ranging from pop to hip-hop to rock.
This upper peninsula spot, which opened in 2011, features original live music in its bar and patio areas.
Folly Beach
Check out the Folly Current for a comprehensive list of upcoming live music events at the Edge of America. Some of the venues include Chico Feo, Rita’s, and The Washout.
Goose Creek
This outdoor venue, located behind City Hall, opened in September 2024 with a free concert by Better Than Ezra and Tonic. The pavilion features a food truck area and a dance floor. What a cool addition to Goose Creek!
The brewery hosts Open Mic Night on Thursdays from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Musicians are welcome to play original songs, do a cover, and jam with other participants.
Hanahan
Located behind the Hanahan Senior Center, the Amphitheater has ample seating and a covered stage for concerts, festivals, and other special events.
Isle of Palms
The Dinghy has a busy live music calendar. Musicians play on the patio between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
This IOP staple has an indoor stage and a beach stage. Legend has it that Hootie & the Blowfish started their illustrious career at the ‘Jammer. Shows that start at 6:00 p.m. or before will allow children with parents; all 9:00 p.m. shows and later are 21+.
James Island
Check out their Music in the Beer Garden every Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
This James Island staple features local and regional musicians on their indoor main stage and outdoor deck stage. Deck shows are open to all ages; main stage shows are 21+ unless otherwise indicated on their website.
Johns Island
This steampunk-themed sports bar and restaurant posts their live music schedule on Facebook. They have an affordable kids’ menu too.
This Irish pub has a beer garden, a large patio, and a fire pit. They host live music three or four nights per week.
The Johns Island location has live music on Wednesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Mount Pleasant
Check out these Mount Pleasant bars/restaurants that host live music!
North Charleston
This 20-acre open-air venue along the Ashley River books live music acts.
Firefly hosts some popular acts in their concert series on their five-acre field. In 2024, they hosted Gregory Alan Isakov and Ray Lamontagne, Band of Horses, Black Pumas, and T-Pain, to name a few. They also do a Saturday On the Porch series from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with local and regional artists.
This brewery hosts local and regional acts in their indoor space, such as Weezer cover band In the Garage, a hip-hop showcase, and DJ dance parties.
The Coliseum, at 13,000 seats, and the PAC, at 2,300 seats, host some big-name acts. Upcoming performances include Blake Shelton, ZZ Top, Chicago, and Kelsea Ballerini. You can see the North Charleston POPS! at the PAC.
This mixed-use outdoor space books local, regional, and national acts.
Summerville
Come by for live music on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as well as Blues Night and karaoke on Mondays.
West Ashley
Touted as West Ashley’s favorite dive bar, Tin Roof has live music as well as open mic night, karaoke, and special events.
Music Festivals, Parties & Special Events
Various locations; year-round. Our parks host some great live music events such as Moonlight Mixers, Dancing on the Cooper, Reggae Nights, and Palmetto Park Jam. Some events are free with a Gold Pass.
Kiawah Island, Friday evenings in June, July, and August. These free, family-friendly events feature Top 40, Motown, country, and beach music.
Riverfront Park, North Charleston; late spring. This one-day festival is for lovers of dance music and features 25+ DJs.
Riverfront Park, North Charleston; mid-April. This two-day festival features local, regional, and national acts in a variety of genres. Noah Kahan and Hozier headlined the 2024 event. It’s worth going just for the fashion.
Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina, Mount Pleasant; Friday evenings April through July. This family-friendly happy hour series has beachy vibes and a mix of musical genres from week to week.
Riverfront Park, North Charleston; mid-October. Darius Rucker curates this two-day festival of country, rock, bluegrass, and Americana artists.
Local Music Scene Facebook Groups
Join these Facebook groups to stay up-to-date on musical happenings in our area:
