Are you new in town and craving a taste of San Luis Obispo County’s music and nightlife? While charmingly scenic, the county is not all vineyards and coves, as the area also offers a wide range of concert venues to explore. Luckily, KCPR has you covered with this list featuring venues from the coastal city of Morro Bay to the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo and the welcoming wine country of Paso Robles.
Alex Madonna Expo Center
The iconic pink roadside attraction that’s hard to miss on the drive to the ocean has more than its unthinkable 110-themed guest rooms. It is additionally one of the grander venues in San Luis Obispo, with the Alex Madonna Expo Center.
The Madonna Inn has hosted a wide range of artists in the past, from Kentucky rapper Jack Harlow, soothing alternative Texas band Khruangbin and lo-fi indie pop act TV Girl.
The Expo Center has some large artists on the way this season including Faye Webster and chillwave musician Goth Babe.
Assistant Marketing Manager Audrey DeFrisco said people who attend the Expo Center not only get a chance to visit the Madonna Inn but also, beneath the surface, they are invited to experience its imaginative nature which was designed and opened by Alex and Phyllis Madonna in 1958.
When it comes to the sound the venue strives for, DeFrisco said they love to book names that indie lovers care about because of how much live music means to that crowd of listeners.
“We found that with more of the indie shows it’s people that really care about the music because it’s important to them,” DeFrisco said. “We really enjoy the crowd that is thoughtful about the music, they’re passionate about art.”
Dark Nectar
By day, it’s a colorful coffee roasting factory surrounded by customers’ purposeful wall art. By night, they’re still serving coffee just while a punk rock concert is happening.
If you’re itching to see an up-close and personal metal, grind or punk show, then Dark Nectar is the place you’re looking for.
Owner Tyler Jones said that the harder genres of music they host are tailored to listen and experience live.
“When you come to a live show the energy is undeniable, the atmosphere is fun,” Jones said.
“Even if you think that you wouldn’t like it, I think you’d be surprised even if you have no interest in the music genre at all.”
Jones said what makes Dark Nectar unique is its approach to business. The establishment offers endless possibilities and a versatile environment, allowing customers to mold the coffee shop as they please.
“None of this was planned,” Jones said. “It’s just sort of how it’s evolved and we kind of let the community turn it into what it’s turned into.”
The Siren, Morro Bay
Towering with wood beams across the ceiling, neon signs and strobing stage lights, The Siren is the perfect place to visit for hip-hop, punk rock, country and more, while also grabbing a drink or a bite to eat.
General Manager and co-owner of The Siren, Monte Schaller, described the venue with one word: stimulating. Schaller said what makes The Siren stand out is its atmosphere.
“Every venue has something unique to offer that nobody else does. I think that most people when they can get to see a show at The Siren, the first thing they think about is intimacy,” Schaller said.
“It’s a very small venue, you have very close access to the performers on stage which is neat, effectively seeing a high-profile artist in a bar.”
Keep in mind that you must be 21 years old to enter The Siren so make sure to bring your ID, and don’t even dare to try your fake ID with that address you probably can’t remember.
Libertine Brewery
Do you want to listen to live music after spending a little too much at the Thursday Farmers Market? Just two streets over on Broad Street, Libertine Brewery, the brewery of wild ales and sour beers, has you covered with free shows that start at 8 p.m. every Thursday.
The brewery has hosted free shows from the local acts Amttrak, earthship and Margot Sinclair.
Events and Marketing Manager John Pranjic said that the team has prioritized offering more music and entertainment for the city over the past year.
“We realized about six months ago that there was kind of a need for college bands to have a space to play their music loud instead of just playing it in their garage or playing in their living rooms,” Pranjic said.
If you’re looking to form a band or just need a place to play the guitar because you live in a three-bedroom apartment with five roommates, then the open jam they host may be calling your name.
Open jam sessions are held every other Sunday and all skill levels are welcomed.
The Aviary
In the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo at 762 Higuera St., you can find the new getaway venue highlighting bands across California with the words “WARDEN BLOCK” guarding the entrance.
Artist Relations and Marketing Director Adrian Rosas said you can commonly expect indie alternative shows to be played at The Aviary.
He also said they’re looking to host genres across the board of what’s upcoming in the music scene from lo-fi jazz, shoegaze, melodic post-hardcore and more.
Rosas said it was important for them to provide a venue that was affordable and available for people of all ages.
“That’s my goal,” Rosas said. “Something that everybody can come to and see some new bands and also see some genres that they thought were gone,” Rosas said.
SLO Brew Rock
The infamous name “SLO Brew Rock” lays out exactly what an attendee can expect on a night out: a brewery on the right, a concert venue on the left and an enormous rock planted in the middle of it all.
SLO Brew Rock can be anything you make of it. While some guests find themselves sitting down with friends for a meal, others are attracted to the dance floor and twinkling stage lights.
Nearly every weekend is booked with rising talent from DJs, cover bands and indie musicians.
Local rock band, Pancho and the Wizards has taken the SLO Brew stage and performed in the area since 2015. The group has played in a variety of venues from garages to local bars and even the Shabang Live Music and Arts Festival.
Lead singer and guitarist of Pancho and the Wizards, Tristan Cole Wildey, said SLO Brew Rock is his favorite place to perform in San Luis Obispo because of the sound system and the layout of the venue.
“It can be a sold-out show and you can still kind of see, wherever you are, where the band is,” Wildey said.
“Sometimes [when] other venues are bigger than that, it doesn’t feel like you can be as close.”
The Fremont Theatre
The Fremont Theatre is a historic landmark in San Luis Obispo that takes you back to the 1940s with its flamingo pink color and grand neon signs that fill up the dark sky at night.
The venue opened in 1942 right before the U.S. entered World War II. The Fremont would soon hold war bond drives resulting in almost $750,000 raised, according to the Fremont SLO website.
Nowadays, they hold concerts for some big indie alternative names such as Mac DeMarco, STRFKR and Unknown Mortal Orchestra.
The theater hosts unique events as well, such as Free the Youth’s and Shabang’s “Battle Of The Bands,” which gives musicians the chance to win $1,000 and a slot at Shabang.
The entertainment doesn’t stop with big band performances though, as featured DJ sets have additionally become a popular act.
You can experience the excitement for yourself on Sept. 28 with the unforgettable theme “Club XCX,” inspired by Charli XCX’s hit album, “brat.”
Vina Robles Amphitheatre
Nearly 30 miles away from Cal Poly’s campus lies the majestic Vina Robles Amphitheatre.
The venue is a wide-open outdoor space full of fresh air, late-night breezes and the stunning central coast sunset over bright concert lights.
The theater grounds are grand and imitate a modern Greek theater. Though the space is large, it still has that close-knit feeling and not a bad seat in the house.
Vina Robles offers plenty of options for your night out, including lawn seats where you can lie back and soak in the sound, general admission standing sections or a concourse for wine tasting.
A handful of big throwback names have come to the amphitheater such as the Beach Boys, War and former Beatles member, Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band.
The concert season runs from April through November, according to the Vina Robles Amphitheatre website. While the season completes soon, it will end with a bang from acts Jungle and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard.
Paired with a unique music scene, the San Luis Obispo area has an extraordinary mix of concert venues from the graceful Alex Madonna Expo Center to the rowdy Dark Nectar.
The county is a hot place to see local bands, up-and-coming artists and that big-name musician you have on your bucket list.
If any of these venues piqued your interest, you can follow up on their Instagrams to find out the next concert they’ll be hosting.
