The Five Top Las Vegas Music Venues
Las Vegas is a top destination for music lovers, attracting some of the biggest names in the business to its theatres, lounges and music halls. From glitzy big-name residencies at famous casino resorts to intimate spaces featuring alternative and up and coming talent, Vegas has it all. You can even find casinos that accept Payforit, if you look hard enough. With such a wealth of fantastic venues, choosing just five is a tall order – so we hope to strike the right note with our selection. In no particular order, here are our top five.
Colosseum At Caesars Palace
We couldn’t compile a top-five list without including the Colosseum. This scaled-down replica of the iconic Roman building was constructed to host Celine Dion’s record-breaking 16-year residency. Since its opening in 2003, over seven million concert-goers have attended the more than 2,000 shows hosted in the state-of-the-art theatre. Despite having a capacity of more than 4,000 seats, the clever acoustics and layout make this feel like a much more intimate venue.
172 at Rio Las Vegas
If you’re looking for a more up close and personal music experience, then 172 is the place for you. This lounge serves up excellent sushi and cocktails to accompany the live music in a room that holds less than 300 people. Named after the 172-decibel eruption of Krakatoa, the theme is cozy, chic, and very loud. Inspired by the music bars of Nashville, the club was opened as an alternative to the big and flashy theatres and arenas that populate the Strip.
MGM Grand Garden Arena
At the opposite end of the scale is the garden arena. This is the place to go for enormous music events, and it can fit 16,800 spectators within its walls. All the greats from Aerosmith to Madonna have performed here, and the arena is also host to a number of awards shows. Some major sporting events take place here too, and the arena is especially well-known for professional boxing and wrestling matches.
House of Blues at Mandalay Bay
This New Orleans-inspired music hall is the place to go for a taste of southern music and soul food in the Nevada desert. It’s the only venue of its kind in Vegas, and should be on every music lover’s itinerary on a visit to Sin City. Seating is elevated to the front and sides, and the space directly in front of the stage is usually packed with standing spectators. During their famous Sunday Gospel Brunch events, tables and chairs are laid out so that visitors can enjoy the home-style food at their leisure. Carlos Santana is the artist in residence, and there are regular comedy shows in the mix.
The Smith Center
For a more highbrow musical evening, see what’s on at the Smith Center. This is the place to see the Las Vegas Philharmonic, ballet performances, and appearances by acclaimed classical artists like Yo-Yo Ma. There are four performance spaces on the five acre campus, including a large indoor theatre with space for up to 100 musicians two smaller ones. The outdoor Symphony Park is used for public concerts as well as private functions, with views of downtown Vegas.
Of course, there are many more great places to catch a live show in Las Vegas. Just missing out on the top five was the AXIS at Planet Hollywood, home to Britney Spears’ popular resident show. Honorable mention must also go to the acclaimed Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort, famous for its crystal clear acoustics. Whether or not all these venues belong in the top five is up for debate, but one thing is indisputable: Las Vegas is one of the most incredible music destinations on the planet.
