THE TOP 10 Music Venues in FORT COLLINS, CO
The Best 10 Music venues in Fort Collins, CO.
10) Avogadro’s Number
A great little live music venue in Fort Collins, CO. With a rich history supporting locals musicians Avogadro’s Number has always been a place where local acts can come and perform. Serving coffee and having a very welcoming open mic, is number 10 for The Top 10 Best Music Venues in Fort Collins, CO, Avogadro’s Number. It has an inviting atmosphere and a wonderful staff that is happy to help everyone who enters their shop. Being a long time business of Fort Collins, they have always been a great supporter of our local musicians and community. They welcome all to join them for their open mic nights and live music events. Bring your guitar, voice, or yourself and join them for an evening of fun and coffee. Avogadro’s is a great music venue in Fort Collins, CO for smaller acts to shine and grow. They welcome everyone from beginner to advanced musicians. You can always see what events are coming up on their events page.
9) The Emporium Sports Bar
An entire music venue in Fort Collins, CO based around a 1993 cult classic movie, is it true? Yes, it is, the Emporium Sports Bar and Grill makes our list at number 9 for The Top 10 Best Music Venues in Fort Collins, CO. The owners had a simple idea that has connected deeply with our Fort Collins community. According to the owners this is how it all started. “We started talking about how awesome it would be to theme a bar after one of our favorite movies, Dazed and Confused, the cult classic Directed by Richard Linklater. In the movie, Emporium was the pool hall and local hot spot where everyone congregated and where Matthew McConaughey made his iconic entrance.” “We wanted a place like that in our neighborhood to call our own, and from there, an opportunity arose that would make this dream a reality. We each had something special to bring to the table, which created an inclusive place for locals to hang out and cultivate relationships within the community.” The Emporium is more than just a live music venue in Fort Collins, it’s also a place where locals and non-locals alike have come to call their own. We are happy to make The Emporium Sports Bar is our number 9 choice for The Top 10 Best Music Venues in Fort Collins, CO. The next time you are looking for a place to play some darts or pool, come check them out.
8) The Coast
What a wonderful music venue in Fort Collins, CO owned by a wonderful family. The Coast in Fort Collins, CO is a perfect music venue for smaller events and local bands to come perform. With a stellar atmosphere and a welcoming environment for all ages, The Coast earns their spot at number 8, on our list of The Top 10 Best Music Venues in Fort Collins, CO. Welcoming local bands of all styles is the music venue in Fort Collins, CO, The Coast. With a great sound system and a 300 person capacity there is plenty of room and equipment to have one rocking show! Focusing on the town and local bands, Billy and his lovely wife are amazing at hosting local events and supporting the Fort Collins music scene. Talk about some true down to earth souls. Along with the live music, they offer some fantastic snacks! We highly recommend you try their wings next time you stop in, they are delicious! Why not stop in to see a show when you grab those wings, you get a rocking good time and some crazy good food.
7) Mishawaka
It all started back in 1916 according to Mishawaka; “Musician and motorcycle-traveling adventurer Walter S. Thompson was riding through the sparsely inhabited Poudre Canyon when he heard a song from the land too clear and powerful to ignore. The majestic mountain vistas and idyllic riverbank setting sang the notes of a sacred place and Thompson decided then and there to fulfill his dance hall dreams. Thompson homesteaded the property and spent the next several years building the Mishawaka Dance Hall by hand. Three years later, the Mishawaka was born and Thompson’s wife and children were reunited with him in this Poudre Canyon paradise. The Mishawaka quickly earned its time-tested reputation as a destination for music and celebration beyond compare.” As a long standing music venue in Fort Collins, CO, Mishawaka has a beautiful history with turns and twists just like the drive to the music venue itself. The life blood of this venue continues to flow as strong as The Poudre River it sits beside. If you have’t had a chance to experience the beautiful back drop during a concert, we suggest you add it to your bucket list. This is why Mishawaka has a rightful spot at number 7 on our Top 10 Best Music Venues in Fort Collins, CO. The next time you are up in the canyon, even for the day, you can always stop in and grab a juicy burger. A little ways off the trail, but still an amazing music venue in Fort Collins, CO. Mishawaka is just a quick drive up the breath-taking Poudre Canyon, only about 15-20 minutes away.
6) 830 North
A little closer to reach than a river-side stage is the all entertaining music venue 830 North. Hitting our list at number 6 of The Top 10 Best Music Venues in Fort Collins, Co is a fairly new venue. 830 North has invested time and resources to create a welcoming music venue with great sound. Not just great sound for a music venue in a bowling alley! That’s right, but great sound for any music venue in Fort Collins, CO. Providing amazing support to local bands of all ages and musical styles. 830 North has become a home for local musicians to start their journey as a performing band. Featuring advanced musicians and beginner acts, the positive environment is always welcoming to all ages. Along with the music, the venue does a great job of hosting events beyond the scope of bowling. They rightfully earn their spot at number 6 of The Top 10 Best Music Venues in Fort Collins, CO. The next time you are looking for a show, try 830 North as your next music venue in Fort Collins, CO and enjoy more than just music. Slip on a pair of those goofy clown shoes and have yourself a bowl.
5) Surfside 7
Catering to the slightly older, rocking crowd, the local music venue in Fort Collins, CO, Surfside 7 host 21+ shows starting after 9pm. It is an amazing place to experience a local show close up. With a smaller capacity and ground level stage, Surfside 7 sits wonderfully in its place at number 5 of The Top 10 Best Music Venues in Fort Collins, CO. Get sweaty, have a drink, and throw down with some of the best local bands around Fort Collins, CO. It may be smaller than the other music venues on this list, but don’t let that fool you. As a known music venue in Fort Collins, CO, bands and fans seek out this location to rock out and have a killer time. Surfside 7 is a place where local bands rock the walls until they shake and you can always come back for more. You can experience punk, rock, metal, and everything in-between. The local music venue in Fort Collins is a great place if you need to let out some energy or are looking for a place to rock. Check out a show and give your support to our local bands! This is why we are happy to give the number 5 spot on the list of The Top 10 Best Music Venues in Fort Collins, CO.
4) The Lyric
Sculptures and sound stages eclipse the backyard at this stunning music venue. At number 4 for The Top 10 Best Music Venues in Fort Collins, CO is The Lyric. Growing from a smaller venue in the heart of Old Town Fort Collins, The Lyric has turned into a musicians playground. Rightfully at number 4 on our list, The Lyric offers amazing stages that boggle the mind and stretch the imagination. Stage dancers, acrobatics, and amazing decorations take your mind to new areas of creativity as you explore this local music venue in Fort Collins, CO. Along side live music they also offer movie nights showing pictures on their drive-in size screen in the back yard just a few yards from the stage. As a spectacular music venue in Fort Collins, CO they also offer wonderful drinks and a very welcoming staff. We highly recommend experiencing their backyard during any of their events. You will see some great local advanced guitar players here as well as some other amazing musicians!
3) Armory FoCo
Sitting in the historic building built in 1907 called the Armory of Fort Collins, CO, is an amazing music venue. Gracing our charts at number 3 of The Top 10 Best Music Venues in Fort Collins, CO. At its 200 person capacity is a venue home to local and semi-local musicians. On Mountain Ave near Old Town, The Armory is supported by the Bohemian Foundation. This is a small excerpt from their website about them “Through Bohemian’s Music District, a musician-centric gathering space and educational facility, local artists and production professionals are also finding new opportunities to engage at The Armory.” This is a fantastic music venue in Fort Collins, CO to see a show and enjoy some of the towns history in person. The sound system has been spoken of by local musicians as “simply amazing”. For a local, historic, music venue to support our community with such quality, is no-wonder The Armory has earned a spot at number 3, on our list of The Top 10 Best Music Venues in Fort Collins, CO.
2) Washington’s
Starting as a bar and grill in 1978 and in a building that started its life in 1903 as a warehouse for Honey and Fruit. The sandstone walls originally housed the warehouse portion of the Akin Building. Through out the 1950’s to 1970’s it was a Carpenter & Son’s transfer service building, according to Meg Dunn, who uncovered the building's history. Rightfully earning its place at number 2, in The Top 10 Best Music Venues in Fort Collins, CO. With a rich history dating back to the beginning of Fort Collins. Washington’s has had numerous national acts grace the stage. Many people will remember the great burgers we would wait an hour for, only to devour them in a matter of minutes. Seeing the burgers go and the music have a new place to thrive was a beautiful trade, now having such a spectacular music venue in Fort Collins, CO. Also supported by the Bohemian Foundation, Washington’s has helped to support the vibrant musical city that is Fort Collins, CO. If you ever see a show you will notice how easy it is to see the stage this is due to a tiered balcony level that allows excellent sight throughout the room. They also have two full service bars completely out of the way of performances and audience members. With supporting our local community, preserving a historical building, creating a new music venue in Fort Collins, it is no surprise Washington’s sits atop the list at number 2 of The Top 10 Best Music Venues in Fort Collins, CO.
1) Aggie Theatre
Standing along the street of College Ave is a venue that has stood the test of time with the city, starting back in 1995 as the music venue we all know and love. Earning their spot at number 1 for The Top 10 Best Music Venues in Fort Collins, CO, is The Aggie Theatre. Unlike the other venues on the list the Aggie is the only one who has stood as long as it has with such a wide variety of music. For a music venue in Fort Collins, CO there are some extremely large national acts to hit the stage. Along with being a place for national acts to entertain Fort Collins, it is also a place where local musicians of all styles get to showcase their talents. From beginner guitar players to advanced guitar players, to bands of all levels. Local bands regularly perform at this fantastic music venue in Fort Collins, CO. Allowing both national acts and new local bands with members as young as 10 to perform in a music venue that holds 650 people creates a place where the community can connect and share their dreams. The music venue in Fort Collins, CO is a place that has encouraged the city with music and helped local musicians have a stage to discover their dreams. Rightfully at number 1, is The Aggie Theatre of Fort Collins. The next time you are looking for something to do, check out our number 1 pick for The Top 10 Best Music Venues in Fort Collins, CO, the Aggie Theatre and go see a show!
