Raleigh's live music venues, from the Lincoln Theatre, Pour House and Kings to Red Hat Amphitheater and Walnut Creek, plus late bars and the social district.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Addresses and hours come from each venue’s own website, linked below. This guide lists venues, not specific shows; check each calendar for what is on.

Raleigh’s music scene runs from small downtown clubs to two amphitheaters and an arena, with most of the small rooms within a few blocks of Moore Square and Fayetteville Street. For the bars, downtown’s Sip n’ Stroll social district lets you carry a drink between participating venues until 10 p.m.

Who to call

  • Lincoln Theatre: 919-821-4111
  • Red Hat Amphitheater: 919-996-8800
  • Lenovo Center: 919-861-2300; ticket office, 919-861-2323
  • Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek: 919-831-6400
  • Downtown Raleigh Ambassadors (safety escorts, directions): 919-368-7962
  • Emergency: 911

Clubs and music halls

Venue Address What to know
Lincoln Theatre 126 E. Cabarrus St. Concerts and tribute nights; 919-821-4111
The Pour House Music Hall 224 S. Blount St. Doors usually 7 or 8 p.m., shows 8 or 9 p.m.; record shop open noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday
Kings 14 W. Martin St. Touring and local bands; doors and show times on each listing
Slim’s 227 S. Wilmington St. Bar and stage; open 4:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. weekdays and 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. weekends
Irregardless 901 W. Morgan St. Restaurant that calls itself “a home for live music, since 1975”; music with dinner

The Pour House also runs a record shop and a vinyl pressing plant at the same address. Kings and Neptunes Parlour share 14 W. Martin St.

Big stages

Bars and late nights

Downtown has most of Raleigh’s bars, on Fayetteville Street, around Moore Square and City Market, and in the Warehouse District. Glenwood South, along Glenwood Avenue north of the center, is lined with bars and restaurants.

Sip n’ Stroll Downtown Raleigh is the city’s social district: from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, you can carry an alcoholic drink outdoors inside the district if you bought it from a participating licensed business. Participating bars and music rooms include The Pour House, the Lincoln Theatre, the Raleigh Times Bar, Neptunes Parlour, Boxcar Bar and Arcade and Landmark Tavern (Sip n’ Stroll venues).

First Friday brings late gallery hours and live music downtown on the first Friday of every month (First Friday).

Getting home: the Downtown Raleigh Ambassadors work until 3:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights and will walk you to your car or another downtown location; call 919-368-7962 (ambassadors). Downtown parking is on our downtown Raleigh guide.

What this means for you

  • Check each venue’s calendar for age limits; some club shows are 18 and up.
  • Drinks may leave a bar only inside the Sip n’ Stroll district, and only until 10 p.m.
  • The ambassadors’ safety escort is free.

More: things to do this month and free things to do in Raleigh.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I see live music in downtown Raleigh?

The Lincoln Theatre (126 E. Cabarrus St.), The Pour House Music Hall (224 S. Blount St.), Kings (14 W. Martin St.) and Slim’s (227 S. Wilmington St.) book shows most weeks; Red Hat Amphitheater (500 S. McDowell St.) hosts the big outdoor concerts.

What is the outdoor concert venue in Raleigh?

Downtown, Red Hat Amphitheater at 500 S. McDowell St. In southeast Raleigh, Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, 3801 Rock Quarry Road, run by Live Nation.

Which Raleigh music bars stay open late?

Slim’s, 227 S. Wilmington St., lists hours until 2 a.m. every day. Hours vary by bar; check each venue’s site.

Can I carry a drink on the street in downtown Raleigh?

Inside the Sip n’ Stroll social district only, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with a drink bought from a participating licensed business.