Before I moved to Vancouver, I was so jealous of the people living here who could go to shows whenever they wanted. At this point, I had been looking into all the cool indie venues around town for ages and just couldn’t wait to check them all out.
But once I moved…it was a bit of a different story. Don’t get me wrong, I love going to shows! But after a busy day, the thought of going home with barely enough time to get changed before taking a handful of buses and skytrains to get downtown and see a band I’ve never even heard of? It’s hard to find the energy.
Slowly but surely, I’ve been checking off my list of venues to visit, so if you’re looking for somewhere to catch live music, here are just a few of my favourites so far.
Red Gate Arts Society (1965 Main St)
Red Gate was the venue that made me start falling in love with Vancouver’s scene. I’ve been to a handful of shows there over the years, but I’d love to see more. With ample room for dancing, plus comfy couches and chairs to take a break in, this is a great place to start for anyone interested in seeing more local music. They host 19+ and all-ages shows, featuring pretty much every genre under the sun, and sometimes even stream their shows live on their website!
(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)
I’ve only had the chance to visit Green Auto once so far, but I had a great time! This space is beautifully decorated, with these gorgeous hanging lamps I absolutely cannot get enough of (seriously, I need to ask where they got them!) and while the washrooms are covered floor to ceiling in graffiti, they’re surprisingly clean! Which, let’s be honest, is a very important factor when judging a venue.
(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)
Victory Square (200 W Hastings St)
Honestly, I’m not sure if this one even counts as a music venue by official terms, but it definitely is in my book! This outdoor park is just a short walk from the Stadium/Chinatown skytrain station, and it’s the perfect spot to meet people, dance, or just chill out in the grass and enjoy the music!
Aside from their annual block party, hosted by UBC’s CiTR and Discorder Magazine, local artists perform in the memorial park weekly during the warmer months of the year.
(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)
These are just a few of my favorite spots so far! I know there’s tons more to explore, so let me know if you have any recommendations!