Music Scene
A scan through your average radio dial can be a dreary trip for a music fan these days. With pre-programmed playlists fixated on this week's trendiest sounds in heavy rotation, if there's one thing radio lacks, it's variety.
For anyone craving a little more diversity, the music scene in Lawrence is like a breath of fresh air. No matter what you're looking for, you're guaranteed to find live music in Lawrence that's miles beyond any radio dial. Relax to the summer sounds of concerts in the park, witness the future superstars of rock (and see a few who have already made it to the top) at one of downtown Lawrence's bars and clubs, or just take a stroll down Massachusetts Street and hear the locals whip up a little street corner spectacular.
And if you still want to head back to the radio, from Lawrence's Kansas Public Radio to the University of Kansas' groundbreaking KJHK college station, you just might uncover some sounds you've never heard before.
For more information and updates on the Lawrence music scene and concert calendars, visit lawrence.com.
Live Music Venues
Abe & Jake's Landing
Abe & Jake's Landing takes its name from Abe Burns and Jake Washington, two local fisherman who had a fishing cabin next to the Consolidated Barbed Wire Company, which is now home to this nationally known entertainment venue. Artists such as O.A.R., John Mayer and Caroline's Spine have graced the stages of Abe & Jake's before making it big. With its great music and unique multilevel construction, Abe & Jake's was named "Best Overall Bar" by the students of the University of Kansas for 2002.
The Bottleneck
A block east of Massachusetts Street, the Bottleneck is a favorite of music fans across the Midwest, with live music that draws an audience as diverse as the bands that take the stage. From rock and punk to blues and acoustic folk, the tavern draws young bands on the verge of hitting the big time. Everclear, Widespread Panic, The Foo Fighters, Lucinda Williams and Jewel are among the Bottleneck alums.
Gaslight Tavern
The Gaslight Tavern & Coffeehouse is a charming 'backwater' spot, housed in a little building over the bridge in North Lawrence. The Gaslight also serves coffees and teas — with weekly specials including homemade hot buttered rum drinks in the fall/winter months.
They also feature a weekly line-up of DJ's and bands. The club's 40-body capacity is limited but do not let that deter you. The clean, smoke-free environment and warm, initimate decor more than make up for lost space – the perfect spot to slip away to for a quiet drink or cup of tea.
The Granada
Right in the center of downtown, the vintage Granada movie theater is home to one of the coolest nightclubs in Lawrence. Weekly theme nights featuring area DJs draw crowds of students to dance all night. The Granada's concert calendar is full of live music from big-name bands to independent favorites. Or just relax with a martini in the Aqua Lounge, where fish tanks line the walls and the bartenders know all your favorite drinks.
Jackpot Music Hall
The Jackpot has quickly and deservedly become a fixture on the downtown music scene. The Old West-themed bar hosts live music 5-6 nights nights a week ranging from national acts like The Arcade Fire to locals like The Appleseed Cast. A recent addition to The Jackpot is a full-service coffee bar, which offers 16oz. mochas and lattes.
The Jazzhaus
The Jazzhaus is known for booking jazz, rock, funk and blues acts, but you never know who might show up for a few sets. Jazz greats Geri Allen and Vernon Reid popped in one night after playing a gig across town at Kansas University's Lied Center.
Liberty Hall
A combination movie theater and concert hall, Liberty Hall is a favorite of touring bands and soloists swinging through the Midwest. Folk singer Joan Baez, Talking Heads' David Byrne, Cuban band Los Van Van, saxophonist Maceo Parker and eclectic Bela Fleck and the Flecktones have stood in the hall's spotlight while fans clamored for more.
Lied Center of Kansas
From the breathtaking leaps of ballet performances to the intimate strains of chamber concerts to the improvisational heights of living jazz legends, an unparalleled variety of performing artistry awaits you at the Lied Center of Kansas. The Lied's Concert series brings internationally renowned performers and events to Lawrence every year. From the New Directions series and the World series, highlighting diversity and innovation in performance, to the Broadway & Beyond which showcases the best of musical theater, the Lied has something to offer every music fan.
The Replay Lounge
The Replay Lounge is home to pinball, rock and roll. You never know who you'll run into.
Free pinball on Friday's from 3 to 6. The Replay also has a heated beer garden open year round that's great in a smoke-free town. Shows are usually 21+ and start 10-11.
Annual Live Music Events
Day on the Hill
An end-of-the-year tradition at KU since 1989, the student-run Day on the Hill is a free all-day festival celebrating summer, sun and most of all, music. Every May, as classes are winding down and the weather is heating up, students and Lawrence locals bring their Frisbees, blankets and dogs and congregate near Potter Lake on the KU campus for seven-plus hours of local bands to big-name acts. Pearl Jam, They Might Be Giants, Fastball and Soul Coughing are just a few of the bands that have rocked the lawn at Day on the Hill. Please contact the University of Kansas for more information.
Concerts in the Park
The Lawrence City Band's first performance was on a beautiful summer evening in 1863, the night before the legendary raid on Lawrence by William Quantrill. Today the Lawrence City Band commemorates that fateful day and continues the tradition of offering free music on Wednesday nights throughout the summer. Enjoy a relaxing evening under the stars on the lawns of Lawrence's South Park. Please check our events calendar for more information.
Brown Bag Classics
Started in 2000 to highlight KU's School of Fine Arts performing artists, the Brown Bag Classics series makes the arts more accessible with frequent gatherings in the Kansas Union on the University of Kansas Campus. The programs feature jazz, opera, piano, woodwind ensembles, string, voice and brass concerts. At the end of the series, faculty from the Department of Art and the Department of Design lead a lively roundtable about the creative process. The audience is invited to bring along a lunch and enjoy a musical treat.
KU Jazz Festival
For a quarter century, the KU Jazz Festival has been one of the focal points for jazz performance and education in the United States. The non-competitive annual event provides a wonderful opportunity to hear and learn from world-class jazz musicians and educators. Evening concerts in the beautiful Lied Center feature a first-rate lineup of some of the most important and exciting musicians in the world of contemporary jazz, while daytime clinics and master classics with the artists allow students and visitors interact with the musicians outside the concert hall.
Local Radio
KANU 91.5FM
KANU is a charter member of National Public Radio and broadcasts classical music, NPR news, original comedy series and jazz and folk music. KANU carries several well-known national programs (Morning Edition, The Thistle and Shamrock, A Prairie Home Companion), but the majority of programming is locally produced. Catch KANU's award-winning live comedy show, Right Between the Ears as they broadcast live performances from Liberty Hall in downtown Lawrence.
KJHK 90.7FM
KU's student radio station, KJHK, was one of the first radio stations to provide a live Internet broadcast, and has been a catalyst for the local music scene in Lawrence. In a national magazine article spotlighting 20 radio stations from coast to coast, Attache magazine called KJHK "one of the most rocking frontline college stations in the country."
