Spokane's Best Music Venues

There’s no shortage of sweet sounds to be heard around Spokane, but Inlander readers have strong thoughts about which spots are the best for catching live music. From outdoor summer show hotspots to rowdy spots for rockers of all ages to bumping honky-tonks, the venues below received the most votes from our readers as we were putting together the Inlander’s annual “Best of the Northwest” issue.

GESA CREDIT UNION PAVILION AT RIVERFRONT PARK
When the weather warms in the summer months, Spokane’s parks become cultural hubs for the city.  And things really get popping when there’s a concert at Spokane’s most prominent landmark, the recently corporate-sponsored Gesa Credit Union Pavilion. While it might be the least-utilized venue on this list due to its seasonal restrictions, it blows the rest of the pack out of the water when it comes to the view. Sure, patrons crowded around the stage can get a great view of top-notch headlining music that spans genre boundaries, but the ones sitting in the Pavilion’s grassy tiers can see big acts play as the sun majestically sets over the Spokane River then dance the night away under the stars.
Downtown Spokane: 574 N. Howard St., spokanepavilion.com

SPOKANE ARENA
When massive acts swing through the Lilac City — especially during the non-outdoor concert season months — they head to Spokane Arena. While it’s not the type of space that will blow anyone’s socks off, it’s incredibly effective at putting on great arena shows, with legends like Paul McCartney and Shania Twain having kicked off world tours there in recent years. When the building is packed with a sold-out crowd, there’s a communal electricity that other spots around can’t match due to its sheer scope.
Downtown Spokane: 720 W. Mallon Ave., spokanearena.com

KNITTING FACTORY
VOTED BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE FROM 2019-2020
A downtown mainstay for decades, the Knitting Factory is the spot for established touring artists that aren’t massive. As a result, the Knit’s show calendar is usually jam packed with an array of exciting pop, hip-hop, EDM, rock and folk acts. With a spacious floor in front of the stage, an elevated bar and balcony seating, there are plenty of options for finding your ideal spot to gaze at some of your favorite (or soon-to-be-favorite) artists.
Downtown Spokane: 919 W. Sprague Ave., sp.knittingfactory.com

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Erick Doxey photo

Jungle vibes are strong in The Chameleon.

THE CHAMELEON
Rising like a phoenix from the ashes of another beloved venue that previously occupied the space (Lucky You Lounge), The Chameleon has established itself as one of Spokane’s essential venues despite only opening in March 2024. The space boasts lush jungle ambience and colorful creature murals by artist and co-owner Hazel Miller. The venue’s visual projection system adds an extremely vibey feel to every concert on the 21+ main stage, while the intimate downstairs space known as The Jaguar Room opens up The Chameleon’s inclusiveness by offering all-ages shows. In addition to local acts and touring EDM, rock and folk acts, The Chameleon has also become one of Spokane’s hottest night clubs with an array of themed dance nights.
Downtown Spokane: 1801 W. Sunset Blvd., chameleonspokane.com

FOX THEATER
First opened in 1931 as a movie house, the Fox Theater is a relic that hasn’t gone out of style. As the home of the Spokane Symphony, it’s the spot in town to catch the best classical music while also occasionally hosting some excellent touring acts that prefer a seated venue. The building’s marvelous art deco design adds visual space to the sounds emanating from the stage, and the tremendous acoustics make each symphonic performance into a blissfully rich soundbath.
Downtown Spokane: 1001 W. Sprague Ave., foxtheaterspokane.org

THE BIG DIPPER
Any thriving music scene requires a smaller scale all-ages venue: a place where bands can play their first show, where teens can congregate, where musicians that might not fit in elsewhere can feel comfortable. The Big Dipper fills those needs for Spokane. While the venue brings in a broad spectrum of styles, it’s primarily a hub for the local heavy music scene, with metal, hardcore, and punk shows filling most of the calendar. If you’re looking for an inclusive space where you can mosh to your heart’s content, the Dipper is the best option around.
Downtown Spokane: 171 S. Washington St., thebigdipperspokane.com

BECU LIVE AT NORTHERN QUEST RESORT & CASINO
VOTED BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE FROM 2023-2025
Inlander readers absolutely adore BECU Live — Northern Quest Resort and Casino’s top-notch outdoor music venue — and they’re absolutely justified in voting it as the best spot to see live music in the Inland Northwest year after year. Each summer out in Airway Heights, Northern Quest books a loaded slate of diverse concerts, so a vast array of folks from the area can gather for a great night of music under the stars. As Spokanites have continually declared, there’s simply no better place to soak in the summer sounds.
Airway Heights: 100 N. Hayford Road, northernquest.com

HAMILTON STUDIO
A new addition to the Spokane venue scene, the longtime West Central photography studio has transformed itself into a hotspot for concerts with an intimate feel. Dubbed “The Listening Room,” the space largely caters to a seated crowd that enjoys jazz, classical, country, blues, cabaret and folk concerts. Rather than an elevated stage, performers play in a corner cyclorama that helps the audience feel like there’s little space between them and the music. If you’re looking for a lower-key concertgoing vibe, Hamilton Studio might be right up your alley.
West Central: 1427 W. Dean Ave., hamilton.live

SPOKANE LIVE AT SPOKANE TRIBE RESORT & CASINO
The venues out in Airway Heights are putting in the work to make “casino concert” no longer a derogatory term. Past all the slot machines and gaming tables, Spokane Live — the venue at Spokane Resort & Casino that opened in 2023 — delivers a sleek modern space with great sound that plays host to a wide variety of contemporary and classic touring acts (as well as stand-up comedy). While the odds might be in the house’s favor outside of Spokane Live, catching a show there is always a winning proposition, never a gamble.
Airway Heights: 14300 W SR-2 Hwy, spokanetribecasino.com

NASHVILLE NORTH
VOTED NORTH IDAHO’S BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE FROM 2019-2025
While Northern Idaho doesn’t boast many concert hotspots, the best honky-tonk in the region can be found over in Post Falls. A hotspot for country music that has hosted many a rising star on its stage, Nashville North is the spot to be seen if cowboy hats and boots are your aesthetic. With beers and shots flowing and a large dance floor perfect for some line dancing, Nashville North gives locals a fitting taste of Music City without having to travel over 2,000 miles.
Post Falls: 6361 W. Seltice Way, thenashvillenorth.com