Looking for live music in Portsmouth NH and surrounding Seacoast towns? Here’s a list of local venues that regularly host live music, along with contact information and links to find out more. To see our local events calendar, click here.

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Portsmouth, Dover, Durham, Epping, Exeter, Hampton, Kittery, Newmarket, Rochester, Rollinsford, Somersworth, York

Portsmouth, NH

Mark Steven Capone

3S Artspace
319 Vaughan St.
603-766-3330
http://www.3sarts.org/
https://www.facebook.com/3sartspace

Local, regional, and touring bands perform in a roughly 500-capacity concert hall, which also hosts occasional theater, film screenings, and community discussions. There’s also an art gallery with rotating exhibits.

Button Factory Stage (WSCA)
909 Islington St., Suite 1
603-430-9722
https://wscafm.org/events/
https://www.facebook.com/wscaradio

Local and touring acts occasionally play the 50-capacity performance space, plus The Button Factory Jazz Series on Thursday nights.

Cisco Brewers Portsmouth
35 Corporate Drive
603-430-8600
https://www.facebook.com/CiscoBrewersPortsmouth/

Local and regional music acts and comedians in the pub.

The Clipper Tavern
75 Pleasant St.
603-501-0109
https://www.clippertavernportsmouth.com/
https://www.facebook.com/clippertavern/

Local acts perform about five nights a week, with karaoke on Sundays.

Earth Eagle Brewings
165 High St.
603-502-2244
http://eartheaglebrewings.com/
https://www.facebook.com/eartheaglebrewings

Solo acoustic acts every Monday night, with occasional special events.

The Goat Portsmouth
142 Congress St.
603-590-4628
https://goatnh.com/portsmouth/
https://www.facebook.com/goatbarportsmouth/

Mostly solo acoustic acts with a focus on country, about five nights a week.

Grill 28 at Pease
200 Grafton Road
603-433-1331
https://www.peasegolf.com/grill-28/

Solo acoustic acts every Friday night.

Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club
135 Congress St.
888-603-5299
https://jimmysoncongress.com/the-club/

Touring jazz and blues acts, and occasional local shows.

The Music Hall
28 Chestnut St.
603-436-2400
https://www.themusichall.org/
https://www.facebook.com/musichall/

Big touring acts perform in the 900-capacity theater, plus film screenings and occasional author events and theatric shows.

The Music Hall Lounge
131 Congress St.
603-436-2400
https://www.themusichall.org/
https://www.facebook.com/MusicHallLounge

Local and touring acts perform in the seated concert space, plus film screenings, presentations, and occasional author events.

Portsmouth Book and Bar
40 Pleasant St.
603-427-9197
http://www.bookandbar.com/
https://www.facebook.com/PortsmouthBookAndBar

Local and touring acts perform regularly, with an open mic on Wednesdays and occasional author/reading/writing events.

Portsmouth Gas Light Co.
64 Market St.
603-430-9122 (grill)
603-430-8582 (pub)
https://www.portsmouthgaslight.com/
https://www.facebook.com/portsmouthgaslightco/

Solo performers in the grill and pizza pub, with full bands (usually cover acts) on the deck (seasonal) and occasional special events in the third-floor nightclub.

Portsmouth Music and Arts Center
973 Islington St.
603-431-4278
https://pmaconline.org/
https://www.facebook.com/portsmouthmusicandartscenter

Occasional touring acts, along with student and faculty performances and occasional music lectures. (Some shows presented at other venues.)

Prescott Park Arts Festival
105 Marcy St.
603-436-2848
https://prescottpark.org/
https://www.facebook.com/PrescottParkArtsFestival/

Big touring acts, music and food festivals, film screenings, and theater on the outdoor stage (seasonal).

The Press Room
77 Daniel St.
603-431-5186
https://pressroomnh.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pressroomnh/

Local, regional, and touring bands, plus several recurring live music events.

Soul Café (North Church)
2 Congress St.
603-436-9109
http://www.northchurchportsmouth.org/soul-cafe/
https://www.facebook.com/northchurchportsmouth

The Soul Café series presents occasional touring and regional acts.

The Statey Bar & Grill
238 Deer St.
603-431-4357
https://www.thestateybar.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thestatestreetsaloon/

Occasional live bands (there is no music schedule on their website, and only select shows are listed on their Facebook page).

Thirsty Moose Taphouse
21 Congress St.
603-427-8645
https://www.thirstymoosetaphouse.com/portsmouth

Live bands (often cover acts) on weekends, plus occasional shows on weekdays.

Dover, NH

screen brickhouse victim of circumstance deep c divers

The stage at the Dover Brickhouse.

Cara Irish Pub (Chameleon Club)
11 Fourth St.
603-343-4390
https://carairishpub.com/cara-irish-pub-restaurant/
https://www.facebook.com/NHChameleonClub/

An Irish jam session with Frank Landford on Sundays, karaoke with Richard Rooks on Mondays, bluegrass with Steve Roy on Thursdays, guest DJs on Fridays and Saturdays, and an open mic the last Wednesday of each month, plus occasional stand-up comedy and film screenings.

Fury’s Publick House
1 Washington St.
603-617-3633
https://www.furysdover.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Furys-Publick-House-162710091583/

Local and regional acts most Fridays and Saturdays, plus Tim Theriault and Friends on Tuesdays and a monthly band in residence on Wednesdays.

Durham, NH

whittemore center

A performance at the Whittemore Center at UNH.

The Freedom Café
10 Mill Road
603-815-4916
http://www.thefreedomcafe.org/
https://www.facebook.com/TheFreedomCafeDurham

Occasional benefit events.

Three Chimneys Inn (ffrost Sawyer Tavern)
17 Newmarket Road
603-868-7800
https://www.threechimneysinn.com/calendar.aspx
https://www.facebook.com/ThreeChimneysInn/

Occasional local acts in the tavern or on the terrace.

Whittemore Center Arena (UNH)
128 Main St.
603-862-4057
https://campusrec.unh.edu/whittemore-center-arena
https://www.facebook.com/Whittemore-Center-Arena-134688983698/

Occasional concerts featuring touring acts and other events presented by the University of New Hampshire (also home of UNH hockey).

Epping, NH

Holy Grail
64 Main St.
603-679-9559
https://www.holygrailrestaurantandpub.com/
https://www.facebook.com/HolyGrailFoodSpirits

Local acts perform frequently on Friday and Saturday nights.

The RailPenny Tavern
8 Exeter Road
603-734-2609
https://www.railpennytavern.com/

Occasional local acts.

Exeter, NH

Sea Dog Brewing Co.
5 Water St.
603-793-5116
https://www.facebook.com/seadogexeter/
https://www.facebook.com/TownExeterArtsMusic/

TEAM (Town Exeter Arts Music) presents local acts on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings.

Sawbelly Brewing
156 Epping Road
603-583-5080
https://www.sawbellybrewing.com/

Regular local acts.

The Word Barn
66 Newfields Road
http://www.thewordbarn.com/
https://www.facebook.com/1WordBarn

Regular national touring acts and local bands, plus poetry readings, author events, and writing workshops.

Hampton, NH

Wally's Hampton Beach

A crowd at Wally’s.

Ashworth by the Sea
295 Ocean Blvd.
603-926-6762
https://www.facebook.com/ashworthbythesea/

Regional acts perform several nights a week on the deck (seasonal).

Bernie’s Beach Bar
73 Ocean Blvd.
603-926-5050
https://berniesnh.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Berniesbeachbar/

Local acts perform several nights a week, with occasional touring acts (seasonal).

The Goat Hampton
20 L St.
603-601-6928
https://goatnh.com/hampton/
https://www.facebook.com/goatbarnh

Mostly solo acoustic acts with a focus on country (seasonal).

Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
169 Ocean Blvd.
603-929-4100
http://www.casinoballroom.com/
https://www.facebook.com/casinoballroom

Major touring acts and comedians perform in the 2,000-capacity venue several nights a week (seasonal).

Ron’s Landing
379 Ocean Blvd.
603-929-2122
https://www.ronslanding.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Rons.Landing/

Area acts perform on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons.

Wally’s
144 Ashworth Ave.
603-926-6954
https://wallysnh.com/
https://www.facebook.com/WallysNH/

Local acts perform several nights a week, with occasional touring acts.

Kittery, ME

dance hall

A performance at The Dance Hall.

Blue Mermaid Island Grill
10 Shapleigh Road
207-703-2754
https://www.bluemermaid.com/
https://www.facebook.com/bluemermaidkittery/

Live jazz on Thursdays, acoustic acts on Fridays, various local acts on Saturdays, and a bluegrass brunch on Sundays.

Buoy
2 Government St.
207-450-2402
https://www.facebook.com/BUOY-170331239651041/

Occasional concerts featuring local, regional, and touring acts, plus art exhibits and special events.

The Dance Hall
7 Walker St.
207-703-2083
https://www.thedancehallkittery.org/
https://www.facebook.com/TheDanceHallKittery/

Concerts, dance performances, and special events featuring local and touring acts.

Tributary Brewing Co.
10 Shapleigh Road
207-703-0093
https://www.tributarybrewingcompany.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tributarybrewingcompany/

Local acts on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, with occasional special events.

Woodland Farms Brewery
306 Route 1
207-994-3911
https://www.wfbrewery.com/
https://www.facebook.com/woodlandfarmsbrewery/

Area acts perform on Thursday evenings.

Newmarket, NH

The Rockingham Ballroom

The Rockingham Ballroom
22 Ash Swamp Road
https://www.rockinballroom.club/

Rockin(gham) Ballroom A Historic 1934 Dance hall and event center OF 8500 SF. One of the largest dance floors in New England. Plenty of space to be Covid safe. Masks recommended. Located in Newmarket, NH, 15 minutes from Portsmouth, Exeter or Durham.

The Stone Church
5 Granite St.
603-659-7700
http://stonechurchrocks.com/

Local, regional, and some touring acts perform five nights a week, with a Sunday afternoon unplugged series, a Sunday night open mike with Dave Ogden, a Tuesday acoustic hoot night with Eli Elkus, Irish music on Thursday nights, occasional comedy nights, and a monthly blues jam.

Rochester, NH

The Rochester Opera House

Castle on Charles
19 Charles St.
http://www.castlenh.com/
https://www.facebook.com/CastleNH/

Music by local and regional acts, plus dinner theater and other events (seasonally).

Governor’s Inn (The Garage)
78 Wakefield St.
603-332-0107
http://www.governorsinn.com/

Regional acts and special events in the summer.

Rochester Opera House
31 Wakefield St.
603-335-1992
http://www.rochesteroperahouse.com/
https://www.facebook.com/rochester.house

Touring acts, tribute bands, theater, and special events in the theater above city hall.

Rochester Performance & Arts Center
32 Wakefield St.
603-948-1099
http://www.rochesteroperahouse.com/rpac.html

Touring acts, tribute bands, theater, and special events in the theater above city hall.

Somersworth, NH

Teatotaller
69 High St.
603-841-2545
https://teatotallercafe.com/
https://www.facebook.com/teatotaller/

Occasional live music, variety shows, and other events.

Stratham, NH

Tailgate Tavern
28 Portsmouth Ave.
603-580-2294
https://tailgatetavernnh.com/

Regular local acts.

York, ME

inn on the blues

Inn on the Blues

Inn on the Blues
7 Ocean Ave.
207-351-3221
https://www.innontheblues.com/
https://www.facebook.com/innontheblues/

Regional cover bands and original acts, with reggae on Tuesdays (seasonal).

York Harbor Inn
480 York St.
207-363-5119
http://www.yorkharborinn.com/
https://www.facebook.com/yorkharborinn

Acoustic acts in the Cellar Pub and Cabin Room on Fridays and Saturdays.

To see our events calendar, including live music in Portsmouth NH and the Seacoast, click here.