Enjoy an Applewood burger and a side of deep-fried pickles with your live music at Oak Tree Tavern.
Photo by Erin Brooke Burns
Whether you like a side of live music with your dinner or a side of food with some live tunes, here are eight places around Calgary that definitely have you covered.
500 Cucina
Who knew traditional Roman-style pizzas, pastas and calamari could pair so well with live music? This Italian eatery in Inglewood did! Pop by every Saturday night for a lively mix of performers.
1003 9 Ave. S.E., 403-460-0797, 500cucina.com, @yyc500cucina
Broken City
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again – this dive bar makes some of the best chicken strips you can find in Calgary. Not only that, but this joint on the old Electric Avenue has hosted countless touring bands and DJs for more than a decade and is one of the great spots in town to experience live indy music.
613 11 Ave. S.W., 403-262-9976, brokencity.ca, @thebrokencity
Gravity Espresso & Wine Bar
This contemporary cafe does a lot of things right from pulling a nice espresso and serving simple, honest food to showcasing up-and-coming local musicians on the weekends.
909 10 St. S.E., 403-457-0697, cafegravity.com, @cafegravity
The Ironwood Stage & Grill
There is plenty comforting, homestyle food to be enjoyed in this theatre-turned-bar. The lamb meatloaf or ratatouille are both crowd favourites and can warm you up in no-time when it’s cold outside.
1229 9 Ave. S.E., 403-269-5581, ironwoodstage.ca, @ironwoodstage
The Nash
While the restaurant is a popular destination for people looking for a refined dinner experience, Sunday brunch at The Nash sees a slightly more casual atmosphere with live music on select dates throughout the year. With the proclamation of 9th Avenue S.E. as “music mile,” we can expect more performances at this venue in the coming months.
925 11 Ave. S.E., 403-984-3365, thenashyyc.com, @thenashyyc
Oak Tree Tavern
It doesn’t matter what night of the week it is, there’s always something going at this quaint pub in Kensington. There’s punk rock bingo on Tuesdays (that’s almost like live music, right?) and other various acts peppered throughout the month. The Sunday afternoon Celtic jam sessions are especially lively and pair best with a pint of Oak Tree lager and the signature Brussels sprout dip, or a burger with a side of deep fried pickles.
124 10 St. N.W., 403-270-3347, oaktreetavern.ca, @oak_treeyyc
Raw Bar
Popular local songstress Amy Thiessen curates weekly Thursday night performances here that feature talented performers just starting out as well as more seasoned veterans like Brent Tyler. The beautiful melodies here fight for your attention over equally beautiful plates of modern Vietnamese cuisine by chef Jinhee Lee.
119 12 Ave. S.W., 403-206-9565, rawbaryyc.ca, @rawbaryyc
Wine-Ohs
A classic go-to in Calgary’s music scene, the lower level of Wine-Ohs remains as energized as ever with musicians taking the stage of the “cellar” every night of the week with the exception of Sunday.
811 1 St. S.W., 403-263-1650, wine-ohs.com, @wineohsinc