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1. Fillmore Auditorium
- Music in a palace!
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- Live Music
- Civic Center/Downtown
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2. Independent
- Freedom to hear great music
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- Live Music
- Western Addition
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3. Warfield
- Historic concert hall
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- Live Music
- Civic Center/Downtown
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4. Great American Music Hall
- Booking the Hottest Bands
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- Venues
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5. Slim's
- Come Discover the Next Big Name!
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- Live Music
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6. Hotel Utah
- Be a star!
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- Live Music
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7. Mezzanine
- Dance with the masses
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- Nightclubs
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8. Bottom of the Hill
- Top-Notch Concert Venue
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- Live Music
- SoMa/Potrero/Bayview
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9. The Boom Boom Room
- Blues Legend's Playpen
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- Bars
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10. Elbo Room
- Multi-level entertainment!
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- Live Music
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The Best of NileGuide
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It only takes leaving San Francisco to fully understand what a vibrant live music scene us locals are privy to. Few places in the world offer a comparable diversity and wealth of music and music venues. From tiny dive bars to massive stadiums, San Francisco features the best live music experience for miles.
The most classic place to see a show is the historic and beautiful Fillmore Auditorium. Located in the heart of the Fillmore District, which in itself, is a hotbed of jazz, "the Fillmore" hosts a wide range of midsize acts from Morcheeba to Snoop Dogg to Jurassic 5. The walls are plastered with nostalgic concert posters, and you can watch from the main floor or from the beautiful, upper balconies.
Another famous venue oozing with history is the Warfield. Newly renovated, this former vaudeville theater features lovely, ornate Edwardian architecture and a fantastic balcony. The Warfield hosted legendary performances by Jimi Hendrix, the Grateful Dead, and Nirvana back in the day. More recently, the likes of Interpol, DJ Paul Oakenfold, and local favorites Cake and Soundtribe Sector 9, have all frequented the infamous stage.
Both the Independent and Slim's are the spots to catch indie rock, reggae superstars, and hip-hop acts. A hip crowd flocks to either for the drink specials, dance floor, and hotshot acts on the brink of stardom. More relaxed Hotel Utah and more edgy Bottom of the Hill host local up-and-comers, with the latter leaning towards a punk rock appeal.
If jazz is more your style, don't miss Yoshi's. The San Francisco branch of the famous Oakland venue, Yoshi's is a classy setting to relax and enjoy a show while noshing on sushi from its acclaimed restaurant. On occasion, they add soul and hip-hop to the line-up.
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