A great quality about the Bloomington music scene is that it offers plenty of all-ages opportunities for live music. Just because you aren’t of the bar-frequenting age, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to partake in the arts! Here is a list of under-age appropriate venues in town.
The Bishop: 123 S Walnut Street
18 or over (ID required)
http://www.thebishopbar.com
If you are in college and you like live music, but you aren’t 21, the Bishop is the venue for you. (Even if you aren’t in college and are over 21, it’s still a great spot for you!) Hosting a wide range of local and regional indie music, The Bishop is the only 18+ venue in town and has a show scheduled almost every night. There is also a bar, which serves only beer.
Buskirk-Chumley Theater: 114 E Kirkwood Avenue
http://www.buskirkchumley.org
Built in 1922, the Buskirk-Chumley Theater is a historic and premier venue for arts in Bloomington. Hosting concerts, film screenings, plays, and various special events, the Buskirk is truly the heart of Bloomington’s creative scene. Plus, Hoagy Carmichael used to play here!
Café Django: 116 N Grant Street
http://cafedjango.us
Named after Django Reinhardt, for years Bloomington residents and guests have enjoyed this “Asian-Mediterranean fusion” restaurant as a hub for jazz concerts on weekend evenings.
Greek’s Pizzeria: 211 N Walnut Street
http://www.kylesgreekspizza.com/
It’s a pizza place. And they often host shows. Also, many vegetarian and vegan friendly options.
IU Auditorium: 1211 E 7th Street
http://www.iuauditorium.com
The large IU Auditorium plays host to large scale concerts and theater productions, mostly sponsored by IU-related groups and programs. Genres are across the border, the Auditorium has played host to everything from Yo Yo Ma to Vampire Weekend.
Ivy-Tech John Waldron Arts Center: 122 S Walnut Street
http://www.ivytech.edu/bloomington/waldron
Recently purchased by the Bloomington campus of Ivy Tech Community College, “The Waldron” (as it’s known to locals) is a community arts space with two performance spaces, the large Auditorium and the smaller Rose-Firebay. It’s also a space for theater, art, and Ivy Tech’s continuing education courses.
Max’s Place: 109 W 7th Street (soon moving to 6th Street!)
http://www.maxsplace.info
Another pizza spot/venue, Max’s Place offers excellent brick-oven pizza, drinks for the over 21 crowd, and a very chill ambiance for live local music.
The Player’s Pub: 424 S Walnut Steet
21+ (front area), All Ages (back area)
http://www.theplayerspub.com
A local bar for the older, singer-songwriter crowd with specialty genres like adult rock, country, blues, and jazz, as well as regular Singer-Songwriter Showcases, and Open Mics. The Pub is separated into a back and front section. The back is all ages and you can still enjoy the music and play pool or watch tv! Just make sure you enter through the southern-most door on Walnut St.
The Pourhouse Café: 314 E Kirkwood Avenue
http://www.thepourhousecafe.com
Nestled in the heart of downtown Bloomington (Kirkwood), The Pourhouse Café is a non-profit café that donates its profits to charitable causes. They also tend to host regional and local music, and most of their shows are have “suggested donation” cover of about $3.
Rachael’s Café: 300 E 3rd Street
http://rachaelscafe.com
Just a stone’s throw from the IU campus, Rachael’s Café is a cozy spot to meet with friends, drink coffee and eat delicious foods, and/or watch some great live (often local) music.
Rewind:
118 E 6th St
http://www.rewindbloomington.com
An intimate, high energy all ages venue where you can hear your favorite local bands or start your own band! Rewind includes a School of Rock program, and private voice and instrument lessons.
Rhino’s All-Ages Music Club: 331 S Walnut Street
http://www.rhinosyouthcenter.org
As Bloomington’s premier concert space for youngsters, the music club is a part of Rhino’s Youth Center, a project started by the Harmony Education Center. See local, regional, and national touring acts here, and be sure to check out and support their programs as well.
Russian Recording: 1021 South Walnut Street
http://www.russianrecording.com
A full-service recording studio in downtown Bloomington (the former location of the late Art Hospital as well as Secretly Canadian Records). You can often find yourself enjoying a live taping of WFHB‘s Local Live concert series, as well as album release shows and touring band shows.
Stable Studios: 2034 Dubois Road, Spencer, IN 47460
http://www.stablestudios.net/
Nestled in the woods of Owen County, this recording studio also hosts music festivals and monthly concerts. Camping is available and families are invited.
Indiana University also often plays host to many on campus musical events through the Jacobs School of Music and the IU Theater and Drama program. With student recitals (often free), opera and musical performances, and community festivals, there is a lot to catch! These venues are all-ages.
Jacobs School of Music Event Calendar
The Musical Arts Center (The MAC)
