The Myrtle Beach music scene is happening, if you know where to look and listen. Here are the top 10 music venues on the Grand Strand:
- Alabama Theatre: This palatial venue might only be the second-best concert hall at Barefoot Landing (sorry, but House of Blues gets the nod) but it’s one of the nicest on the entire Grand Strand. Featuring the award-winning show “ONE” as well as occasional stops by nationally touring acts, this 2,000-seat facility offers great lighting and sound and no bad seats in the house.
- The Boathouse: Located directly on the Intracoastal Waterway beneath the Highway 501 Bridge, The Boathouse claims to have “the best backyard in Myrtle Beach. It’s hard to argue given the crowds that arrive by car and boat to see regional and national acts play on the waterfront stage. The Sunday Funday Concert Series is one big outdoor party, with patrons listening from the banks and the river.
- The Bowery: Go back in time as you enter the doors of this historic Myrtle Beach honky-tonk, where country music icon Alabama used to serve as the house band in the 1970s. Located in the heart of downtown Myrtle Beach, The Bowery has been bringing live country music to the beachside bandwagon since 1943. Trade in your flip-flops for cowboy boots and two-step the night away.
- Carolina Opry: Located near Restaurant Row, this spacious theater brings off-Broadway entertainment to the Grand Strand. The long-running production “Good Vibrations” celebrates the history of pop music, while the talent showcase “Thunder and Light” highlights song and dance troops in a variety-show format.
- House of Blues: There’s a lot more to the HOB than great Southern cooking. The main course is live music, and there are two stages where patrons can catch a wide variety of genres. The concert hall welcomes national touring acts to the intimate but impressive venue, and the smaller Crossroads Bar stage features local and regional bands on a nightly basis.
- Myrtle Beach Train Depot: Although special concerts are rare, you don’t want to miss one if you get the chance. This beautifully restored train station, where Myrtle Beach’s earliest visitors arrived by rail, hosts the bimonthly South By Southeast showcases, which attracts top acts from Nashville and beyond.
- Ocean Annie's: Enjoy great local music on the oceanfront pool deck of this outdoor venue. Featuring a poolside stage that allows guests to dance both in and beside the water, this Arcadian Shores-area beach bar is one of the hottest spots on the Grand Strand. Spend a day at the beach and stroll up to the bar for a cold drink and some hot tunes.
- Pawleys Island Tavern: Located in the small seaside town that serves as its namesake, the PIT, as it is commonly known by locals, offers an excellent opportunity to enjoy live music outdoors. Situated behind a row of hammocks shops beneath a cluster of live oak trees, the PIT’s outdoor stage features regional acts playing on a shaded porch.
- Pine Lakes Tavern: Looking for a small hole-in-the-wall bar to catch some music out of the mainstream? Pine Lakes Tavern fits the bill with a small stage that highlights local musicians. Check out Open Mic Nights on Tuesdays and hop up on stage to jam with fellow patrons.
- Plyler Park: This plaza on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk hosts free concerts, festivals and fireworks shows during the summer months. Listen to live music on the oceanfront as local bands hit the outdoor stage for the Hot Summer Nights concert series, and be sure to visit the local shops and restaurants for a fun night out in the downtown district.
(Posted: 5/14/15)
