Cool Waves: Bay Area Music Venues

Bay Area Venue List

These are direct links to the venues' booking pages where possible. Additional "notes" are a reflection of personal experiences at the club which other bands should be aware of. Please check their websites for up-to-date information. Thanks to Fruit Lamp Records for a lot of the Central Valley info.

Touring Bands: Wanna book a show in NYC? Try the Loveless Music Group - a similar site made up of NYC artists.

Jump to a specific area:
San Francisco
East Bay
Central Valley
Campus & Radio

San Francisco

12 Galaxies

2565 Mission Street @ 22nd, SF
booking@12galaxies.com
Provide what genre of music you play, where you have played in town, when your last play was, how many people you drew at your last play, and how many people you can expect to draw at a show here. If you are interested in a supporting gig, you need to feel comfortable and confident that you can draw 40-50 people. If you are looking to headline, you should be able to draw 80-100. If you are looking to headline a weekend, you should be able to draw 200-250.

The 23 Club

23 Visitacion Avenue, Brisbane
Attn: Mark/Booking, club23booking@yahoo.com
They are accepting unsolicited music with an emphasis on post-rock.

Amnesia Bar

853 Valencia, SF
Booking: amnesia1@mac.com, 415.970.0012
NOTES: A couple monitors and mics, direct box, small, high stage. Amps are not mic'd. Best for small acts. Split the door minus door person's cut. One drink ticket/person.

Annie's Social Club

917 Folsom St., SF
Attn: Brian, anniesbooking@gmail.com
All of us at Annie's are S.F. club veterans. That's what makes it so fun. Annie and Sean (the new owners) just grabbed the best S.F. rock club people and here we are. All the bartenders know how to treat people, we only have nice door people, not security guards. And we know that having fun is the most important part.

The Argus Lounge

3187 Mission (@ Valencia), SF
booking@arguslounge.com
Small divey Mission bar just down the street from the Knockout. Tiny stage in the corner. Best for solo type acts but bands have played there on occasion.

Balazo 18 Art Gallery

2183 Mission Street, SF
Email Balazogallery@yahoo.com.
Our current policies for music events are that we rent out our space for two different prices, 21 and over for $180.00 and all ages shows are $250.00. This payment is due 2 weeks prior to secure/book the dates for the bands. The bands book their line up and place the cover charge. The initial $250 or $180 from the door that is/if made goes back to the bands then we split the rest 80/20: 80% of money for the bands, 20% of money for The Balazo. Also if the initial $250 or $180 is not made back at the door, that amount is what is given to the artist/bands.

Bottom of the Hill

1233 17th Street, SF
Attn: Ursula, booking@bottomofthehill.com,
(415) 824-2829

Brainwash Cafe

1122 Folsom St., SF
booking@brainwash.com
From their website: "We can't guarantee that there will be microphones and microphone cords available. Therefore, we recommend that you provide your own. Audio Equipment On-Premises: 2 Audio Technica ST90 dynamic mics 1 Audio Technica Pro3 dynamic vocal mic 1 Fender 150 watt 4-channel mixer with 4ins + 4outs 1 JBL P.A. speaker 1 P.A. System with 4 JBL speakers running thru a Rane mixer"NOTES: You have to do your own sound and setup. Tiny stage, 1 monitor. Best for mellow acts. You get free food and drinks but all shows are free.

Cafe Du Nord

2170 Market Street, SF
Attn: Dan, dan@cafedunord.com
Send links to websites, mp3's or other music files, band bios and recent tour or show history
NOTES: The best way to get any interest if it's your first time trying to get a show here is to get a strong 3-bill lineup that you think will draw 100-150 people.

The Eagle

398 12th St., SF
Attn: Doug, doug@sfeagle.com
Send or drop off demo to address above. We only do shows on Thursday nights, and we generally book 1-3 months in advance. I get alot of requests, so it takes a while to get a slot on one of the gigs. Touring bands take precedence. It helps if you have some other bands in mind you want to play with. It also helps to email me and kinda bug me about it. I usually don't answer emails unless I have a show for you, but I read them all. So don't get bummed out if I don't answer you right away.

Edinburgh Castle

950 Geary St, SF
Attn: Eric Jonasson, opalshows@yahoo.com
If it's your first time, be ready to give lots of information about your band (i.e. your band name, where you're from, describe your sound/music genre, band website, contact e-mail and phone number, and any other information you feel is important to note). Demo CDs, tapes or press kits can be mailed to or dropped off at the venue. Links to mp3s on the web are also acceptable.NOTES: A soundperson might or might not show up so you could be stuck figuring things out by yourself. They have a couple monitors and a couple damaged mics, 1 direct box I think. If you charge a cover you have to take care of it yourself, they supply a cashbox and stamp. You get a cooler of various beer as payment.

Elbo Room

647 Valencia Street, SF
Attn: Matt Shapiro, mattshapiro@mac.com

El Rio

3158 Mission St (@ Cesar Chavez)
elriosf@mindspring.com
Give us your style, draw and links to your music if applicable. Please let us know if you are willing to do a gig for free. We will respond to let you know that we got your info and will forward you to the bookers.
NOTE: Always packed. Best to email first - with style of music and draw. links to your music if applicable. They will respond to let you know that we got your info and will forward you to the bookers. usually booked two months in advance, that does not mean something won't cancel but two months is typical. P.A., sound tech, and door person. load in 1 hour arrival before you want to play/start is typical.

Hemlock

1131 Polk St., SF
Email tony@hemlocktavern.com
Include band/act name in the subject line. Please include either a website link, or, if none is available, include bio info, description of the band "sound", along with range of desired dates, brief info on past shows/bills. MP3's on your website, or wherever posted, will almost always get listened to.
NOTES: If you don't have much history or connections with a band who's already played there it's very hard to get booked, let alone get a reply about playing.

Hotel Utah

500 4th St., SF
booker@hotelutah.com, 415.431.2388
Provide links to your band's website, MP3s or other music files, bios, and your recent tour or show history.
NOTE: Nice stage, monitors, direct box, amps are not mic'd. You get 50% off on food. No free drinks.

House of Shields

39 New Montgomery St. (between Market & Mission), SF
Attn: Skip, skip@houseofshields.com
An historic building with a nice bar and lots of seating downstairs. Bands play upstairs in a small space. Just vocals and acoustic instruments are mic'd. Conveniently located in downtown SF, just 1/2 block away from the Montgomery BART/MUNI station.
NOTE: Skip from Estereo does the booking here, so it's Cool Waves-friendly!

The Knockout

3223 Mission St. (at Valencia), SF
Email: wrestler@theknockoutsf.com
Eclectic Outer Mission waterhole. Cool place. Several tv monitors and tables. Lots of outlets to plug into!

The Lipo Lounge

916 Grant (at Washington), SF
415-675-9955
NOTE: A crazy Chinatown bar... you pay $60 and you get your own night to do what you wish. call them and tell them exactly what date you want. Ask if they have a PA.

Madrone Lounge

500 Divisadero St., SF
To book music, please email a link to your website or myspace page to leila@madronelounge.com or drop off a demo at the address above.

Make Out Room

3225 22nd St., SF
Fill out the request form at their website above.
NOTE: Awesome room and atmosphere. Spacious. Books a lot of Cool Waves bands.

Retox Lounge

628 20th St. @ 3rd St., SF
415-626-7386

The Rickshaw Stop

155 Fell St.
Contact 415.235.5718 with the following info:
Band name, Phone number to contact you -- this is super important, What size crowd do you normally draw on your own, Where have you played before? What bands have you played out with already?What are your industry affiliations, if any, What are some well-known bands that you could use to describe your sound and your scene, If you can get a full bill together for a night, please describe and estimate a likely draw, Give us as wide a date range as you can for possible shows, Please do not email MP3s, as it clogs our inboxes and makes us feel sad feelings.

The Rite Spot Cafe

2099 Folsom St. @ 17th., SF, 94110
Send CD to address above. Wait 4 weeks before contacting them. Email info@ritespotcafe.net to check on submission.
NOTE: Cozy setting, piano, no stage, mostly acoustic acts.

The Rockit Room

406 Clement Street, SF, 94118
Email booking@rock-it-room.com. Wait about 2 weeks before before following up.
NOTE: Probably one of the best sounding small venues in SF. You get the pro treatment, like actual soundchecks and high quality house amps and drumkit.

Thee Parkside

1600 17th Street @ Wisconsin
booking@theeparkside.com
Include a small bio that tells us a little about your band, the music, and the venues you have played, average draw and contact info including telephone and email.

An Undisclosed Location

rko_needles@anundisclosedlocation-sf.com
An underground (literally) venue and non-profit private collective with monthly shows of edgy and unique music and art.

The Warfield

yeah, right!

East Bay

Blakes on Telegraph

2367 Telegraph, Berkeley
Check extensive booking notes at the above link.

Lobot Gallery

1800 Cambell St., W. Oakland
caleb@lobotgallery.com

Mama Buzz Cafe

2318 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
jen@mamabuzzcafe.com
NOTE: This place is pretty much the center of the arty scene in Oakland. Its small, but popular. Its hard to get a show if you don't seem uhh. arty enough I guess. Its right next door to the Stork Club.

Starry Plough

3101 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley
Call Misty Gamble, (510) 841 -1424

Stork Club

1800 Cambell St., W. Oakland
vitalance@hotmail.com
Send demos to: The Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Ave., Oakland CA 94612. Door is split evenly with all bands minus $65 for sound/doorman.
NOTE: Okay sound system. Easy to book a show, but they prefer you make your own bill. Music pretty much every night.

Central Valley

Capitol Garage

1500 K Street, Sacramento
anodynebooking@yahoo.com
Send demos to: Anodyne Entertainment, Att: Booking, 5431 H Street, Sacramento, CA 95819

Cafe Roma

233 3rd Street, Davis
(530)756-4444
NOTE: Tips only, they have a PA but you have to set it up yourself.

Fat Cat Nightclub

930 11th St., Modesto
info@FatCatModesto.com
NOTE: Large venue. Killer sound. They can get kind of blah... but they have great Sun - Wed shows.

Fools Foundation

1025 19th Street, Downtown Sacramento
elizabeth@foolsfoundation.org
NOTE: Newer art/music space. Kind of hard to book if you aren't hip enough or whatever. Shows any day of the week, starting around 10pm. All ages.

G Street Pub

228 G Street, Davis
gnetline@hotmail.com
NOTE: College bar. great pa. Steady draw. Rodney can fuck up the line-up sometimes, so communication is key with him. Bands get split of the door. Shows on Thursday - Saturday.

Howie & Son's Pizza

2430 S. Mooney Blvd, Visalia
vernalfalls@sbcglobal.net

Luna's Cafe

1414 16th Street, Sacramento
NOTE: Try calling betw. Thurs-Sat after 5 and ask for Reubi or Art (916) 441-3931. Awesome quesadillas.

The Mainzer Theater

659 West Main Street, Merced
Attn: RC, eloliowolof@yahoo.com
NOTE: Email RC of El Olio Wolof - he is pretty much the man in the Central Valley indie scene. he knows everybody. beautiful building. some shows are in the lobby, some are in the theater itself.

The Mustang

413 7th St., Modesto
(209) 522-0393
NOTE: Two stages, a front one, which is perfect for smaller acts, and a back one, which has a patio linking off so people can smoke, drink, socialize, and still hear the bands play. it is a late crowd, with even weeknight shows starting around 10pm and going to last call. there is one house p.a. with bad speakers and worse mics. this is a dive bar rock club with a fickle and unpredictable audience. 180 capacity. some free shows, some door charge.

Old Ironsides

1901 Tenth St., Sacramento
Email Cary or Kim, ironsides@rcip.com or call (916) 442-3504.
NOTE: oldest bar in Sac. Pretty much a staple of the local scene. Good sound

Red Square Cafe

1121 Alhambra, Sacramento

The Starline