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# Bandsintown High Notes showcases Independent Venues
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/bandsintown-high-notes-showcases-independent-venues/
- Published: 2025-12-17T16:44:54.000Z
- Updated: 2025-12-17T19:10:00.000Z
- Description: In addition to celebrating the year in live music for fans and artists, Bandsintnown’s newly released High Notes showcases the independent venues that makes those magical moments possible. As 2025. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2025/12/bandsintown-high-notes-showcases-independent
- Author: Bruce Houghton
- Tags: Live & Ticketing, Music Business, music, musician, musicians, NIVA, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 11:15

In addition to celebrating the year in live music for fans and artists, Bandsintnown’s newly released High Notes showcases the independent venues that makes those magical moments possible.

![Bandsintown High Notes](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3a/95/3a957c06-c825-4057-9939-0a274cc16d23/content/images/spcdn-shortpixel-ai/spio/ret_img-q_cdnize/www-hypebot-com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025highnotes-1.png)

As 2025 winds down, independent venues have much celebrate even as many struggle with rising costs and increased competition. Showcasing and helping to solve both is the dual mandate of Bandsintown’s ongoing partnership with the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA).

Their joint [Live Independent](https://www.liveindependent.com/?ref=hypebot.com) initiative includes [independent venue search](http://bandsintown.com/liveindependent?ref=hypebot.com), featured placements, and certified badges that make finding and supporting independent stages is easier than ever. So far in 2025, Bandsintown generated:

- 1 billion event recommendations for Live Independent venues
- 38 million clicks to buy tickets for Live Independent venues
- 2 million RSVPs for events at Live Independent venues

## Celebrating Independent Venues

While 2026 could be a pivotal year for many independent venues (*more on that below*), Bandsintown High Notes is about celebrating the successes of 2025\. As the lists below showcase, independent venues have a lot to celebrate.

#### Top 10 U.S. independent venues with the most ticket demand

1. [The Rave / Eagles Club](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001709?ref=hypebot.com), Milwaukee, WI, US
2. [First Avenue](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10002186?ref=hypebot.com) in Minneapolis, MN
3. [Elsewhere](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10010996?ref=hypebot.com) in Brooklyn, NY
4. [Le Poisson Rouge](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10002056?ref=hypebot.com) in New York, NY
5. [Empire Control Room & Garage](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001155?ref=hypebot.com) in Austin, TX
6. [City Winery Boston](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10009961?ref=hypebot.com) in Boston, MA
7. [Red Rocks Amphitheatre](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001664?ref=hypebot.com), Morrison, CO, US
8. [Palace Theatre](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10013654?ref=hypebot.com) in Saint Paul, MN
9. [Celebrity Theatre](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10000482?ref=hypebot.com) in Phoenix, AZ
10. [City Winery New York](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001496?ref=hypebot.com) in New York, NY

#### Top 10 U.S. independent venues with the fastest follower growth

1. [Spirit](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10000587?ref=hypebot.com) in Pittsburgh, PA
2. [Shubert Theatre](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10000731?ref=hypebot.com) in New York, NY
3. [The Virgil](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10000235?ref=hypebot.com) in Los Angeles, CA
4. [Brillobox](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001276?ref=hypebot.com) in Pittsburgh, PE
5. [The Barbary](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001405?ref=hypebot.com) in Philadelphia, PA
6. [Icehouse](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001520?ref=hypebot.com) in Minneapolis, MN
7. [Barboza](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001284?ref=hypebot.com) in Seattle, WA
8. [Spy Bar](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10000065?ref=hypebot.com) in Chicago, IL
9. [Smartbar](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001183?ref=hypebot.com) in Chicago, IL
10. [Preservation Hall ](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10000990?ref=hypebot.com)in New Orleans, LA

#### Top 10 U.S. independent venues with the most event RSVPs:

1. [Red Rocks Amphitheatre](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001664?ref=hypebot.com), Morrison, CO, US
2. [McMenamins Crystal Ballroom](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001797?ref=hypebot.com) in Portland, OR
3. [The Anthem](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10009448?ref=hypebot.com) in Washington D.C.
4. [Revolution Hall](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10002268?ref=hypebot.com) in Portland, OR
5. [Roseland Theater](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10002082?ref=hypebot.com) in Portland, OR
6. [Armory](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10030033?ref=hypebot.com) in Minneapolis, MN
7. [Paramount Theatre](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10004789?ref=hypebot.com) in Seattle, WA
8. [Metro Chicago](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10012018?ref=hypebot.com) in Chicago, IL
9. [The Nile Theater](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001174?ref=hypebot.com) in Mesa, AZ
10. [The Rave / Eagles Club](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001709?ref=hypebot.com), WI

#### Top 10 U.S. independent venues with the most new followers

1. [Red Rocks Amphitheatre](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001664?ref=hypebot.com), Morrison, CO, US
2. [Spirit](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10000587?ref=hypebot.com) – Pittsburgh, PA
3. [McMenamins Crystal Ballroom](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001797?ref=hypebot.com) in Portland, OR
4. [The Social](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001025?ref=hypebot.com) in Orlando, FL
5. [The Vic Theatre](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001031?ref=hypebot.com) in Chicago, IL
6. [The Rave / Eagles Club](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001709?ref=hypebot.com) in Milwaukee, WI
7. [Paramount Theatre](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10000281?ref=hypebot.com) in Seattle, WA
8. [Granada Theater](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001620?ref=hypebot.com) in Dallas, TX
9. [The Masquerade](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001263?ref=hypebot.com) in Atlanta, GA
10. [The Orange Peel](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10000275?ref=hypebot.com) in Asheville, NC

#### Top 10 U.S. independent venues with the most views

1. [Red Rocks Amphitheatre](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001664?ref=hypebot.com), Morrison, CO, US
2. [The Rave / Eagles Club](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001709?ref=hypebot.com) in Milwaukee, WI
3. [Le Poisson Rouge](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10002056?ref=hypebot.com) in New York, NY
4. [John T. Floore’s Country Store](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10002076?ref=hypebot.com) in Helotes, TX
5. [McMenamins Crystal Ballroom](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001797?ref=hypebot.com) in Portland, OR
6. [Roseland Theater](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10002082?ref=hypebot.com) in Portland, OR
7. [City Winery New York](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10001496?ref=hypebot.com) in New York, NY
8. [City Winery Philadelphia](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10037193?ref=hypebot.com) in Philadelphia, PA
9. [City Winery Chicago](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10171395?ref=hypebot.com) in Chicago, IL
10. [Schubas Tavern](https://www.bandsintown.com/v/10002027?ref=hypebot.com) in Chicago, IL

## High Notes & The State Of Independent Live Music

The broader [High Notes](https://www.company.bandsintown.com/2025-high-notes?ref=hypebot.com) report includes data that supports [NIVA’s State Of Live](https://www.hypebot.com/niva-independent-live-music-survey/) survey which showed how increased competition is contributing to the struggles facing independent venues.

A cross reference of High Notes top tours and touring artists makes it clear that most were produced by Live Nation and AEG, rather than by independents.

Music Ally [showcased](https://musically.com/2025/12/17/bandsintown-reveals-its-2025-trends-for-music-concerts/?ref=hypebot.com) another High Notes stat: a 32.6% increase over last year in fans travelling for live music. “The cause of this is unstated, but we would also suggest that [increasing financial pressure](https://musically.com/2025/06/24/report-lays-bare-struggles-of-us-independent-live-music-business/?ref=hypebot.com) on smaller venues resulting in closures could also be a potential factor, which would then force fans to travel further for shows.”

**Read the full[ Bandsintown High Notes 2025 here.](https://www.company.bandsintown.com/2025-high-notes?ref=hypebot.com)**

***Bruce Houghton*** *is Founder & Editor of [Hypebot](https://www.hypebot.com/), Senior Advisor at [Bandsintown](https://www.bandsintown.com/?ref=hypebot.com), a [Berklee College Of Music](https://online.berklee.edu/courses/touring-101?ref=hypebot.com) professor and founder of Skyline Artists.*