With the end of this year starting to come into focus, we're looking back on Bandsintown's 2025 High Notes data to revisit some of the independent music venues that made waves last year, and have been continuing that trajectory throughout 2026 as well.
Because while venues across the US have much to celebrate in the ways live music has gained cultural momentum, the economic hardships plaguing the live industry are still very real. Bandsintown's ongoing partnership with the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) has sought to address that, with a joint Live Independent initiative that includes independent venue search, featured placements, and certified badges that make finding and supporting independent stages is easier than ever.
To that end, 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
But now we turn to the Top 10 independent music venues in terms of follower growth on the platform last year. Here's the list!
10. Preservation Hall — New Orleans, LA
Preservation Hall is a jazz venue on St. Peter Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter. It presents intimate acoustic concerts featuring local musicians who carry forward the city’s traditional jazz heritage. Originally emerging from sessions in an art gallery, the family-run venue continues to connect generations of performers and listeners.
Visit the venue on Bandsintown.
9. Smartbar — Chicago, IL
Smartbar is an independent Chicago nightclub on North Clark Street dedicated to dance music and DJs from around the world. Located at basement level, it pairs visiting talent with a roster of resident artists. Its recurring parties include Queen!, a longstanding gathering rooted in Chicago house music and LGBTQ+ nightlife.
Visit the venue on Bandsintown.
8. Spy Bar — Chicago, IL
Spybar is a basement nightclub on Chicago’s North Franklin Street that opened in 1996. Focused on electronic music, it hosts internationally recognized DJs and producers alongside emerging artists, residents, and regional talent. Its compact room combines a lounge setting with a dance floor geared toward house and techno fans.
Visit the venue on Bandsintown.
7. Barboza — Seattle, WA
Barboza is an intimate music venue on the lower level of the Neumos complex in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Opened in 2012 as a space for local bands, it occupies a former automobile dealership’s mechanical shop. The below-street-level room puts live music inside a small piece of the neighborhood’s industrial history.
Visit the venue on Bandsintown.
6. Icehouse — Minneapolis, MN
Icehouse is a live music club on Minneapolis’ Eat Street that opened in 2012. The venue brings together concerts, food, and drinks, with a calendar that also includes comedy and dancing. Recurring artist residencies sit alongside individual shows, making it a regular gathering place for local musicians and audiences.
Visit the venue on Bandsintown.
+Read more: "Why the Levitt Foundation Model Should Not Be an Outlier"
5. The Barbary — Philadelphia, PA
The Barbary is a two-floor nightclub in Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood with roots in the city’s blues, punk, and indie nightlife scenes. It reopened in February 2025 following a major renovation, with upgraded sound and lighting and an outdoor patio. Today, its programming combines established dance parties with underground house and techno.
Visit the venue on Bandsintown.
4. Brillobox — Pittsburgh, PA
Brillobox is a Pittsburgh bar and cultural space on Penn Avenue that has been operating since 2005. Alongside its food and drinks, the venue uses its second floor for entertainment and community events, including DJ dance parties, art events, spoken word, fundraisers, variety shows, and screenings.
Visit the venue on Bandsintown.
3. The Virgil — Los Angeles, CA
The Virgil is a family-owned cocktail bar and entertainment venue on the edge of Los Angeles’ Silver Lake neighborhood. Its Stage Side hosts live music, comedy, DJs, and special events, while its B Side offers weekend DJ sets and dancing. Cocktails and a full beer selection round out the experience.
Visit the venue on Bandsintown.
2. Shubert Theatre — New York, NY
The Shubert Theatre is a historic Broadway theater on West 44th Street in Manhattan’s Theater District. Operated by the Shubert Organization, it presents theatrical productions in an ornate auditorium featuring decorative plasterwork and painted panels. The building sits beside the Booth Theatre along the well-known Shubert Alley.
Visit the venue on Bandsintown.
1. Spirit — Pittsburgh, PA
Spirit is a music venue, restaurant, and event space in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood. Spread across three levels, it combines spaces for live entertainment with a pizzeria and rooftop garden bar, giving visitors somewhere to eat, drink, and gather alongside the venue’s shows.
Visit the venue on Bandsintown.
+Read more: "Pro Guide: How to Maintain Your Venue's PA System Over Time"
