Here in the Pensacola Bay Area, we love any excuse to sing along with a live band. In fact, narrowing this list to only five locations was a pretty difficult task. If you are looking for a great place to enjoy live music in the Pensacola Bay Area, this list is for you.
But, by some miracle I did it, so I hope this list is a great starting point on your quest for live entertainment.
1. Bands on the Beach
Bands on the Beach is simply a perfect equation. Not only do you get to enjoy great music from local and regional bands for free, but you also get to lounge on our sugar-white sands while the Gulf of Mexico laps along to the music and the sun sets just over your shoulder. Pack a picnic and take your loved ones for a wonderfully relaxing evening. Bands on the Beach runs from the first Tuesday in April to the last Tuesday in October. Concerts take place at 7 p.m. from the Gulfside Pavilion stage on Pensacola Beach.
2. Blues on the Bay
Looking for a nice way to unwind on a Sunday late afternoon? Well, if the Pensacola Blue Wahoos are on the road, the amphitheater behind the stadium at the Community Maritime Park becomes a fabulous venue for some of Pensacola's most popular local music talent. From May through August, pack your coolers and bring your lawn chairs to this free summer concert series along Pensacola Bay. Food trucks are available onsite if you don't want to bring your own picnic. Even the parking is free! It's also a great spot to enjoy the cool bay breeze and a beautiful sunset.
Photo by Blues on the Bay. Used with Permission.
3. Flora-Bama Lounge and Package
The Flora-Bama in Perdido Key knows that you can't have a truly good time without live music. In fact, they feel so strongly about it that they put on the Frank Brown Songwriter's Festival every November. This two-week-long celebration features about 200 singer-songwriters from around the world, and it is not to be missed. Even so, it really doesn't matter what time of year you hit the Flora-Bama. You're still going to get to hear some great live music while enjoying a fantastic view of our emerald green waters and a cold beverage of your choice.
4. Vinyl Music Hall
Over the last few years, Vinyl Music Hall has brought some big names and truly unique acts to Downtown Pensacola. You can see everything from the Psychedelic Furs to Jimmy Eat World to Postmodern Jukebox. The venue is just small enough to feel intimate, but not so small that you feel like the speakers are going to blow you out of the place. They always have some cool new show rolling in, so be sure to keep an eye on their calendar.
5. Seville Quarter
Seville Quarter is kind of the live music mecca of Pensacola. With seven different bars to choose from, you can hear some sort of live music just about every night. But on the weekends, there is a different song playing in every room. You have a DJ in one room (granted it’s not live music, but that's where the main dance floor is), a dueling piano show in another, an acoustic performance down the hall, karaoke around the corner, and then a full band rocking out in yet another room. If you don't like the music in the first room you try, just keep walking and you'll be sure to find something you like. They also have their Jazz Jam every Tuesday night.
So happy listening! (And singing and dancing too, if you're so inclined!)
Author
Brooke Fleming
Born and raised in the Pensacola Bay Area, Brooke loves to sing the praises of her hometown. Though she has lived here most of her life, she loves the fact that there is still so much to learn about this lovely town. There's always a new dish to try, a new historical fact to uncover and a new adventure waiting around every corner. Brooke has always had a deep love of the performing arts and can often be found on the stages of the Pensacola Little Theatre and the Saenger Theatre.
If you need recommendations on coffee, arts and culture, or the best bread pudding in town (or any dessert, for that matter), she is your girl.