Prices of live music are at an all time high, even in the 90s, concerts would almost never cost more than 20 to 30 dollars, but nowadays with tickets at Climate Pledge and other large venues often costing hundreds of dollars, live music has become more inaccessible than ever. For many, seeing a band live just isn’t worth the cost or the hassle of dealing with ticketmaster or other ticket sites. However, if you know where to look, there are many budget friendly and convenient ways to see music live.
KEXP:
KEXP is a radio station local to Seattle, based near Climate Pledge Arena in Queen Anne.. They host live music in two forms: listening sessions that allow fans to watch musicians, who record at KEXP, behind a tinted glass window listening sessions that allow fans to watch musicians, who record at KEXP, behind a tinted glass window; and live shows hosted in the gathering space that resembles more traditional live music and live shows hosted in the gathering space that resembles more traditional live music.
For studio shows, tickets are completely free but you have to pick up a ticket in person in advance. These tickets go on sale an hour and a half before the show but there can be a line depending on the popularity of the artist. With a limited capacity of 40 people in the studio, I would recommend aiming to get there two hours before the event, and then spend the time wandering around Queen Anne and the Seattle Center. KEXP hosts a variety of musicians in these events. Last summer I saw a variety of artists from the metal band Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, to the folk country band Waxahatchee.
Black and Tan Hall:
You can find this community hotspot in Seattle’s Hillman City neighborhood. The Black and Tan Hall (BT) is a cooperatively owned performance venue that combines food, art, and community engagement. By combining historical preservation with ongoing cultural programming, it functions as both a performance space and a model for community-based economic development. It is open to the public Thursday through Sunday, with events that are centered around its commitment to art, equity, and local history.
The Hall facilitates an equitable local economy through arts and cultural exhibitions. The organization provides event space for local artists, serves food that “nourishes the soul”, and works to preserve the history of Southeast Seattle.
Through its emphasis on collaboration and inclusion, the BT aims to stop gentrification with a community cooperative by allowing locals, artists, and workers to become co-owners and decision-makers, even if they don’t have large amounts of money to invest. The model keeps ownership and profits within the community, so the people most affected by neighborhood change have control over the space and its future. By hosting performances, workshops, and food events that celebrate Black, Brown, Native, LGBTQIA+, and immigrant communities, the BT helps preserve the neighborhood’s cultural identity.
The BT Hall also sponsors the Seattle Self-Guided Green Book Tour, a multimedia project that highlights Black-owned and Black-friendly businesses active along Seattle’s Jackson Street corridor from the 1920s to the 1960s, once the heart of the city’s jazz scene. This area was home to numerous Black-owned and Black-friendly businesses that served as integral parts of the Black community. Among them was the original Black and Tan Club, a renowned jazz venue that inspired the BT’s name. Be sure to check out the BT and their tour to learn about underrecognized entrepreneurs and artists!
The Vera Project:
The Vera Project (TVP), based in Seattle Center, is a nonprofit, all-ages arts organization focused on youth engagement in music, art, and community organizing. TVPprovides access to creative spaces including a concert venue, recording studio, screen-printing shop, and even an art gallery.
The organization functions thanks to the hard work of volunteers typically ranging from 12-24 years old. TVP also offers workshops in live sound, lighting design, screen printing, and event production. Offering hands-on experience for running shows and managing technical production, often leading to paid work in local venues and studios!
TVP also emphasizes collaborative leadership, giving young people direct involvement in decision-making and event planning. Its programs are designed to make arts education accessible without the financial barriers often associated with creative industries.
In addition to its technical and educational programs, TVP advocates for all-ages access to music and supports the broader DIY and independent arts scene in Seattle. Be sure to check out The Vera Project for accessible experience within Seattle’s music industry!
Seattle Jazz fellowship:
If you or anyone you know is into jazz music you should look into the Seattle Jazz fellowship! The Seattle Jazz Fellowship is a non-profit organization located in Pioneer Square, this summer they’ve expanded their free jazz nights from originally just Monday nights, to every night at 7:30 pm. Each evening, they have local jazz groups from Seattle in attendance, free of charge and no tickets needed. The fellowship’s main goals is to make Jazz music more accessible for performers and listeners. Seattle is historically home to rich jazz scene, originating in the 1900s on Jackson Street, with stars like Quincy Jones and Buddy Catlett. The Seattle Jazz Fellowship aims to continue the jazz legacy in Seattle by supporting small jazz artists and the community’s love for jazz.
