Where to See Live Music in Springfield

One of our favorite summertime activities is lazily enjoying a drink on a local patio while feeling personally serenaded by some of southwest Missouri's best local musicians. Here's a roundup of a few places you can regularly catch live music in and around Springfield, Missouri.

Backyards and Brews

There’s no shortage of places you can combine live music with locally-brewed beer around southwest Missouri. Tie & Timber hosts Hump Day Music on Wednesdays along with festivals celebrating local music year-round. From folk to tributes to Prince, you’re bound to find something you can pair with freshly brewed beer. Another go-to brewery for live music is Mother’s Brewing Company, especially Mother’s Backyard. With gigs, parties and festivals happening year-round, Mother’s Brew Co. is definitely a place to keep your eye on if you love a laid-back, live music vibe.

For a truly intimate vibe, The Royal is a perfect place to catch small gigs from a wide variety of artists. The Royal is all about the art of live performance, so shows tend to happen on an irregular schedule, so keep an eye on the calendar for what’s coming up. The Royal doesn’t just offer live music—you can also grab small bites and unique cocktails. Take a look at our review of The Royal here.

These are just a few of the local breweries that regularly host live music and open mic nights. Take a look at our feature about southwest Missouri's craft beer scene to find out more about them.

Historic and Modern Venues

The Gillioz Theatre has stood since 1926 and was restored in 2006. The venue plays host to live music all year, from touring bands and musicians to Springfield mainstays like the Imagine concert celebrating the music of John Lennon and The Beatles. Of a similar vintage to the Gillioz, the Landers Theatre has stood since 1909 and is home to Springfield Little Theatre. If you’re a fan of live musical theater, this is your local spot to watch. From Guys and Dolls to Shrek: the Musical, you’ll find a wide variety of musicals performed by an incredibly talented troupe of young performers.

Sitting on the Missouri State University campus is Juanita K. Hammons Hall, a large venue which hosts everything from Alice Cooper to the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, touring Broadway shows and more. The aforementioned Springfield Symphony Orchestra has called Hammons Hall home since 1992, and the hall also displays artwork from local and touring artists.

For Jazz Lovers

By Jordan Blomquist
For some, jazz music gives life to a nostalgic feeling. For others, it’s a soothing melody or their favorite dance track. Regardless of what draws you to jazz, 417 Jazz is dedicated to ensuring everyone in town can enjoy the genre. 417 Jazz was launched nearly two years ago to keep the community up to date on where to watch live jazz in Springfield. “None of our fans ever really knew where we were playing, so it was kind of out of necessity for our small but mighty group of followers,” says Todd Brueggemann, 417 Jazz creator.

Since then, 417 Jazz has been highlighting the jazz community in every way they can. Musicians inform 417 Jazz of their upcoming gigs, and the organization starts spreading the word. Musicians can reach out to them about upcoming jazz events by emailing hello@417jazz.com.

Jazz is an art that transcends generations. “We have five-year-olds dancing next to couples in their sixties,” Brueggemann says. No two gigs are ever the same, with 417 Jazz promoting everything from trios to large ensembles like the 16-piece Mojo orchestra.

Hold Fast Brewing Company has been hosting jazz artists every Tuesday evening for five years, and it has become a popular hotspot for jazz listeners in town, drawing upwards of 100–200 people each night. “The great jazz at Hold Fast has become a big part of our lives,” says Paula Pollard, a local jazz fan. “To be able to enjoy that level of talent locally is something very special.” Many other spots in town are adding jazz artists to their live music lineup, such as the Gillioz Theatre, Galloway Station, Blue Room Comedy Club, Tie & Timber, Where House Bar, Wire Road Brewing, Retro Metro, The Dugout and more.

Check the Calendar

These are just a handful of the places you can catch live music of all kinds in Springfield. To keep up with what’s going on, make sure you regularly check in our calendar. Got a gig or show coming up that you don’t see on there? Feel free to add it!