Jerry Wayne Odom Jr.

Baton Rouge Live Music & Bands

Live music is one of the best things you can enjoy in the Baton Rouge area. Our diverse culture and history have produced such a wide variety of music that you can see something different anytime if you know where to go and who you want to see. Here I'll provide as many Baton Rouge area bands as I can think of.

Basic Baton Rouge Bars:
  1. If you're country/redneckish go to Texas Club, Triple A bar or one of the various daiquiris joints.
  2. If you're kind of trendy think Downtown area.
  3. if you're 18-24 think Tigerland by LSU.
  4. If you just want to relax regardless of who you are think Champp's, Fox n Hound, The Chimes East
  5. Live Music? - The Caterie, The Varsity, Click's, Cadillac Cafe and The Spanish Moon always have live bands. There are lots of other places to see quality live music as well.
  6. If you're in your late 30's 40's you might want to try Cadillac Cafe or Southdowns.
You'll find that Baton Rouge has many "Baton Rouge Tradition" bars and a whole lot of friendly holes in the wall. If you're a big clubber you'll find the town a little short on that but if you like to hang back and have a few drinks in a nice atmosphere then the area is great! We've got our share of dance floors but don't expect a knock your socks off clubbing experience.
Bennigan's on Bluebonnet

  • Location: On Bluebonnet Blvd in front of the Mall of Louisiana. see on map
  • About: An Irish style pub combined with a family restaurant. The food and restaurant are great stuff but the bar area in the center is an excellent atmosphere for a meeting with friends or business. They have an absolutely wonderful St. Patrick's day party.


Tsunami's

  • Location: Downtown Baton Rouge atop the Shaw Center for the Arts on 3rd Street. see on map
  • About: This place is a wonderful Japanese restaurant that recently opened. You have to take the elevator up to the top floor of the Shaw Center and you'll walk into an absolutely wonderful place. Walk to your right and go outside into a wonderful huge outdoor patio featuring a bar, modern music and the most beautiful view of Baton Rouge. Walk to your left and you're in the indoor restaurant and bar with absolutely wonderful food and service. A must see.


Triple A Bar (AKA: The Old 5 Star Bar N. Grill Aka Elements) [Official Website]

  • Location: just off of I-10 and college. see on map
  • About: Triple A closed down, remodeled and re-opened as Elements then remodeled and re-opened as 5 Star then closed down and remodeled to Triple A again. I'm Still confused. Its a huge bar and dance floor and has a fairly nice spaced out design. Great for the comedy club and picking up alot of mixed crowd night life business lately.


Chelsea's Cafe [Official Website]

  • I would write a little bit of text like I do(sputtering off a few this n thats about this great Baton Rouge location) but I'd be wasting your time. Someone built a great website for Chelsea's with all the informative information you'll need. [Official Website]


Tigerland - This includes Reggie's, The Tiger, Dublin's, Fred's

  • Location: Near LSU across the railroad tracks on highland road.
  • About: This is where you go if you're a broke college bum. I don't mind some of these places though they are a bit dirty and you don't really feel comfortable in the college crowd if you're me. Crowd is of course college aged so thats what they cater to. Music is your typical booty shaking and rap music combined with country and other dance songs.(no real theme) An occasional bad band. Often Greek events will rent these places having private parties which you can't get into unless you're in a sorority/fraternity. Definitely all for young people. What do you expect from a bunch of people catering to drunk mostly underaged college kids? Not much. Leave the kiddie pool to the kiddies


The Caterie [Official Website]

  • Location: On the corner of Perkin's and Acadiana Thruway right of off I-10.
  • About: This place has been around forever and is always a good time.The Caterie features live music by local bands are featured in this 2 story bar. A small bar downstairs that handles the crowd fairly well. On Monday night they have a band called the Monday Night Band that is well worth going watch.


Georges Restaurant & Bar [Official website]

  • Location: Four locations around Baton Rouge.
  • About: Georges is about as traditional a tavern as you can find in Baton Rouge. They have a very good bar style food menu and a host of good beer and alcohol available. If you're looking for a good place to go sit, have a drink and relax after work then this is a good place for you.


Superior Grill [Official website]

  • Location: on Government St. near Jefferson Hwy.
  • About: Superior is a mexican restaurant/bar which features one of the most popular after work spots. Thursday evening is prime time for this place. A mixed but older crowd and a popular hangout. Margaritas and a band. This is a great place for a Thursday outing. VERY Crowded but a good place to have an evening. For some reason the people here migrate over to The Station after the band is done on Thursday evenings.


Texas Club [Official Website]

  • Location: Off of Florida Blvd. and near Airline Hwy.
  • About: Texas is more or less the trailer park of Baton Rouge. This place attracts primarily locals of the wrong sort. Many an ugly fight break out at this place and they've got their own private SWAT team patrolling this place. Not a friendly place. One of my friends was once grabbed around the throat by the staff for misunderstanding what the guy told him to do. I was on a different occasion grabbed and pushed by one of the staff for inadvertently walking the wrong way. This place could burn to the ground and I wouldn't miss it. Texas club is a large place which features a country / dance mix of music. Kind of like being at a honkey tonk and a rave all at the same time. A Huge bar thats an overpriced for low quality thing but they do have a Thursday night coin night. Alot of locals love this place


Churchill's [Website With Better Description]

  • Location: on Jefferson Hwy.
  • About: This is on of the best bars in town for the older crowd as well as a great place for any person to have a drink. The front of the establishment sells fine cigars and alcohol as retail but walk to the back and you're in the bar. Attracts primarily local businessmen and people who want a more refined atmosphere. Its a great place for any social gathering. They have small bands play to the crowd on the end side of the week. I recently went out here on a Thursday night and had a great time. I love their wine list. Churchill's has also recently opened a restaurant inside of the Argosy Casino Atrium.


Duvic's

  • Location: on Perkin's under the Interstate.
  • About: This is a favorite martini bar in town. Very simply this bar has tables, chairs and bartenders who make good martinis. Great atmosphere and a good place to get together with friends. No live music. A good place for ladies.


The Chimes [PubCrawler.com Reviews][official site]

  • Location: Original is Just outside the North gates of LSU. New location On Coursey Blvd. see map to Highland location, see map to Coursey location
  • About: This is one of the best and most popular places in town. Has a great restaurant, atmosphere and the largest selection of beer in town I'd say. Attracts people of all ages but its so close to LSU it has a large crowd of college students. All a good crowd though and a prime place to hang out. Good bar that supports LSU sports and has a great restaurant. Right next to the popular Varsity theatre and all the Chimes st. hole in the wall bars. Largest selection of beers in town!! A good place for all ages and excellent food. Update November 2005: - They opened up The Chimes East on Coursey Blvd. I've been a few times as its right next to my house. A beautiful new place and a wonderful hangout.


Varsity Theatre [Official Website]

  • Location: Just outside the North gates of LSU.
  • About: A great bar which host a variety of events. Been around forever. The Varsity has concerts by some of the biggest names in alternative/rock music. Also features retro, latin and other dance nights. Lately the Varsity has been very busy late at night when they have a sort of club atmosphere. However they're also having alot of private parties on Saturday which has kind of been a turn off to me. I don't want to drive that way to be turned away at the door.


The Station [Official Website]

  • Location: Off of college right near I-10. Right up close to Element's(Triple A Bar). see on map
  • About: When I've been here I've had an ok time. Its kind of small but has a large bar. They have bands and good dance music, usually at the same time as they've got two rooms. One full of couches the other is just a bar with pool tables. They've got the magic rule down for opening a bar: hire hot women as bartenders and you're golden.


Clicks Billiards [Official Website]

  • Location: Just of of I-10 and college drive. see on map
  • About: A very large pool hall. Lots of games and they have live bands often which are very good. Good hangout as it has lots of pool tables, lots of dart boards. I hear that these guys have the best night for kareoke on either Monday or Tuesday.


Fox & Hound

  • Location: Just of of I-10 and college drive. see on map
  • About: Probably one of the better places in Baton Rouge to hang out. They've got just about every type of alcohol you could ask for and a huge well designed and thought out venue. The food served is top notch and the service is excellent. I heard a while back that to be hired here you have to have alot of server experience. Pool tables, shuffle board and all the space in the world. I doubt you'll ever be unhappy with your visit to the Fox.


The Roux House [Official Website]

  • Location: Downtown on third street.
  • About: Nice and small bar located on third stree that attracts alot of young 20-something year olds. Live music and a nice outside area right below the Shaw Center for the arts. Nice place!


Happy's Irish Pub [Official Website]

  • Location: Downtown on third street..
  • About: A brand new bar that I haven't even been into yet but I saw it during construction. Looks like a beautiful place right next to Roux House. The website doesn't appear to be in Engish yet?




Not Enough Baton Rouge Bars & Clubs here?

Not to fear I have more information available. I edit the dmoz category for Baton Rouge restaurants and bars where you might find links to more websites by local owners. Hopefully in the near future I'll be editing their clubs & venues section so I can keep listings of all the places to go dancing and see live music in Baton Rouge.