Every State's Best Live Music Venue

Maybe it's a 50,000-seat outdoor stadium. Might be a 20,000-seat indoor arena. Perhaps it's a 7,500-seat amphitheater. Or it could be an intimate club that holds less than 500 patrons. Wherever it is, there's absolutely nothing like watching a live music event.

We did some researching-canvassing smaller such surveys state by state, looking at consumer comments and ratings, seeing where the most check-ins on FourSquare took place and weaved in some personal favorites-and we even surprised ourselves with the variety of venues we discovered.

You might think that, given the location, the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater skews more to country acts. It does, but it sprinkles in some great rap shows, pop acts like Rob Thomas and even an upcoming date for comedian Jim Gaffigan.

Located on the University of Alaska-Anchorage campus, the auditorium has been used for everything from lectures to orchestra performances to rocker Jack White in concert. It is open to the public so join the kids and dance the night away.

Sure, there are plenty of big venues in Arizona and big-name stars who perform there, but for almost 50 years, this Tempe bar has introduced some of the best up-and-coming rock acts in the country.

This venue does skew country, with an upcoming show by Carrie Underwood as one of the highlights. But, it also played host to Bob Seger on his 50th-anniversary tour and in September booked a date for Weird Al Yankovic. True story.

Nothing says California like the Hollywood Bowl and its iconic outdoor stage. If you can't get a seat, bring a blanket, some lawn chairs, a picnic basket and, of course, a bottle or three of California wine.

Just outside Denver lies one of the best outdoor music facilities in the world. This venue is pushing 100 years old and has hosted the biggest names in music-The Beatles, Hendrix, U2 and more. The acoustics are amazing and the backdrop of the literal red rocks is stunning.

Legendary. This nightclub near the Yale University campus is famous for showcasing future and current stars like Snoop Dogg, U2, Dylan and more. One of the country's great small live music bars.

Right across the street from the beach, this is a seasonal venue that attracts a young audience. If you're prepared to rock out with the 18+ crowd, go for it. You'll see some great live acts.

The top acts in the country appear in this 20,000-seat arena. And by top acts, we mean the biggest names in the industry, like current superstar Ariana Grande to timeless stars like Billy Joel.

Who's performed at this 2,500-seat converted Baptist church? Oh, a couple of folks you might recognize. Prince. Elton John. Janelle Monae. That's not to mention many up-and-coming artists.

If you really want to feel Hawaii, this is the place. Nightly live music, including traditional Hawaiian music, along with dancing and food. The indoor/outdoor seating right on the beach sure doesn't hurt, either.

We dare you to find a bad seat at The Knitting Factory. This is a small club with some great live music by both local bands and up-and-coming acts.

Again, a large city with a plethora of large spaces for the likes of Taylor Swift. But if you want to see bands on the cusp of stardom, Metro is your place. Metro has a tradition of showcasing musical acts that are just about to reach the big-time, including The White Stripes, The Killers and a rap impresario by the name of Kanye West.

The home of the NBA's Indiana Pacers, this arena is terrific for concerts. In fact, starting April 2 and for the next month, it's booked for such acts as Justin Timberlake, Ariana Grande and New Kids On The Block.

Talk about off-the-beaten path. The Surf is famous for bringing in great jazz bands from its inception in 1934. Now it brings in all kinds of musical acts to its lakefront location. And you can still dance.

When in doubt, always count on a great live music venue in a college town. The Bottleneck is right near the University of Kansas campus and brings in some terrific local talent.

The Palace looks like an old-fashioned theater, complete with its vaulted ceiling, balconies and sculptures on the wall. On the stage, plenty of big-name acts, plays, dance exhibitions and more.

You can't make a movie, a TV show or write a book about New Orleans without mentioning Tipitina's. This club is legendary and yet, ironically, it's only been around since 1977. But the kudos it earns are real. Tipitina's serves up some great live music, including a Homegrown Night on Thursdays.

If this outdoor venue were any more on the water, you'd be swimming in it. The gorgeous backdrop is one draw; the other is the intimacy since the place only seats 3,000. You'll feel like the artist is playing on your back porch.

Halfway between Baltimore and Washington, Merriweather Post Pavilion is an outdoor amphitheater. Best thing about it is the Pavilion has hosted concerts from virtually every musical corner, from rock and rhythm and blues to country and classical.

A baseball stadium? Well, consider the circumstances. This isn't just any stadium, this is 100-year-ol Fenway Park, with its famed Green Monster wall as a backdrop. And since these concerts don't happen often, you're getting the best of the best, like Bruce Springsteen.

Almost 100 years old now, the Fox is considered the crown jewel of Detroit. You won't find a more ornate place than this, mostly because it is accustomed to hosting stage plays. But that just makes the 5,000 seats more intimate for a concert and more acoustically pleasing.

First Avenue-the place where it all started for the legendary Prince. Enough said. (Note: The smaller sister club, 7th Street Entry, came along well after First Avenue was established.)

There's no blues like the Mississippi Blues. And legend has it that Clarksdale is where the genre was invented-or Ground Zero, if you will. Come see where it all began.

In one of the great jazz towns in the country lies one of the great jazz clubs-The Blue Room. Fittingly, this club that showcases live jazz is connected to the American Jazz Museum.

Located on the campus of Montana State University, the arena can hold 9,000 patrons. With a plethora of different types of events, the live music tends to lean towards country, with acts like Cole Swindell.

An Omaha staple, The Waiting Room is famous for its ability to showcase new acts that later become mainstream darlings. That includes such stars as Wiz Khalifa, Imagine Dragons, Sara Bareilles and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

A precedent-setting, 4,200-seat arena, The Colosseum was rebuilt and renamed in 2000 when organizers came up with the idea of a residency-performers who played for weeks and months at a time, starting with Celine Dion. The Colosseum is famous for this, having also had acts such as Elton John and Shania Twain perform residencies, but it does host shorter stints and single shows.

Famed for its ability to pull in both local and national acts, this intimate theater holds just 700 seats, so every chair offers you a great view.

The legendary beachside nightclub was home base for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. It continues the tradition of showcasing up-and-coming local acts while getting the occasional drop-in from Springsteen or Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.

Snoop Dogg. Stone Temple Pilots. Smashing Pumpkins. Just a few of the big-time acts that have appeared at The Sunshine Theater, a former movie palace that shuttered in the early 1970s and was restored as a venue for live music in the 1990s.

Every single time you step foot on this property you are stepping on history. This is where Woodstock was held on an August weekend in 1969, contrary to the popular belief that the festival was actually held in the town of Woodstock. There is an incredible museum that pays homage to the original Woodstock and an amphitheater here that attracts some of the best acts in the country.

Don't let the addition of this two-level club on this list be a surprise. It was named to Rolling Stone magazine's top five rock clubs in the U.S. Novice bands and headline acts take the stage here.

This is a small, intimate theater but the great thing about it is how the performers are able to have an equally intimate relationship with the audience. Built in 1926, the Fargo Theatre is on the National Register of Historical Places by the United States Department of the Interior.

In the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, House of Blues-like its counterparts in other cities-gets some of the biggest and best acts in the country. And the local acts are darn good as well.

Home to the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder, this arena packs in huge names. Like who? Like Ariana Grande, Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson, The Chainsmokers and more.

This used to be a church so the acoustics are like, ridiculously good. It's a great place to see live acts for as little as $10. Want to make it a great night? Rent out the apartment upstairs and stay over.

Lots of history here. It's 114 years old and originally opened as a vaudeville theater. Today, the Rex hosts some diverse acts that range from folk to hard rock inside an intimate theater.

Migos, 21 Savage and Josh Groban are just a few of the names that will appear at Providence's biggest venue. A good place to see a live concert, among all the events the area has going on here.

Terrific place for live music-and that includes the Broadway shows that also make their way here. Such acts as the Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox 20 have appeared here. Trumpet genius Chris Botti and Keb 'Mo are slated to appear in the future.

South Dakota, particularly Sioux Falls, does have a nice collection of live music nightclubs. But to see bigger name acts, this is the place. Cher, Carrie Underwood and Thomas Rhett where all scheduled to appear this spring.

Don't even @ us. This is the mecca. You don't mess with legends.

This is where the long-running and ultra-popular musical series 'Austin City Limits' is filmed for PBS. But the theater also hosts big national acts, including such hot artists as Chris Stapleton and Lucina Williams.

This is a great venue, but you better like crowds as it can get awfully tight in here. However, it's worth it. The Complex hosts some great indie groups as well as familiar names in pop music.

A tradition right in the heart of Burlington. All you need to know is that the owners have a motto-"fresh music served daily." And they live up to it every day.

Since 1971, this has been one of the coolest amphitheaters in the country. Filene Center puts on an average of 80 shows every summer, literally almost one a day. And those include a nice mix of contemporary singers, Broadway plays and legends, such as Diana Ross, who is scheduled to appear June 27.

There's no mistaking Seattle's place in music history. And The Triple Door continues the legacy of showcasing some of the best fledgling bands in the city and the country.

This is exactly what you want in a live music bar in a college town (West Virginia University). 123 Pleasant has live music every night, ranging from local garage bands to national acts. Previously known as The Underground Railroad, the venue has drawn such fledgling bands as The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Opened in 1998 as the off-campus basketball and hockey arena for nearby University of Wisconsin, the Kohl Center is also a great place to see a show. How big are the acts that pass through? Well, Paul McCartney is scheduled for June 6. Does it get better than a former Beatle?

Right in the heart of Casper Mountain is this improvised stage that hosts the annual Beartrap Music Festival every August. You want bluegrass bouncing off the mountains? You'll get it here.