From dedicated performance halls to cozy brewpubs, the community in Salida, Colo., has many opportunities to catch live music. Many establishments provide intimate settings where patrons can truly connect with performers, while larger venues host grander events. Discovering the best spots for live music in Salida, CO, reveals a town committed to artistic expression.
This guide explores some of the most notable places to experience live music in Salida CO, highlighting the distinct features of each location.
Main Live Music Venues in Salida
Salida Rotary Amphitheater
Salida Rotary Amphitheater is a stunning outdoor venue that beautifully leverages Salida's natural landscape. This amphitheater provides a unique blend of natural beauty and vibrant local events, situated with breathtaking views of the Arkansas River and the majestic Rocky Mountains.
The amphitheater's design ensures excellent acoustics, making every live music concert or theatrical performance an engaging experience. Attendees can relax on the grassy slopes, enjoying the captivating artistry and the stunning scenery that defines the region. This venue truly captures the essence of Salida's outdoor-oriented and arts-focused community.
The amphitheater's design ensures excellent acoustics, making every live music concert or theatrical performance an engaging experience. Attendees can relax on the grassy slopes, enjoying the captivating artistry and the stunning scenery that defines the region. This venue truly captures the essence of Salida's outdoor-oriented and arts-focused community.
Salida SteamPlant Theater and Event Center
The Salida SteamPlant Theater and Event Center is a cultural anchor in the heart of Salida's creative district. Originally built in 1887 to house the Salida Edison Electric Light Company, the city of Salida acquired this historic building a century later and transformed it into a thriving multi-purpose venue.
The SteamPlant encompasses a 200-seat theater, ideal for concerts and theatrical productions, alongside art galleries, conference rooms, and a spacious ballroom. Its Riverside Plaza, located on the banks of the Arkansas River, offers a picturesque outdoor space. The century-old brick exterior and high ceilings within the ballroom create a warm and inviting atmosphere, providing a unique blend of historical charm and modern event capabilities for live performances.
The SteamPlant encompasses a 200-seat theater, ideal for concerts and theatrical productions, alongside art galleries, conference rooms, and a spacious ballroom. Its Riverside Plaza, located on the banks of the Arkansas River, offers a picturesque outdoor space. The century-old brick exterior and high ceilings within the ballroom create a warm and inviting atmosphere, providing a unique blend of historical charm and modern event capabilities for live performances.
Salida Bars and Restaurants with Live Music
Benson’s Tavern & Beer Garden
Benson's Tavern & Beer Garden offers a relaxed American dining experience with the added appeal of a vibrant beer garden. Located on North F Street in downtown Salida, it provides a welcoming atmosphere for locals and visitors.
The tavern's menu features American cuisine, often prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The inviting beer garden is a key feature, providing an outdoor setting to unwind with craft beers and cocktails that highlight Colorado's brewing culture. While known for its food and drink, Benson's Tavern occasionally hosts live music events, adding to its convivial ambiance.
The tavern's menu features American cuisine, often prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The inviting beer garden is a key feature, providing an outdoor setting to unwind with craft beers and cocktails that highlight Colorado's brewing culture. While known for its food and drink, Benson's Tavern occasionally hosts live music events, adding to its convivial ambiance.
Boathouse Cantina
Boathouse Cantina stands out as a popular Salida restaurant with a prime location directly on the banks of the Arkansas River. This establishment offers Baja Mexican-style food alongside American favorites, providing a diverse menu for its patrons.
The most unique feature of Boathouse Cantina is its deck overlooking the river, offering scenic views that enhance the dining experience. While primarily a restaurant, its lively atmosphere and riverfront setting can occasionally host acoustic sets or smaller musical performances. The commitment to sustainable and organic food products, including Colorado-raised chicken and bison, further distinguishes its offerings.
The most unique feature of Boathouse Cantina is its deck overlooking the river, offering scenic views that enhance the dining experience. While primarily a restaurant, its lively atmosphere and riverfront setting can occasionally host acoustic sets or smaller musical performances. The commitment to sustainable and organic food products, including Colorado-raised chicken and bison, further distinguishes its offerings.
High Side! Bar & Grill
High Side! Bar & Grill has established itself as a quintessential gathering spot in downtown Salida, particularly for river enthusiasts. Its unique location directly along the Arkansas River allows patrons to literally float up from the water, grab a drink or a bite, and enjoy it on the riverside patio.
This bar and grill focuses on quality food and drinks, offering local riffs on pub classics alongside craft beers and cocktails. Live music is a consistent feature at High Side!, with free performances often scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This consistent offering of live music and its unparalleled riverside patio make it a vibrant hub where food, music, and community flow together.
This bar and grill focuses on quality food and drinks, offering local riffs on pub classics alongside craft beers and cocktails. Live music is a consistent feature at High Side!, with free performances often scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This consistent offering of live music and its unparalleled riverside patio make it a vibrant hub where food, music, and community flow together.
Moonlight Pizza & Brewpub
Moonlight Pizza & Brewpub, a long-standing Salida establishment since 1994, combines handcrafted pizzas with small-batch brews made on-site. Located in the heart of downtown Salida, it has become a community favorite, known for its relaxed atmosphere and dedication to quality.
The brewpub offers various pizzas, including options for gluten-free crusts. Beyond the food, Moonlight Pizza features a selection of house-brewed beers on tap. The establishment also actively supports the community, often hosting "Moonlight Kids Club" events and providing take-and-bake pizzas for convenience. While not a dedicated music venue, its pub atmosphere occasionally lends itself to local musical acts or background tunes.
The brewpub offers various pizzas, including options for gluten-free crusts. Beyond the food, Moonlight Pizza features a selection of house-brewed beers on tap. The establishment also actively supports the community, often hosting "Moonlight Kids Club" events and providing take-and-bake pizzas for convenience. While not a dedicated music venue, its pub atmosphere occasionally lends itself to local musical acts or background tunes.
Soulcraft Brewing
Soulcraft Brewing, located on West Rainbow Boulevard, has quickly become a beloved brewery in Salida. It is recognized for its innovative and approachable handcrafted beers. The spacious taproom and dog-friendly outdoor patio contribute to its welcoming environment.
Soulcraft offers a wide range of beers, from refreshing lagers like Moon-Itcher to hoppy IPAs and rich stouts. They also craft unique limited-edition and seasonal brews, ensuring a fresh selection for patrons. Soulcraft Brewing frequently hosts trivia nights and collaborates with local food trucks, creating a dynamic pairing of great beer, delicious food, and often live entertainment in a lively setting.
Soulcraft offers a wide range of beers, from refreshing lagers like Moon-Itcher to hoppy IPAs and rich stouts. They also craft unique limited-edition and seasonal brews, ensuring a fresh selection for patrons. Soulcraft Brewing frequently hosts trivia nights and collaborates with local food trucks, creating a dynamic pairing of great beer, delicious food, and often live entertainment in a lively setting.
Tres Litros Beer Company
Tres Litros Beer Company is a neighborhood brewery nestled in downtown Salida. It focuses on thoughtfully crafted and engaging beers. The welcoming taproom is a central feature, designed to be a comfortable space for enjoying its distinct brews.
The taproom is decorated with abundant reclaimed materials, custom live-edge wood tables, and numerous area maps, reflecting a local and adventurous spirit. Tres Litros operates with eight taps, offering a rotating selection of its small-batch brews. It features a stage that hosts small performances by local artists, making it an intimate spot to enjoy live music alongside quality craft beer.
The taproom is decorated with abundant reclaimed materials, custom live-edge wood tables, and numerous area maps, reflecting a local and adventurous spirit. Tres Litros operates with eight taps, offering a rotating selection of its small-batch brews. It features a stage that hosts small performances by local artists, making it an intimate spot to enjoy live music alongside quality craft beer.
The Velveteen
The Velveteen in Salida is a unique and quirky hotspot with a cozy and inviting atmosphere. It stands out with its distinctive red lighting, which casts a magical glow on the interior, creating an eccentric yet cool ambiance that some compare to Parisian or Budapest bars.
This bar provides a secluded feel with various nooks and crannies, perfect for cozying up with a drink. While no food is served inside, a food truck is often available in the courtyard for snacks. The Velveteen is celebrated for its creative cocktails and unique decor, making it an unexpectedly cool place to relax after outdoor activities, often with games available for patrons.
This bar provides a secluded feel with various nooks and crannies, perfect for cozying up with a drink. While no food is served inside, a food truck is often available in the courtyard for snacks. The Velveteen is celebrated for its creative cocktails and unique decor, making it an unexpectedly cool place to relax after outdoor activities, often with games available for patrons.
The Victoria Tavern
The Victoria Tavern, often referred to as "The Vic Tavern," is a historic bar and pool hall in Salida that embodies a classic, old-school dive bar charm. This establishment maintains much of its original character, offering a glimpse into the town's past.
The tavern features a full wood bar, contributing to its authentic vintage feel. Beyond its primary function as a bar and pool hall, The Victoria Tavern occasionally hosts local musical acts, providing a laid-back venue for traditional pub entertainment.
The tavern features a full wood bar, contributing to its authentic vintage feel. Beyond its primary function as a bar and pool hall, The Victoria Tavern occasionally hosts local musical acts, providing a laid-back venue for traditional pub entertainment.
Work with First Colorado Land Office
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Connect with them to start your real estate journey with a team that puts local expertise to work for you.
