Live Music in Lisbon
Live music blares in Lisbon’s night-time districts and imparts an eccentric energy to the viewpoints as well. Bars in Bairro Alto tend to offer free concerts every night of the week, though you never know exactly what you’re going to get; maybe world music, maybe reggae, fado, funk, indie, jazz or soul – there’s no boundaries.
No matter what you’re looking for in terms of live music, it can be found in Lisbon, often for little or no money. Of course, summer festivals in Lisbon are some of the cheapest in Europe for line-ups nearly identical to those in other more expensive destinations.
Galeria Zé dos Bois | ZDB
The kind of place every city needs to be called a city. Experimental acts, strange performances, cultural library, and - oh, yeah - cheap beer. The last time I was here there was a band playing noise rock accompanied by a guy turning the pages of a comic book he had created. Check their website for happening of weird but wonderful shows.
Rua da Barroca, 59
Bairro Alto
www.zedosbois.org
Onda Jazz Café
Great Jazz venue but also plays hosts to a wide range of global music. The commonality being that whoever plays there is amazing. From Agrican, to Portuguese, and Foreign Jazz, if you want a quiet evening listening to live music, this is your place.
Arco de Jesus, 7
Alfama
www.ondajazz.com
Music Box
Great place to catch both international and Portuguese bands as well as DJ’s nightly. Great video projections and in house VJ’s. Check their website for upcoming shows.
Rua Nova do Carvalho, 24
Cais do Sodré
Open Tuesday to Saturday 23h - 05h
www.musicboxlisboa.com
Santiago Alquimista
Great small to midsize venue for live music and top quality international bands often play. Check their website for upcoming gigs.
Rua de Santiago, 19 C
Castelo
www.santiagoalquimista.com
Hot Clube de Portugal
Newly reopened after Hot Clube got too hot and burned to the ground in 2009, Portugal’s very first jazz club (first established in 1948) is welcoming back throngs of patrons thirsty for cool jazz in a white-hot and significant venue.
A historical landmark, if you ask us, this place is well worth a visit to see how far jazz has come in Portugal since its first member, Luis Villas-Boas, initially spread the sounds of jazz on Lisbon radio in late 1945.
Praça da Alegria, 39
Open Tuesday to Saturday 22h - 02h
Concerts at 23h and 24:30h / Free Jam Sessions when no concerts anounced
tel. (+351) 213 619 740
www.hotclubedeportugal.org
Tejo Bar
Tiny but packed with character. This bar is a host to impromptu live jam sessions casually performed by local artists in a livingroom setting. It’s like being in your musician-friend’s house. Be sure not to clap.
Beco do Viágrio, 1
Alfama
