The ability to host shows with less concern over the public health issues that kept San Francisco’s smaller, indoor and sometimes historic stages closed has helped outdoor venues. With cooler months just around the corner, the region’s club venues have been working overtime to provide the best entertainment they can.
Upcoming lineups show these smaller venues desire to support local talent while providing optimal fun for Bay Area music lovers. Upcoming performance highlights can be found in The Chronicle’s guide to local clubs.
Amado’s
Amado’s has free shows in the bar and paid programming in the listening room.
Upcoming performances include Joe Goldmark and the Seducers.
The amados office is at 998 Valencia St.
August Hall
The venue was originally built in the 1890s for Native Sons of the Golden West and has interesting historical architecture.
Pale Waves, Trentemller, and Louis Cole Big Band will perform in October.
The augusthall.com is located at 420 Mason St.
Bimbos 365 Club
The club moved to its current location in 1951. There are Art Deco and Art Nouveau details.
Upcoming performances include Heaven 17 and Tainted Love.
Bimbo’s365 club is located at 1025 Columbus Ave.
Bird & Beckett
The folks at this Glen Park neighborhood bookstore/music venue got started early, offering free twice-weekly live-streamed jazz and poetry and literature performances. On Fridays and Saturdays, they show the shows at 7:30 pm.
Upcoming performances include Phillip Greenlief with Scott Amendola and others.
birdbeckett.com is located at 663 Chenery St.
The Black Cat
Located in the heart of the historic Tenderloin arts and entertainment district, the world-class artists on the upcoming performance schedule pay homage to the great music there in days of yore.
Nicholas and New World Order will perform on September 21. This is the first thing.
The black catsf.com is located at 400 Eddy St.
Boom Boom Room
Jack’s, a blues organ bar that was one of the last hold outs of the famous jazz/nightlife strip on Fillmore Street after World War II, was renovated and renamed by John Lee Hooker in 1997. A crowd-sourced fund has been created to help it.
The Big-Hit Allstars will perform on Sept. 24.
The boom room is located at 1601 Fillmore St.
Bottom of the Hill
The club’s history goes back to the 19th century, when it was a saloon,eatery, and soda fountain. It presents a high volume of live shows each week and is a great place for emerging rock bands.
Nova Twins and Gully Boys will perform on September 28.
The bottom of the hill is located at 1233 17th St.
Brick and Mortar
One of the few remaining independent music spaces in the city is located on the northern side of the Mission District. A calendar with many genres is displayed.
Upcoming shows include Charlotte Sands on Sept. 27.
There is a brick and mortar music store on Mission St.
Cafe du Nord
There is a secret interior stairwell at the basement level of the Swedish American Hall that leads to the historic speakeasy. The venue has a unique history and is home to high caliber acts.
Private Island, Hojean, Obed Padilla, and Madison Cunningham are upcoming performances.
The cafe is located at 2174 Market St.
The Chapel
The venue used to be part of the New College of California campus.
Lebo and Friends will perform on Thursday, Sept. 24.
Thechapelsf.com is located at Valencia St.
Club Deluxe
The popular Haight Street club, famous for its heavy-hitting jam sessions and frequented by local jazz royalty, is taking a hiatus with plans to reopen in September.
The club is located at 15111 Haight St.
El Rio
It was the first place in the city to serve queer salsa. Positive social change can be promoted by investing in local art and music.
Skin Affect, the Freak Accident, and Vaxholes will perform in the month of September.
The office is located at 3158 Mission St.
Feinstein’s at the Nikko
The intimate cabaret-style room has hosted some of the best and brightest names on and off the Broadway stage and in jazz.
Marilyn Maye is scheduled to perform Sept 29-Oct. Kim Nalley and Houston Person will perform on Oct. 20.
The address is 222 Mason St.
The Fillmore
Major names in rock music played at this venue in the 1960’s. The Dead played there more than 50 times in the 1960’s and 70’s. Posters can be seen in the front room bar and lobby.
Stereolab will perform on Monday-Tuesday, Sept. 19-20.
Thefillmore.com is located in S.F.
Great American Music Hall
The space was saved from being torn down in 1972 when it was renovated and turned into this place. There are a number of music royalty who have performed there.
Elvis will be singing Hunter/Garcia on Sept. 30.
The Independent
Bon Iver, Vampire Weekend, and the National all played their first shows at this venue. Green Day, Black Eyed Peas, Sonic Youth, Dave Chappelle and Beck have all performed on the intimate stage.
The War and Treaty will be performed on September 21.
The Independent SF is located at 628 Divisidero St.
The Midway
There is a wide range of live music and art events in the 40,000 square foot space.
Upcoming performances will be on Sept. 25 and Oct. 14-15.
Themidwaysf.com is located at 900 Marin St.
Mr. Tipples
This is a great place to take in some of the best local jazz the city has to offer.
Upcoming performances are Rob Reich and Mike Clark.
There is a website called Mrtipplessf.com.
Rite Spot Cafe
The sweet spot is a hole in the wall that has drawn in local musicians for many years.
Wall of Fog will perform on Friday, Sept. 23.
The address is 2099 Folsom St. ritespotcafe.net
The Saloon
The Saloon is said to be the oldest continuously operating bar in the city and is a great place for drinks and live music.
Steve Freund, Dave Workman, Jinx Jones, and Powell Street Blues Band will perform in the month of September.
The SFBlues.weebly.com is located at 1232 Grant Ave.
SFJazz Center
There is a good seat in both of the performance spaces at the club. Local and touring jazz artists are included.
The Moodswing ensemble with Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride and Brian Blade will perform on Friday, September 23. The Sticklerphonics with Scott Amendola on September 29 and 30.
There is a jazz club at 200 Franklin St.