As a community with a vibrant live music scene, Lawrence has many venues catering to these acts. While the music scene is ever-changing, the music venues around Lawrence withstand the test of time. When searching for live music it can be hard to know where to look with so many venues in town. In an effort to make the process easier, the Kansan has created a guide to the notable venues in Lawrence.
The Bottleneck– 737 New Hampshire St.
The Bottleneck sits in a historic building off of New Hampshire Street. Before it became a bar and live music venue the building served other purposes, such as a paper warehouse and a roller rink. It was not until the 1980s that it resembled what it is today. The bar and live music venue opened as “‘Off The Wall Hall”’ and was renamed to “‘Cogburns”’ a few years later. In 1985 the venue was renamed “‘The Bottleneck”’ as an homage to the variety of beers they served. Throughout the years, The Bottleneck gained a reputation as a rock & roll landmark hosting acts such as The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Panic! At the Disco, Smashing Pumpkins, and the Foo Fighters.
The Granada– 1020 Massachusetts St.
Opening in the 1930s as a silent movie theatre, the Granada has been a feature of Lawrence for over 90 years. Since its shift to live music in 1993, The Granada has been one of the more mainstream venues in Lawrence. Many notable acts have come through the Granada including Weezer, Blink 182, The Killers and Snow Patrol. The Granada is not limited to just solo acts and tours, they have featured several other events such as the viral Shrek and Bikini Bottom Raves and the Gimme Gimme Disco.
Replay Lounge– 946 Massachusetts St.
Opening in 1993 as a rock and roll pinball bar, The Replay Lounge features many local, national, and international acts. In 1994 The Replay was remodeled, adding an outdoor patio and beer garden before becoming what it is today in 1997. The Replay Lounge offers a variety of events aside from live music such as karaoke nights, open mic nights, movie nights and other community entertainment events.
The Jazzhaus– 926 Massachusetts St.
The Jazzhaus opened in 1982 and caters to many music genres such as funk, rock, jam bands and jazz. Originally opened as strictly 21+ live music, the venue has expanded to include karaoke nights and drag shows. While the Jazzhaus features a variety of local musicians they will occasionally showcase the Jazzhaus Big Band, a 17-piece dance orchestra that often performs around the holidays.
Lucia– 1016 Massachusetts St.
Lucia is one of the newer venues in Lawrence, opening in 2016 as a Carribean-themed beer garden and grill. The live music venue has two stages that cater to many regional acts and is home to Lawrence, KS Wing Co, who was voted Best of Lawrence in 2024. Lucia has played host to many music events including the Kaw River Roots Festival and other charity events to support the Lawrence community.
Liberty Hall– 644 Massachusetts St.
Liberty Hall has served as a Lawrence staple for over 100 years making it the oldest venue in Lawrence. 644 Massachusetts Street has been occupied since before the Civil War and has a firey history. Originally serving as the location for Kansas’ first abolitionist newspaper “‘The Herald of Freedom”’, the building burned down during the First Sack of Lawrence and was rebuilt as a community gathering area in 1956. In 1870, the location was named Liberty Hall in reference to an Abraham Lincoln quote where he referred to Lawrence, Kansas as “The Cradle of Liberty.” In 1882 the building became an opera house and lasted for 29 years before an electrical fire destroyed the building in 1911. That same year, the building was completely re-designed and was declared fireproof and later bomb-proof during World War II. As technology advanced, Liberty Hall began showing silent movies and was renamed “‘Jayhawker Theatre”’ in the 1930s. Over the next 50 years Liberty Hall had several different names including the Red Dog Inn in 1965 and Bugsy’s in the 1970s. The name rotation stopped in 1986 after Liberty Hall was renovated and re-opened as it is now. Throughout its time as a live music venue, Liberty Hall has hosted many notable entertainers including Tina Turner, Wu-Tang Clan, and Oscar Wilde.