Where good music lives

A common question that arises amongst college students is: Where are the best places to go out and experience live music? In the Bay Area, a variety of venues cater to all musical genres. The three popular venues listed below might help you to decide where to go Friday night.

 Audio SF

Audio is an up-and-coming nightclub where you can dance and listen to underground electronic music. Located in San Francisco at 316 11th St., the club has an intimate feeling to it. The venue features a main level with a dance floor, as well as a lower level with the club’s sister restaurant, Bergerac, which serves as the perfect place to rest your legs or ears.

Consistently low ticket prices are one of the defining features of Audio. For most shows, you can buy a ticket online for less than $15, and many times you can RSVP to the event on the club’s website and get in without paying a dime. This is a place you can return to weekend after weekend without feeling like you’re spending your whole paycheck. You can check out upcoming events and other information about Audio at its website http://www.audiosf.com.

 Greek Theatre

Greek Theatre in Berkeley is a unique live music experience in the Bay Area. Opened in 1903, the venue is located outdoors on UC Berkeley’s campus and is based on the ancient Greek theater of Epidaurus.

The traditional amphitheater layout provides an incredible acoustics sound. One of the biggest venues in the area, the theatre has a capacity of 8,500 people and a reputation for hosting big name artists such as Tom Petty, Arcade Fire and Above & Beyond. Big name performers mean big-ticket prices, so be prepared to pay anywhere from $40-$100 for a show. Prices aside, seeing your favorite band at a venue like Greek Theatre will be a remarkable experience to say the least.

You can stay up to date on all of Greek Theatre’s upcoming events at their website http://www.thegreektheatreberkeley.com.

 The Fox Theater

Located in downtown Oakland at 1807 Telegraph Ave. The Fox Theater is a cross between big venues like The Greek Theatre and a small clubs like Audio. The theatre has a capacity of 2,800 and features two levels, a main floor and a balcony.

The Fox Theatre hosts a wider variety of DJs and bands than one-dimensional venues. It is not unusual for the venue to host a blues band on Friday and a major DJ on Saturday.

The Fox’s layout allows you to feel like you are at a major auditorium without all of the people and foot traffic.

Ticket prices range from $20-$100 depending on the artist and the demand of the event. Many times, you can end up seeing a big name artist at low price if you buy your ticket early.

You can keep up to date with all of the upcoming events at The Fox Theatre at their website http://www.thefoxoakland.com.