After a day of skiing, hiking, and fishing in Bozeman, it’s time to relax. Luckily for Bozmanites and visitors alike, there are quite a few music venues to unwind and enjoy live music that can cater to any taste, from opera and symphonies to country and rock.
Picking the best of these venues is an almost impossible task. Locals will defend their favorite music joint to the last breath, and the topic is a favorite for barroom debate.
To help you decide on the best live music venues in Bozeman, Montana, we have put together a list of some of our favorites.
Best Live Music Venues in Bozeman, Montana
1. The Ellen Theater
The Ellen is the most historic venue on this list and has been a fixture in the Bozeman theater and music scene since 1919 when the doors first opened.
It quickly became a well-known stop on the Vaudville circuit and has brought talent from all over the country to Bozeman.
Today it is easy to feel like you stepped back in time when entering this beautiful venue. Stunning crown molding and gilded carvings make this building a royal ambiance.
The Ellen boasts of a diverse lineup of genres and often features world-renowned musicians and bands. In the last year, they have hosted Tim Kliphuis and Jimmy Grant playing Great Gypsy Jazz Duet and Talisk, a popular Scottish band, to just name a few.
More than just music resides in this theater, and locals can find some sort of entertainment every day of the week from film festivals, classic movie nights, and musicals.
Located in the middle of downtown, this venue is surrounded on all sides by local restaurants to make dinner with a show an extremely walkable reality.
2. The Rialto
Another historic venue, The Rialto first opened its doors as a music venue in 1924 after the post office and storefront built in 1908 were vacated.
This venue has been renovated multiple times. Most recently, it was reopened in 2018 after standing dormant for ten years.
The new space offers a large variety of events in three unique spaces, the Burn Box, the Black Box, and the Light Box which each offer their own unique ambiance.
This variety allows concert-goers to have different experiences for each show they attend making this venue feel like three spots all wrapped up into one.
The Rialto has hosted many acts, which tend to lean towards rock and alternative music, although folk and country are often commonly on the stage. Bands such as Tommy Castro and The Painkillers and Bozeman’s own Kitchen Dwellers please crowds among the bright, choreographed lights where concertgoers can mosh or hang back by the drinks.
Speaking of drinks, this venue also has an outstanding bar that is always stocked with beer, wine, and unique craft cocktails, which, coupled with its proximity to downtown, allows for easy walking to other bars and restaurants.
The Rialto also rents out its rooms for private events, making it a fun and classy location for parties and receptions.
3. The Filling Station
Sticking to its roots in 1976, the Filling Station serves as a rowdy rock venue conveniently located on the road down from Bridger Bowl, allowing music enthusiasts still in their ski boots to see a good show on the way back to town.
One of the things that makes this spot so great is the consistency of acts. With live music every Friday and Saturday, regulars at the Filling Station can always have plans to see a band every weekend.
The Filling Station is renowned for showcasing local and regional talent, allowing Bozeman artists to have a unique place to perform and show the community what they can do.
Without an official website, the Filling Station operates primarily through social media and word of mouth to get the word out about their shows and through Chickenjam West, a local production company.
With good food, cheap drinks, and great jams, this local favorite allows all of the flavors of the Bozeman music scene without breaking the bank.
A lineup including Ryan Acker and Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs under colorful lights makes the Filling Station an unforgettable venue and local favorite.
4. The Elm
One of Bozeman’s newest music venues, The Elm, has already become a favorite due to the diversity of performances and a large dance floor that allows concert-goers to let loose on the dance floor.
It is owned and operated by Logjam Presents. This company brings music all over the world to their venues in Bozeman and Missoula, which include The Rialto as well as The Wilma in Missoula.
The Elm opened with the eight-time Grammy-nominated band Death Cab for Cutie playing in September 2021 and kept the show going with a power-house lineup.
The fantastic acoustics and capacity of 1,100 bring in acts such as The Brothers Comatose and local rock and Tom Petty tribute band The Waiting to play for sold-out crowds.
Both the interior and exterior of this building reflect the pride Bozeman has in its unique architecture and design, adding another one-of-a-kind building to the town.
Despite being a new venue, the following and acts that The Elm has brought to town have already made it a community favorite, one that often sells out quickly, and is certainly worth checking out to see more famous bands than some of the other venues on this list have in their lineups.