From Intimate Stages to Grand Arenas, OC’s Music Scene Is Ready to Rock
Music lovers, unite! Whether you’re an indoor venue enthusiast or prefer to take your falsettos with a side of fresh air, the variety of music venues in Orange County is endless. You can go intimate and enchanting or loud and proud, and we promise to give you plenty of room to move and groove. It doesn’t matter if you’re a little bit country or a little bit rock ‘n’ roll—these nine music venues in Anaheim and its surrounding Orange County cities are serving up hit after hit, so you don’t even need to leave our beloved bubble.
City National Grove of Anaheim
You may remember us mentioning City National Grove in our 48 hours in Anaheim article, but it’s one of our favorite big little venues in town. Set in a space that can accommodate 1,700 people, this indoor auditorium doesn’t have a bad seat in the house. However, if you want premium seating, they have that too. Forever funny girl Whitney Cummings is performing on Nov. 9, and Anaheim Ballet is putting on a performance of “The Nutcracker” on Nov. 29 and two more on Nov. 30. If you want to attend something really trippy, book a ticket to Tyler Henry’s Evening of Hope and Healing on Dec. 5 or 6. The Grove is located adjacent to Golden Road Brewery, so pop in for a draft beer before or after your show.
Location: Anaheim
Upcoming Shows:
– Anaheim Ballet’s Nutcracker (Nov. 29-30)
– Stayin’ Alive – A Tribute to the Bee Gees (Nov. 24)
– Girl Named Tom (Dec. 19)
Honda Center
Honda Center might be home to our mighty Ducks, but it also moonlights as a pretty awesome music venue in between slapshots and fistfights. Honda Center hosts a slew of different entertainers, from comedians to country music stars. Usher is one of the big headliners in November, and you’ll want to score those coveted Disney on Ice tickets for your “Frozen”-loving family. Rumor has it Justin Timberlake is doing a one-night-only concert in January, so grab your girls and grab a couple more and come meet him in the middle of the floor. If you’re making it a date night, be sure to scope out our 8 iconic date-night ideas in Anaheim.
Location: Anaheim
Upcoming Shows:
– USHER (Nov. 18-19)
– Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Nov. 30)
– Disney On Ice presents Magic in the Stars (Dec. 12-16)
House of Blues
The House of Blues in Anaheim is one of the most underrated venues (in our humble opinion). Located right next to Disney, this Anaheim audio oasis hosts many different styles of entertainment, from emo to screamo and everything in between. While the House of Blues has an on-site restaurant and bar, we recommend a pre-show pit stop at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar for a mai tai or a few to really lubricate the golden pipes before your all-night sing-a-long. End your night in the Foundation Room to enjoy their rotating in-house DJs for the ultimate after-party.
Location: Anaheim
Upcoming Shows:
– Rise Against (Nov. 20)
– Common Kings (Nov. 7-9)
– Chuck Ragan (Dec. 12)
THE RANCH Saloon
THE RANCH Saloon makes all of our Western fantasies come true, giving us an excuse to dust off our cowboy boots and boogie. THE RANCH is part fancy steakhouse, part down-home saloon. Maybe you read about it in our guide to the best restaurants in Anaheim, or perhaps you recall it being mentioned in our Michelin restaurant round-up, but the only thing you really need to remember is that this place is fun, featuring everything from line dancing to live music. The bands tend to skew country—it is a saloon after all—and the food is down-home comfort. A prime example is the Saloon Dog, a hot dog smothered in mustard, chili and slaw. Line dancing usually goes down on Thursday, and the weekend is reserved for country crooners and their bands.
Location: Anaheim
Upcoming Shows:
– Southern Spirit (Nov. 22-23)
– Brad Johnson & The Killin’ Time Band (Nov. 29-30)
Pearson Park Amphitheatre
Pearson Park Amphitheatre has been around since 1927 and proudly puts on performances that are great for date night and fun for the whole family. Every Saturday in August (mark your calendar for next summer!), they offer free concerts that usually feature tributes to icons like The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Selena. They offer interactive musical theater for kids, comedy and magic shows, ballet and cultural immersion displays celebrating styles of song and dance seen across the globe. The Spanish-style architecture makes for a super cool backdrop for the performances, and the surrounding landscape is lush with pygmy date palms and colorful impatiens. Oh, and parking is free!
Location: Anaheim
Upcoming Shows: TBA
Chain Reaction
This concert venue in Orange County is a hole-in-the-wall spot with a ton of history. In fact, No Doubt performed here in their early days, so maybe you’ll get to see a future iconic band getting their big break too. This indoor venue gets cozy and shows feel super intimate due to the small nature of the space. Tickets to shows usually range between $20-$30, and there’s an In-N-Out burger right around the corner to refuel you after all your head-banging and moshing. All of the upcoming shows feel very teen-angsty, so break out your best ‘90s band tee and enjoy the nostalgia at this local live music venue!
Location: Anaheim
Upcoming Shows:
– No Innocent Victim (Nov. 22)
– Reggie and the Full Effect (Dec. 7)
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is a little slice of artistic paradise right in the heart of Costa Mesa. Theater enthusiasts can enjoy musicals, dramas, kid-friendly shows and holiday favorites like “The Nutcracker.” Located right near South Coast Plaza and within walking distance to plenty of foodie favorites like Vaca, Water Grill, Mastro’s and Silver Trumpet, Segerstrom Center for the Arts is set up to be an iconic date night destination. Sign up to see the Pacific Symphony, an Aretha Franklin tribute singer or bring the kids and see a family showing of “Shrek.” Need more ideas on how to spend your time before or after a show? Check out this list here!
Location: Costa Mesa
Upcoming Shows:
– Journey to Oz (Nov. 23-24)
– Fiesta Navidad (Dec. 14)
– Back to the Future: The Musical (Dec. 26-Jan. 5)
Garden AMP
Garden AMP is the only independent outdoor amphitheater in Orange County. Known for its intimate setting, it hosts a variety of events, including concerts, festivals and community gatherings. The amphitheater has a capacity of around 1,200 and features a stage with good acoustics and a laid-back vibe. Their headliners are a little bit more indie than mainstream, but they do love a good tribute band. Does a female-fronted Ozzy Osbourne tribute sound funky and fun? What about a band that pays homage to Pearl Jam, Nirvana and The Smashing Pumpkins? Do we have your attention now? Snag your tickets today!
Location: Garden Grove
Upcoming Shows:
– DJ Quik with Full Band (Nov. 27)
– Prince Tribute & More – New Years Eve Concert (Dec. 31)
The Observatory
The Observatory is a proper outdoor concert venue in Orange County that doesn’t discriminate when it comes to musical genres. Rock? Sure. Indie? Yeah. Electronic? Cool. Hip-hop? Love it. They really play everything here, and visitors can upgrade their experience with tickets to the preshow patio party or by springing for tickets to the coveted Observatory Deck. This music venue offers a limited menu of food, but they have fan favorites like pizza, nachos, pretzels, loaded fries and chicken tenders covered. The Observatory is right down the road from SOCO and The OC Mix, so you can definitely do dinner there if you’re craving something a little more upscale. We recommend checking out the original ARC for some wood-fired pizza and then making a cameo at the Guild Club next door for an unforgettable pre-concert cocktail.
Location: Santa Ana
Upcoming Shows:
– Cold War Kids – 20 Years Tour (Nov. 16)
– Better Lovers (Nov. 30)
– G Perico (Dec. 22)
