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Your readers should call 1-800-916-0040 (USA and Canada) or 1-314-421-1023 for a free copy of the Official St. Louis Visitors Guide or point, click and explore St. Louis online at www.explorestlouis.com
St. Louis Nightlife
St. Louis loves any excuse to have a party, as evidenced by the number of
nightlife options available in the region. From the burgeoning downtown Loft District and historic Soulard to the eclectic neighborhoods of The Loop, the Central West End, Lafayette Square and points west, there's never a shortage of live music, dancing, comedy clubs, and gaming options. It's easy to find live entertainment no matter what part of town you're in - just follow the music. Local bands, acoustic jams, dueling pianos and DJ spins are always on the menu in the neighborhood taverns, music clubs and hotspots on the local social scene. To find out who's playing where while you're in town, pick up a free copy of The Riverfront Times, at the Visitor Information Centers in Kiener Plaza or America's Center®, as well as in many restaurants, clubs and public buildings throughout St. Louis. The "Get Out" section of the Thursday St. Louis Post-Dispatch also carries an up-to-date listing of bands and clubs each week, and lets readers know what concerts and other live performances are on the weekend agenda.
If you're looking for some authentic St. Louis blues, then you've come to the right place. The St. Louis Blues Society claims there are more working blues bands here than anywhere else - and who are we to dispute that? Most of the region's blues clubs feature local bands on weekends, with a few occasionally bringing in touring artists like Kenny Neal, Hubert Sumlin, Junior Brown, and Alvin Youngblood Hart. For guaranteed live blues, seven days a week, visit BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups, The Beale on Broadway, and Broadway Oyster Bar.
The three clubs are located at the "Blues Triangle" within shouting distance of one another just a short taxi ride south of the downtown central business district.
Follow the music southward to the historic Soulard neighborhood. Five minutes south of the Gateway Arch, blues clubs are tucked away in the red brick buildings of the Soulard neighborhood. The historic district was built by European immigrants who worked in St. Louis' 19th-century brewery industry. Music lovers can park once and wander among the clubs and restaurants for a full evening of pure St. Louis entertainment. From downtown, take Broadway and Seventh street south.
Just north of the Gateway Arch is the Laclede's Landing entertainment district, home to clubs and restaurants housed in restored 19th-century warehouses. The great river glides by the Landing's eastern edge, carrying barges, riverboat casinos and Dixieland and blues dinner cruises through the Port of St. Louis. Just minutes away from both the Arch and the America's Center convention complex, music pulsates from rooms that once held tobacco, cotton and other steamboat cargo. Dance clubs are the order of the day here, with clubs that cater to the late night weekend party crowd. The lively district, which rocks until 3 a.m. on weekends, is accessible via MetroLink light rail.
Not far from the America's Center convention complex, nightclubs, restaurants and even a microbrewery are open in warehouse and loft space that once held clothing and shoe factories during the days when St. Louis was a capital of the garment industry. Flamingo Bowl is one of the neighborhood's newest additions, and the martini lounge/bowling alley combination is one that seems to have found a home in the trendy Loft District. Speaking of unique combinations, the wacky City Museum takes on yet another personality on Friday and Saturday nights, as the warehouse of art and culture becomes the most interactive cocktail lounge you'll find. From upscale dance clubs and VIP lounges to friendly pubs and sports bars, downtown offers a variety of ways to soak up the local color.
In The Loop neighborhood, a short drive from downtown, visitors can walk among music clubs along sidewalks that are sprinkled with brass stars and biographies honoring St. Louis' most notable citizens. Just outside the door to Blueberry Hill, a club that boasts the best jukebox in the country and that regularly hosts popular touring artists, there's a star to honor St. Louis' Chuck Berry. Berry plays Blueberry Hill's Duck Room each month, and his sell-out shows never fail to wow the crowds with his charismatic brand of rock ‘n' roll. Other restaurants and clubs throughout the neighborhood offer everything from live jazz and blues to rock and reggae. Pin-Up Bowl, a retro-style bowling alley, is the newest hot spot in the growing district, serving up martinis and specialty cocktails along with a game of tenpins, while The Pageant concert nightclub hosts a regular schedule of top touring bands, comics and St. Louis-bred entertainment.
Speaking of concert venues, St. Louis is home to several, including the Blanche Touhill Performing Arts Center, which is located on the campus of the University of Missouri - St. Louis, The Fabulous Fox Theatre and The Sheldon Concert Hall in the Grand Center arts and entertainment district. Grand Center is also home to Jazz at the Bistro, an award-winning listening room featuring the living legends and the rising stars of jazz. The area's newest hall is Chaifetz Arena, a 10,000-seat venue on the campus of Saint Louis University. The Roberts Orpheum Theatre and the Scottrade Center host a diverse line-up of shows in downtown St. Louis, and Maryland Heights' Verizon Wireless Amphitheater welcomes top name national artists throughout the warm weather months.
Also in Maryland Heights is West Port Plaza, an entertainment district that includes a variety of bars and restaurants that offer music throughout the week and hosts a number of special events throughout the year. West Port is located near Harrah's St. Louis Casino & Hotel, which has two nightclubs on-site. The VooDoo Cafe & Lounge features a variety of live concerts by local and touring bands like Buddy Guy, the BoDeans, and Marcia Ball, while the iBAR blackjack bar features themed dance revues each weekend.
Nearby St. Charles features additional entertainment options, including the Ameristar Casino St. Charles and two popular nightspots. The Bottleneck Blues Bar hosts local and national bands, including concerts by artists like Boney James, Chubby Checker, Poco and Davy Jones, while Home Nightclub features a high-energy dance club and contemporary lounge all-in-one.
Lady Luck is alive and well in St. Louis, with six distinctively different gaming centers located throughout the region. Two are located in downtown St. Louis - Lumière Place and the President Casino - and both offer an ample supply of slot machines and table games. In addition to trying your luck at the games, President Casino frequently hosts special concerts by artists such as Mint Condition, J. Anthony Brown and Ralphie May. Lumière Place features three nightlife options, including the chic, intimate setting of Aqua; the lively atmosphere at GloBar; and SleeK Ultralounge, complete with plasma-screen TVs and guest DJs.
Just across the river, the Casino Queen anchors the east side of the Mississippi River in Illinois, and Argosy's Alton Belle is located "upriver" in nearby Alton, IL. Harrah's St. Louis and Ameristar St. Charles are both located just a short drive away in the northwestern portion of St. Louis County near the Missouri River.
Special Events
There are a number of special events and festivals held each year in St. Louis, including a number of activities that are free and family-friendly. For a complete list of clubs, festivals and events, check out the Calendar of Events online at http://www.explorestlouis.com/.
St. Louis Union Station's "Sounds at the Station" is a free concert series held on the third Thursday of each month from April - September. Local bands perform outside, under the massive Train Shed. It's the same site as the venue's "Twilight under the Train Shed," with free movies every Friday of every month, April - September.
"Rib America festival," held in downtown St. Louis during Memorial Day Weekend, features four days of barbecue and hot national bands that range from rock and oldies hits to blues and R&B. Headliners have included such bands as Buddy Guy, Cowboy Mouth, KC & The Sunshine Band, .38 Special and many others.
The annual U.S. Bank St. Louis Jazz Festival takes place each June in Clayton's Shaw Park, and the Whitaker Music Festival lights up the Missouri Botanical Garden on Wednesday nights from June through mid-August. On Friday nights in June, it's Blues on the Mississippi at Jefferson Barracks Park, with Saturday nights serving up Oldies by the River.
On July 4th, St. Louis celebrates the nation's birthday with a free blow-out bash underneath the Gateway Arch. In addition to free concerts from nationally-known artists like Coldplay, Joss Stone, and Hootie & The Blowfish, there's plenty of food and beverage options and a spectacular fireworks display. After the fair, the Live on the Levee weekend concert series kicks off, with free shows - and more fireworks - on Friday and Saturday nights through early August. The 2008 line-up includes a host of local bands as well as Sound Tribe Sector 9, Lonestar, O.A.R., The Black Crowes, Boyz II Men, and many others.
Every Labor Weekend, the Big Muddy Blues Festival rocks the Laclede's Landing entertainment district as the cobblestone streets come alive for two days of free music. Also in September, Taste of St. Louis offers an annual celebration of food, fun, music and art. Held in the heart of downtown, "Taste" includes a battle of the bands competition, an art village, restaurant row, an "Iron Chef" competition, and free concerts from bands like The Radiators, Soul Asylum, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Bowling for Soup, and Puddle of Mudd.
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Updated: June 2, 2008
MEDIA NOTE: For more information or photography of St. Louis, send an e-mail to pr@explorestlouis.com or call Becky Sharp at 1-314-992-0652. For up-to-date information about St. Louis, your readers should call the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission at 1-800-916-0040 or check out our website at www.explorestlouis.com. This news release is also available in electronic form. To obtain an electronic version, e-mail your request to pr@explorestlouis.com or go to St. Louis’ online media center at www.explorestlouis.com/media.
