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This elegant 1900s Art Deco room with state-of-the-art audio and computer-controlled lighting has been used as a concert hall, a comedy club, and even a rental space for a Talmud Torah Hebrew Academy Bingo series. Artists as dissimilar as Al Jolson, the Mills Brothers, Gypsy Rose Lee, and the Ramones have performed here. Now, the 1,000-seat venue books successful touring rock and hip-hop acts.

This Belltown café opened in the early 1990s, just after major Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney changed the face of rock music. It’s still a destination for new talented bands, local or touring, appealing to audiences who favor college rock radio and singer-songwriters. Features inexpensive fare, and the owner’s husband happens to be Peter Buck of R.E.M.

This club dominates the smoke-filled, hard rock scene on Capitol Hill, but does so with style and flair. Glowing red lights and lanterns shed a bit of light, while images of Bruce Lee add to the kitschy theme. Most of the acts are local or regional rock outfits, although hip-hop rules on Sunday nights.

A bastion of great music, this place thrives as an alternative to clubs elsewhere in Seattle that are known for mining hard rock acts. The Tractor primarily books bands with repertoire in the vein of country western, rockabilly, bluegrass, or musicians who seamlessly fuse all those styles into something quite original.

The only multidisciplinary contemporary arts center in the Pacific Northwest is housed in a cavernous space large enough for jumbo jet assembly. ConWorks brings artists and patrons together with the philosophy that all creative art forms speak one language. The facility includes three artist-in-residence studios, a 150-seat theater, the 50-seat movie hall, a 6,000-ft (1,829-m) visual art space, and a café.

If Polestar’s room is as small as ConWorks is gargantuan, the artistic vision is equally as imposing. The award-winning curators book acts dedicated to experimental music in a no-frills setting. Patrons listen and learn about contemporary composition, electroacoustic and electronic music, free improvization, and out jazz.

In the space of a former 1920s-era vaudeville theater upscale audiences soak up the best of jazz, rock, cabaret, and blues while enjoying French wine and cuisine.

Formerly known as the Off Ramp, Graceland proudly flaunts its roots as a crusty, smoky rock club. It’s a mecca for those seeking strong drinks and a favorite venue for many of the area’s hard-working rock bands.

This tavern is primarily an outlet for start-up bands of the ear-shattering punk rock persuasion. The room’s red decor and lighting seems to take inspiration from a Victorian bordello. Lots of bands have their first gigs here.

The resurrected Moe’s is now Neumo’s, Capitol Hill’s most hip and happening music venue. The club is back to basics with a strong show of rock bands and DJ dance nights.