Tucson has an ear for music

More Music

On any given night in Tucson, a wide variety of bands and musical genres can be explored at dozens of venues within close proximity of one another.

Solar Culture gallery, 31 E. Toole Ave.; (520) 884-0874, www.solarculture.org, showcases national and international touring groups.

Casa Vicente, Restaurante Español, 375 S. Stone Ave.; (520) 884-5253, www.casavicente.com, is an excellent live-music venue featuring Spanish guitar and flamenco music.

Plush, 340 E. 6th St.; (520) 798-1298, www.plushtucson.com. This vintage ‘70s-style cocktail lounge feels as if you’re in somebody’s really comfortable basement. Features local, regional and national touring acts.

The Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St.; (520) 740-1000, www.rialtotheatre.com, across the street from the Hotel Congress, hosted more than 140 concert events last year, including Lucinda Williams, Wilco, the Cowboy Junkies and Pink Martini.

The Hut, 305 N. 4th Ave.; (520) 623-3200, www.huttucson.com, a tropical-style tiki bar, features local musicians playing any and all types of music. The large stage and wide open indoor/outdoor layout make this one of the city’s best concert venues.

Surly Wench Pub, 424 N. 4th Ave.; (520) 882-0009, www.surlywenchpub.com, offers Tucson’s premier burlesque show as well as punk rock and rockabilly bands.

The Boondocks Lounge, 3306 N. 1st Ave.; (520) 690-0991, www.boondockslounge.com, features live blues on Saturday and Sunday night. Local reggae band Neon Prophet performs Fridays.

Mariachi is considered Tucson’s indigenous music, with dozens of orchestras and ensembles performing at city bars, restaurants and hotels nightly.

El Casino Ballroom, 437 E. 26th St.; (520) 623-1865, www.elcasinoballroom.org, also features salsa, reggae, zydeco, Tex-Mex and Native American.

El Guero Canelo, 2480 N. Oracle Road; (520) 882-8977, www.elguerocanelo.com.

El Parador, 2744 E. Broadway; (520) 881-2744, www.elparadortucson.com.

La Fuente, 1749 N. Oracle Road; (520) 623-8659, www.lafuenterestaurant.com.

El Mezon del Cobre, 2960 N. 1st Ave.; (520) 791-0977.

El Charro Café at El Mercado, 6310 E. Broadway Blvd.; (520) 745-1922, www.elcharrocafe.com.