The Best Places to Hear Live Music in Wichita, Kansas

Rock Island Live is one of the premier music venues in downtown Wichita. The concert regularly hosts rock, folk, and hip-hop artists, as well as a DJ night on Wednesdays. The venue attracts a lot of young people and locals, so it’s a great place to meet new friends while enjoying music. On Wednesdays and Fridays the drinks are half off, so take advantage of that killer deal. Rock Island Live, 101 Rock Island N, Wichita, KS 67202 (316) 303-9800

Some of Wichita’s live music venues are quite nontraditional, and The Artichoke Sandwich Bar is one of them. This sandwich shop turns into a folksy acoustic concert hall on the weekends, hosting local and traveling acts. Don’t worry — during the show the sandwiches are still on sale, and we recommend you try one. The Famous #8, which is a turkey and bacon sandwich on an onion hoagie, is particularly good. The Artichoke Sandwich Bar, 811 N Broadway St, Wichita, KS 67214 (316) 263-9164

The Cotillion is Wichita’s “round mound of sound” hosting all types of performers, from small traveling acts to internationally renowned artists. While The Cotillion is a relatively small venue, is is still a huge concert stadium seating around 2000 guests. There is a big dance floor in the middle which is perfect for the raves and the other EDM concerts that The Cotillion has hosted. The Cotillion, 11120 W Kellogg Dr, Wichita, KS 67209 (316) 722-4201

Like Artichoke Sandwich Bar, Mead’s Corner is an eclectic music venue. For those of you who don’t like beer or liquor during a show, you can enjoy a nice cup of joe while you listen to acoustic music. Mead’s hosts several events, but most are small shows with local or traveling artists, typically in the folk and soft rock genre. The coffee shop itself serves tasty coffee, and all the beans are fair trade.Mead’s Corner, 430 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67202 (316) 201-1900

The Brickyard is a converted warehouse that hosts concerts and boasts a huge outdoor space. It actually hosts a few bands that rotate as well as traveling performers and other locals. We recommend The Brickyard for our rocker readers. The bands vary from country to metal, without any Hip-Hop, electronic, or folksy music. The Brickyard, 129 Rock Island N, Wichita, KS 67202 (316) 263-4044

The Indigo Lounge is your best bet for DJs and EDM. As expected, this venue caters mostly to the 20-something crowd. The two house DJs, DJ Magnum and DJ Highnoone, have been spinning for years, and their mixes include the best of today’s dance music with a few throwback hits. Indigo Lounge’s rooftop, The Moonbar, is the only rooftop bar in the city, and it’s a great place to chill after an intense set. Indigo Lounge, 126 N Mosley St, Wichita, KS 67202 (316) 265-6760 By Ross Walker