The Emerald City is the only place where you’ll be able to find a musical history as rich as its world famous coffee. But there’s more to the city than murky garage bands with moody lyrics, flannel shirts, and DIY ethos. It certainly doesn’t come as a surprise that the very city that gave us musical icons such as Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix rocks out to the beat of some amazing music. Grunge fans, rest assured that the city of Seattle fully embraces its rock music scene spawned in the early ’90s. Yet despite their grunge legacy, its venues leave no musical stone unturned to travelers. We’ve put together the top music venues the city has to offer and the best bed and breakfasts that certainly won’t leave you “sleepless in Seattle”.
Where to go:
1) Located just across the street from picture-perfect Pike Place Market sits the Seattle legend: The Showbox at The Market. From 1939 when the venue first opened, everyone from Muddy Waters to Pearl Jam has taken the stage. While they host both national and international touring bands and artists, it’s the local bands that everyone comes to check out.
2) Columbia City Theater is the oldest vaudeville theater in the state of Washington and has hosted some of the most iconic jazz musicians: Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald, just to name a few. In the 1980’s, it was home to the burgeoning DIY punk movement and transitioned into an art commune and underground rave house in the ’90s.
3) At Tractor Tavern you’ll find some of the hippest local and national folk, bluegrass, alt-country and indie bands grace the stage. With cowboy boots hanging from the ceiling, a cow skull adoring the stage, and some pretty stiff pours of bourbon from the bartender, this venue is the best mix of country and rock’n’roll.
Where to stay:
Three Tree Point Bed and Breakfast
Views of greenery and rolling hillsides. Stunning panoramas of the glimmering high-rises of downtown. Snow-dusted mountaintops. The space-needle skyline. Seattle has them all (and more). Three Tree Point Bed and Breakfast, located just 15 minutes from downtown, is the perfect place for some R&R after a day of touring this hip musicians’ haven. Bright, spacious, and serene, guests are provided with all the comforts of home, plus stunning salt water and mountain views. Choose from one of the inn’s two private independent accommodations, the suite or cottage, both of which include a living room with a fireplace, full kitchen and dining area, a bedroom with a view, bathroom, laundry facility, and a private outdoor patio where guests can soak in all of the sights.
Located just east of the International District in the quiet Jackson Place neighborhood, you’ll find the modern, yet cozy Sleeping Bulldog Bed and Breakfast. The central location is perfect for those looking to explore the city’s scene, with both the light rail and bus tunnel just a short, leisurely walk away. And don’t worry about getting lost while navigating the city, innkeeper Korby, a retired transit operator, will provide you with a wealth of knowledge about how to get around town as you scope out all the hottest music venues.
Sleeping Bulldog Bed and Breakfast
Guests will feel right at home with the inn’s modern amenities which include flat-screen TVs, Keurig coffee machines, high-quality towels and bed linens, iHome radios, and even a microwave with free popcorn to snack on. Sit back and soak in the stunning panoramic views of downtown, Puget Sound, Qwest Field, and the Olympic Mountains.
