Reno is known for entertainment, and live music in particular sparks joy. Whether watching a major headliner at one of the casinos in town or opting for a more intimate experience at a local bar or venue, multiple live music shows can be found nightly, year-round in the Biggest Little City.
The selection is as eclectic as the people enjoying it. From country and punk to jazz, classical, and alternative shows, the most challenging part might be picking which to attend. Originally more known for punk and rock genres with bands like 7Seconds coming out of the city, Reno is transforming into an notable home base for bands, singers, and entertainers of all genres.
A combination of dedicated venues, nonprofits supporting members of the entertainment industry, an engaged community attending shows, and the closeknit relationships fostered here has contributed to the slow but steady success of Reno’s music scene.
Booking Headliners – A Recent Shift
While Reno has venues capable of hosting major headliners, two challenges prevail – the city’s location and the town’s reputation for low presale tickets. Bob Conrad, publisher, editor, and co-founder of This Is Reno, is a performing artist who has been gigging as part of several ensembles since the early 1990s, most recently with his band Zoinks!.
"So I think that the big issue I see in Reno is we're geographically in a very difficult place," Conrad says. "Larger bands will often skip over Reno because they could go to Sacramento, the Bay Area, southern California, the Pacific Northwest – and whatnot."
Reno’s location and lower population, (two things many locals love about the area), can be tricky for major headliners. Additionally, with abundant nightly entertainment opportunities, locals have gotten used to deciding what to do last-minute. Ticket presales, often a requirement for booking larger names, are slow or low, a problem for entertainers who must make sure booking a show in Reno will be worth their time.
Despite those challenges, as Reno becomes more widely known, larger entertainers are coming, and many of the more intimate venues are noticing the change.
Joshua Callen, owner of Lo-Bar Social and the Hideout Lounge, has a lot of experience booking bands for his venues in Reno. “It was very difficult to get the right bands to want to play Reno in the beginning,” he said. “It took a lot of hustling to convince these touring bands that Reno wants them here. Luckily, we're on the other side of that now. We have an overwhelming number of bands contacting us who want to play Lo-Bar and Reno now.”
Where to Vibe – Local Venues With Powerful Performances
In addition to celebrated entertainment at major casinos, Reno has a wide variety of venues offering nightly draws. Some local favorites include the Virginia Street Brewhouse, EP Listening Lounge, Cypress, Lo-Bar Social, Lake Tahoe AleWorX Reno, Reno Public Market, and The Holland Project, among many others.
Luca Genasci, owner of Lake Tahoe AleWorX Reno, knows how important it is to Reno to have experience-centered gathering spaces. “Live music will always be a staple of our brand,” he says of all three locations of Lake Tahoe AleWorX. Attached to the Reno location is The Alpine, which hosts a larger stage for bigger performances and a 500-person capacity.
“We love being able to offer a robust experience to customers combining live entertainment in an appealing space with delicious food and beverages. It’s exciting to create experiences that people enjoy and provide a fun gathering place for the community,” Genasci says.
Venues often feature Reno-based bands but have a healthy mix of non-local performers as well. One of the challenges for a Reno-based band is not performing too often in the same place. “We love playing Reno — the crowd knows us. But scarcity creates value. If you don’t see a band often, you’re more likely to go when they do play,” comments Scott Bartolomeo, the drummer from Machine Gun Vendetta.
Fostering and Celebrating Reno’s Talent
The Holland Project is a non-profit organization that nurtures artistic talent through art and music access, skill-building opportunities, and community engagement. Its all-ages music venue hosts performances from every genre of music. Holland recently celebrated its 18th year in the community.
“We host 150 shows a year, making us one of the region’s most active venues. It’s where a lot of people do their first shows,” Alana Bergulnd, associate director of Holland, says. “We have a lot of national and internationally touring artists come through. Ninety percent of the time we also have locals on the show.”
“Holland is part of a lineage as a sustaining venue for art and music. Beyond music, there is a visual art gallery and space, a place for intergenerational mentorship, skill sharing, and workshops. It’s unique – not just a venue – it’s a space that has a sincere and intentional curatorial vision,” Bergulnd explains.
Johnny Bailey, singer and guitarist in Rigorous Proof, says one of his first experiences playing was at Holland. “It’s a safe space. A gathering place without alcohol or other influences that distract… it’s all about the music,” he says. Rigorous Proof plays all over but Bailey’s favorite place to play in Reno is the Cypress.
“Reno is a great home base because it’s eight hours to get anywhere important,” Bailey says. “There’s been a rejuvenation of the Reno scene and band-driven music. There are a ton of up-and-coming bands and a good appetite for watching shows. The challenge now is choosing where to go.”
As locals know, summer in Reno means Artown. Live music is featured almost nightly as part of July’s Artown schedule, and a signature event is Dancing in the Streets. An entire mile of Virginia Street, from Liberty Street to Plumb Street, is roped off and turned into a live music paradise.
Jaime Chapman, executive director of Midtown Reno, is the organizer of the event. “Midtown Reno focused on making the Midtown District an artistic hub around 2008,” she says. “The association brought in live music and artists. It’s really thriving now! There is a magical effect that live music has on people. It’s an instant mood booster and helps people connect.”
This year, Dancing in the Streets is on July 12. Eight stages will be featured, each with a different performance and genre. In addition to the main stages, the event invites buskers, and street musicians.
Feelin’ it and Supporting the Arts
With vibrant music venues, talented artists, and nonprofits in place to support education and experience, all that is left is to be the best community of supporters. And musicians and business owners agree, they’re seeing a boost.
Johnny Bailey of Rigorous Proof says, “There is a ripple happening in Reno. Now more than ever, Reno momentum is happening!”
“I believe the future is bright for Reno's music scene... We as a community need to support and appreciate it! Cultivating a music scene and an art culture is the town’s responsibility. Towns without music or art scenes just aren’t as appealing. We have an opportunity to really make our town blossom here in Reno." - Joshua Callen
"One of the most surprising things for people who visit or who are new to Reno is how good both the live music and the food is here!" - Jaime Chapman