A List of Awesome Connecticut Concert Venues

This is the XL Center in Hartford, great place to see a concert! But there's more...

My first concert in Connecticut was U2 at the Hartford Civic Center on the Unforgettable Fire Tour in 1985. Now, it's called the XL Center. Still a great place to catch the bigger acts that tour through our state. The photo above was the scene just prior to Pearl Jam taking the stage. I've seen hundreds of shows around our state over the past 30 years, and here are a few you should keep an eye on for upcoming shows--

1. The XL Center in Hartford. Still one of my favorite places to see a show. Right smack dab in the center of the city, 15,000 seats, and plenty of bathrooms. For a list of upcoming events, click HERE

photo courtesy of Large Dave's phone

2. Ives Concert Park in Danbury. What a beautiful location! It's an outdoor venue on the WestConn campus, beautifully landscaped, and very nice people working to make sure everyone has an enjoyable time. (Psst...Brews and BBQ Festival 2015 - Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Saturday May 16th, 2015 - For Tickets, click HERE

For tickets and info for upcoming events at the Ives, click HERE

Photo courtesy of Large Dave's phone

3. Toad's Place in New Haven - Not the most glamorous venue, but damn, this place does get big names to perform there. I saw The Cult, The Black Crowes, Public Enemy, and Sophie B. Hawkins there..... wait....what? Anyway...click HERE for more info

Photo courtesy of Google Maps

4. The Ridgefield Playhouse - I was shocked the first time I walked into this venue. Basically, it's the size of a bigger high school auditorium. But man, they bring in the national talent there. Not a bad seat in the place, seriously. Click HERE for their website.

AND

photo courtesy of Large Dave phone, which smelled like a skunk after this picture was taken!

5. Seaside Park/Gathering of the Vibes in Bridgeport. Every Summer, this event pulls into town, and what a great time. Beautiful location, right on Long Island Sound, and damn, talk about headliners this year: Wilco, Weezer, Ben Harper, Gregg Allman, and many more. This year, it's happening from July 30 - August 2, 2015. Click HERE for more info!

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