The Lowdown on Local Live Music Venues

It is highly likely you will find yourself at a live music event in Vancouver's burgeoning music scene. Almost all artists will visit the Pacific Northwest on their global tours and generally visit Vancouver/Seattle in a 60:40 split. Tickets are likely more affordable than in your home country so go nuts!

Find out who is touring through the Georgia Straight or Songkick.

A few pointers for some of the local venues below to help make your life easier, getting away from gigs can be a real pain!

BC Place: 55,000 seat stadium in the middle of downtown. Easy Skytrain access at Stadium-Chinatown. There is dedicated evo carshare parking for about 50 vehicles but beware that the police close streets and route traffic manually in the area after an event. Security is strict at this venue so allow time. Acoustics are decent for the size of the venue, expect big acts to play here.

UBC Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre: not the easiest place to find! Buses to UBC are frequent during the day but drop off in the evenings. If someone is happy to be a designated driver then evo carshare is the way to go as local parking is very limited and cars often towed. The venue is bare-bones (it is an ice hockey stadium) but sounds decent, expect limited hospitality options. Second tier bands often play here and there are cheaper standing tickets suiting students. Seating is less strict and a casual vibe with people dancing in their seats.

Queen Elizabeth Theatre: hosts about 3,000 people in bougie red seats and 1950s architecture. The acoustics are divine so expect to see more intimate shows, theatre and classical music here. Skytrain access from Satdium-Chinatown or Vancouver City Centre and multiple frequent buses service this location. If you do drive wait 15 minutes after the event as crowds disperse quickly. Security is tight and don't be late as often entry is limited to performance breaks, it is a pain clambering down rows to find your allocated seats.

Malkin Bowl (inside Stanley Park): super cool 2,000 seat open air family-friendly venue in the middle of Stanley Park. The trees tower behind your picnic rug! I suggest arriving early and snapping up a good view on the grassy hill. Food and drink is limited to smaller takeaway venues. Parking is limited in Stanley Park and I don't recommend it as you might need to end up paying for parking along Denman Street in the West End and walking in. Be sure to wear good footwear to hike back out of the park to the frequent buses on Georgia Street.

Deer Lake Festival Lawn (Burnaby): great folksy vibe to this outdoor venue. There are accessible areas reserved for those in wheelchairs and wooden picnic tables to sit. Food is limited to street vendors and there are two ATMS that have looonnngg lines so best to bring cash. Transport is an absolute gong show and this venue needs to sort its act out. Some very popular artists play here and routine public transport buses are the only options taking people back to the Metrotown Skytrain station. Expect to take a long time to get home unless you drive, even then traffic is heinous.

Commodore Ballroom: 1920s art deco event and nightclub space on the popular Granville Street strip. This venue hosts renowned international acts and does a good job at security and crowd management. There are standard pub options for eats and drinks and often additional tickets available at the door. Easy access to multiple Skytrain lines and buses. Beware of the crowds on Granville Street during the weekends.

Imperial Vancouver: a refurbished Chinese-language theatre is now one of the coolest intimate venues in the city. The area around this venue is a bit sketchy late at night. Staff do well with the cloakroom space before you enter and then there are two main bars inside the venue. It can be difficult to get a good view if you are short so I suggest standing near the balcony viewing area. Buses and private vehicles are the best way to access.

Rogers Arena: predominantly a sports venue. This space hosts up to 18,000 people in tiered seating. Due to its location adjacent to BC place please see above for instructions.

Biltmore Cabaret: smaller venue in Mount Pleasant with independent artists and a loyal local following.