Find Concert venues to rent in San Francisco, CA

About San Francisco

Serving as the cultural and commercial capital of Northern California, San Francisco is one of the United States’ most storied cities. It’s long been the pulse of progressive change, with countless political and social movements born in its atmospheric streets. From the iconic span of the Golden Gate Bridge to the island prison of Alcatraz and the charming trams that ply its hilly streets, San Francisco’s reputation precedes it.

The “Golden City” has a rich musical legacy, with its alternative culture luring countless musicians here, particularly from the 1960s onward. As a result, it has an abundance of live music venues and eclectic event spaces, and quintessential Victorian homes where famous musicians once lived.

Production Options in San Francisco

The city’s thriving creative scene means there is no shortage of concert venues in San Francisco for hosting live music events. You can select from purpose-built venues such as theaters and event halls that come fully equipped or take advantage of some of the city’s famous bars and clubs.

• Homes

Whether you’re after a classic Edwardian residence or a modern masterpiece, there’s a diverse choice of private residences where you can host live music events. Many boast sweeping views across the city or the Pacific Ocean that frames the coast surrounding San Francisco.

• Garages

With a bit of creativity, a garage can easily be transformed into an industrial-style concert venue for hosting live music events. Many of San Francisco’s old warehouses have been converted into studios that can be rented out for private events.

• Event Halls

Events halls offer a blank canvas for hosting live music events, with the ability to configure them to your needs. Select between vintage-style church halls, school gymnasiums, or event ballrooms with state-of-the-art sound and uplighting.

• Theaters

Purpose designed for hosting live music and theater events, San Francisco’s theaters are equipped with all the sound and lighting gear you need. Whether you’re after a classic theater space with red seats or a more contemporary aesthetic, you can easily find suitable theater concert venues in San Francisco.

• Bars and Clubs

San Francisco’s bars and clubs offer intimate but purpose-built spaces for hosting live bands and musicians, without the need to secure additional permits or licenses. Many come with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, as well as fully-staffed bars and security personnel.

Famous Performances in San Francisco

San Francisco has provided the stage for some iconic performances by both local artists and international legends.

• Carlos Santana

Santana is a San Francisco local who played a pioneering role in the United States’ Latin American rock scene. He’s considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time and made his name in some of San Francisco’s most famous existing and former live music venues.

• The Beatles

It was in San Francisco that the Beatles played the final concert on their 1966 tour of the United States at Candlestick Park. At the time, nobody knew that it was going to be their last full concert together, with only a small amount of footage captured by a local TV news network.

• Grateful Dead

Both Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia hailed from San Francisco and played an influential role in promoting San Francisco’s hippie movement in the 1960s. Several tracks on their 2018 release “Best of the Grateful Dead Live” were recorded at San Francisco’s Fillmore, the Great American Music Hall, and the Warfield Theatre.

Pros and Cons of Having Concerts in San Francisco

San Francisco’s reputation as a progressive, creative hub offers many advantages for those wanting to host a live music event in the city. However, soaring housing prices and unpredictable weather can be drawbacks for selecting a San Francisco concert venue.

Advantages

• Willing audiences

With Silicon Valley right on its doorstep, San Francisco’s population includes a high percentage of well-paid workers with expendable income to spend on entertainment and live music.

• Diversity of venues

San Francisco boasts a diversity of concert venues to select from, many of which have hosted some of the world’s most famous musicians.

• Experienced crew

Due to its thriving creative scene, you don’t have to look far to find talented sound engineers and stage crew to help make your live music event a reality.

• Progressive values

San Francisco has long been renowned for its progressive values and pushing the boundaries of what’s acceptable. This extends to its embrace of cutting-edge music that might not be received well elsewhere.

• Public transportation

San Francisco’s extensive network of public transportation options means that audiences can get to gigs with ease, without having to worry about on-site parking or traffic.

Disadvantages

• High costs of living

San Francisco has one of the highest costs of living in the United States, with its booming tech industry and proximity to Silicon Valley seeing house prices soar.

• High costs of location fees

Associated with the city’s high housing costs are sometimes-pricey rental fees, which can take a significant chunk out of concert budgets.

• Unpredictable weather

Unlike its Southern California neighbor, Los Angeles, San Francisco experiences more unpredictable weather, which can make hosting outdoor live music concerts tricky.

• High permit fees

Some venues require permits, which can be costly, depending on the setting and whether the sound is amplified or not.

• Competition

With so many cultural events and entertainment options in San Francisco, you’ll have plenty of competition in attracting potential audience members.

Famous Locations in San Francisco

• Great American Music Hall

Opening in 1907, the Great American Music Hall is San Francisco’s oldest nightclub and later became a popular venue for jazz singer Sarah Vaughan. It features wraparound balconies, marble columns, and intricately decorated ceilings that provide a backdrop for some of the world’s greatest bands and musicians to perform.

• Audium

Designed by the electronic music composer Stan Schaff, this eclectic venue fuses art, architecture, and technology to create one of San Francisco’s most inspiring concert venues. It features specially composed "sound sculptures" built into its sloping walls and has the capacity for just 49 audience members on its floating floor.

• Slim’s

Boz Scaggs originally established this 500-capacity nightclub in the 1980s in the South of Market neighborhood. It’s gone on to host the likes of Curtis Mayfield, Patti Smith, and Pearl Jam, as well as an invite-only show featuring Metallica.