Staff Pick's: Providence, RI
Music Roadtrip
Certified: 🌟 Certified
Description: Providence is small but mighty—a city where art, rebellion, and rhythm share the same heartbeat. From industrial clubs to artist-run collectives, this route captures the creative fire that’s long made Providence one of New England’s most surprising and soulful music towns. Begin at the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau, your launchpad for local guides, show calendars, and insider tips on the city’s ever-evolving arts scene. Then step into The Strand Ballroom, a grand downtown venue where disco lights and rock riffs have collided for decades. Around the corner, AS220’s Empire Street Complex anchors Providence’s DIY spirit—home to art studios, live performances, and community energy that helped define the city’s underground culture. Keep the rhythm going at Fête Music Hall, a staple for touring acts and genre-bending showcases, and The Parlour, where funk, reggae, and jazz spill into the street most nights of the week. Cross the river to The Met, a local legend in nearby Pawtucket known for its intimate shows and loyal crowds. And don’t miss Machines With Magnets, part recording studio, part gallery, part performance space—perfectly embodying Providence’s art-meets-chaos charm.