From coffee to craft brewing to sold-out concerts, Portland is the place for creative minds. Indie, rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock are just some of the music genres you'll hear in the city.
If you're searching for unique concert venues in downtown Portland and right across this West Coast city, you've come to the right place. Giggster offers a curated selection of concert locations and performance spaces, with each venue in our collection providing a memorable, one-of-a-kind setting for whatever style of event you're hosting.
No matter whether you're planning a big, loud rock show or you need the intimate atmosphere of an acoustic set, there are spaces to suit all needs on the Giggster app. There are fabulous options to suit all budget levels, too, so download the app today and start searching for your perfect space.
When you book a concert space with Giggster, you'll find a host of inspiring and distinctive spaces. No matter what style or genre of performance you're hosting in the downtown Portland area, a place like is just the ticket for your next artistic event.
An old church turned performance venue offers a wonderfully unique setting for live music performances, with full bar services and sound and lighting systems as added bonuses.
Want a spot that offers a bit of intimacy? A modern club with dazzling lighting systems and its own VIP room offers a sleek and stylish space for your event.
For a little bit of old-school cool, a speakeasy-style jazz club will offer intimate vibes and plenty of old-time glamor to your live music event. Unique spaces give multiple performance styles a vibe that's hard to beat.
Whether you're down on the main floor or watching from the second story, a large theater or auditorium offers a charming setting for a memorable performance.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: There are countless unique and inspiring art and live music venues on the Giggster app. With 0 exceptional locations on offer, you have the freedom to create your own distinctive concert experience for your guests.
Hassle-Free Booking: Booking your ideal Portland music venue is quick, easy, and stress-free with Giggster. With handy search filters, detailed venue and pricing info, and direct communication with venue hosts, it's simple to find the ideal space to house your event.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: Artists and musicians know that the best plans don't always come to fruition, which is why we offer free cancellation in the first 24 hours. To avoid the cancellation fee, please note that you will need to book at least 48 hours before the event date.
Platform Protections: Give yourself extra confidence and security when taking to the stage by adding optional liability, damage, and cancellation insurance to your booking.
What's your genre? From plays and musical performances to a host of other occasions, downtown Portland concert venues are well suited to a wide array of event types. Here are just some of the options worth considering.
Rock Concerts – Turn it up. When you want to crank the volume up to 11 for a night of riffs, drum solos, and old-school rock and roll, look for an iconic live music venue.
Acoustic Performances – Intimate Experience. Look for ambiance in a venue. For a singer-songwriter playing a low-key acoustic set, a chilled and chic neighborhood bar could be the perfect setting.
Comedy Shows – Knock Knock. Comedy is always a blast. Comedy gatherings can be held in intimate and cozy spaces or much more expansive venues, allowing a room full of people to share a few laughs for an evening.
Plays – To Be or Not to Be. From school performances to high-level productions, you'll find a wide range of theater-style spaces to choose from in the downtown Portland area.
Photo Shoots – Inspirational Images. Many iconic and unique Portland venues offer an eye-catching backdrop for a fashion photo shoot or publicity images of the best local musicians.
There is more to planning a successful showcase than just booking a place to play. No matter whether you're in SE Portland or anywhere else around this West Coast city, look for the following key features when choosing a live music venue.
Check the ambiance and acoustics. The best concert location for you will have the ideal atmosphere to match the style of live music performance you're hosting—whatever that might be. It should also have excellent acoustics and allow a great view of the stage for all audience members.
Look at things from a practical point of view. Does the venue have all the sound and lighting equipment you need? Is it large enough to accommodate your audience? Is it conveniently located somewhere that your target market can easily get to? Make a checklist of all your must-have features before you start comparing spaces.
Know your price range. Remember your budget at all times, and check whether you can afford venue hire along with all your other event costs. Be sure to shop around to find the most affordable options.
Organizing a concert is a task and a half. Is Portland the ideal West Coast setting for your concert? Take a look at the pros and cons before deciding.
Advantages
With a vibrant and diverse live music scene, downtown Portland is the logical setting to host a memorable performance. This city is famous for its musical contributions, so it makes sense to join the bandwagon.
There's a diverse range of concert locations to choose from, so there are plenty of possibilities to consider when searching for the right venue. The city is also known for festivals, which can draw people to your venue.
Portland has myriad great restaurants and nightlife spots for concert-goers to check out before and after the show.
Disadvantages
Popular concert venues often come with premium price tags, so make sure you have enough room in your budget to cover the cost before you book.
Venues that conform to noise ordinances and permits are also in high demand, so you can expect lots of competition for bookings when trying to secure a space.
You'll also need to take Portland's traffic congestion into account and consider public transportation links when choosing a location. Crowd control as people arrive on-site is another factor to look out for.
You don't need to be an experienced event planner to arrange a successful concert, but be aware that there is a long list of jobs you need to tackle to bring your event to life. When you build a reputation as a terrific concert promoter, for example, it will help attendance for future events.
Make a Plan – Start by developing a clear artistic vision of the type of performance you're hosting. What genre of music is it? Will it be a small and intimate concert, an arena-style show, or something in between? What sort of atmosphere will you offer to concert-goers?
Book Talent – The next step is to negotiate an agreement with the artist or group who will be performing. Make sure you can secure them for the date you want without breaking the bank.
Book a Venue – Find concert venues with Giggster and shop around for your ideal spot. Whether you want a space with high ceilings and exposed brick, high-end lighting systems, an SE Portland location, a main floor as well as a private performance space, an intimate atmosphere, a historic building, a grand ballroom, or all of the above, take the time finding a great place that meets your needs.
Sort Ticketing and Event Staffing – Next, sort out a ticketing system for your event and work out how the profits from ticket sales will be divided. You'll also need to organize security personnel, ushers, lighting and audio technicians, and any concession stand staff you need.
Add the Extras – If you need to organize any catering or the band's rider, hire extra audio or lighting gear, or arrange transportation for VIPs, do so now.
Promote Your Concert – You'll also need to promote your concert as much as possible. From online ads and social media platforms to old-school flyers down at street level, do whatever you can to spread the word.
Musical performances can be quite expensive occasions, so use these tips to help ensure that hosting your next event doesn't leave a big dent in your bank balance.
Know your audience size.
Make sure you have a clear and accurate idea of how many people will be attending your concert. This will help you find the right venue and avoid paying extra for space you don't need.
Leave some money aside.
Don't spend every last dollar of your budget on your live music event. Instead, leave some of your funds aside to cover any emergency expenses that may arise—that way, you'll end up with a nice little financial windfall if everything goes according to plan.
Use the price filter.
Don't be tempted by venues you can't afford. Use Giggster's price filter to ensure that you only compare property search results that fit your budget.
Host top-shelf entertainment at your next concert—download the Giggster app today and start comparing top concert venues for rent in Portland.
