Santa Barbara is a wonderful place to explore California history and the Spanish influence on the state. With its beautiful beaches, it's also a fantastic place to enjoy the laid-back California lifestyle and spend some time on the beach. But downtown Santa Barbara is also a great place for music lovers to experience live music and other performing arts, with organizations like the Santa Barbara Symphony, the Santa Barbara Jazz collective, State Street Ballet, and the Music Academy of the West flying the flag for live music, local artists, and the performing arts in general in this California town.
Santa Barbara has some great venues too, from big stadiums like the Santa Barbara Bowl and historic places like the Granada Theatre and Arlington Theatre to local businesses like SoHo Restaurant and Music Club, where there are always great shows going on. But along with these upcoming events, you can easily book your own venue in a local landmark or hidden gem to provide an unforgettable evening of live performance.
Giggster makes it easy to find a place to host your next show. Whether you're looking to bring world-class performances in pop, rock, jazz, or classical to the city, or just trying to provide a place for social gatherings with an inviting atmosphere and some great music, the Giggster app can help you find the perfect venue. Browse our listings to find a theater, bar, outdoor patio, or even a private home that will give your guests a great place to listen to music, and musicians a wonderful venue to perform.
Giggster provides everything you need to stage concerts year-round. We curate the best Santa Barbara venues for musical entertainment in all genres, from country to folk to blues to rock to classical. Offering everything from private homes to popular bars, we can help you find the setting that fits your sound.
For unforgettable, intimate concerts, consider renting a private home. A beautiful beach house could be an amazing setting for your event, harnessing the beauty of the California coast and offering an unforgettable night.
Santa Barbara's warm weather means you can host outdoor events almost year-round. An outdoor acoustic gig is perfect for both bands and solo artists, especially between the months of June and August, but really, you can host outdoor events even in December if you get lucky with the weather.
Keep things classic by renting out a bar for large events. Enjoy the buzz and guaranteed customers of a Friday or Saturday night and host bands in a venue perfectly equipped for shows and festivals.
Think outside the box with an industrial chic venue that's customizable for any kind of event. Your tunes will sound great reverberating from the high ceilings, and you'll have total flexibility with this creative space.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: Giggster curates the best venues available in Santa Barbara so you can host unforgettable events in the city. With 6 locations to choose from, you can always find a place to play music when you visit.
Hassle-Free Booking: Giggster makes it easier than ever to discover and book great places for a show. You can scroll through our listings and contact hosts directly with any questions you have, and with prices starting at only $150/hour, you can find a place for any budget, too.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: Book an amazing venue like Live Music Venue with 1920's Theme in Santa Barbara (Buyout) without worry. Giggster lets you cancel any booking for free within 24 hours of confirmation, as long as your booking was made at least 48 hours before the event is due to begin.
Platform Protections: Breathe easy with optional protections through Giggster. We can protect you against accidental damage, liability, and cancellation, so you can focus on putting on an amazing live music event and not worry about the unexpected.
Santa Barbara has so many great venues for concerts and live performances, but these versatile spaces can be good for a variety of different celebrations.
Wine and Music Pairing Events – Elegance and Good Taste. California is famous for its wine country, so celebrate and enjoy music with some offerings from local vineyards. You can also make an evening of it by providing specialty cocktails and finger food to go with the live performance.
Album Release and Listening Parties – Intimate and Versatile. Music doesn't need to be live to be shared. Host an album release party or listening party even for an artist who can't be present, and you can still enjoy the community aspect of sharing music.
Local Band Showcases – Celebrate the Community. Bring together local musicians to celebrate live music in Santa Barbara. New musicians are always looking for places to play, so you can put together a bill of local talent and get the word out there.
Open Mic Nights – Discover the Big Thing. An open mic night can be a great way to have fun and potentially discover some new talent. Choose a great venue and increase exposure for local artists.
Fundraisers and Benefit Concerts – Support a Worthy Cause. Santa Barbara has a strong philanthropic community, and a benefit concert can be a great way to raise both funds and awareness for a cause.
Not all shows are the same. Think about the kind of atmosphere you want to create and the audience you are aiming at, and let that guide you toward the right space for you.
What are the acoustics like? Naturally, this is one of the most important questions when planning to stage a musical event. Look for a venue that has good natural acoustics if you're going unplugged, or a place with a sound system that can support what you have in mind.
What is the layout? A wide open hall or industrial space is a fantastic choice for a big event, especially if people will be dancing. But for other shows, you might want to consider the seating options or even tables.
Are there amenities for performers? Green rooms, dressing rooms, and secure storage for equipment are all good things to have to make life easier for your performers. Look for these facilities where possible.
There's a lot to like about Santa Barbara as a place to host a show. However, it's a good idea to think through the following pros and cons before you organize a music event here:
Advantages
Santa Barbara's coastal location and Mediterranean atmosphere make it an excellent backdrop for just about any event. It's where you can enjoy the best of the Sunshine State.
From historic theaters to rolling vineyards, Santa Barbara offers a good range of eclectic venues, so you can tailor the location to your event.
This city's strong local arts scene means you won't struggle to find artists for an open mic or local band showcase. Plus, artists in this city tend to back each other up.
Disadvantages
Santa Barbara is a smaller city, so it doesn't have as many venues available as other major California destinations like LA and San Francisco. If you're not booking the Santa Barbara Bowl, the Granada Theatre, or the top live music halls in the city, your options will be limited.
Santa Barbara gets busy in the summer, and popular venues book up. Consider hosting your event during the week or on a Sunday night, or even in slow months like October and November.
Santa Barbara is desirable, and that means it's not cheap. Giggster can help you save money on the venue, but you'll pay more for everything else you need.
To make your event everything it could be, you need to plan it well. Giggster can help you find the venue, but that's only one aspect of hosting something magical.
How Many People are Likely to Come? – Consider the artist you are hosting and choose a venue that suits them. There's nothing worse than a half-empty venue. It's better to sell out a smaller place than to have empty seats.
What Kind of Atmosphere Do You Want? – A raucous rock concert is very different from a wine tasting with some acoustic accompaniment. Choose a venue that matches the atmosphere you want.
What Technology Do You Need? – Acoustic shows don't require much, but more elaborate shows will. Look for venues that can accommodate the sound equipment you need.
Don't Forget to Promote – The last thing you want to do is put on a show and forget to invite anyone. Don't forget to promote your show in the weeks leading up to the event. Reach out to any existing fan base the artist may have and try to find new fans on social media and through more traditional methods, such as handing out flyers.
Giggster can help you save on your rental, with prices starting at just $150/hour. Also, consider these money-saving hacks to bring your vision to life without spending a fortune.
Get partners.
Collaborating with local businesses can help keep costs down. Consider seeking sponsorship or partnering with a local company to provide coffee, drinks, or food.
Look for rising stars.
Book emerging performers from the Music Academy or the local scene. These performers often provide entertainment at a lower cost.
Focus on DIY.
Do as much as you can yourself. Look for volunteers who will help you stage an event for free tickets to save money on staff.
Thanks to Giggster, it's easier than ever to stage an amazing music event. Browse the Giggster app and find the perfect setting for your next show, whether it's a Saturday night reggae fest, a Thursday night classical performance, or the rave of the century!
