When you're celebrating a special occasion, sometimes you need to wander a little way off the beaten path to find your ideal venue. Whether it's a milestone birthday, a concert or other live music event, or even a wedding reception, an underground venue offers a memorable setting and a unique atmosphere for any event.
If you're looking for underground spots in Vancouver, BC, Giggster has various options from chic basement bars in the heart of the city to other versatile locations that cater to all budgets and styles. Whether you want a cozy and intimate setting or something much more extravagant and over the top, a great spot is just a few taps away on the Giggster app.
Don't just host any regular event—create memorable moments. Browse Giggster's listings today and explore the coolest hidden gems in Vancouver, Canada.
In a city like Vancouver, with a rich history, vibrant culture, and live music scene filled with iconic underground clubs, it's easy to find a great place for a live music event. And with Giggster's eclectic selection of underground venues, you can create a party atmosphere that's out of this world.
The best small concert venues have awesome acoustics and foster a strong connection between artists and audiences. A stunning space like Dutch Colonial Historical Mansion might be your go-to venue when you need an intimate atmosphere for acoustic gigs.
Hosting an intimate birthday party for a small group of friends? A dimly lit and stylish underground bar with undeniable speakeasy vibes is the perfect location.
Underground venues aren't just about music. They can also double as an authentic underground boxing gym and fitness studio.
The great thing about an underground venue is that it instantly generates a feeling of exclusivity and prestige, as if you've discovered a hidden gem that only a few people know about. It's the ideal sort of location to help generate buzz about an up-and-coming band.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: No matter the event style or ambiance you want, you'll find a wide range of unique spaces your guests will love in Vancouver for as little as $38/hour. Choose from our 8 exclusive hideaways, cellar bars, and unconventional venues tucked beneath bustling city streets and charming buildings.
Hassle-Free Booking: It's easy to book local underground venues in Vancouver with Giggster. Just use the convenient search filters to find locations that suit your personal preferences, compare prices and property details with ease, and contact the host of any venue you're interested in directly if you have any questions.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: If your party or production plans change at the last minute, and you need to cancel your booking, you can do so for free within 24 hours of confirmation, provided the booking is made at least 48 hours before the event.
Platform Protections: Don't let hosting an event at a Vancouver live music venue give you the blues. Experience peace of mind by adding optional damage, liability, and cancellation protection to your property booking.
Underground locations are where the magic happens, but what activities and events can you actually host there? Well, you have tons of options, but here are some of the most popular ones:
Concerts – Showstopper. From jazz to folk, blues to hip-hop, country to dance music—no matter whether emerging local artists or big international acts take the stage, underground locations provide an immersive experience that amplifies the raw energy of live performances.
Birthday Parties – Hip Hip Hooray. Enjoy an intimate and exclusive birthday party in your own private underground bar. Make the guest of honor feel like a VIP.
Festivals – Party Time. Gather a group of like-minded music lovers together for a weekend festival with performances across a host of Vancouver's best underground locations.
Comedy Shows – The Best Medicine. Whether it's a new local talent or a globally recognized name, an intimate underground comedy club is the perfect space to listen to a few jokes and get up close and personal with a comedian.
Film Screenings – Press Play. Debut your film to an adoring audience in an underground theater or studio space. Or, you can turn a speakeasy bar into a makeshift cinema for themed movie nights, documentaries, and indie films.
Artists and other creatives are spoiled for choice when choosing an underground space, so look for these staple features when searching for your perfect location.
Start with the acoustics and ambiance. The right concert venue for you will have high-quality acoustics to wow all your attendees. It'll also have the right atmosphere to match the genre of music and type of experience you want to provide, which could vary greatly depending on whether you're showcasing jazz, folk, blues, or something else.
Check the practical features. The ideal production venue for you will also have all the practical inclusions you need in a space. This will include the right capacity, accessibility, strong public transport links, maybe great sound and lighting systems, and proximity to nearby bars and restaurant locations.
Check the price tag. You'll need to keep your budget in mind at all times, so be sure to compare a range of locations to find a place that fits your price range.
Vancouver hosts numerous live music events throughout the year, so you know you're at the right place for a mindblowing performance. But before you fall in love with any underground venue in the city, weigh the pros and cons to ensure it's the perfect fit.
Advantages
The unbeatable vibe and atmosphere of underground spaces are probably their biggest draw. That raw and often intimate feel is hard to replicate in polished ballrooms or regular event venues.
Vancouver is home to countless award-winning restaurants, bars, and cultural attractions, so you won't run out of things to do before and after your concert.
Many hidden gems in Vancouver are so flexible with what you can do, which means they have more leeway with decorations and the type of music to be played inside.
Disadvantages
Many underground venues are in older buildings, basements, or industrial areas, and it can mean stairs, narrow doorways, and a general lack of elevators, which is tricky for those with mobility problems.
If bright, natural light is an important factor in your event or shoot, an underground location may not be what you're looking for.
It can be a challenge to get good sound in a raw space like an underground venue, so you might need to bring extras like soundproofing, a robust PA system, or a skilled audio engineer to avoid muddy sounds.
It can be stressful and difficult work, but planning underground events in the city of Vancouver can also be fun. Here's what you need to do to host live performances or parties that will impress all your attendees.
Choose Your Experience – Your first job is to have a clear idea of what sort of event you want to host. Is it a private party or a public show? What genre of music is involved? What kind of experience do you want to offer?
Set the Date and Budget – Decide on the ideal time to host your concert, then check your budget to work out how much you can afford to spend on the occasion.
Book Talent – Negotiate a contract with the artists who will be performing at your event. Make sure you can secure them for the date you want and at the right price.
Book a Venue – Maybe you want a vast stage, seating that allows guests to feel like they're right on top of the action, dazzling lights, a long-established reputation, or a space that's centrally located in the heart of Vancouver. Compare a host of venues to find a space with everything you need.
Hire Staff and Arrange Extras – Do you need to hire security staff or ushers, or engage the services of audio and lighting technicians? Is it the sort of event where you need to organize catering, or ensure that the bar is well-stocked with drinks or maybe even cocktails?
Promote Your Event and Sell Tickets – Set up a system to sell tickets to your concert. You'll also need to use social media ads and old-school flyers to start promoting your underground concert to your target audience.
From small live music events for a few friends to massive concerts in front of thousands, underground events can turn into expensive occasions. Use the tips below to ensure that providing a great live music event for music lovers doesn't break the bank.
Embrace flexibility.
If you can afford to be flexible about the day and time of your event, there are significant savings waiting for you. Moving your occasion from a weekend to a weeknight, or from the summer peak to the quieter months of fall, can provide a budget boost.
Use the price filter.
Giggster's ultra-convenient price filter lets you narrow down your search results to show only underground spaces within your budget. This ensures that you won't be tempted by any venue that you can't afford.
Limit numbers.
Sometimes, less is more when choosing a venue. Look for a smaller, cozy, and intimate setting that will provide a better experience for your guests and enable you to connect more effectively with them. Best of all, smaller venues are typically more affordable to book.
Consider a change from your typical banquet hall or event center and embrace the extraordinary for your next event. Download the Giggster app now and discover the best underground venues in Vancouver, BC.
