On an evening out in Gastown, you need not leave the neighbourhood to find good live music and a proper floor to dance on.
The neighbourhood is home to many musicians, DJ’s, and performers who create wonderful sounds every night of the week that get feet tappin’ and stompin’ and bodies swingin’ and swayin’.
As one of the liveliest venues in the city, Guilt & Co. is home to many resident musicians and performers and consistently plays host to a medley of up and coming artists, touring bands and open mic nights. The space is intimate, dark and full of musical energy that resonates from the exposed brick walls. With candles on the tables and a full menu of drinks and sharing plates, Guilt & Co. is perfect for a night out. The cellar like venue is the musical and performing arts heart of the neighbourhood. Guilt’s stage has hosted an incredible variety of acts including cabarets, burlesque performers, jazz, rock, funk, acoustic sessions, folk, spoken word and theatre. You can find live music and performances here almost 7 nights a week, with some nights offering an early and late show with different artists. Cover is pay what you can unless otherwise noted on the sites calendar.
The Revel Room is Gastown’s swinging, rockabilly, jump jivin’ hot spot. You’ll find live music here 6 nights a week with resident artists who play some of the best Texas Swing, Jazz, and Blues found anywhere in the city. The space is warm and inviting with high ceilings and a southern roots vibe. Revel’s seasonal menus are inspired by the flavours of the South from New Mexico to New Orleans. There’s live boogie piano every Tues through Sat afternoon for Sour Hour from 4-6pm, and dinner shows every evening ranging from roots to rockabilly to soulful jazz. No cover.
As if doing the Charleston through a time portal, the Pourhouse is a step back through the decades to a time of speakeasies, bootleg gin and jazz. Housed in a 100-year-old building, built in 1910 for the Leckie Boot Company – here you’ll find Douglas fir ceilings, supported by large wood pillars, brick walls and antiques. The cornerstone is the 38 ft. Bar – masterfully handcrafted from 120 year-old planks of reclaimed Douglas fir. Pourhouse hosts live music every Sunday night with an opening act from 5:30-6:30pm and a main performance 7-10pm. Performers include: Jesse Waldman, Alvaro Rojas Trio, Jeff Neufeld; The Skillet Lickers, Ashleigh Eymann, The Pumps, Jacqueline Dawn, Double D, and Poorboy Trio.
The Irish Heather is the city’s only authentically Irish owned Irish pub. Devoid of anything to do with the gaudy “plastic paddy” often seen in other “Irish” establishments, The Heather is as real as you can get off the island. Hardwood floors are made from old Guinness vats, and vintage Irish posters and collectibles add a bit of charm to every corner of their cozy space. There’s live Maritime and Traditional Irish music on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7pm to 10pm. No Cover – No Amplifier. Head into The Shebeen Whisky house in the back after for a nightcap.
The Blarney Stone is the only ‘original’ Irish pub in Vancouver that is still standing. The building that houses the Blarney Stone went up in 1888, and was built as the Klondike Hotel. In 1942, the building was converted to Vancouver’s first government liquor store and the upstairs became a rooming house for some of Vancouver’s most notable people such as the well-known Joe Fortes.
The Blarney Stone cooks up hearty Irish inspired food along with cracking good Irish entertainment, and a warm Irish atmosphere. Open 11am till late, 7 nights a week and featuring live music every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Blarney’s house bands include The Sheets on Friday night (Celtic to pop, reggae to rock, and everything in between), The Shenanigans on Saturday (Celtic, Dance, Pop, Rock, plus much more) and on Sunday night look for rotating bands, Dj’s and other Celtic inspired entertainment.
The Lamplighter Pub
The Lamplighter Pub is quite possibly one of the most iconic drinking establishments in Gastown, if not, Vancouver. Established in 1925 (and having received Vancouver’s first pub license), this well loved haunt is steeped in history.
There’s always fun and good times to be had at the The Lamplighter. From Freeplay Pinball and Bingo on Wednesdays to Bring Your Own Vinyl on Mondays, the friendly pub hosts local DJ’s to spin the tunes to welcome in the weekend – FRIDAYS WITH KYPRIOS (Hip hop + rap + R&B + chart), SATURDAYS WITH DJ MARY MAC (Hip hop + rap every Saturday with DJ Mary Mac) and on Saturday morning, enjoy a BLUEGRASS BRUNCH with Live bluegrass from Rollin’ Trainwreck at 11 am. 
The Cambie Pub
The Cambie is the liveliest pub on the street, where the patio fills up almost every night. The pitchers are affordable and the food is consistently good, with the kitchen serving up large portions. Inside The Cambie you’ll find big long tables and benches that create a communal atmosphere, making it a fun place to hang out. It’s best to go with a group of friends, as you are sure to end of meeting a bunch of other people. Tuesdays are Latin Night with DJ Wellz from 10pm. Wednesdays – come for Country Rock and Cambie Pong from 7pm. Thirsty Thursdays offer Live music on the last Thursday of every month and a DJ every other Thursday.
The magic of the Maritimes comes to life at the Portside. Like stepping aboard a great fishing liner at sea, the pub is split across three levels where pubgoers swagger over to the low-lit bar and take their pick of 24 craft beers on tap, or hoist a glass of Jameson whiskey poured out of a suspended bathtub. Keeping with the maritime theme, the menu serves up delicious comforts including a Nova Scotia lobster roll and classic Philly cheese steak. Resident DJs spin the latest & greatest motown, hip-hop and dance tracks turning the pub into a nightclub on Thursdays and weekends.
Situated at the base of the mighty Woodward’s Building, The Charles Bar has a fun little patio and great banquette seating indoors. Local Vancouver DJ’s round out the baron weekend nights – dropping everything from classic hip hop and R&B to your favourite Top 40 songs including WHAT’S GOOD FRIDAYS 9pm – 3am playing HIP HOP/RAP/TRAP/DANCEHALL SOUNDS BY DJ DRWKSKEE and BACK AND FORTH SATURDAYS 9pm – 3am with DJ EL NINO playing OLD + NEW SCHOOL RAP/RNB/HIP-HOP ALL NIGHT.
For hard hitting Dj’s, check out M.I.A. The club offers an inclusive space for alternative & avant strains of electronic dance music – whether rooted in r&b, hip hop, house or techno – all presented in a well-heeled setting. Guests tunnel into the space from 350 Water Street to be greeted by a lush room boasting a mix of futuristic yet timeworn details; M.I.A. carries notes of dark, burnt wood and rich tones of purple and red while abstract L.E.D. installations across the ceiling create pulse-like light patterns connecting all corners of the room. The intimate dance floor and compact DJ booth are ringed by plush communal seating while winding past the main bar will bring guests to a separate sake bar. The underground venue hosts Dj’s from Thursday to Sunday.
The Metropole is a simple place with cheap drinks and a communal atmosphere. You’ll find a nice variety of music here as the Dj’s rotate on different nights. Friday nights you’ll hear house, top 40, and 90’s. Saturday night dj’s play charts and popular mixes. Sundays are slow with lots of space on the dance floor and the DJ takes requests.
The Bourbon
The Bourbon is one of the few places in Vancouver where you could wear a cowboy hat and boots and get away with it. Complete with a rideable mechanical bull, The Bourbon hosts Hip Hop Friday’s and Saturdays with Vancouver’s top party DJ’s playing the best in hip-hop/rap/dance/top40.
