Rock and Roll. Country. Orchestras. Solo singers. Brass bands.
If you are a fan of live music then Danville probably has something you’ll enjoy, and not just on occasion.
Most Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights (and sometimes Wednesday and Sundays), there is live music being performed somewhere in Danville. This might be a musician with a guitar inside a local restaurant or venue, a well-known singer or band performing at the Norton Center, or the distinct sounds and atmosphere emanating from the annual Great American Brass Band Festival.
Enjoy an intimate experience
Look through the calendar listings at danvillekentucky.com and you’ll see musicians performing around Danville on a regular basis at locations like The Nook, The Still at Blue Rook Distillery, Bricks & Brews, Copper & Oak, and more.
At The Nook – a state-of-the-art live music lounge, martini bar and arcade – they regularly feature local and regional musicians, as well as national acts and comedy shows. Don’t be surprised if you drive by and hear a song coming from the outdoor stage that you recognize because the original artist is there performing it.
And if you drive through downtown Danville, you may hear the sounds of the Carey Band, Brad Hardin or one of many other musicians coming from one of the restaurants or after-hours venues.
A theater designed for music
Dolly Parton, ZZ Top, Yo-Yo Ma and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra are just a few of the very well-known musicians to have taken the stage over the years in Danville at the Norton Center for the Arts.
Each summer the Norton Center releases their fall/spring performance schedule, which is a mixture of theatre, live music and other performances. For their 2023-2024 season, live music included Toad the Wet Sprocket, Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen, Ann Wilson of Heart and others.
Each summer, the upcoming season’s performances are announced and tickets go on sale on their website, so choose your seat in the nearly 1,500-seat auditorium and enjoy your favorite musicians at this award-wining facility.
Summer concert series
Beginning in 2023, a new, free concert series was launched, with monthly performances at Constitution Square and Wiesiger Park.
The Downtown Downbeat concerts featured up and coming musicians from Kentucky performing concerts that were all free to attend. Details about upcoming Downtown Downbeat concerts will be listed on the events calendar at www.danvillekentucky.com as they are announced. Grab some food or an adult beverage from a downtown restaurant and enjoy one (or all) of the shows.
The Great American Brass Band Festival
This is not only the biggest musical event in Danville each year, but also the most well-attended event in general.
For more than 30 years, the Great American Brass Band Festival has brought together musicians from around the country to perform free shows throughout the weekend in early June. These range from military bands like the 202nd Army Band to the high energy Circle City Sidewalk Stompers to those bands bringing the sounds of N’Awlins to Kentucky.
Enjoy that N’Awlins sound during the Friday night Bayou and Brass performances at Weisiger Park along Main Street, then watch (and join) the Saturday morning parade as it leads everybody to the grand lawn at Centre College where an entire afternoon and evening of live music and other events take place.
Information about all the live music you can enjoy in Danville can be found on the events calendar at danvillekentucky.com. Make sure to check it often, as performances are added as they are announced.
