Where can I hear live music in New Orleans tonight?

Somewhere in New Orleans, live music is happening tonight, guaranteed. Frenchmen Street in the Marigny has a dozen venues within three blocks. Beyond that, the music spreads across the whole city: Tipitina's and the Maple Leaf Uptown, Bacchanal and Vaughan's in the Bywater, Kermit's Mother-in-Law Lounge in Treme, Chickie Wah Wah in Mid-City, Preservation Hall and Fritzel's in the French Quarter, and dozens more. The list on this page shows what is actually booked tonight, updated daily.

What time does live music start in New Orleans?

Early sets start between 5pm and 7pm, prime time is 8pm to 10pm, and plenty of rooms have music past midnight. New Orleans treats the night as running until 6am, and so does this page: shows listed after midnight belong to tonight.

Is live music in New Orleans free?

A lot of it is. Many bars and clubs have no cover, especially for early sets. Where a show has a listed price, this page shows it. If you catch free music, tip the band; that is how the free-music economy works here, and most tip jars take Venmo.

Live Music in New Orleans Tonight

Q: Do I need tickets in advance?

For most neighborhood shows, no; you walk in. Ticketed rooms like Tipitina's, the Fillmore, the Civic Theatre, and Preservation Hall can sell out, so buy ahead for touring acts and weekend shows. Where a ticket link exists, it is on this page.

Every show on our citywide calendar for tonight, Monday, October 5

Updated daily. All times are New Orleans local time (Central). Shows after midnight are part of tonight; the night runs until 6am here.

New Orleans has live music every single night of the week, and most of it never makes the tourist guides. This page pulls tonight's shows from our citywide calendar, which aggregates listings from hundreds of venues: the Frenchmen Street clubs, the Uptown institutions, the Bywater bars, the Treme lounges, the French Quarter jazz rooms, and everything in between. Cover charges are listed where venues publish them. Plenty of shows are free; when they are, tip the band.

Tonight's Shows: Monday, October 5, 2026

38 shows on the calendar tonight

5:00 PM Preservation Brass at Preservation Hall

6:00 PM Byron Asher at Bacchanal

6:00 PM Secret Six Jazz Band at d.b.a.

6:00 PM Victor Campbell at Mahogany Jazz Hall Free

6:00 PM Dominick Grillo & The Frenchmen Street All-Stars at Spotted Cat Music Club

6:00 PM Decatur Radio at Apple Barrel Free

6:00 PM SAINTS AND DIRTY BIRDS MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL at Saturn Bar Free

6:00 PM Margie Perez at 30/90

6:15 PM Preservation Brass at Preservation Hall

6:15 PM Annual Falcons Suck Day at Hi-Ho Lounge (formerly No Dice)

6:30 PM Stanton Moore Trio at The Columns

6:30 PM Jock Jams Line Dancing with Giddy Up Two Step at Siberia $12.47

7:00 PM David Doucet at Buffa's

7:00 PM The Bluegrass Pickin' Party at NOLA Brewing Free

7:00 PM Betsy Propane Smoke Show (live music & burlesque) at Allways Lounge & Cabaret

7:00 PM George Porter Jr. Trio Ft. Chris Adkins at Maple Leaf Bar

7:30 PM Preservation Brass at Preservation Hall

7:30 PM Django Jazz Jam at Okay Bar

7:30 PM Shape Note Singing Choir. Open to the public . No experience necessary at The Tigermen Den

7:30 PM Charmaine Neville Band at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro $35.65

7:30 PM Hobo Gadget Junk Band at Three Muses

7:30 PM Bear With Me Comedy Open Mic at Twelve Mile Limit

8:00 PM BLACK MASS KARAOKE with KJ*EJ at Santos Bar

8:00 PM The Original Tuxedo Jazz Band at Mahogany Jazz Hall Free

8:00 PM THE OPEN MIC a free Comedy Show at Gasa Gasa

8:00 PM Super Jam w/Gene's Music Machine at Maison

8:00 PM I Wrote a Song (a Big gay musical) at Allways Lounge & Cabaret

8:00 PM Khris Royal Band at Bourbon O Bar

8:45 PM Preservation Brass at Preservation Hall

9:00 PM Keep'it Rolling Brass Band at Cafe Negril

9:00 PM Piano Man G at 30/90

9:30 PM Corey Henry & the Treme Funktet : Red Beans & Ricely Yours at d.b.a.

9:30 PM Charmaine Neville Band at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro $35.65

9:30 PM Almost Naked Karaoke at Allways Lounge & Cabaret

9:30 PM Saskia Says! at Spotted Cat Music Club

10:00 PM Bread For Sale at Apple Barrel Free

10:00 PM George Porter Jr. Trio Ft. Chris Adkins at Maple Leaf Bar $23.00

10:00 PM Biscuits & Jam: A Night w/Meryl Zimmerman & Friends at Carrollton Station

Highlighted times are after midnight. Always confirm times and prices with the venue before heading out.

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Good to Know

Where should I go for live music tonight?

Depends on the night you want. Frenchmen Street packs a dozen venues into three walkable blocks and something is always on. For destination shows, check the listings above for Tipitina's, the Maple Leaf, Preservation Hall, and the theaters. For a more local night, look for the Bywater, Treme, and Mid-City rooms in the list; smaller crowds, often no cover, and some of the best musicians in the city.

What time does music start?

Early sets start between 5pm and 7pm, prime time is 8pm to 10pm, and plenty of rooms go past midnight. The highlighted entries above are after-midnight sets that belong to tonight.

Is it free?

A lot of it, especially early sets in neighborhood bars. Prices above are shown where venues publish them. Free show? Tip the band. Most tip jars take Venmo.

Do I need tickets in advance?

Walk into most neighborhood shows. Buy ahead for ticketed rooms and touring acts; those links are in the listings when they exist.