10. JONES HALL Definitely one of the fanciest places on our list with its wall-to-wall red carpeting and fine wine bar, Jones Hall is the permanent home of the Houston Symphony Orchestra and the Houston Society for the Performing Arts, as well as a venue for popular contemporary musicians and other artists. Some have criticized the theater as being dated, but the seats have been comfortable and the room has sounded great when we have visited.
Jones may not be a place that up-and-coming performers get a chance to play, but it can be a good place to catch some big names; Neil Young stopped by during his 2010 solo tour with the late Bert Jansch opening, as did Young's friend and sometimes musical collaborator Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam for a 2012 solo show. Currently the venue has several Christmas programs scheduled, but Sarah McLachlan does drop by on March 1.
615 Louisiana, Web site
9. DOSEY DOE (BIG BARN) Dosey Doe's "Big Barn" is aptly named, as it is literally a 165-year-old barn that was originally located on a Kentucky tobacco farm. Turns out that this barn is a pretty great place for music, acoustically speaking, as artists and music fans from around the country have discovered when they have visited; the seating and interior design is fantastic as well.
Shows at the Barn come at different price levels, with obstructed-view seats costing less than their with unobstructed counterparts; those who purchase obstructed-view seats can also head on up to the third level, known as the "Bird's Nest" for its overhead view of the stage. The food here goes over as well as the music, with patrons arriving early to enjoy dishes like the Ginormous Chicken Fried Steak or South Texas Antelope Burger.
25911 I-45 N., Spring, doseydoe.com
8. UNITUNES COFFEEHOUSE Many Houstonians may not have heard UniTunes, the name given to a series of acoustic concerts held at the Emerson Unitarian Church near the Galleria. Both established singer-songwriters and up-and-coming artists play here, with all proceeds going to the performers as well as local charities, as UniTunes is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization.
The past few years, proceeds have gone to the Houston-based Hospitality Apartments, which provides free temporary housing for out-of-town patients in the Medical Center and their caregivers. Past performers have included Bob Livingston, Terri Hendrix, Jeff Black and many other notable artists. UniTunes does not book many shows, usually just one a month, but next up is Grammy-nominated guitarist and singer-songwriter Bill Kirchen on January 3.
1900 Bering, unitunes.org
7. CULLEN PERFORMANCE HALL An intimate venue located on the University of Houston campus that hosts lectures, opera, dance, musical acts and theatrical events; Cullen is now the Alley Theater's base of operations while its downtown home is undergoing renovations. Cullen's permanent seating capacity is a little north of 1,500, and UH non-students are welcome to come hear its great acoustics the next time a national touring singer-songwriter visits.
Some noteworthy performers who have played at Cullen Hall in 2014 include Jason Mraz and John Legend; Grammy winner John Prine is scheduled to return here in 2015, with tickets going on sale today.
4800 Calhoun, Web site
Story continues on the next page.
