Live Music, Amsterdam

The Alto Jazz Club has the best live Jazz in Amsterdam. However, if you want a seat get there early because it didn't seem to matter which night we visited the place was packed.

Dress Code: Clothes are always recommended but otherwise I think about anything goes.

The last waterhole is a great bar, with lovely ladies behind the counter. A live band features every day, every night. And they have a cool pin special during happy hour. And last not least, they also have pool tables.

Dress Code: Casual

Bourbon street is a small club off Leidseplein. Small, as it can probably hold only 60-70 people.

They are open from 10pm to 5am on Fridays and Saturdays; otherwise until 4am.

There is a small cover charge, I can't remember exactly (it's been a while) but I think it's 5 Euro.

Be advised, even though the establishment adverts itself as a "Blues Club" oftentimes during the weekend they will have pop & rock bands playing top 40 hits from the last 15 years.

Overall a pretty cool place, always busy (and can get a bit claustrophobic at times) and cozy.

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I saw some great gigs in A'dam. BJORK played at Cultuurpark (take bus N.21 from central station), JOSS STONE played at HEINEKEN MUSIC HALL (next to Arena stadium (take metro with direction "Gein" and stop at Arena). You can find tickets at VVV(Tourist Info) which opposite the central station.

There are many little pubs and clubs that can listen live music and visited some of them to see some jazz/blues/rock small bands.
MALOE MELO (Lijnbaansgracht 163) a great small blues club
MELKWEG (Lijnbaansgracht 234) and PARADISO for bigger events
BIMHUIS(Oude Schans 73-77), BOURBON STREET (Leidsekruisstraat 6) and ALTO JAZZ CAFE (Korte Leidse Dwarsstraat 115) for jazz concerts

At Red Light District for hard rock music (from dj) ROCK PLANET and EXCALIBUR

See the websites of these recommended bars with live music for more info!

Jazz:

http://www.jazz-cafe-alto.nl/
Hans Dulfer, father of Candy Dulfer, plays here every Wednesday evening (http://www.hansdulfer.nl/)

http://www.bimhuis.nl/ for jazz concerts.

Blues:

http://www.bourbonstreet.nl/
http://www.maloemelo.com/

Other:

http://www.waterhole.nl/

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When I first visited The Waterhole with my friend Eric it was at it's old location near Centraal Station. It has now moved to the more popular Leidseplein down the street from the Boom Chicago Theatre. This is one of the few bars in Amsterdam that reminds me of home. The walls are covered with old posters and other knick knacks. There are 3 pool tables in the back to the left of the small stage where a variety of local bands play. Rumor is that it's owned or was owned by the Amsterdam Hell's Angels. These guys tend to work the door so this is not a place to be an obnoxious tourist unless you want to end up exiting on your head. If you keep your cool and want to have a good time with some great locals on the other hand then this place cannot be beat. I end up in Amsterdam a couple of times a year and I always end up here with my friend Eric for a couple of games and some beer till 3am.

Dress Code: Casual. Member's of the Hell's Angels are more than welcome here.

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We came to this small venue situated away from the centre of the city to see The Rifles. We ended up seeing a great local band called Moss who were performing live on the radio (3FM) and were interviewed by DJ Eric Corton.

It is a tiny venue but a great place to meet locals! Open Wednesdays 10pm til 1pm. (Last tram back to the city centre is at ten past 12 so be warned!)

Dress Code: Anything

Amsterdam is known as one of the entertainment capitals of Europe. There is an abundance of bars with live entertainment, classy casino's, trendy nightspots, theatre productions and of course the eye-opening entertainment in the red-light district.

Most of the cafés, restaurants, nightclubs and discos seem to be located around the Leidseplein and the Rembrandtplein areas and are still lively in the early hours of the morning.