So, you want to check some live music out on the island? You have come to the right place. Read on to find out where you can find the best music and musicians in town. (updated April ’23)
Live music in Bali is separated into three parts; top 40 bands, jazz and blues, and the local original music scene.
Top 40 cover bands can be found all over the island in hotels, restaurants and bars. Some of them are very good, some are so so, but the bands have all come a long way since only playing tracks like ‘Hotel California’ on loop – well, some of them still do, of course. The jazz/blues scene features top musicians from around the archipelago and the world. There are many talented musicians in the live music scene around Bali both in the covers and original bands. Over the past decades the local original music scene was dominated by punk/ska music, but has become more diverse in recent times.
Below are some of the best venues to catch live music in Bali – in alphabetical order.
Casablanca
Cover bands Monday to Saturday and normally quite busy with locals and tourists filling the bar. It is a bit of an institution in Sanur.
Casablanca: Jalan Danau Tamblingan no 120, Sanur. Phone: (0361) 287263.
Centerstage
At the entrance of the Hard Rock Hotel Bali you will find Top 40 bands playing seven nights a week on top of the stage in the centre of the bar. It starts and finishes early and is normally quite busy. Not bad for a couple of beers and hangout.
Centerstage: Hard Rock Hotel Bali. Jl. Pantai Kuta, Kuta. Phone: (0361) 761869
Hard Rock Café
Live Top Forty bands are on stage seven nights a week from 10pm till late. Special guest bands from around the country and the world play here periodically. It may not have the shine of its glory days a couple of decades ago, but the Hard Rock always remains the Hard Rock. Get down for some hard rock today.
Hard Rock Café: Jalan Pantai Kuta, Kuta. Phone: (0361) 755661
Laughing Buddha
Live music seven nights a week with a mix of soulful jazz, guitar and world music. Special international guests are often playing here too.
Laughing Buddha: Jl. Monkey Forest Kedewatan, Ubud. Phone: (0361) 970928.
JA’AN Bali
JA’AN Bali is a bit of a surprise sensation among the local young crowd, and gets busy just about every night with cover bands playing local Indo pop songs. The crowd loves it and sings along to just about every track. They also have visiting special guest bands from around Indonesia. Not bad fun and the kind of place you could meet nice young local people too.
Jalan Raya Seminyak No. 10, Seminyak. Phone +62 819-1900-1818
Pison Seminyak
Live music every night of the week. This tasty restaurant is very local but also a mix of expats and tourists can be found here. Good, fun and very Indonesian and western style music and the same can be said about the food. Gets very busy.
Jalan Petitenget 19, Badung, Bali. Phone +62 821-4456-0066
Ryoshi Seminyak
The jazz and blues centre of Bali is right on Jalan Seminyak Raya and offers great old time classic, modern style jazz, ska and blues played by some of the best musicians on the island every Monday and Friday.
Ryoshi Seminyak: Jalan Seminyak Raya no 17. Phone: (0361) 731152.
The Orchard
The Orchard is like a small English pub with live music three nights a week showcasing the very best of the island’s musicians and bands. Normally shows are on Tues, Thurs and Saturday nights from 8pm.
Jalan Nakula, Gang Baik No. 99x, Seminyak. Tel: +62 857 89419634
The Shady Fox
This clandestine speakeasy style bar in Pereneran has a cool intimate style and loads of charm. Jazzy, R’n’B and Soul are on the menu most nights of the week. You will need to call them to find out when.
The Shady Fox. Jalan Tukad Pingai No. 3 Badung, Bali. Tel: +62 813 3995 5488
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