Birmingham might not have the Sphere — that space-age, immersive, $2.3 billion concert venue in Las Vegas — but our city has a vibrant concert scene that takes shape in venues large and small. We’ve got everything from an 18,000-capacity arena to hole-in-the wall nightclubs, presenting shows that are noteworthy, exceptional and just plain cool. And let’s not forget Protective Stadium, which has been lacking in superstar bookings of late, but proved its potential when Garth Brooks came to town in 2022.

Concertgoers here have plenty of choices throughout the year — we just saw a stunning performance by singer-songwriter Maggie Rose, for example, at the revived WorkPlay theater — and it’s great to have an abundance of acts on the calendar. Here are five of our favorite venues in Birmingham, all of which have earned kudos on the concert scene, and carved out special places in our music-loving hearts.