Best Cheap Live Music Venues In San Francisco

If your pocket has seemingly sprung a leak and the idea of living it up after a hard day of work is looking bleak, check out these venues that offer cheap rates to see some of the best live music in the Bay.

For sultry, sensuous, soulful blues and groovy tunes, the BBR is intoxicating. The Boom Boom Room is said to be the home for live roots music. The San Francisco Bay Guardian recently wrote, "The Boom Boom Room plays the blues and it's authentic down to the very last note. Drafts are flowing and the rhythm and blues are alive and kicking in the Fillmore corridor." For a chance to see the shows for free, interested fans can submit their contact information and volunteer to become a part of the BBR Street Team to help promote the shows and events. Click here for more details on this special offer.

Friendly bartenders, stiff drinks, clean restrooms (bonus) and, best of all, this bar is one of the best places to see live indie bands. Out-of-towners will have to find creative modes of transportation however, since The Independent is far from any BART station. The box office is open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on all show nights (one hour before doors open until 9:30 p.m.). Cash or credit cards are accepted. All shows are for ages 21 and over. For more details about upcoming acts, view The Independent's concert calendar.

Want to get a close, intimate view of your favorite live acts at a truly intimate venue? This hip locale is perfect for the young crowd who is strapped for cash but wants to experience a spectacular live performance of up-and-coming bands. Tickets are cheap and drinks are reasonably priced as well. The sound and lighting is on par with the quality of the music acts, making for an enjoyable, pocketbook-happy night. The changeover between bands is well planned out and efficient which means no hiccups in this professional venue. Click here to buy tickets to upcoming shows.

Related: San Francisco's Best Indie Music Venues

This over 100-year-old saloon is a tiny place with super-charged energy and a rugged ambience. Hotel Utah is an invigorating experience for lovers of live independent music. One fan of the saloon adds his own perspective, saying, "Inside, Hotel Utah Saloon is a little like Keith Richards. It feels old beyond its years, does not carry its age particularly well and doesn't give a damn in the slightest. Take it or leave it, it's your problem." The drinks are decently priced and heavy. Live music is played seven nights a week and sometimes during weekend afternoons. From bluegrass to country, leave your troubles at the door and give your ears a journey to the wild side. Click here for a list of upcoming music events.

Make a trip to the live music scene at B&M, where the bands on tap are diverse and the seating is made for kicking back and taking in the feel-good vibes. The venue has a very credible sound system and great lighting. Located just a few blocks from 16^th Street Mission, B&M stone walls and flooring interior keeps the joint cool – which also means you aren't likely to suffocate from heat malaise amidst the packed crowds of other patrons. The only items that might cost you a few more cents are the drinks. For more information on the music played at B&M, view its upcoming concerts.

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Kelly Gullo is a freelance writer in San Francisco, CA. Kellys topics are about music and nightlife. Kelly has also written a variety of articles on health and dieting and topics related to the environment. Kelly has a degree in journalism and public relations from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.