7 Music Venues in Marion, IL

Seeing live music is one of life’s great pleasures. There’s something special about seeing musicians play their instruments, hearing singers go through their range of vocals, and being around other people who enjoy the music as much as you do. The next time you want to go see live music, check out these seven music venues in the Marion, Illinois, area.

Hangar 9

Image used with permission via Flickr by aaronetc

Voted as one of the best places to see live music in southern Illinois, Hangar 9 in Carbondale is the place to hang out when you want to drink exceptional craft beer, listen to a variety of musical acts, and have fun with your friends. Since Carbondale is home to Southern Illinois University, you’ll find the crowd at Hangar 9 to be a mix of students and visitors enjoying themselves.

Hangar 9 gets its name from the fact that the building looks like an airplane hangar. The upper level is a great place to watch the band, or you can kick up your heels on the dance floor. Depending on the night, you can see national musical acts, discover local talent, experience open-mic night, or even participate in karaoke.

Enjoy live shows such as a Grateful Dead cover band. On Latin night, the DJ spins danceable, high-energy cambia, bachata, salsa, and reggaeton. Watch for special nights such as 80s night with all your favorite hits from that era. Some evenings have country music, while others have hard rock, and on select evenings, Hangar 9 hosts comedy nights. Take advantage of drink specials during these themed evenings and check the website for upcoming live bands. Get to Hangar 9 early before the performers start and enjoy a wide range of craft beers, specialty cocktails, and snacks. You can find Hangar 9 at 511 S. Illinois Ave in Carbondale.

John Brown’s on the Square

For a fun night of lively music surrounded by a hip crowd, stop by John Brown’s on the Square right in downtown Marion. Enjoy craft beer, interesting cocktails, and tasty snacks before heading out to the dance floor to see local artists perform. From country to rock and roll, indie to eclectic, John Brown’s on the Square features a variety of musical styles to please anyone’s tastes.

Check the bar’s schedule to see when they have grilling events outside. You can hang out with your friends and eat top-notch grilled food, drink beer, and hear live music while dancing in the street. Stop by 1000 Tower Square Plaza to have a great time at John Brown’s on the Square.

DuQuoin State Fair

The DuQuoin State Fair, held at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, hosts an amazing lineup of top-name performers. The fairgrounds, set on 1,200 acres in DuQuoin, are about 40 miles northwest of Marion. The 2021 lineup features performers such as En Vogue, Hardy, REO Speedwagon, Ludacris, and Riley Green. The grandstand can hold up to 7,000 concert goers, and the stage has the latest state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems to make your music experience top-notch.

You can also see free musical shows at the RollUp Beer Stage, where local performers entertain the crowds. As you visit the DuQuoin State Fair, enjoy some of the other fun events, too, such as drag racing around the track, horse shows, and kid’s programs. The fairground is located at 655 Executive Dr. in DuQuoin.

Kentucky Opry

Head north about an hour to Benton, Kentucky, to see top-notch country performers at the Kentucky Opry. See Bluegrass bands, gospel singers, and familiar artists such as the Malpass Brothers, John Coulee, Jimmy Fortune, and Gene Watson. Every first Friday of the month, you can see free regional Bluegrass bands perform their unique pickin’ and jammin’ style. On Sunday nights, enjoy the uplifting sounds of gospel music with groups such as the Tennessee River Boys, Cumberland Thunder, and Anointed Hearts. Stop by 88 Chilton Lane in Benton, Kentucky, to hear good old-fashioned country-style music.

Levels

When you’re looking to spend the night with friends at one of Southern Illinois’s hottest nightclubs, head over to Levels in Carbondale. The nightclub has a high-tech lighting and sound system where the DJ spins all the latest dance and electronic music to keep the hip vibe going. Stop by for drink specials, creative cocktails, and your favorite beer and wine before hitting the dance floor to move to the music. You can find Levels at 760 E. Grand Ave. in Carbondale.

Blue Sky Vineyard

Enjoy sipping boutique wines while listening to live music at Blue Sky Vineyard, located at 3150 S. Rocky Comfort Road in Makanda, about 30 miles west of Marion. Every Saturday and Sunday from 2 p.m to 5 p.m., you can enjoy live music with a breathtaking backdrop of rolling hills and vineyards. Order a bottle of wine to share with friends and relax while listening to live music with genres such as acoustic rock, classic rock, country rock, and Bluegrass.

If you decide you’d like to stay the evening at Blue Sky Vineyard, book a room in their bed and breakfast with views of the vineyards and Shawnee National Forest. The bed and breakfast offers two rooms with private baths, and you get a European-style breakfast in the morning. Stay Saturday to see music, and then stay for more music on Sunday afternoon before heading back to Marion.

Pookie’s Bar

While you can have some of the best burgers in Marion at Pookie’s Bar, you’ll want to stay for the games, listening to music from the digital jukebox, or tapping your feet to live music. Pookie’s Bar regularly schedules local musicians and entertainers as well as traveling bands, so check with them often to see who’s playing. Find Pookie’s Bar at 109 N. Madison in Marion.

There’s our list of places to hear a variety of music in the Marion area. We hope you enjoyed visiting all of them. Which one of these music venues is your favorite? Is there one that we missed? If so, feel free to drop us a line and let us know so we can add it to the list.