11 Of The Greatest Music Venues In Australia

We Aussies love our music. Here are some of the coolest places in the country to catch a live show — and who knows, maybe one day you'll be the one on stage. Brought to you by #ListenForYourselfAU.

1. The Belvoir Amphitheatre

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Voted the best outdoor venue in Australia for the past three years, the Belvoir Amphitheatre's basin-like structure provides an incredible space for live music. "Belvoir" is the French interpretation of "beautiful view," and boy is that accurate. If you're in the Perth area and you want to get back to nature while catching a seriously chill (like, "actually being able to see the stage" chill) live show, this place is for you.

2. The Esplanade Hotel

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Affectionately known as "The Espy," this Melbourne institution has been thriving for over 100 years. Situated on the bay at St Kilda, the beloved pub (which plays home to the TV series RocKwiz) has several rooms, as well as a restaurant to feed you hungry musos. Basically, it's pumping every night of the week.

3. Sydney Opera House

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It's one of the world's most recognisable buildings, and the Sydney Opera House may also be Australia's crowning creative establishment. Crowded House played their final show at the Opera House in 1996, making it sacred musical ground. Plus, it's got a pretty sweet spot overlooking the Harbour.

4. The Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre

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It doesn't get much more Aussie than this. Huddled in a grove of gum trees halfway between Geelong and Ballarat, the Supernatural Amphitheatre is a festival-goer's heaven in the middle of the bush — specifically the Meredith Music Festival and Golden Plains, for which it's permanently reserved. Did we mention that they're BYO? People tend to bring couches along with them, so whether you elbow your way up to the front or relax in the back, it's going to be pure magic.

5. The Metro Theatre

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Ah, The Metro. Home to Sydney's heavy metal and alternative rock scene (and many other musical acts), the venue — which has hosted the legendary 1995 Jeff Buckley concerts — sits on George Street in the city's centre. Perhaps the coolest part of the theatre is The Lair, its smaller space reserved for intimate shows. It's decked out with retro video games, a bar made from a broken-down tram, and only houses a few hundred bodies at once.

6. The Enmore Theatre

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Sydney's Enmore Theatre is the longest running live music venue still in operation in NSW. Known for its awesome art deco architecure, the Enmore is popular with concert-goers because of its two bars and sloped floor, which means less chances of getting stuck behind an NBA player again. But if you do, you can slip upstairs to the seated area for a better view and a little R&R.

7. Riverstage

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Located within the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens and next to the Brisbane River, Riverstage is a cracker of a venue for its acoustics, its layout, and its gorgeous (and convenient) location. A five-minute walk from the CBD, it sure beats trekking out to Boondall to catch a stale show at the Entertainment Centre. Big international acts stop by Riverstage pretty frequently, and its sloping greens provide a great venue for both the moshers and those who'd rather stand back and enjoy with a vino.

8. Oxford Art Factory

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Inspired by Andy Warhol's Factory in New York during the '60s, the Oxford Art Factory is a multi-dimensional performance space that caters to a smaller, more intimate crowd. You can catch a bunch of musical acts here, from the internationally popular to the more unique. Or, if you want to attend an art exhibition or a disco night, they've got that too. It's smack-bang in the middle of Oxford St, by the way.

9. The Brisbane Powerhouse

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Constructed in the early 1900s and located right next to the beautiful sprawling New Farm Park, the Powerhouse originally supplied electricity to the largest tram network in the southern hemisphere. Today, it is the cultural epicentre of Brisbane. There's something on every night: live music and concerts, spoken word, photographic exhibitions, as well as free comedy and open mic nights on the weekends. The Powerhouse is also home to the Brisbane Comedy Festival — not to mention some stunning rustic architecture.

10. The Hi-Fi

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With locations in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, the Hi-Fi is Australia's only venue group that encompasses several cities. Each of the three locations is understated yet cavernous, housing a lot of heavy music but featuring a little of everything. The Melbourne location rocks a ballroom and is home to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. It also used to host Rove Live (RIP).

11. The Thebarton Theatre

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Built in 1928, the Thebarton Theatre is an Adelaide institution, and it's considered a rite of passage for locals to attend a show there. Its old-school, ornate interior creates a dramatic atmosphere with hidden bars scattered throughout. There is no act too big for this medium-sized venue — it even hosted Kanye West before he was a big deal, which earns the Thebarton bragging rights.