The Van Buren

The Van Buren opened in 2017 in downtown Phoenix and immediately became the city's go-to mid-size room - and the difference shows, because it was built from scratch for live music instead of converted from something else. The result is a 2,000-capacity space with touring-grade sound and production, and a layout that ducks the sight-line headaches that plague rehabbed rooms. The main floor is general admission standing with elevated sections along the sides if you'd rather post up than push in.

It sits in the Roosevelt Row arts district, which has filled in with restaurants and bars - Stardust Pinbar is a solid spot to drop in right before doors, and Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken is around for pre-show fuel. Better yet, the light rail stops nearby from multiple points, so you can skip the downtown parking hassle entirely and let the train handle the round trip.

For a touring rock, indie, or hip-hop act in Phoenix, this is the room you want. Find The Van Buren lineup on Evil Tickets and grab your tickets for the next one.