Stockholm Bluesvenues | ||
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Blues Venues | ||
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| Updated: 2005-01-18 | ||
| Name | Location | Comments |
| Big Ben | Folkungagatan 97 Stockholm |
This is the best Musicpub in Stockholm. Live music every night, Blues mostly on Wednesdays, but
don't take my word for it, sometimes there is Blues on other nights too, and sometimes not at all on
a wednesday. Live music is on every night though. And mostly the music is good, so if you are not
too picky, any night is OK. Friday and Saturday it's pubrock or covers and stuff like that though.
Beers are better than most pubs. Try to get the beers in the pub downstairs (that supports the music), but not all beers are available there, although they try to fix that for you. On tap the usual lagers, staropramen and some other stuff. "Old speckled hen" and "Hobgoblin" on bottle is not so bad either. Food is standard pub-food of decent quality. For details on the music, check their homepage. |
| Akkurat | Hornsgatan 18 T-Slussen Stockholm |
Whao, things are back to normal again. Sundays with Music at Akkurat is here again. Every other sunday there is great music, great beer, great food and no covercharge. See the calendar for more info. |
| Blidösund | A steamboat, location varies | This is a nice old steamship that has music, and occationally Blues music. This is a very nice ship, that not only gives you music, but also a nice tour of the archipelago. Food is good, although the selection is limited. You usually have to order a table in advance, otherwise chances are that you will not get any food. Beers are the usual small selection of decent lagers. Nothing special. |
| Fasching | Kungsgatan 63 T-Centralen Stockholm |
Mainly a jazzplace, but there are Bluesshows at least once or twice a month. Live music every night, more or less. Beers are worst possible selection served in a way that is appropriate for the quality of it, if at all. Food has nowadays passed beyond what once was acceptable. There are few bluesacts here though, and when there is one, it's, like it is mostly at this place, horribly expensive. |
| Glenn Miller Cafe | Brunnsgatan 21 T-Hötorget Stockholm |
A jazzplace, alright. The place is very small and has that imtimate feeling of a 1950's style
jazz joint. To add to that, the music is often 1950's bop jazz, but often other acts to. In
general, if you are only looking for Blues, avoid this place. On the other hand, if the Blues
in not only music to you, but a "feeling" or a state-of-mind, well then, give this place a shot.
The place steams with the stuff that Jazz-joints were made of in the 1950's. The audience is
very jazzy, and is really into the music. Don't go here with some friends to have a loud conversation,
go here to liten to some proper bop. No fixed cover charge, it's up to you if you want to pay or not.
The music is Jazz, as I said, but it's top class acts, you bet!
Pop by here for a beer and some food, before going to a more bluesy place. Beer is OK, in particular for being such a small place. (Hoegarden on Tap for example). They have food, but I haven't tried it, but the menu looked ambitious. If you go there and have dinner, let me know if it was any good. |
| Nalen | Regeringsgatan 74 Stockholm |
The bars at Nalen, Alcazar and Stacken leave a lot to be desiered, exteremely small selection of beers, served in a completely inappropriate manner (no head on tap beers. Usually extremely cold. Bottled beers usually warm, if they have any.). The music is good though, but get pissed somewhere else. |
| Stampen | Stora Nygatan 5 Old Town T-Gamla Stan Stockholm |
Old style jazzpub, with good live jazz more or less every night. Bluesjam on saturday afternoons and bluesshows on Monday evenings, and sometimes on saturdays. Acceptable beers, no more (To name a few: Caffreys and Guiness on tap, Bass on bottle). |
| Wirströms Pub | Stora Nygatan 13 Old Town T-Gamla Stan Stockholm |
Live blues on fridays and saturdays, mostly, without covercharge. Music is played in
the very old, nice basement. Really nice place, but it gets crowded fast, so be on time.
There is a bar downstairs, but the one on the ground floor has a much larger selection of beers. Very good selection of beers on tap. Selection varies, but it's mainly british ales, but you mostly find at least one nice wheatbeer. |
| Återvall | Ingarö Stockholm |
I've yet to see this place, so I don't know what it's like, but I just assume it's good. And they have some good live music now and then too. |
| International Bluesvenues | ||
| Mojo Blues Bar | Mojo Blues Bar Løngangsstræde 21 C 1468 Copenhagen Phone: +45 33116453 |
This is probably scandinavia's top Bluesclub. Live Blues every night, and usually top class stuff. Often a
cover charge is asked for, but it's not terribly high. And it's always worth it. The place is a large bar type of
place with a raised stage at the inner part of the bar. The sound quality is mostly good, and the
place is big enough so that you can sit further away from the band if you wish. The location is excellent, close
to Strøget. The audience is mixed, from bluesfreaks to younger people to tourists just dropping by.
Normal selection of danish lagers are served, and some bottled beers are available too. I'd recommend the bottled ones, as the knowledge on beers and how to serve them leaves some to be desired. But this is the only negative aspect of this place I can think of. |
| Muddy Waters | Muddy Waters Grensen 13 N-0159 Oslo Phone: +47 22410640 |
I haven't been at this place myself, but I've had it recommended to me. Looking at their site, it looks great. It's a small cosy Bluesclub in the center of Oslo, with live blues every night, Jam on sundays. Often a there is a cover charge. I'm told that the bar carries a good selection of beers, but as I'm a bit suspicious of Norwegian beers and beer culture, I wont give any guarantees on this matter. I'll check it out the next time I'm in Oslo. |
| Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar | Ain't Nothing But Blues Bar 20 Kingly Street London W1 Tube: Oxford Circus Piccadilly Circus Phone: +44 (0)171-287-0514 |
This is a great Bluesclub in Soho in London. Easy to find, live Blues every night, and lots of
fun too. Very mixed audience, a lot of tourists, young people, and old farts like myself. Seldom, if ever,
is a cover charge required. Band are usually english bands, the stage is real small so usually
there are 3 - 4 members in the bands. But I've never been disappointed at this place. Music is
always good, often surprising.
Decent english ales and international lagers, but not a terribly wide selection though. |
| JJ's Blues | Steves Creek Boulevard Stevens Creek CA, USA |
This is my #1 Blues place in Silicon Valley, where I go a couple of times every year.
Live Blues ever night. Often world-class acts, but just as often locals bands and jam. Decent beers,
no food and no smoking (thank you!). This small, dark bar with a pool table can always be trusted
to give you some good blues. When there are local bands or a Jam, there is mostly no cover charge.
Several decent tap beers are available: Sierra Nevada, Gordon Biersch, Bass Pale Ale etc. |