From the mid to late 1970s into the 1980s, South Street’s reputation as a musical, artistic, and countercultural hub was further solidified as it became the center of Philadelphia’s punk scene and punk and alternative rock music communities.
“Where do all the hippies meet?
South Street, South Street.
Where the dancin’ is elite.
South Street, South Street.”
-The Orlons, 1963
Theater of the Living Arts (TLA)
334 South Street
tlaphilly.com
South Street’s Theatre of the Living Arts (TLA) has been a mainstay on Philadelphia’s visual and performance art landscape for over one hundred years. The building constructed in 1908 was originally called the Crystal Palace, and in Hollywood’s Golden Age, RKO-Warner Bros. renamed it the New Palace Theatre. As the complexion of South Street changed from immigrant marketplace to bohemian mecca, so too would the theatre change. In the early ‘60s it became home to an avant-garde performance troupe of local actors and artists, renaming itself the Theatre of the Living Arts. Founded by director Andre Gregory, it included such future stars as Morgan Freeman, Judd Hirsch and Danny Devito.
Currently operated by Live Nation, it has become Philadelphia’s premiere small concert venue (with a capacity of nearly 1,000), welcoming up-and-coming to established artists from all genres. After twenty one years as a concert venue, the stage is still active and vibrant with talent. Known for its acoustics, it was voted as one of the best concert venues in the U.S. by Complex Magazine.
The Twisted Tail
509 S. 2nd Street
thetwistedtail.com
American music was born in the dark corners of juke joints throughout the South and urban communities along the Delta, and that legacy of satisfying sounds of the blues, rock and rhythm with a side of soulful cuisine continues at The Twisted Tail. Their entertainment lineup includes both regular and special guests, and Sunday night features an open jam where anyone who has the chops can join in the set.
L’Etage (upstairs at BeauMonde)
624 South 6th St
creperie-beaumonde.com
The cozy upstairs of Beau Monde, L’etage functions as a night club, concert and performance space, featuring live jazz, comedy and DJ nights, but is possibly best known for its monthly cabaret featuring the incomparable and wildly popular Miss Martha Graham Cracker.
Milkboy
401 South Street
milkboyphilly.com
MilkBoy Philly offers an upstairs music venue that hosts an impressive lineup of local and nationally recognized musicians, two full bars and a stepped-up food and beverage program. Their food menu reflects a dedication to quality product and a devotion to the Philadelphia dining and bar scene with options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and every snack in between. The drink menu offers one of the City’s best canned beer selection, a variety of rotating craft beers on draft, and an assortment of chilled and hot craft cocktails.
Bistro Romano
120 Lombard Street
bistroromano.com
Craig Satchell has been tickling the ivories at Bistro Romano every Friday and Saturday night for the past sixteen years. Craig’s musical assortment features pop, rock, Motown, classic, Broadway show tunes, vocals and requests. Bring a friend or make new ones while listening to the sounds of Satchell.
Request a table for dinner in the piano lounge.
