The Jefferson Theater

A 1912 theatre on the Downtown Mall, now the city's main mid-size live music venue with a general-admission floor, a balcony, and an in-house bar. The sloped floor means sightlines hold up even at the back, and the room is small enough that most shows feel close.

Charlottesville punches above its weight for touring acts, and this is where most of them play. Check the calendar — there is something on most nights.