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Cape Cod music lovers have plenty of options to hear, experience or even dance to their favorite sounds. Whether it's a brass band on the Whit Tileston Bandstand in Chatham, the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra at Mashpee Commons, or a raucous Rock n Roll band at the Cape Cod Melody Tent or the Wellfleet Beachcomber, there's something for everyone's musical taste here on the Cape.

Cape Cod Melody Tent

The Melody Tent may seat only 2,250 people but that is part of the appeal. No seat is further than 50 feet from the stage and a revolving stage guarantees that everyone in attendance will get an excellent view.

Because of its limited size, the Melody Tent doesn't attract the biggest acts in the land, often bringing in artists who, though well known, are at the tale end of their careers. But some of the biggest stars of the last half century have appeared there, including the Moody Blues, Crosby Stills and Nash, Aice Cooper, and Aretha Franklin.

The B-52s, KC and the Sunshine Band, and Huey Lewis and the News are among the most recent acts to appear.

And in spite of its name, the Melody Tent does not only cater to Cape Cod music lovers. Comedy nights are sprinkled in between the music, as is the occasional theatrical production, and even the Annual Cape Cod Chowder Fest in Late June. more...

Cape Cod Jazz Festival

Nonetheless, the festival, now in its seventh year, does attract a terrific selection of world class jazz, blues, swing, world beat and Latin bands and artists to the Cape. What's more, the Wequassett Resort offers a spectacular backdrop to this wonderful music, with a lovely view of Pleasant Bay.

Artists who have recently appeared include Mercedes Hall, the White Heat Swing Orchestra, Bryan Anthony and The Lou Colombo Quintet.

Provincetown Jazz Festival

Now in its sixth year, the festival is organized by local musician Bart Weisman, and attracts artists from as close to home as Provincetown and as far away as New York City and even Europe.

The festival comprises three concerts, featuring two acts each, held on Friday evening, Saturday evenng and Sunday afternoon. All events are held at the Provincetown High School and tickets are $25 per concert.

Artists appearing this year include String of Pearls, a vocal jazz group from New York City, Shawn Monteiro, an intrnationally acclaimed vocalist from Rhode Island, and New York's Finest Jazz Ensemble, an 18-piece big band made up entirely of New York Ccity police officers.

Wellfleet Beachcomber

By night it is transformed into the coolest place on Cape Cod to see live bands. If bands like the Lemonheads, the Original Whalers, the Rip it Ups or the Heavy Pets appeal, the Beachcomber may be just the place for you. Ticket prices range from $7 to about $25 depending on the act, and you can purchase online at the Beachcomber's online store .

Also in Wellfleet, and also offering a similar “semi-alternative” vibe is the Juice, which is a bright orange structure on Commercial Street. Every weekend, local bands perform on the outdoor stage, usually starting around sunset.

Pops By the Sea

Proceeds from the concert benefit the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, which provides artistic, cultural, and educational programs on Cape Cod throughout the year.

The concert regularly attracts a live audience of over 15,000 – Cape Cod's largest single audience of the summer - and Cape Cod Music lovers can sit either at VIP tables, festival seating or on the lawn to enjoy a terrific afternoon of music that benefits art and culture on the Cape all year long.

Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra

Throughout its almost fifty-year history, the orchestra has a built a reputation for innovation, combining an accomplished, professional permanent ensemble with world-class soloists and featured artists.

During the “off-season” of September to May, the orchestra, conducted by the acclaimed Jung-Ho Pak, performs one weekend a month at the Barnstable Performing Arts Center. During the summer there are a couple of special outdoor events, which are very popular, one in July at Mashpee Commons, and one in August at Eldridge Park in Orleans.

Other Live Music Venues

Of course, this is just a sampling of the main Cape Cod music attractions. The truth is, you can find live music just about anywhere you go. Here is a list of other venues where you will often find live music on Cape Cod.

Liam Maguires on Main Street in Falmouth features a wide array of musical styles with live acts on weekends.

The British Beer Company has three locations on Cape Cod, in Falmouth Heights, Sandwich and Hyannis, and all three feature Live Music Wednesday through Sunday. Local bands (usually of the rock variety) are reserved for Fridays and Saturdays, and Sundays tend to be tamer acoustic affairs.

The Boathouse on Scranton Avenue in Falmouth usually features live rock music on weekends, and several weeknights during the summer, with shows starting at 10.00pm.

The Sandwich Taverna on Cotuit Road on Forestdale is the closest live music venue to where we live and features live music from local Cape Cod bands Fridays and Saturdays, and the terrific Moonlighters Big Band once a month on Sundays.

Further down Cape in Hyannis, Harry's Blues Bar on Main Street doubles as a Cajun restaurant, but features bands like 57 Heavy and Roots Down below after dark. Sundays from 7-11pm is a particularly fun time when local Cape Cod music aficionados can bring along their own instrument for a jam night with some of the Cape's best musicians.

Also on Main Street, a few blocks from Harry's you'll find the Island Merchant, another restaurant that features live music once the kitchen closes. Here you're as likely to hear the soft Caribbean sounds of Reggae from Mentos and the New Horizon as you are to hear the more traditional rock sounds of Ampasaurus and Jo & Co.

Pufferbellies on Route 28 at the Hyannis/West Yarmouth line is a music venue built out of a converted train depot, and used to be strictly a dance club. More recently, they have widened their musical fare and now feature local and national bands every Saturday.

Further down Route 28 in Dennis is Sundancers. Mentos and the New Horizons are also regulars here, playing every Tuesday through the summer, as are 57 Heavy, Cape Fear and eighties cover band the Spectacular Deloreans.

The Deloreans also regularly play on Saturdays nights at Land Ho. Other bands you might catch at the popular Orleans haunt include the Slater-Short Band, Tripl3crown and the Nate Mott Band. Shows star at 10:00pm