If you love music as much as I do, you may be wondering where to take in some live bands (música en vivo) in this city. While the scene in Valencia doesn't exactly stack up to bigger towns like Toronto or New York, for its size, it still has plenty to offer. You just have to know where to look! It turns out that there are lots of places that offer live acts pretty well any night of the week. Here are 5 of my favourites (so far), in no particular order.

You may already recognize the name of this venue from some of my other posts. That's because La Fabrica de Hielo is one of my favourite places to spend a Sunday afternoon, especially in the summer. It's made a few of my lists for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it's so versatile, and secondly, because I love it there! 

Situated near the beach in El Cabanyal, "The Ice Factory" offers live music from Wednesday to Sunday, with both matinee and evening sets on weekends. They welcome a variety of musical genres, ranging from rock, pop, blues, swing, soul and jazz to flamenco. Their calendar is meticulously published monthly on their website, so you can check out the lineup ahead of time, or just swing by and take in whatever happens to be on stage that afternoon or evening. Don't forget that La Fabrica also has a separate room that ramps up to more of a club vibe on the weekends. So if the mood strikes you, there's also a place to dance your face off.

Side note: There's usually no cover charge and the drinks are reasonably priced.

Another Valencia staple for live music, is Radio City. Located in the heart of El Carmen and open every night, it's a great fail-safe when you've got music on your mind. While the club occasionally offers regular band bookings, their nightly sets often feature a house band for each musical theme. They also support an open-stage element some nights, which is great for developing artists. Hip-Hop, Soul and Funk, Blues, Pop and Reggae are usually in rotation, so consult their calendar to know exactly what you're getting into ahead of time. They're honestly all great nights but it's always a good idea to start with one of your favourite genres.

Truth time: Unlike La Fabrica de Hielo, there is usually a cover charge at RC, but they offer a discount for advance bookings through their website. Speaking frankly, I find their drinks a bit pricey as well, but you get what you get when you plan a night out in the heart of the city.

A few years ago we discovered that Valencia has a really polished live music venue that attracts some great bands. And as luck would have it, 16 Tonelades (16 Tons - such a tough name, right?) is only a 15-minute walk from our home. If you're reading this and you live in Valencia, it's just a block over from the back side of Nuevo Centro. Who knew, right? 

This club seems to host more prominent local and international bands. It's not a big room by any stretch but it has an ample stage to welcome a full band, two long, well-staffed bars and a really good sound system. What more do you need from a venue? If you're reading this from Toronto, picture a teeny-weeny Lee's Palace.

We've been lucky to see some great bands here. Our first experience was Imperial State Electric, a Swedish rock band that absolutely kills it with their live show. Last year my husband took our eldest son to see Toronto's own, The Sadies. We were shocked to see them listed but they're actually coming around again! A few months later we caught The Buttshakers (from Lyon, France). If you get a chance, you need to see this band. I can still feel their groove! 16 Toneladas also hosts lots of party nights as well.

Things to note: This is a standing room only venue. They offer ticket sales both in advance or at the door (if they haven't sold-out). This is a proper venue so tickets are generally north of 10 Euro and often in the 16-18 Euro range. Drinks are reasonable though, so you won't feel gouged. They keep their event calendar up to date, so you can keep a beat on what's coming up well in advance.

We have a singer/songwriter friend who performs live in Valencia (capital and surrounding area) fairly regularly, and he's given us occasion to visit some of the city's hidden gems to hear him play. One of his recent sets was at a place called La Flama. This little venue is tucked into a side street near the foot of La Torre de Serrano, which is a famed Valencia landmark. This quaint, cozy little club hosts a small stage front and centre. Our friend, Kevin Herm Connolly, played here and we really enjoyed the atmosphere, decor and friendly service. Like a few of these small stages, it seems to be run by music lovers. La Flama also features comedy shows; workshops and book launches. 

Extra info: The owners collect a modest (cash-only) cover charge at the door. The artists get paid though so fair is fair. There are a wide variety of beer and cocktails available at a fairly reasonable price, especially considering the neighbourhood. La Flama doesn't support a website but pop by if you're in the neighbourhood to see what's scrawled on the sandwich board out front. You may discover something you love!

My final recommendation is in the heart of a less-travelled barrio called Patraix. This is a very old, very Spanish area with lots to offer, so keep an eye out for this name in future blogs. Una Cosa Rara is another quaint venue which offers live music, game nights, and even some open-mic nights, for blossoming artists who want to share their passion with the rest of us. The ambiance is cozy yet a bit bohemian. Picture dim lighting and comfy eclectic furniture. It's a great spot to have a drink with friends, catch some live music or drop into a board game. 

Additionally: Sometimes there's a cover charge to see the band. When we went it was "pay what you can," so perhaps it's at the discretion of the artist. They offer a full bar plus a wide selection of bottled craft beers. They don't offer food but there a number of restaurants in Patraix, so you won't go hungry. No website but you can find out what's happening on their Facebook page (linked above).

While Valencia is not necessarily known for its live music scene, something is definitely starting to brew here. In the past few years we've seen some big names start to roll through, including Wilco, Tears for Fears, Mark Knopfler, Tom Jones, The Waterboys, The Dandy Warhols, Cat Power, The Sadies and more. The summer months feature plenty of outdoor music festivals, but the scene doesn't sleep once the cooler winter weather sets in. You won't have a hard time finding great solo musicians, combos and bands playing live music in one of these great venues.

Other mentions: Sala Rebvubicca, Peter Rock, L'Ermità, Jimmy Glass.