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Live music guitarist performing at night in Frederick MD
Live Music

Live Music in Frederick MD: Weinberg, Brewer's Alley & More

Ten stages across downtown Frederick — from the 1,143-seat Weinberg Center to free brewery patios and outdoor summer series.

10 Stages & series
Free–ticketed Cover range
1,143 seats Historic Weinberg theater

Park once and walk: the Weinberg, Brewer's Alley, Bushwaller's, and Cellar Door all sit within a few downtown blocks.

The best live music venues in Frederick MD: Weinberg Center for the Arts (ticketed shows, 20 W Patrick St), Brewer's Alley (rooftop and patio, 124 N Market St), Olde Mother Brewing (200 E Patrick St), Bushwaller's Irish Pub (209 N Market St), Cellar Door (5 E Church St), Tenth Ward Distilling (jazz Thu/Fri), plus outdoor stages at Carroll Creek, Sky Stage, Baker Park, and Monocacy Brewing.

Ticketed Theater Shows

When you want a real show — a stage, assigned seats, and a touring act — start here.

Weinberg Center for the Arts

Ticketed
📍 20 W Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21701
⭐ Restored 1926 movie palace with 1,143 seats — Frederick's premier stage for national touring acts
Genres: Rock, pop, jazz, classical, comedy, film
Tickets: $25–75 depending on show; buy in advance
Capacity: 1,143 seats with strong acoustics
Good to know: Walkable to Market Street bars for a pre- or post-show drink

Planning a Weinberg night?

The Weinberg anchors downtown's arts block. Book dinner nearby on Market Street, then walk two minutes to the theater. See our full venue guide for seating, parking, and show-night tips.

Weinberg Center guide

Brewery & Bar Stages

Free or low-cover music where the drinks are part of the night. Most of these sit on the same walkable stretch of downtown.

Brewer's Alley

Free–low cover
📍 124 N Market St, Frederick, MD 21701
⭐ Frederick's original brewpub (since 1996) with rooftop terrace and street patio music
Music: Acoustic, folk, rock, and solo performers on weekends
Cover: Free with dinner; reservations recommended
Food: Full menu with house-brewed ales and lagers

Olde Mother Brewing

Free–low cover
📍 200 E Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21701
⭐ Downtown craft brewery with a wide array of live music events from local and regional acts
Music: Local and regional acts on a regular schedule
Cover: Free with a drink purchase
Food: Smash burgers from Fifty-Fifty on-site

Bushwaller's Irish Pub

Free–low cover
📍 209 N Market St, Frederick, MD 21701
⭐ Downtown Irish pub serving live music vibes since 1981
Music: Irish sessions and local acts, strongest Fri–Sat
Cover: Free to about $5 at the door
Vibe: Classic pub — part of the walkable Market Street bar cluster

Cellar Door

Free–low cover
📍 5 E Church St, Frederick, MD 21701 📞 301-695-8460
⭐ Dim-lit downtown spot rotating live music, karaoke, and open mic — late nights until 1:30 AM Fridays
Music: Live bands, DJ nights, karaoke, open mic comedy
Cover: Varies by event; many nights free
Hours: Tue 4–11 PM, Thu 4 PM–12:30 AM, Fri 4 PM–1:30 AM

Tenth Ward Distilling Company

Free–low cover
📍 Downtown Frederick, MD
⭐ Live jazz every Thursday and Friday night, 8–10 PM, with craft cocktails from house-distilled Maryland spirits
Music: Jazz ensembles and acoustic performers
Schedule: Thursday and Friday nights, 8–10 PM
Drinks: Spirits-only cocktail bar — intimate date-night setting

Outdoor & Seasonal Stages

Frederick's warm-weather music is free, family-friendly, and mostly downtown. These series run roughly May through September.

Carroll Creek Amphitheater

Seasonal
📍 Carroll Creek Park, Downtown Frederick
⭐ Home of the free Alive @ Five series — Thursday evenings, May through August
When: Alive @ Five: Thursday evenings, May–August
Admission: Free — no tickets required
Tip: Arrive by 4:30 PM; the series draws several thousand people

Sky Stage

Seasonal
📍 59 S Carroll St, Frederick, MD 21701
⭐ 140-seat open-air theater built inside a pre-Revolutionary War fire-damaged building
Programming: Music, drama, dance, and poetry from local groups
Capacity: 140 seats amid historic stone walls and living sculptures
Season: Warm-weather months — check the schedule

Baker Park Band Shell

Seasonal
📍 Baker Park, N Bentz St, Frederick, MD
⭐ Free Summer Concert Series every Sunday, June through August
Genres: Jazz, bluegrass, Afrofunk, country, and more
Admission: Free — bring a blanket or lawn chair
Tip: 58-acre park; food trucks often on-site, families welcome

Monocacy Brewing Company

Seasonal
📍 1781 N Market St, Frederick, MD 21701
⭐ Fridays at the Fountain — free concerts 5–8 PM, summer into September, with food trucks
Genres: Classic rock, funk, and more from local and traveling artists
Admission: Free with a drink; some outdoor shows have a cover
Space: 150 indoor, 100 outdoor at the historic production brewery

Typical Music Nights in Frederick

Schedules rotate, so confirm with each venue the day of the show — but these patterns hold across the calendar.

NightWhere the music isDetails
Thursday Alive @ Five at Carroll Creek; Tenth Ward jazz Alive @ Five runs Thursday evenings May–Aug (free, arrive by 4:30 PM). Tenth Ward's live jazz runs 8–10 PM.
Friday Monocacy Brewing; Tenth Ward; Cellar Door; Bushwaller's Fridays at the Fountain runs 5–8 PM (summer into September). Tenth Ward jazz 8–10 PM. Cellar Door stays open until 1:30 AM.
Saturday Brewer's Alley; Bushwaller's; Olde Mother Weekend brewery and pub music — free with a drink or dinner. Bushwaller's covers run free to about $5.
Sunday Baker Park Summer Concert Series Free at the band shell, June–August. Jazz, bluegrass, Afrofunk, and country. Bring a blanket.
Rotating nights Cellar Door; Weinberg Center Cellar Door rotates live music, karaoke, and open mic — check its calendar. The Weinberg's ticketed schedule runs year-round.

Want to sing instead of listen? Callahan's runs late-night karaoke Fridays until 2 AM — see the full Frederick karaoke guide.

Quieter Live Music Options

If you want background music rather than a loud bar scene, Tenth Ward Distilling's Thursday and Friday jazz sets (8–10 PM) offer an intimate, spirits-only cocktail atmosphere built for conversation. During summer, many downtown restaurant patios add acoustic sets around First Saturday events. For more low-key evenings, browse the Frederick nightlife guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Frederick live music venues charge a cover?

Most don't. Music at Brewer's Alley, Olde Mother Brewing, and Tenth Ward Distilling is free with a drink or dinner purchase. Bushwaller's runs free to about $5 at the door. Cellar Door's cover varies by event. The Weinberg Center is fully ticketed, typically $25–75 depending on the show.

Which Frederick venues are ticketed and which are free?

The Weinberg Center for the Arts is the main ticketed venue — buy in advance for touring acts. Everything else on this list is free or low-cost: brewery and bar stages are free with a purchase, and the outdoor series (Alive @ Five on Thursdays May–August, Baker Park's Sunday Summer Concert Series June–August, and Monocacy Brewing's Fridays at the Fountain, 5–8 PM) charge no admission.

Are Frederick's live music venues all-ages?

The outdoor options are the safest all-ages bets: Alive @ Five, Baker Park's Summer Concert Series, and Sky Stage are family-friendly. The Weinberg Center welcomes all ages for most shows. Bar and brewery stages like Cellar Door, Bushwaller's, and Tenth Ward skew 21+, especially late — confirm age policy before bringing kids or teens.

Where do I park for live music in downtown Frederick?

The Weinberg Center (20 W Patrick St), Brewer's Alley (124 N Market St), Bushwaller's (209 N Market St), and Cellar Door (5 E Church St) all sit within a few walkable blocks of downtown's parking garages. Park once and walk — on big nights like Alive @ Five Thursdays, arrive early because downtown fills up.

What live music is there on a typical weeknight in Frederick?

Thursdays are the strongest weeknight: Alive @ Five runs Thursday evenings May through August, and Tenth Ward Distilling hosts live jazz Thursday and Friday nights from 8–10 PM. Cellar Door rotates live music, karaoke, and open mic across the week — check its calendar for the current lineup.

Which Frederick venue is best for a ticketed concert?

The Weinberg Center for the Arts. It's a restored 1926 movie palace at 20 W Patrick St with 1,143 seats, strong acoustics, and programming that spans rock, pop, jazz, classical, comedy, and film. Buy tickets in advance for touring acts.

See Who's Playing This Week

Browse current live music listings across Frederick's theaters, breweries, and outdoor stages.

Browse Live Music Events