Live Music in Hartford: Venues & What's Coming
Hartford has four key rooms. The Meadows Music Theatre, once the Xfinity Theatre, is the big summer amphitheater. The Bushnell is the grand old theater. Infinity Music Hall is the small room with great sound. The Webster is the no-frills rock club. Here is what each does best.
Live music in Hartford is spread out, but it covers a huge range. You get 30,000-person summer shows and 500-seat songwriter nights. Each venue runs its own calendar, so it is easy to miss a show.
The Meadows Music Theatre (Xfinity Theatre): big summer shows
The Meadows Music Theatre is Hartford's outdoor amphitheater. It was the Xfinity Theatre until late 2025, when it got its old name back. The big summer tours play here: pop, rock, country, and hip-hop. It holds about 30,000 across covered seats and a big lawn. The season runs May through September.
Best for: the biggest summer tours and lawn seats.
The Bushnell: grand and historic
The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts is Hartford's grand arts landmark. Mortensen Hall, the main room, seats about 2,800. The smaller Belding Theater hosts cozier shows. It also books touring musicians, comedians, and classic acts, along with Broadway tours and the symphony.
Best for: a seat, great sound, and acts you sit and listen to.
See every Hartford show in one place
The free CT Concert Center app puts all four rooms, plus 40+ more Connecticut venues, in one daily feed.
Download on theApp StoreInfinity Music Hall: built for sound
Infinity Music Hall Hartford is the city's gem. It is a fixed-up old building that holds about 500. People rave about the sound. It books singer-songwriters, Americana, blues, jazz, and tribute acts. There is a sister hall up in Norfolk. Not a bad seat in the house.
Best for: great sound and a songwriter up close.
The Webster: rock club energy
The Webster is Hartford's longtime rock club. It books harder rock, metal, punk, hip-hop, and rising touring acts. There is a main theater room and the smaller Webster Underground downstairs for newer bands. It is a true club: loud, standing, and right on top of the stage.
Best for: rock and metal, all-ages shows, and bands about to blow up.
Beyond the headliners
Real Art Ways puts on experimental shows that cross genres. Bars and clubs in the city and West Hartford book live music too. Farther out, Infinity's Norfolk hall and the casinos pull big names. See our guide to casino concerts in Connecticut.
Hartford live music FAQ
Where do big concerts play in Hartford?
The Meadows Music Theatre, once the Xfinity Theatre. It holds about 30,000 outdoors in summer. Downtown's PeoplesBank Arena, the redone XL Center (~16,000), books arena shows too. Many big indoor tours still go to Mohegan Sun Arena, 45 minutes away.
Best small venue in Hartford?
Infinity Music Hall Hartford. It holds about 500 and sounds superb.
Where do rock, punk, and metal play?
The Webster, plus its smaller downstairs room, the Webster Underground.
How do I see all Hartford concerts at once?
The free CT Concert Center app puts every Hartford venue, and 40+ statewide, in one feed. Browse by date, venue, or genre.