From cozy, historic venues to an open-air amphitheater, Macon offers numerous places to catch live music from local small-town bands and artists making their rounds on a worldwide tour. The Cluster compiled a list of some venues that bring crowds of people eager for live music and that are within 15 minutes of campus for Mercer students.
The Hummingbird Stage and Taproom
Located at 430 Cherry St., "The Bird" first opened its doors in 2005 as a place for Middle Georgia to be introduced to the “finest in national, regional, and local live music,” as well as a place to grab a drink and hang out with friends, according to its website. Their doors are open Monday to Saturday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Sundays from 6 p.m. to midnight. Live music is played every Friday and Saturday night throughout the month of October. A few of this month's headliners include Jared Petteys & the Headliners, DJ STEEL and Edgewood Heavy. On Saturday, Oct. 25, The Bird is hosting “Macon Open Mic” where anyone over the age of 18 can register for a 15-minute time slot to perform an acoustic set as a solo, duo or trio act. Deadlines for the events registration are Oct. 10, and more information can be found on The Bird’s website.
Society Garden
Located at 2389 Ingleside Ave., the Society Garden has a dedicated beer garden, cocktail lounge, stage and children’s play area, all of which are kid and pet-friendly until 9 p.m. The venue hosts events open to the public, such as trivia nights, which are hosted every Thursday from 7-9 p.m., and its doors are open Wednesday through Friday, 5 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from noon to midnight and Sunday, 3-9 p.m. Along with the main outdoor venue, the Society Garden also has an indoor space called the "Boom Boom Karaoke Room," which can be utilized for up to 40 people as an event space or just as a karaoke room experience. A few upcoming headlines include the Garret Collins Project, Oktoberfest and No Diggity: 90s Hip-Hop Tribute Band.
Capitol Theatre
Located at 382 Second St, the Capitol Theater first opened its doors in 1916 as an early movie theater, functioning until 1976, when its doors closed. The building sat vacant and unused for 30 years until 2006, when the doors reopened as a multi-use space for events of all types. The overall venue can hold 650 people and hosts a variety of events, from concerts to comedians. While the venue is on the smaller side and doesn’t offer a full-service bar or restaurant, events are limited. Over the course of the next two months, only four events are being held, which include two concerts, Rumors ATL: A Fleetwood Mac Tribute and Kolby Cooper, and two dance parties: Gimmie Gimmie Disco and Broadway Rave: A Musical Theater Dance Party.
Atrium Health Amphitheater
Located at 3657 Eisenhower Pkwy., is Macon’s newest entertainment venue and is the furthest site from Mercer's campus. The venue finished construction in 2024 as part of a revitalization project that surrounds the Macon Mall. Much like the other venues, the amphitheater provides an opportunity for live music, though it can seat a much larger audience than any other venue in this article. The full capacity of the amphitheater can hold 10,000 people, which allows for bigger acts to take the stage. During October, multiple concerts are planned to take the stage: The Red Clay Strays, Warren Zieders, Tedeschi Trucks Band & Gov’t Mule and Bobby Brown.
Grant’s Lounge
Located at 576 Poplar St., Grant's Lounge has been a staple of the music scene in Macon for more than five decades. Its stage hosted many music giants, including the Allman Brothers, Tom Petty and Eric Clapton, to name a few. The venue recently went through a “refresh” to allow for some upgraded perks that their customers can experience, like a state-of-the-art sound system and an open floor plan for better all-around views of the live music. Also included with the refresh is a full kitchen, allowing customers to purchase full meals along with drinks during the concerts. On Wednesdays, doors open at 6 p.m., and Thursdays through Saturdays, doors open at 4 p.m. Doors open on Sundays at 8 p.m. They host many events, Sunday Nite Jam Sessions happen every Sunday throughout the month, as well as the many sets lined up each weekend. A few of the upcoming headlines include Machine Funk - Tribute to Widespread Panic, Tony Kamel & Rambler Kane and Johnny Mullenax all within October.
Ryleigh Sandefur '28 is a Journalism and History double major at Mercer University. She loves writing for The Cluster and photography, and she enjoys watching movies, hockey and baseball, as well as crafting in her free time.
