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Where to go for live music in KL?

19 April 2019: We found a list of live music venues from Four Square and figured hey, that must be pretty accurate right? Anyway, we've created a list out of that list to guide you in finding live music in KL / PJ. Here's the Doppel Music World top 5 recommendations.
  1. No Black Tie @ 17 Jalan Mesui near Changkat Bukit Bintang - catch daily music shows feat. jazz, acoustic, live bands, stand-up comedy etc in an amazing sounding room. They serve Japanese food and has a bar. $$$
  2. Le Noir @ TREC Jalan Tun Razak - I recently checked this place out, and three things ticked the list of MUST VISIT. Their choice of musicians, their sound system and their moving backdrop were out of this world. They serve food and drinks here. $$$
  3. Hard Rock Cafe Kuala Lumpur @ Concorde Hotel - I've checked this out recently too, and the hap band was performing some good ole rock numbers. A band comprising of 5 band members, solid musicians performing a great set. Food and drinks served plus a retail shop, of course! $$$
  4. Merdekarya @ 352 (First Floor), Jalan 5/57, Bukit Gasing, PJ - it is what it is, a no-frills upstairs almost-secret venue where you'll be sure to catch a new act or local singer songwriter.
  5. Backyard Pub @ 28, Jalan Sri Hartamas 8, Taman Sri Hartamas in KL -  This is your true blue neighbourhood watering hole pub, casual and relaxed, draft beers and stout, don your jeans and just get ready to have a bit of a dance with live music. Band here plays 80s-90s music, as well as good ole rock.

And here's a super comprehensive list from GoogleMaps:


Search Results


We update this list regularly, so here's the article from last year.

29 March 2018: So I was there when musicians used to pass on their MySpace links. Never Friendster. Then YouTube. Then their own named sites. Then Facebook Pages. Then Tumblr. Now Instagram and today, a CDBABY link from Izzy Anuar (formerly IzzyMohd)! Woo hoo! Come to think of it, it's pretty awesome that I had a very short conversation with CDBABY founder last year and he told me about his new project, #nownownow and I found out he's been hanging out in New Zealand.

Occasionally, a thread of organic SEO for Doppel Music World leads us to travelling musicians. Last week, a drummer travelling from Venezuela emailed asking if there were any gigs in town. So I reached out to Shaneil of Open Mic Malaysia and connected them. Then, had this crazy idea because I wanted my nephew to learn drums! So I contacted Roland Malaysia to see if they'd be keen to host a drum clinic. They are keen, and there's a possibility...

Buzzed and curious, I wondered what's new in the music scene in KL and started googling. So if you're looking to gig, or just to chill out to a band, here are some links we've scoured the web.

Let's start with the Top 10 venues as suggested by Time Out's Best Live Music Venues in KL!

  1. Perfect Square Space, TTDI
  2. PlaySpace, The Place in Damansara Perdana
  3. Bobo KL, Bangsar
  4. ATAS by Bijan FX, Kelana Jaya
  5. The Bee, Publika
  6. Merdekarya, PJ Section 5 near Gasing
  7. Findars, Jln Panggong near Chinatown KL
  8. No Black Tie, Jln Mesui near Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL
  9. Alexis Ampang, Great Eastern Mall Jln Ampang KL
  10. Gaslight Cafe, Medan Damansara, KL
And here are more live houses we found!!!
  1. LiveHouse, TREC Jln Tun Razak KL
  2. Le Noir, TREC Jln Tun Razak KL 
  3. Timbre @ The Row, Jln Doraisamy KL
  4. Voizup, Taman Desa, Seputeh KL
  5. Live Fact, Taman Danau Desa
  6. Waikiki Bar, Lorong Sultan near A&Ws, PJ
  7. Pisco Bar, Jln Mesui near Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL
Finally, I'll leave you with these pretty awesome venues for private events.
  1. DropKL (closed 2018)
  2. Life Center KL concert hall
  3. Glasshouse, Seputeh
  4. Slate @ The Row
  5. APW Jalan Riong Bangsar
  6. Ruang in various locations around KL/PJ
Oh, one last thing. We run a news/media company and have moved into 90 Bangsar Warehouse HQ, a quaint post-war shop house along Jalan Bangsar near Abdullah Hukum Station, on the main road where APW, NSTP, China Press offices lie behind. This space can be used as an experimental arts events, and fits about 20 pax. Feel free to contact us. 

Latest list update: 10 Dec 2017 23 Mar 2018 19 Apr 2019


View from TREC KL

Slate @ The Row in KL (formerly Heritage Row)

If you know of more venues, please add in the comments below. Thank you and happy venue hopping! 

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