Live Music in Marin County

Marin County is hallowed ground for live music, nestled just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in the heart of Northern California's rock and roll history. This is the land where Jerry Garcia lived, where Bob Weir still calls home, and where the Grateful Dead's psychedelic legacy continues to reverberate through every venue and street corner. From the historic downtown of San Rafael to the waterfront charm of Sausalito, Marin has been shaping American music since the 1960s counterculture movement that put it on the map.

The county's musical DNA runs deep—Metallica formed here in the early '80s, Huey Lewis and the News made this their home base, and Carlos Santana has long-standing ties to the area. Today, that legacy lives on through an incredible live music scene featuring legendary venues like Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley and the Marin Veterans' Memorial Auditorium, along with dozens of intimate bars, breweries, and restaurants hosting live performances nightly.

Tribute bands thrive in Marin like nowhere else, particularly Grateful Dead tributes that draw devoted fans from across the Bay Area. You'll find Jerry Garcia tributes, Beatles cover bands, Pink Floyd tributes, and artists paying homage to everyone from Fleetwood Mac to Led Zeppelin gracing local stages. The connection between this community and the Dead remains sacred—this is where the music was born, and where it continues to be celebrated every night of the week. Whether you're a local Deadhead or just visiting wine country, Marin County's music scene offers an authentic slice of rock history you won't find anywhere else.