Marquee Theatre

Located just north of Tempe Town Lake near the southwest corner of Mill Avenue and Washington Street, the Marquee Theatre is an institution in the Valley's live music scene. With a capacity of roughly 1,000, it's just big enough that it is required to separate the underagers from the drinkers, which is great for parents attending a show with their kids or groups of young adults who fall on either side of the legal drinking age. At the same time, the theater is intimate enough so that pretty much any location in the house offers a great view of the stage. A large bar in the concourse area is usually pretty busy, but a smaller bar on the concert floor adjacent to the stage ensures that you can have a drink without missing a note. The sound system is top-notch, which is a good thing considering the blockbuster acts that Marquee regularly hosts. Such prominent national acts as A Perfect Circle, Sonic Youth, Social Distortion, and the Black Keys have performed there, as well as a number of up-and-coming Valley bands who get a chance to shine on the big stage during frequent local showcases.