By Jasmine Osby
Copyright stltoday
Jasmine Osby | Post-Dispatch
St. Louis and the surrounding Metro East venues are no strangers to producing world-class talents.
Ike and Tina Turner’s journey began across the water at Club Manhattan in East St. Louis, while Miles Davis played one of his first gigs at St. Louis Rhumboogie Lounge. And both Chuck Berry and comedian Dick Gregory owned nightlife spots in the city during their careers.
The legacy doesn’t stop there. St. Louis-based musicians, comedians and entertainers are performing across the city at different venues every week, bringing their talents to the stage at open-mic events, concerts and comedy showcases.
Here are five venues to discover local talent that might help you find your new favorite artist from St. Louis.
1860 Saloon, Game Room and Hardshell Cafe
Bandleader Tyler King says there would be no Tyler King Band without 1860 Saloon. In addition to packing three different entertainment spaces into one venue in Historic Soulard, the classic St. Louis dive bar is a long-time supporter of the local arts community.
“It’s 365 days of music every year,” King says. “I don’t know anywhere that’s open and has musicians at it every single day of the year.”
The vintage-style entertainment venue and restaurant has been open for more than 40 years. King met many of his bandmates at events at 1860 Saloon, and quickly realized that the owner, Tom Gullickson, had a passion for music.
“He and his staff work really hard to make it an environment that people want to come and play music in, and that people want to sit down and listen to music in,” he says. “That’s a rare thing…it’s really special.”
The saloon has a variety of events every month, including a weekly open mic night for artists on Tuesdays and live shows from local acts. King says venues like 1860 Saloon hold space for St. Louis artists to get the shine they deserve right in their hometowns.
“There’s so much more to St. Louis than meets the eye,” he says. “There’s a lot of amazing talent here.”
1860 Saloon, 1860 S. 9th St., 1860saloon.com
The Dark Room at the Grandel
In 2020, singer BeBe the NeoSoul performed her first headlining performance. It was in the Dark Room at the Grandel and created a long-lasting connection to the venue. She would go on to become a Kranzberg Arts Foundation artist-in-residence and host a series of residency shows at the Dark Room.
“I felt so relieved after being able to have that first show because I felt like I had finally started,” BeBe says. “As an aspiring artist, I always wondered how you got started and, after that show, I felt like I had taken the first step.”
Many St. Louis-based artists have graced the Dark Room’s stage since it opened in 2014. They represent a multitude of genres including jazz bassist Bob Deboo, rapper Ron G, songstress Aida Ade and poet T. Parks.
Larry Morris, Kranzberg Arts Foundation’s director of programs and partnerships, says the Dark Room is about more than just showcasing talent. The foundation and venue intentionally invest in local talent as a platform for them to thrive as showmen and creatives.
“This isn’t just another venue,” Morris says. “It’s a commitment to building a real ecosystem for St. Louis artists to grow, get seen and be celebrated.”
The Dark Room, 3610 Grandel Square, kranzbergartsfoundation.org/the-dark-room
Evangeline’s Bistro and Music House
Evangeline’s Bistro and Music House in the Central West End neighborhood has hosted live music performances since opening 12 years ago. Owner Don Bailey, who grew up 30 minutes away from St. Louis in Millstadt, Ill., says he believes local artists who work hard on their music should have places to showcase their songs around town.
“People who spend their time practicing their whole life and doing art should have an avenue where they can showcase that and show people what they’ve done,” Bailey says.
A guitarist in the Bop Band and a lifelong music lover, Bailey says hosting performances for St. Louis-based acts helps highlight the culture and diversity of the city. He’s seen venues in places like Austin, Texas, and Nashville book local acts to perform. When tourists visit Evangeline’s, many are delighted to experience a taste of homegrown St. Louis talent.
Bands perform music from genres like ragtime, swing, jazz and the blues. There are performances each night the restaurant is open and during its weekend brunch hours.
“It’s just really what we like to provide for people, a nice place to go and hear the top musicians in St. Louis,” he says.
Evangeline’s, 512 N. Euclid Ave., evangelinesstl.com
KJ’s Bar and Grill
A hidden gem on the St. Louis comedy circuit, KJ’s on Broadway is known for serving up hefty doses of St. Louis comedy. Stand-up comedian Tonerio Brown has performed multiple shows at KJ’s, including opening sets for the Grown Folks Comedy showcase every Wednesday.
Brown says KJ’s creates a space for stand-up lovers to see new acts and for younger comedians to connect with veteran comics.
He started opening the show one day when host Frank Lyles was running late. One year later, Brown is still kicking off the show before seasoned vet Lyles hits the stage. Brown says KJ’s adds to the variety of spots St. Louis comics can visit outside of larger venues like Helium Comedy Club and the Funny Bone
“They always have a nice, grown, mature crowd that’s ready to receive comics,” Brown says.
KJ’s wasn’t Brown’s first stop when he started doing stand-up comedy in 2018. He first hit the stage at the Laugh Lounge before it closed. Later, he made his way to KJ’s, while frequenting local open mic events like Word Up at Hot Java and hosting a few of his own shows.
The St. Louis comedian has grown since he first performed at KJ’s seven years ago: He just filmed his debut comedy special. But venues like KJ’s create foundations for locally grown acts to find their footing while aligning them with tenured acts who can share wisdom and knowledge.
KJ’s Bar and Grill, 5300 N. Broadway, 314-659-8225
Before moving to Denver, comedian Cori Stewart hosted a comedy showcase with John Parker at Platypus in the Grove. When she left, Stewart passed the baton to comedy newcomer Shante Love, a boisterous comedic novice eager to leave her mark on the local scene. Nearly a year and a half later, Love is still co-hosting the Double Dare comedy showcase on the first Wednesday of each month.
“That was all she wrote,” Love says. “I got to carry on the little baby that they produced… and keep it going as a team.”
Love says the atmosphere in Platypus is “warm and welcoming.”
Platypus has a little bit of everything. There’s a bar, food options and a slew of daily programming, including late-night karaoke every Monday night — also co-hosted by Love. The comedian says the venue has been a hotspot for local entertainers to network and has introduced her to creatives from different genres that she was previously unaware of.
The icing on the cake comes when she interacts with co-owners Meredith Barry and Tony Saputo, who have helped her advance her comedy career beyond the venue.
“I’m just tied to Platypus,” she says. “My loyalty is there because I’m very well supported, but also they have mentioned my name to other people that gave me the opportunity to build my life.”
Performances at Platypus range across all genres of entertainment, including comedy, music, trivia nights and more. In addition to fun events and performances, Love says knowing the venue creates a safe space for creatives while paying them for their work is a bonus.
“A lot of people think just because you’re out here and on flyers… that you make a lot of money or bookings come easy and they don’t,” she says. “But to have a space that will not only host you, but also pay you for what you’re doing there, support you and promote you… it’s amazing.”
Platypus, 4501 Manchester Ave., drinkplatypus.com
