Get In The Groove

The Best of Seattle Playlist

Other than coffee and airplanes, Seattle is perhaps best known for its music and homegrown acts. Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, Heart, Odesza, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – all hail from Seattle.

Seattle is a music lover’s haven and we have curated a "Made in Seattle" playlist for you to listen to on repeat! Here's our playlist of 40 top songs from all Seattle artists and genres.

The Playlist
The Story Behind the Choices
Where to Enjoy Live Music in Seattle Southside

The Playlist

**Spotify is a free streaming music app that you can download to listen to the playlist.

***Some songs on this list may have explicit lyrics.

The Story Behind the Choices

Some of the choices are obvious—Come As You Are is our area's unofficial motto, after all. But for a few of the picks, you may be wondering why we picked one song over another. For many artists we picked their most iconic singles, but for others we selected songs with a closer tie to our region.

For Jimi Hendrix, we had to pick Spanish Castle Magic, which was inspired by Jimi's time at the Spanish Castle, a performance venue which used to be located right here in Seattle Southside! You can visit the site of the former venue on the SeaTac Fascinating Tours put on by the Highline Heritage Museum and learn more about the musical history of our area. And while Sir Mix-A-Lot may be better known for his ode to the posterior, Posse on Broadway specifically calls out spots in our city. Similarly, Macklemore may be better known for tunes about thrifting, but his song My Oh My is about growing up in Seattle and listening to Seattle Mariners radio broadcasts.

Some of the names on the playlist you'll definitely recognize, such as Pearl Jam and Nirvana, but others are a bit lesser known to modern listeners. Quincy Jones' name may sound familiar to you, but you might struggle to remember any of his songs. That's because much of his best known work is as a producer and composer, where his musical sensibilities have shaped popular music for decades, from Count Basie to Frank Sinatra, up to producing three of Michael Jackson's best known albums: Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad. Another name you might struggle with is Ernestine Anderson, who attended Garfield High School in Seattle (which was also the alma mater of fellow list members Quincy Jones, Jimi Hendrix, and Macklemore), and had her first show at the Washington Social Club, which featured Quincy Jones on trumpet and Ray Charles on piano. Talk about an all-star band!

Where to Enjoy Live Music in Seattle Southside

In addition to the venues below that regularly feature live music, you can find upcoming concerts and musical events on our events calendar!

13 Coins

With live music nearly every day of the week, a huge menu and late night hours, 13 Coins is a great spot to take in live music along with delicious eats. The Rat Pack vibes will get you in a relaxed retro mood while you lounge out to the tunes.

Lucky Liquor

A self-proclaimed "dive bar", Lucky Liquor is a landmark of the Seattle punk rock scene and has been a beacon for alternative, hardcore, and punk bands to the area. But don't let the name or the punk rock aesthetics fool you, as many of their shows are all ages and the crowd is very welcoming.

The Roadhouse

The Roadhouse at Angle Lake Station is a performing arts venue like no other, playing home to performing artists and musicians that reflect the diversity of our region. The name is inspired by the many "roadhouse" dance halls that once dotted this region, back in the days of the Spanish Castle when performers and dances were pushed outside of the Seattle city limits. Opening late October 2023. Images coming soon.

The Quarterdeck

Want some gorgeous views with your tunes? The Quarterdeck regularly features live performers and offers truly breathtaking views of the Puget Sound, Olympic Mountains, and Maury and Vashon Islands. Add in the tasty beverage of your choice and you're in for a great time. Plus, dogs are welcome here too!

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Christy Maggio

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Christy Maggio

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