Live Music Bars in Tenerife: Where to Hear a Band

The best live music bars in Tenerife are concentrated in the south, in Playa de las Américas, Costa Adeje, San Eugenio and Los Cristianos, where bands, duos and solo musicians play most nights from around 8 to 10pm. Entry is usually free. For Spanish rock, Latin and local bands, the nightlife of Santa Cruz, La Laguna and Puerto de la Cruz is more authentic, especially at weekends.

Line-ups change every night, so the quickest way to choose is to check live bands on DoTenerife, which lists tonight’s gigs with Tenerife-time start times.

What kind of live music to expect

The south: holiday live music every night

The south is where most visitors hear live music, and it is busy all year. Many musicians live on the island and play a regular circuit of bars. A typical night is a covers band or duo playing two or three sets of crowd-pleasers, from 60s rock and roll to recent chart hits.

• Playa de las Américas: the most venues, with rock bars, party bands and late sets.
• Costa Adeje: more acoustic and lounge music, often on terraces and in hotel bars.
• San Eugenio: show bars mixing live bands with tributes and cabaret.
• Los Cristianos: relaxed bars with singers and duos, often finishing a little earlier.
• Los Gigantes and Puerto de Santiago: a smaller scene of bars with live musicians, popular with long-stay visitors.

The north: local scene and Spanish bands

If you want to hear what Tenerife locals listen to, go north.

• Santa Cruz has bars and clubs hosting Spanish rock, indie and Latin bands, plus large concerts at the Auditorio de Tenerife and outdoor stages in summer.
• La Laguna, the university city, has a student-driven bar scene with live music, especially on Thursday to Saturday nights during term.
• Puerto de la Cruz mixes Spanish bars, salsa, live music by the seafront and a few international pubs. See the Puerto de la Cruz nightlife guide.

Local gigs start later than in the tourist south, often from 10pm or 11pm.

Festivals and big concerts

Tenerife has a steady calendar of music festivals and free concerts, particularly in summer and during Carnival in February, when Santa Cruz hosts huge outdoor shows. Town fiestas across the island also feature live bands and traditional groups. Dates change year to year, so check the Tenerife events calendar and festivals category.

Costs

• Bar gigs: usually free; you buy drinks.
• Drinks: roughly 2.50 to 5 euros for a beer in most tourist bars, more in seafront and hotel venues. Prices vary.
• Concerts and festivals: ticketed; prices depend on the event.

Tips for finding good live music

• Check on the day. Bars often confirm their line-up only a day or two ahead.
• Arrive for the first set if you want a table; good bands fill a bar.
• Ask the musicians. Many play several venues a week and will tell you where they are next.
• Tip the band if there is a jar going round.
• Keep an eye on noise rules. Some bars must turn music down or stop by a set time because of local regulations, so late sets may be acoustic.

Live music for long-stay visitors

If you are spending a month or more on the island, live music is an easy way to build a social routine. Many bars have regular weekly residencies, so you will get to know the musicians and other regulars. Ask staff which nights are busiest, and look out for jam sessions and open mic nights, which welcome visiting musicians.

Live music versus tribute shows

Tribute acts and live bands overlap, but they are different nights. Tribute shows focus on one artist and often use backing tracks; covers bands play a mix of songs with live instruments. If you are after a particular artist, read our tribute acts guide. For a broader look at evenings out, see the Tenerife nightlife guide.