City Guide
Winston-Salem
Arts District Revival
Winston-Salem has quietly built one of North Carolina's most interesting music scenes. The city's arts district revival has transformed former industrial spaces into venues, and a strong UNCSA (UNC School of the Arts) presence means serious musicianship runs through everything.
From the 1,000-capacity Ramkat hosting Mavis Staples to Monstercade—"the strangest bar in North Carolina"—Winston-Salem rewards those who explore. Add hometown hero Ben Folds, a thriving summer concert series, and dedicated listening rooms like Muddy Creek Café, and you've got a city that punches well above its weight.
The Music Scene
Winston-Salem's scene balances polish with grit. The UNCSA pipeline brings classically trained musicians who often stay and contribute to the broader scene. Meanwhile, venues like Monstercade keep The Underground weird.
The Ramkat anchors downtown with excellent acoustics and genre-spanning bookings—Mavis Staples, Everclear, and regional favorites all play the 1,000-capacity room. Upstairs, Gas Hill offers intimate 100-person sets.
Summer festivals drive the calendar. The Downtown Jazz series (Fridays at Corpening Plaza) and Summer on Fourth (Saturdays at Foothills Brewing) have run for 27 years. Gears & Guitars on Memorial Day Weekend has featured OAR, Blues Traveler, and The Fray. The 1Love Festival at Ramkat amplifies African Diasporic culture.
For bluegrass fans, DocStock honors seven-time Grammy winner Doc Watson with annual celebrations.
Record Stores
Winston-Salem's record stores range from dedicated VINYL archives to massive used media warehouses.
Low Five Analog Archive on Trade Street downtown is the purist's choice—a focused collection with VINYL-first mentality. Hippo Records on Jonestown Road has 236 reviews and strength in rock, metal, and electronic.
McKay's is the behemoth—nearly 4,800 reviews and a warehouse of used books, movies, and VINYL. Not specialized, but the volume means you'll find something.
Retroid Games on Burke Street combines VINYL with retro gaming, stocking rock, jazz, soul, hip-hop, and electronic. The Barn On Country Club and The Eclectible Shop offer antique mall digging for those who like the hunt.
Live Music Venues
Winston-Salem's venue ecosystem covers intimate listening rooms to arena shows, with particular strength in the mid-size sweet spot.
The Ramkat is the flagship—1,000 capacity, excellent acoustics, and the intimate Gas Hill upstairs for 100-person sets. Stevens Center handles classical, opera, and UNCSA productions in a proper theater setting.
For big touring acts, LJVM Coliseum has nearly 15,000 seats and has hosted hometown hero Ben Folds alongside legacy artists.
The intimate scene thrives. Muddy Creek Café is a true listening room for folk and bluegrass. Monstercade is gloriously weird—self-described as NC's strangest bar. Hoots Beer Company brings live music to the arts district brewery scene.
Gas Hill Drinking Room
Intimate room above The Ramkat
170 W 9th St
Upstairs sister space to The Ramkat offering intimate 100-person shows and late-night sets. Perfect for catching rising artists up close.
LJVM Coliseum
Arena hosting major acts and Ben Folds
2825 University Pkwy
Wake Forest University-owned arena that's hosted George Jones, The Beach Boys, Cyndi Lauper, and hometown hero Ben Folds.
Monstercade
The strangest bar in North Carolina
1215 W 4th St
Self-proclaimed "strangest bar in North Carolina" in historic Washington Park. Theme nights, open-mic comedy, and underground music. 21+ only.
Muddy Creek Café & Listening Room
True listening room for acoustic music
238 Muddy Creek Rd
Dedicated listening room hosting acoustic-themed acts from folk to bluegrass. The kind of room where audiences actually listen.
Music History & Legends
Ben Folds is Winston-Salem's most famous musical export—the piano-rock icon who grew up here and has returned to play LJVM Coliseum. His irreverent, classically-influenced style mirrors the city's blend of art school polish and working-class grit.
The UNCSA (UNC School of the Arts) has shaped the city since 1963, producing classically trained musicians who often stay and contribute to the scene. The Stevens Center serves as the school's performance hub.
Doc Watson, the legendary seven-time Grammy-winning guitarist, hailed from nearby Deep Gap. The annual DocStock festival keeps his legacy alive with bluegrass celebrations.
Local hardcore band I, Anomaly and bluegrass act Shadowgrass represent the current generation making noise beyond city limits.
Neighborhoods for Music Lovers
Downtown/Arts District is where it's at. The Ramkat, Gas Hill, Low Five Analog Archive, and the summer concert series are all concentrated here. Walkable, with restaurants and bars filling the gaps.
Burke Street has Retroid Games and a neighborhood feel. Good for combining VINYL hunting with local food.
Washington Park is where you'll find Monstercade—worth the trip for the weirdness.
Jonestown Road corridor has Hippo Records and McKay's—a driving stretch for dedicated diggers.
The Perfect Music Day
Morning: Start at Low Five Analog Archive downtown for the curated experience. Then hit Hippo Records on Jonestown for volume.
Afternoon: Explore the arts district. Grab lunch at a downtown spot, browse galleries, and check The Ramkat calendar for evening shows.
Evening: Catch whoever's playing at The Ramkat or check Gas Hill for intimate sets. For weird, make the pilgrimage to Monstercade. End at Hoots for a beer.
Pro tip: The summer concert series (Downtown Jazz and Summer on Fourth) are free and feature quality bookings. Plan around them if visiting May–September.
Your Route
Practical Info
Best time to visit: Summer for the free downtown concert series. Memorial Day Weekend for Gears & Guitars. Fall for DocStock bluegrass.
Getting around: Downtown is walkable. Outlying record shops need a car.
Where to stay: Downtown puts you walking distance from most venues. The Kimpton Cardinal is the stylish choice in a converted R.J. Reynolds building.
Local tip: Winston-Salem has an underrated food scene, especially barbecue. Combine your music trip with some serious eating.