Tune in: the Big Apple's music scene is not to be missed. So at the end of the long show day, be sure to visit the city's top music clubs - New York, New York - Directory

B.B. King's
237 West 42nd Street
(212) 997-4144

The musical heart of the Times Square redevelopment project, this high-end dub offers the biggest names in blues and classic rock in an elegant setting with great sight lines and sound system. The menu is centered around southern barbecue but offers other options as well.

Blue Note
131 West 3rd Street
(212) 475-8592

The jazz version of B.B. King's, this intimate club located in the heart of the West Village features the biggest names in jazz and a full menu. Those on a budget can sit at the bar for a modest drink minimum at some shows.

Bottom Line Cabaret
15 West 4th Street
(212) 502-3471

New York's best showcase club over the last 30 years has featured breakthrough performances by Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Dr. John, Sonny Rollins and many others as well as unique repertory performances. Cheap food is served in an intimate setting.

CBGB
315 Bowery
(212) 982-4052

Where punk rock was born and still thrives, this Bowery dive serves music loud, hard and fast on a nightly basis. It's the place in New York where you're most likely to hear a Ramones cover on any given night. CBGBs Lounge next door offers more traditional bohemian fare.

Knitting Factory
74 Leonard Street
(212) 219-3006

Undoubtedly the most interesting club complex in New York, the Knitting Factory is actually three stories of performance spaces and features a staggering array of avant-garde rock, jazz, country and art music as well as a late night bar featuring live music with no cover charge.

Lakeside Lounge
162 Avenue B
(212) 529-8463

This funky Alphabet City club is a popular hang for musicians and artists due to its cheap beer prices and great jukebox. Free live music from an always-eccentric cast of musicians and performance artists keeps things interesting.

Mercury Lounge
217 East Houston Street
(212) 260-4700

Part of a Bermuda Triangle of music clubs in the lower east side, the Mercury Lounge is a popular showcase for major-label roots music bands in a variety of genres. It's popular among musicians for its excellent sound system.

Rodeo Bar
375 Third Avenue
(212) 683-6500

New York's version of a southwestern roadhouse is wild fun, especially on weekend nights. Live cutting-edge country music and roots rock is free every night from 10 p.m. Tex-Mex cuisine is reasonably priced, and the high-octane Margaritas are award-winning.

Village Vanguard
178 Seventh Avenue South
(212) 255-4037

The cathedral of jazz, worshippers come from all over the world to this Greenwich Village basement to sit at tables close to the stage where Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk and virtually every other jazz legend of the last half-century once performed.

John Swenson has been covering popular music for UPI, Rolling Stone and other outlets for 30 years.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Advanstar Communications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group