Once you leave the city’s old town, pretty much every bar in Chiang Mai has live musicians performing at some point during the night. But if you’re a music lover you’ll want to head away from the bars playing contemporary Thai pop songs and covers of Oasis and Coldplay to discover the hottest spaces in town to catch the very best local and international performers in atmospheric venues.

For a city of its size, Chiang Mai has a thriving jazz and blues scene, with two of the most popular musical venues focusing on these genres. North Gate Jazz Co-op can be found tucked just inside the crumbling walls of the old town, close to Chang Puak Gate to the north of the moat. This café, bar and venue is especially popular on Tuesdays for the jamming sessions which bring keen amateurs to the stage. The quality is always sky high so you won’t notice the difference between the them and the professionals!

The bar area is intimate and space is tight so you will want to get there early to grab a table. If not, you can simply join the throngs of people spilling out into the streets to enjoy fantastic music in the warm evening air. It might be compact, but North Gate Jazz Co-op is one of the very trendiest spots to seek out, and it is home to some of the finest jazz you’ll find anywhere in Asia.

In the heart of the city’s famous Night Bazaar are several spots for reliably good live music. No doubt you’ll hear the music echoing around the bar well before you stumble across Boy Blues Bar. The venue is beloved by expats who make a regular pilgrimage to see the bar’s legendary owner Boy in action. As one of the country’s most accomplished jazz musicians, he attracts impressive talent from Bangkok and elsewhere in the country, as well as international visitors, who flock to the bar to deliver performances to get the crowd rocking.

Boy and his house band regularly headline the lineup at the bar and the band can usually be found making an appearance on a Monday when local musicians patiently wait their turn to impress on stage for open-mic night. The friendly staff provide table service so you won’t have to worry about missing anything by queuing at the bar. If you are a visiting musician and keen to meet fellow blues lovers, then this is the perfect spot for you!

Across the street, you can find the Ploen Ruedee Night Market, a vibrant area that sits alongside the Night Bazaar. Ploen Ruedee boasts a stage that often attracts a crowd on the dance floor in front of the band, enjoying the live music from well-known bands around Chiang Mai. If you need refreshment the market is encircled by many cocktail and beer bars where you are sure to find something that will take your fancy.

The area alongside the River Ping, just outside of the city centre, is an area highly popular with locals and expats rather than the tourist crowd. Bars and venues such as The Riverside, The Good View and The Old Place are choices that you can always rely on to deliver high quality music performances in more relaxed surroundings nestled next to the river.

The bars here combine splendid river views, which make a nice change of scenery for those who have spent most of their vacation so far in the old town, with great food and a vibrant atmosphere. A short trip out of town is well worth it! The Riverside is a fantastic option with an outdoor seating area to enjoy the scenery on the riverfront terrace or you can grab a chair tucked inside the cozy bar to get up close and personal to the live band. All the bars along this stretch give you the opportunity to party amongst the locals and expats rather than fellow tourists for a change.

Close to our hotel in Chiang Mai, Furama Chiang Mai, is the trendy Nimman area. This is highly popular with expats and younger Thais and is famous for having literally dozens of cafes, bars and restaurants to explore, many of which are tucked away down hidden side streets. But the area is also home to one of the city’s best spots to enjoy salsa. Warm Up Café is one of the most famous nightspots in the city but every Tuesday evening, salsa lovers descend here to soak up the music and, of course, enjoy salsa dancing. Until 9pm, there is a workshop to learn some new moves and then you can practice these during the rest of the night or perch yourself at the bar and watch your fellow dancers do their stuff.

Whatever genre of music you prefer, there is bound to be a venue in Chiang Mai that appeals to you. It is an incredibly friendly city so there is no need to be afraid of heading down to one of these bars, no doubt you’ll be dancing alongside new friends in no time. Or maybe you’ll even find yourself up on stage showcasing your skills!