Two bars facing eachother... brilliant. Good atmosphere, great open venue for shows. Gomaroake is pretty awesome too. #1 music venue for me. read more

Best music venue in Madison without a doubt. No one else even compares. Great setup, excellent staff, and cheap drinks to boot! Even during shows! And the talent that is brought in is wonderfully varied. Country, bluegrass, indie, occasional hip hop, stoner rock, metal, songwriters, reggae, Gomeroke. You name the genre and the High Noon will probably have a show for you that week. I was just there for a sold out show a couple weeks ago and the place never felt claustrophobic. There's plenty of room to mill about and enjoy the show in your own way and still be able to pretty easily see the stage. The only downside I saw was the doors not opening until immediately before the first band started. I was hoping to get a few more PBRs in me before then. read more

Great Packers game day at The High Noon Saloon. Tatum makes the best old fashioneds on planet earth! read more

High Noon Saloon - Music Venues Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Place had all the makings of a 4-5 star place but fell short for me. Was here on a Sunday for a couple of bands that were playing around st pattys day. Got fairly crowded and I dont think they were ready for it being a Sunday. Interior resembled a woody western saloon (go figure) and was nicely done. Pretty large open room with a balcony running around half of it. Pretty standard drink prices for the area and it is off the capital on the east side with walking distance (be it a 10 min walk or so). Two lady barbacks were about as grouchy as I've seen in Madison (normally everyone is pretty friendly regardless of the day or time). I actually heard one of them tell a couple customers "If you dont like it you can go to a bar down the street". I could understand this b!tchy reaction if the customer was being a jerk (which these two mid 40's gents with children did not) but damn did she show her true colors and made my whole experience there a bad one. Unless a favorite band of mine shows up at this place, I will not be back. read more

If you're in a band and you're heading to Madison on your next tour, please book a show at the High Noon instead of the Annex. A far superior venue. Perfect size with a balcony if you want to avoid the riff-raff. Various bar games (extra points for foosball and various table-top arcade games) to play during band changes. Also, fine beer on tap and everyone has a crush on the owner. read more

Came here for gospel brunch today. Venue was cool, music was nice and the food was okay but the doorman was extremely rude to our group when we came in. Older, long hair, big beard....management, please teach him some basic customer service skills or put him in a different position. I wont be spending my money here again. read more

As a a lifelong resident of Milwaukee High Noon Saloon is an absolute revelation of an establishment. Having had to suffer throught the absolutely abysmal sound quality of an "established" Milwaukee venue a handful of times I'd lost all faith in live music. Then as chance would have it, I found out that one of my favorite bands of all time was playing at this place in Madison - safe to say, my faith in live music had been restored 100% - since anything over 100% is scientifically impossible. I've since been back once, and plan on venturing west at least twice more by the year's end. I got to, comfortably, see one of my favorite modern death metal bands - i make this a point of emphasis as a short guy of passive nature. I've no interest in mosh pits and shoving other people just to listen to a song, and this place, with it's fantastic "balcony" will forever have a special place in my heart. see you for YOB and Dillinger Four! read more

You never know what kind of music you'll see when you go here. Hella variety. The Gomeroke seems pretty popular... I want for the first time a few nights ago... while I chickened out and didn't sing, the people who did were great! Like, hilarious! The two bars have good beer selection, and I had a most EPIC Bloody. All in all a great venue, and the owner seems like a very nice person. Go see a show! OK. read more

High Noon Saloon - Music Venues Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This is a great place to go after work. It's also a place that has really good bands !! We've had many a work party is here and it's always been fun, very enjoyable and not dirty. So overall pretty good read more

Best place to see a show in Madison. Good bartenders. Enough room to sit comfortably (assuming you are in early) and also to dance. I have been everywhere in town from bars where the band plays next to the pool table to the Colosseum and if I could have my favorite band play anywhere, it would be The High Noon. read more

I love this place. Great beer selection and ever better music scene! I have seen so many wonderful artists. Happy to be on their email list. #saidnooneever. But for real. read more

See all

In my opinion this is the best place in Madison to see live music. The sound is always amazing. I dont know what they do but the quality of the audio here is stellar. They always have a decent act several times a week and it has never been too crowded. 2 bars going during most shows makes it easy to get a drink and they have a great selection at good prices. Their happy hour is buy one get one on taps and rail cocktails which might be the best in the city. Pair that with the patio in the summer and you have an amazing place you have to visit! read more

Love this venue! Nice variety of music, often hosts bands I love, and tickets are reasonably priced. It is clean and there is seating available for those who want it! Have never had a bad experience here. Parking easily available. read more

The High Noon Saloon is a great place to see a band. Since turning 18 in January, I have seen Memoryhouse, Ty Segall, White Fence, The Antlers, and Kurt Vile there, which I think speaks a lot about the strength of booking. There is almost always a good show coming to the High Noon, which is one of the best things to be said about a live music venue. When seeing a band on the short and small stage here, it is always intimate and engaging. There is a really nice, high balcony with tables in the back of the venue with great sight lines if you're feel like taking a more relaxed concert-going approach. The sound is decent for what is essentially a standard bar, though it can get muddy and overblown. The people that go here are very chill, so you never have to worry about someone cutting in front of you, as the floor generally clears out in between sets. I do have a dislike for age restricted venues though. The High Noon brings in some of the most of-the-moment acts to town, and it sucks that someone under 18 wouldn't be able to go. I know I hated that situation before I turned 18. I had to bring my mom in to see Deerhunter with me :- / Anyway, if you're of age and want to see a good band coming to town, this is a great venue for it. read more

Not sure if I like or dislike this bar sometimes- They have some great events and very original events that you can't go to anywhere else. So chances are, if you like nightlife at all you will wind up at this bar at some point. But I've had some negative experiences here on more than one occasion. They have good selection of beers and are usually pretty cheap, but the mixed drinks could be better. I would like to have more food available at some point if possible- I had gone to the gas station down the street to get snacks Would probably go again, The two floors are nice as is the having two bars. The sound quality is also good. read more

Place is great, Thursday night patio free music in the summer is fun. Concerts inside a fun. Hope this place doesn't change much with the new owners. read more

Played here last night. Backstage was right next to the stage, not actually behind it. A lot of wood in the venue. Parking lot. Half off if you are in the band. Waking distance to a gigabyte field, fish pay perfect jet Roy. read more

Just hosted a private event at the High Noon with a group of about 70 people. Very reasonable prices to rent out the location. The staff was very accommodating and the venue, as always, stellar. Book the High Noon for your next event! read more

Heavy contender for best place to catch a good band in Madison. Simple stage, simple sound, reasonably priced beer. Get there before the opener starts and chances are that you can stand front row to see whoever you like. They bring in a lot of great acts too. read more

Came here last week to see Albert Hammond Jr and the Walking Shapes. Both bands were amazing, and the atmosphere was very cool. People of all ages (seriously, ALL kinds of people) attended, and the volume was not unbearable like you sometimes see with small venues. I would definitely come here for more events, though parking can be an issue. But who doesn't like to walk a little bit? read more

Great venue to see live acts, the only way to make it a little better would be to staff the second bar more often. Way too many times I've been to busy shows, with 300 plus people, and had to fight at the main bar to get a drink. Use your resources and open up that second bar, dammit! Anyways, a great venue, and good for smokers in the winter, they have the nice heaters outside always running so you won't get cold enjoying that Lucky Strike if your a hipster, or a nice stogie if you're a power player like me :-) read more

Nice atmosphere for a good show. It was a little rough up on the balcony, due to the terrible sound echoing off the ceiling and having the top of the bar block the stage. But due to the loud obnoxious drunk group behind us, we decided to watch half of the show downstairs, and it was a much better experience. We're going to another show in November, and I'm already looking forward to it. read more

Seen quite a few bands here. Not usually too expensive at the door. I like the setup. A bar on each side for when it gets really busy. A deck to stand on when you need a break from the band or a friend needs a smoke. Nice selection of drinks including Schlitz, bonus points. Sound is always good unless the band sucks then there is only so much they can do. It's never too loud. Dancing area is good. There is an upstairs never went up there. Bathrooms are pretty easy to get to. Pool table by the door. All in all I like it. read more

Friendly, cheap, and plenty of room to avoid that arch-nemesis of yours that occasionally turns up (hey, it's inevitable in a town this size!). Great happy hour, Glass Nickel pizza, comfortable patio for the warmer months, and plenty o' stalls in the ladies' room (refreshing, no?). Outside of great live shows they occasionally host craft markets, rummage sales, Boggle tournaments, bingo, and other community entertainment. I like to think of it as the livingroom of the Isthmus, sans couches (and pet hair). read more

Intimate venue, can see and hear the bands great from everywhere in the room. Excellent bar with friendly bartenders.

Possibly my favorite bar in Madison..because it's so much more than a bar. It can really be whatever you'd like it to be. Want to get trashed? Go for it. Want to meet new people? Go for it. Want to bring a group of friends? Go for it. It has great events all the time from karaoke to live music! It's not a dive bar so you're not going to find super cheap drinks here but its worth paying a little more to actually have fun with live music and usually friendly staff and customers. Noise level REALLY varies here depending on what is going on but because the venue is so big, you can even go upstairs and hear someone talk in most situations. It even has pool and darts. read more

i really like this small venue/bar. i have traveled here twice (both times for the same act), and have been pretty impressed both times. i think that the drink prices are reasonable (though i do hail from the west coast, where *everything* is more expensive than in the midwest), and the selection is really good! i have also found that everyone who works here, from the bartenders to the door people, is friendly and professional. and the sound is fairly good, even from right in front of the stage (i'd imagine it's great up in the balcony). the venue is also really clean and well maintained. five stars. the perfect place to catch medium-sized/up and coming touring acts! read more

Came here for a local show. Everyone was super nice, and drinks were affordable and local. Always a great time here!

Great venue. I've seen cursive and good life a few times there and I have to say this venue is built for acts like these. Pretty awesome beer selection for a concert hall. Bartenders are also pretty awesome. I love the top floor overlooking when you kind of just want to chill and relax a bit. read more

my favorite place in madison to see a band. Good sound, not too big, and friendly staff...

One really has to appreciate this awesome venue in Madison. In fact, I cannot imagine this town without it. This establishment features reasonable covers, amiable bartenders, almost always clean bathrooms, and a lovely outdoor smoking area in which patrons from all 3 of the bars congregate making for interesting people watching. read more

The High Noon Saloon is the undisputed champion of music venues in Madison due to the excellent mix of national and local acts, excellent bartenders and great acoustics. I have never had a bad time at the High Noon, even on the nights where I didn't quite like the band. Definitely 4.5 stars, and I would rate this place a complete 5 if only they had a coat check or at least someplace safe to dump your jacket. The place is not huge, but a good number of people can fit in making the site attractive for a lot of up-and-coming national acts. Even when the crowd is well below capacity the place doesn't feel all that empty, and it retains a lot of this atmosphere for the weeknight shows. Most of my favorite shows over the last four and a half years have been at the High Noon. A good part of the charm of the place has to do with the legendary owner, Cathy, and the story of O'Cayz Corral. When I was a young freshman and sophomore at UW I treasured the tiny space that was O'Cayz for their occasional all-ages shows and support of the local music scene, which included several of my close friends and roommates. I even got to attend a few shows there for free since I was part of the "road crew" - moving amps from our basement to the bar using the old Blazer I borrowed from my father. It was a terrible loss when O'Cayz burned down. However, the High Noon rose out of the ashes and Madison is better for it. I love the small balcony at the back of the bar, above the pool tables and where the roadies set up the merch table. It's hard to get a table up there if the place is packed, but I love to sit up there and look out over the crowd. The sound is always very good at the High Noon. I personally have never felt it to be excessively loud, like the Annex can be, but some of my friends regularly bring earplugs. The sightlines on the floor are usually clear, although there are a couple of support beams further back that block a bit of the stage. The bar is always well-stocked, and it usually isn't too hard to get a drink. The bartenders have always been very friendly, and over the years I've gotten to know several just because I've seen them so many times. During busier shows a second bar opens on the other side, but they don't have the tap selection on this side so I usually don't bother. I especially like how the bar carries an unbeatable selection of local micros and cheap bottles of PBR. I love to have a few Lake Louie's or Bells before the show, but if I drink them throughout I tend to get into trouble. Show prices are always reasonable, and I've even had will-call tickets transferred on the day-of-show without problem. There is a nice outdoor patio area with tables and chairs, and you can bring your glasses or bottles out for a smoke break between sets. There is even waitservice out there during shows, and heaters during the winter for smoking. Parking can be a challenge, since there is just a small onsite lot that is shared with the Brass Ring and the Brink Lounge. I always park across the street in the MG&E lots, which are open at night. There have been a few times when the doors didn't open all that early, but in these situations just head on over the Brass Ring for a drink. All in all I can't even imagine the last few years of my life without the High Noon Saloon. read more

I heart the High Noon Saloon! This is the best place in Madison to see a show. Big names. Up and comers. Local heroes. Even the occasional kids show or charity event. Intimate space, but never feels overcrowded. Well run, and it shows! read more

Fantastic staff. Absolute wonderful and knowledgeable sound engineer. Awesome stage, wonderful sound. Green room is a little small. Really close by to a brochure store in a couple of good restaurant. 15 minute walk from downtown. Great place to play for any touring band. read more

Met some friends for a birthday celebration and The Rousers were playing. I love live music but the volume inside The High Noon Saloon made my teeth rattle. It was SO LOUD that you couldn't talk unless you were 1 inch from the other person's ear. The good news is you can buy ear plugs at the bar. I heard the acoustics were bad and couldn't agree more. It's really too bad. Don't think we'll be going back any time soon. read more

This is the best larger venue to see shows in Madison!! Really great staff and great sound quality no matter where you are in the venue!

IMHO the best music venue in Madison... Be sure to checkout Gomerokee (every Tues. evening and 1st and 3rd Friday of each month for happy hour) and they have a great happy hour, great 2 for 1 tap beer. read more

7/26/13 Biked over to the High Noon Saloon and took in The Skintones (Madison's metal legends), The Hussy (punk), and the Bon Squad (an AC/DC Bon Scott cover band). My ears bled and I liked it! This is a great music venue with full bar and pizza from Glass Nickel. They book all genres. Thanks to the High Noon I discovered Cory Chisel, Brett Dennen, and the legend Mark Olson. Thank you! read more

OMG! What a room! I had never visited until a kid's show brought me on a Sunday morning, of all times. Blew me away! I don't get out for a lot of live shows now that I'm a parent, but when I do you better believe I'll be checking the schedule at high noon - everything a small concert venue should be: fantastic sound, decent lighting, the room is treated to make the acoustics just right, great sightlines, good bar. What more could you want? Best place to see a band in town. read more

Great space, helpful staff, stiff drinks. The food isn't fantastic, but the shows are good enough to distract from that fact. And they *do* have great shows, from local bands to nationally recognized names. The sound set-up is sufficient to handle the bands (which is more than can be said for some other area venues). read more