I am also fortunate to live near many music venues, both indoor and out. Two of my most frequented are the The Klipsch Music Center and the Slippery noodle Inn.
The Klipsch Music Center is a giant outdoor amphitheater located in the Noblesville, Indiana. With a seating capacity of 24,000, it’s the largest outdoor venue in the Indianapolis area. The Klipsch Music Center features 6,000 seats under its pavilion and another 18,000 general admission seats in the lawn area. Its massive seating capacity has allowed the venue to host some of the biggest concerts and festivals in the music industry. (
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Like Todd, I also have a most favorite venue of all time, called the Slippery Noodle Inn, which has a varied and fascinating history:
- Way station for the Underground Railroad
- Hideout for the Brady & Dillinger Gangs
- Beer & liquor distillery
- Oldest commercial building in Indianpolis
You can feel the heritage as soon as you enter, then pass through, the 100+ year old front bar made of tiger oak. Turn right and a quick left around a dog-leg corner past a small door opening onto the rugged front stage. Now you're in a long narrow hall leading past the kitchen (they serve excellent food, BTW) down a short ramp and into an open, two-story bar and second stage. Get a table on the second story near the edge of the balcony if you can, because of the unique view you'll have looking down into the musicians midsts.
But if making music is more your thing than listening to it, a weekly jam session is held on Thursdays. All comers welcome!
Musicians who have played at the Slippery Noodle include Luther Allison, Magic Dick, Jay Giles, John Mayall, Albert Collins, Buddy Miles, Charlie Musselwhite, Jr. Wells, Rick Derringer, Rare Earth, Lonnie Mack, Edgar Winter, Commander Cody, Savoy Brown, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Jim Schwall, James Cotton, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Yank Rachell, Larry Crane, Elvin Bishop, Duke Robillard, Pinetop Perkins, Country Joe McDonald, Ronnie Earl, Little Charlie and the Nightcats, Sugar Blue, The Nighthawks, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and Johnny Clyde Copeland to name a few. (
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In-House Recordings & Record Label
In 1993, to commemorate the Slippery Noodle's 30th anniversary, Live from the Slippery Noodle Inn, Vol. I was recorded. That was the beginning of the
Slippery Noodle Sound recording label, and since that time, Live from the Slippery Noodle Inn, Vol. II and Volume III have been released in addition to recordings by Dave Morgan, the Cooler Kings, Blue Lou & the Accusations, Gene Deer, Gordon Bonham, Jimmy Ley and the legendary Yank Rachell.
In 2013 To Celebrate the 50th Year of the Noodle in the Yeagy Famly we are recording Vol.
Awards
The Slippery Noodle has received numerous awards through out the years, including:
2016-14, Tripadvisor, Certificate of Excellence Winner
2015, Big City Rhythm & Blues, “The Noodle is at the top of our list of nightclubs”
2015, Thrillist, Most Iconic Bar in Indiana & 1 of the 33 Best Dive Bars in America
2013, Indianapolis Monthly, a blues mecca and Indiana’s most famous nightspot
2013,
Nuvo Magazine Readers Roll, "Best Open Mic Night"
2012, Airtran GO Magazine, #7 in the Top 10 Things to See in Indy
2012,
Fanzooloo, One of the Top 5 Sports Bars in the Country
2011, The Chive, One of the Top 25 Sports Bars in the Country
2011, Delta Sky Magazine, Featured Nightlife Venue
2011-2007, TheIndyChannel A-List, "Best Live Music Venue"
2008,
Best Of Citysearch, “Best Bar”
2008,
Best Of Citysearch, “Date Spot”
2008-2001,
Best Of Citysearch, “Best Live Music Venue”
2008-1992,
Nuvo Magazine Readers Poll, "Best Blues Bar"
2003, KBA (
Blues Foundation's Keeping the Blues Alive),
Blues Club of the Year
2002,
Indianapolis Monthly, Best Wholesale District Hangout
2001, DocBluez’ Blues Lounge, "Blues Venue of the Year"
2001-1999,
Indianapolis Monthly Readers Poll, “Best Bar”
2001, 1994 & 91, The Jazz and Blues Lovers Guide to the U.S.,
"The oldest bar in Indiana is also the Best Blues Bar in Indianapolis"
1998 Rolling Stone's Top Blues Venues
1998 & 95, Indiana Department of Tourism, 4 Vista Awards
1997, 96 & 95,
Nuvo Magazine Readers Poll, “Best Bar”, “Best Blues Bar”
1996, Blues Revue, 1 of the Top 20 Blues Venues Nationally
1995, Governors Award For Excellence In Recycling
1993 Details Magazine, 1 of the best 300 clubs in the U.S. and 1 of 19 blues bars listed (
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