You can see One Direction play a stadium anywhere, and you can wait till your parents visit to take in a Beethoven symphony or a Coltrane tribute. Seattle is full of smaller, more locally focused venues. Even if you haven't turned the magical age of 21, here are some of our favorite music venues where you can catch a great show—without a fake ID.
Always All Ages
Seattle's "premier" all-ages venue, the Vera Project is a mostly volunteer-run, cathedral-ceilinged hall inside Seattle Center, which plays host to local hotshots as well as nationally touring acts. (Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St)
Seattle's best worst-kept secret, the Black Lodge hosts all-ages hardcore/punk/noise shows in a beautifully dilapidated DIY space located... somewhere. (Location: Ask a punk!)
The base of Bellevue's all-ages scene, Ground Zero hosts frequent shows in all different genres. (15228 Lake Hills Blvd, Bellevue)
Cairo is a funky cafe/bar/music venue/clothing shop/art gallery that's a lovely place to while away an afternoon or early evening. (507 E Mercer St)
The Triple Door is the swankiest sit-down live music venue in Seattle—lush darkness and twinkling lights, an antique gold-framed stage with plush red curtains, and great semi-circular booths. (216 Union St)
The Abbey plays host to a number of cool things, from readings to concerts, dance events to community workshops, all in an airy, light-filled, and gorgeously furnished auditorium. (4272 Fremont Ave N)
A renovated movie theater smack-dab in the middle of the University District, the Neptune plays host to big-name rap and rock acts from across the country in its strangely serene auditorium. (1303 NE 45th St)
The Paramount is where the big dogs go when they're rolling through town, your Nick Caves, your Adeles, your Aziz Ansaris. A historic venue with history to spare, the Paramount gives you an excuse to bust out your Sunday best and treat yourself. (911 Pine St)
A wood-bedecked space with great acoustics in Columbia City, the Royal Room made its name on jazz bookings (it is partially the brainchild of musician and composer Wayne Horvitz) but has since expanded into folk, world music, and multimedia events. (5000 Rainier Ave S, 21+ after 10 pm)
Local Record Shops
Sonic Boom Records (2209 NW Market St) and Easy Street Records (4559 California Ave SW) also occasionally host free, all-ages, in-store performances
Sometimes All Ages
Focused on hardcore, punk, screamo, and metal, El Corazón has a show nearly every single night. (109 Eastlake Ave E)
One of the most respected and reliable venues in the city as far as booking talent goes, Neumos is the hub around which Capitol Hill rotates. Its relatively small room is invariably packed to capacity as people dance or sway to the latest mega-hyped act to roll through town. (925 E Pike St)
The Showbox is a great place to see a show, even when it's sold out. There's hardly a bad sight line in the house, and the room has the classic charm of an old theater. (1426 First Ave)
An incubator for local talents and frequent all-ages tour stop for national metal and punk acts, Studio Seven is a low-key treasure in Sodo. (110 S Horton St)
One of Seattle's favorite music venues since the beginning of time (or at least grunge), it got a swanky makeover back in 2009, with skylights, a proper mezzanine, dark red walls, and marble countertops in the bathrooms. Also: wood-fired pizza! (2200 Second Ave) 
