Hendricks County sits directly west of Indianapolis and has more live music than its reputation suggests. A new 600-seat performance hall in Plainfield books national touring acts. A converted movie theatre runs music every Friday. Bars in Danville, Avon and Brownsburg book local bands most weekends. And in summer, five separate towns run free outdoor concert series in their parks and on their squares.
The Big Room
Hendricks Live! in downtown Plainfield seats up to 600 and is the county’s first purpose-built performance hall — touring music, theatre and comedy. Recent and upcoming bills have included Lisa Loeb, Andy Grammer, Crash Test Dummies and Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters. It is the reason national acts now route through Hendricks County at all.
Bars and Restaurants with Stages
The Kickstand Bar & Grill on the Danville courthouse square is the most dependable small room in the county: acoustic duos on Fridays, full bands on Saturdays, 21+ and non-smoking.
In Plainfield, The Prewitt Restaurant + Lounge — a converted former movie theatre downtown — runs live music twice a week: Thursdays 7–9 p.m. on the rooftop patio and Fridays 7–9 p.m. in the main dining room. The Side Door Pub & Stage books music most weekends, Brew Link Brewing puts bands outside, and The Coachman Restaurant and Lounge, a longtime landmark just off I-70, has local players on the patio through the summer.
In Avon, Whiskey Bent Bar & Grill runs live music, a patio and late-night food, and Sidelines Sports Pub keeps a stage for local bands. In Brownsburg, The Locale has become the town’s go-to for dining and local music, and Pinheads puts music in its outdoor beer garden in summer.
Free Outdoor Concerts
This is what Hendricks County does best. Five towns run their own free summer series:
- Danville — Music on the Square and Evenings in Danville, split between the historic Hendricks County Courthouse Square and the Ellis Park Amphitheater, presented by the Danville Chamber, Danville Parks and Recreation and the Downtown Danville Partnership
- Brownsburg — Summer Soundtracks at Arbuckle Acres Park, Music at the Market on the Town Hall Green, and Blues’ in the Burg
- Plainfield — the Hummel Park Summer Concert Series at the Guilford Township Hummel Park Performing Arts Center, heavy on tribute acts, plus music at the Chamber’s farmers market
- Avon — the Murphy Aquatic Park series and concerts at the Washington Township Park Amphitheater, all ages, food trucks on site
Dates move year to year and several series run only from late spring into early September, so check the town’s parks department before you drive. We verify each series before it appears in the weekly guide rather than reprinting last year’s schedule.
Nearby
Downtown Indianapolis is twenty-five minutes east of Danville and closer still from Avon and Plainfield, so a Hendricks County night out and an Indy one are easily swapped. See what is on statewide this week in our weekly guide, or browse the full Indiana venue guide — including country and Americana and blues.
Run a venue in Hendricks County? This is a free community listing — contact us to add your stage, correct details, or feature your upcoming shows.
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