Where to see country concerts in Los Angeles

There are Irish pubs that feature music, and then there are music venues that happen to live in an Irish pub. Molly Malone's has been brewing up its own little pint of Dublin in L.A. since 1969 and showcasing musical talent (and a great beer list) every step of the way. Rock, Irish folk, country—the lineup spans the genre gamut, and with Molly's stellar acoustics, it's one of L.A.'s better pubs for catching a show.

Grab your cowboy hat, strap on your boots and practice your best gun twirls (we're kidding, leave the gun at home, please) before heading over to Tinhorn Flats, a themed watering hole with outposts in Burbank and Hollywood. Though the Valley location has a bit more saloon character, the Hollywood spot hosts line dancing on Wednesdays and live country music on Fridays.

This sports bar and grill boasts live entertainment seven nights a week, with a schedule of performers that skews toward country, blues and swing. Come by on a Friday night to play some pool, throw some darts and listen to some country music.

Yes, there's line dancing here, but that's only the start of this country-themed bar. Ride a mechanical bull on Friday nights in the upstairs room; learn to dosey doe like a pro with free dance lessons from 6-7pm Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; and enjoy an epic happy hour with $1 well drinks, $2 domestic and $1 tacos. Really just into the dancing? Don't worry, there's a 15,000-square-foot dance hall for you to stomp, kick and dosey doe your way around.

This storied club has a rich musical history: Randy Newman got his start here, and Elton John made his U.S. debut on its stage in 1970. Though much of the calendar focuses on up-and-coming indie bands, you'll find a fair share of singer-songwriter-type country acts, as well as prolific performers like Lucinda Williams and Sheryl Crow looking for an intimate venue.

This Torrance "chili parlor" serves up Tex-Mex specialties in a suburban sports bar, saloon-setting complete with cowgirl waitresses. Yup, it's about as tacky as it sounds, but it also reliably hosts local country music acts on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as karaoke on Sundays.

Live music, burgers, beer, cocktails—what more could you want in a casual neighborhood bar? Located in Downtown's Arts District, this friendly hangout hosts a steady stream of folk, outlaw country and bluegrass musicians that perform inside the Gothic-meets-Western space.

The concert hall chain has left behind its Downtown Disney location for a spot just down the street at the Anaheim GardenWalk. But it still promises to bring in a slate of budding modern country artists; its inaugural schedule included the likes of Chase Rice, Carter Winter and the Josh Abbott Band.

Most nights you'll find basketball or hockey taking over this Downtown arena. But when Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood and Eric Church roll into town, you'll find them here, at one of the few music venues large enough to entertain the masses of fans that flock to country's superstars.

If your chart-topping country star fave isn't playing at the Staples Center, chances are you'll see them take the stage at this Inglewood arena. The renovated, reenergized Forum has become a go-to for big names like Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton and Luke Bryan.

Think of the Greek as the summer home for big-name county music in L.A. This pleasant, open-air, 6,000-seat theater stages big shows, primarily by indie darlings, pop stars and slightly over-the-hill rock stars. But it also consistently reserves a spot in its lineup for mainstream country stars (this year's notables include Sam Hunt and Sturgill Simpson).